AI brings 115 years of Man United’s history to life

To celebrate Old Trafford’s 115th anniversary, never-before-seen footage from the stadium’s archives have been brought to life.

Honor, by way of Qualcomm’s sponsorship with Manchester United, uses its new AI upscaling technology on the Magic 7 Pro to bring iconic images from 1910 into the 21st century.

Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite mobile platform, the Magic 7 Pro uses the AI Photo Upscale feature to restore damaged or faded old portrait photos by eliminating scratches, enhancing resolution, and improving clarity, explains Honor.

The device was used to restore and enhance over 40 photos from Old Trafford’s archives to turn faded relics into polished images fit for the 21st century says the smartphone maker, as well as to demonstrate Qualcomm’s innovative sponsorship with the club to deliver unique fan experiences.

Jason Leach, club historian at Manchester United says the restored photographs are an invaluable contribution to celebrating Manchester United’s history, offering a glimpse into the very first moments at Old Trafford.

“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,” says Leach.

Honor’s chief imaging architect Wei Luo says: “Old Trafford is a symbol of tradition and excellence, so we’re thrilled that our AI technology, powered by Snapdragon 8 Elite, can play a role in preserving its legacy through Qualcomm Technologies’ sponsorship of the club.”

“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,” says Luo.

The company plans to unveil more AI photography features through its “Honor Alpha Plan” keynote at MWC Barcelona, formerly called the Mobile World Congress, on Sunday, 2 March in Spain.

The keynote will cover its new strategic initiatives, followed by the launch if of its new AI innovations and AI-enabled products.

Stay tuned to Recharged for more information.