Hardware
Honor AI brings 115 years of Man U to life
Advanced AI technology brings iconic images from 1910 into the 21st century, celebrating Old Trafford’s 115th anniversary.
To commemorate the 115th anniversary of the first game at Old Trafford, Honor has revitalised iconic historical photographs of Manchester United’s legendary stadium, nicknamed “Theatre of Dreams”.
The smartphone brands have used the new AI photo upscaling feature on the Honor Magic7 Pro, powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Mobile Platform. Qualcomm Technologies is a sponsor of the club, and the Snapdragon brand appears on the front of Manchester United’s shirts.
Since 1910, Old Trafford has been the stage for countless unforgettable moments in world football. Now, Honor’s AI technology, powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite, brings these treasured images into the 21st century, enhancing their clarity and detail.
From 1910 to 2025 with Honor AI Upscale, Photo supplied.
The new Honor Magic7 Pro, powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Mobile Platform, offers a wide range of powerful AI photography features, from AI Super Zoom and AI Enhanced Portrait to AI Motion Sensing Capture. Its self-developed AI Upscale is a new addition, which allows users to restore damaged or faded old portrait photos by eliminating scratches, enhancing resolution, and improving clarity to bring back cherished memories.
The AI Upscale feature restored and enhanced over 40 photographs from Old Trafford’s archives, turning faded relics into polished images fit for the 21st century. In this way, it showcased the technology and demonstrated Qualcomm Technologies’ innovative sponsorship with the club in delivering unique fan experiences with their partners.
Photo courtesy Man united.
“These restored photographs are an invaluable contribution to celebrating Manchester United’s history, offering a glimpse into the very first moments at Old Trafford,” says Jason Leach, club historian at Manchester United. “The AI Upscale by Honor is truly remarkable. It’s like stepping back in time, allowing us to see these scenes with amazing clarity.
“Some details that were lost to time are now more visible, bringing the atmosphere of that first game in 1910 to life for modern fans. It’s a fantastic way to celebrate 115 years of the Theatre of Dreams.”
Wei Luo, chief imaging architect at Honor, says: “Old Trafford is a symbol of tradition and excellence, so we’re delighted that our AI technology, powered by Snapdragon 8 Elite can play a role in preserving its legacy through Qualcomm Technologies’ sponsorship of the club.
Photo courtesy, Honor.
“The Honor Magic7 Pro’s AI Upscale isn’t just about improving photos, it’s about connecting people with magic moments from the past. We believe that AI can be a powerful tool for preserving cultural heritage, and this content is a perfect example of that potential. We’re excited for fans to see these restored images and experience the history of Old Trafford in a whole new light thanks to Qualcomm Technologies’ sponsorship of the club.”
Judd Heape, vice president of product management at Qualcomm Technologies, says: “It’s fantastic to see this technology bring Manchester United’s illustrious history to life. Our advanced AI ISP enables powerful, AI-driven photography features that make it easy for users to capture and preserve life’s most memorable moments.
“Our collaborations with Honor and Manchester United powerfully demonstrate how on-device generative AI features enable the camera systems on the Honor Magic7 Pro to deliver ultra-clear portrait photography so Manchester United fans can enjoy around the world.”
- See more restored photos from Old Trafford’s history here: Link
