I took this camera phone to a music festival and it didn’t let me down

If you’re a fan of live music, it doesn’t get any better than a festival. Within the space of just a few days (or even hours), you can see dozens of great artists, all in one place. 

So, when the lineup for Radio 1’s Big Weekend was announced, complete with some of my favourite singers, I knew I had to be there. And when 25 May finally came around, bringing a great camera phone with me was one of my top priorities. 

I didn’t need to take lots of photos and videos; I wasn’t reviewing a smartphone at the time, and knew that all the main sets would be available on BBC iPlayer (including from abroad). But being able to document the festival from my own perspective was important to me, providing personal memories that I could look back on.

I needed a device that was up to the task, so instinctively reached for the Honor Magic 6 Pro. I’d reviewed it relatively recently, and was confident in its ability to capture great photos and videos across a range of everyday situations. 

But a music festival is a different kettle of fish, especially in changeable British weather conditions. Across the two days, the phone had to contend with direct sunlight, overcast clouds, heavy rain, and bright stage lighting, plus plenty of low-light environments. 

Other phones I’ve tried have suffered badly in these scenarios, but not the Magic 6 Pro. It performed admirably in almost every situation, allowing me to capture great memories with very little effort. 

Don’t just take my word for it – let’s look at some evidence. First up, this image of Beabadobee performing blew me away when I first saw it. Taken using the 2.5x optical zoom setting, it looks like it came from a professional camera: 

Exposure and colour accuracy were also top-notch during Olivia Dean’s set, where it managed to focus on the stage rather than the people in the foreground: 

Raye’s set was arguably even more challenging for photography, with light shining directly towards the lens and big screens either side. It coped impeccably, producing this excellent shot:

In my Honor Magic 6 Pro review, I described it as “the best low-light smartphone camera I’ve ever tried”. On this evidence, it’s easy to see why. 

However, the zoom goes far beyond the 2.5x optical setting. Of course, detail is sacrificed once you get anywhere near the maximum 100x digital zoom, but you can still stand a long way from the stage and get great shots, like this one of AJ Tracey: 

Even from a fair distance away and with rain bucketing down, I was able to capture Sabrina Carpenter in full flow: 

And as night fell and Coldplay took to the stage, the Magic 6 Pro accurately captured the big screens, stage lighting and dramatic sky in the background, something most phone cameras can’t match. 

Of course, photos are only half the deal when it comes to live music. Video from the Magic 6 Pro still isn’t quite as good as recent iPhones, with colours a little more washed out than stills.  

But top-tier quality isn’t what I’m looking for from live music footage. I want something that captures the atmosphere of the moment and transports me back there every time I watch it. That was the case for almost every video I took during the festival, with excellent mics picking up the audio exactly as I heard it live. 

The atmosphere during Cat Burns’ closing number was just as electric as it was in person:

And Shygirl’s high-energy set looked and sounded great: 

Those are just two of the many great videos I took during the weekend. However, most of them feature my terrible singing, so you won’t be seeing those! 

My only complaint is that the ultrawide lens is such a step down in terms of quality that I was reluctant to use it. But that’s less of an issue at a festival, where you’re often a long way away from the stage anyway.

Overall, the Honor Magic 6 Pro was a brilliant companion throughout the weekend, allowing me to take high-quality photos and videos in almost any situation. If you’re in the market for a camera phone that won’t let you down, look no further.

But what’s the rest of the phone like? Read our full Honor Magic 6 Pro review to learn more.