REVIEW: HONOR 400

The HONOR 400 arrives as the latest challenger in the ever-busy midrange smartphone market, promising flagship-level performance, AI-driven features and a high-end display — all without coming anywhere close to the €1000+ price bracket of its flagship-level counterparts.  After using the device for a few weeks, I’ve come away largely impressed. It’s not flawless, but for its price, it offers serious value and more than a few standout features.

Design & Build Quality

Design-wise, the HONOR 400 leans towards the premium end of midrange. It has a clean, symmetrical look with flat sides and a brushed metal finish that wouldn’t feel out of place on a more expensive phone. There’s a bit of iPhone influence here, but HONOR has put its own spin on things — especially with the large, circular dual-camera module on the back, which is bold without being over the top. Unfortunately, on the Midnight Black model we reviewed, the space between these camera modules was quite the dust magnet and, given their raised profile, made it very tricky to keep things completely dust free! (as you can see from the image below)

In-hand, the device feels sturdy and well-balanced. The matte back does a good job resisting fingerprints, and the buttons feel clicky and solid. It’s IP65 rated, which means it’ll handle splashes or dusty conditions, though you probably wouldn’t want to drop it in the sink. There’s no headphone jack, and while there’s no mention of Gorilla Glass, the display has held up well so far.

It’s not the thinnest or lightest phone in its class, but the HONOR 400 strikes a good balance between comfort and durability. A sensible, well-built bit of kit. The screen can also get impressively bright, even in direct sunlight, and I’m a big fan of the thin, symmetrical bezels, adding to the overall premium feel of the device.

Software Features

The HONOR 400 ships with MagicOS 9, HONOR’s take on Android 15, and it’s a big step forward compared to earlier versions. It still has a few pre-installed apps you may want to clear out, but overall the interface feels clean and fast. HONOR’s AI integrations are where things get more interesting — and, occasionally, a bit overambitious.

Gemini AI is baked into the core experience, and while it’s early days, the assistant does show potential. It can automate multi-step tasks, like setting reminders or booking appointments, and even offers real-time shopping assistance. The Smart Capsule feature — similar to Apple’s Dynamic Island — pops up useful info like weather or delivery updates without interrupting what you’re doing. It’s more useful than gimmicky, which isn’t always the case with these kinds of features.

There’s also AI-powered photo editing and translation, real-time meeting transcriptions, and even deepfake detection for video calls — a first for a phone at this price, as far as I’ve seen. Some tools feel a bit beta-ish, but the ambition is clear: HONOR is betting big on AI, and this phone is just the start. One of the standout AI features for the 400, which can be found in the ‘Create’ section of the Gallery app is an industry-first ‘AI Image to Video’ option from Google Cloud, which enables users to bring static photos to life as dynamic videos. Here’s a sample video we created with a lovely ’emo horse’!

.@UKHonor‘s upcoming 400 series has unveiled an industry first ‘AI Image to Video’ feature from Google Cloud, which enables users to bring static photos to life as dynamic videos. Here’s a sample video we created with a lovely ’emo horse’! #honor400series pic.twitter.com/BwQvvgWvSo

— TheEffect.Net (@TheEffectDotNet) May 12, 2025

Finally, and most impressively, HONOR is also committing to 6 years of Android and security updates for the upcoming HONOR 400 Series, along with advanced Google Cloud AI integration and Android 16 support in 2025. A great announcement for users looking for longevity out of their devices, even at this mid-range price point.

Performance

Powering the HONOR 400 is the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chip, paired with 12GB of RAM and up to 512GB of storage. It’s not a flagship processor, but it’s more than capable for the kind of everyday use most people will throw at it.

Apps open quickly, multitasking is smooth, and games like Call of Duty Mobile and Zenless Zone Zero run surprisingly well — though you’ll want to stick to medium settings for heavier titles. The phone stayed cool during extended use, and I didn’t notice any performance drops or strange slowdowns.

HONOR’s RAM Turbo also lets the system tap into storage for extra memory, which seems to help keep things responsive. There’s no microSD card slot, so make sure you pick the right storage option upfront — but with 512GB available, most won’t feel short-changed.

Cameras

Cameras are often where midrange phones cut corners, but not here. The HONOR 400’s 200MP main sensor is excellent in good lighting.

Detail, colour and dynamic range are all on point, and HONOR’s image processing does a good job keeping things natural.

Even with zoom, photos retain sharpness without falling apart into digital mush but there is a slight bit of ‘AI interpretation’ for the max 30x zooms when HONOR’s AI offering tries to decipher what’s in the frame and tidy everything up.

It’s a decent effort for a midrange offering but it did miss the mark a few times.

Low-light performance is also strong, thanks to the AI-enhanced Night Mode. It’s not quite flagship level, but it’s close enough for social media and everyday use.

There’s also a 12MP ultra-wide lens, which is fine for wider shots or group photos, though it’s not as sharp and struggles a bit in darker scenes.

Around the front, the 50MP selfie camera impressed me. Selfies are sharp and well-coloured, though lack of autofocus means things can look soft in tricky lighting. Video recording is capped at 4K 30fps, but stabilisation is solid and colours look accurate.

The camera app is straightforward and offers a good range of shooting modes, including a surprisingly handy dual-view video option and a Portrait Light Separation mode that adds a studio feel to portraits. Overall, this is one of the strongest camera systems I’ve seen in a midrange phone.

Battery Life

With a 6000mAh battery inside, the HONOR 400 easily lasts a full day — even with fairly heavy use. On lighter days, I comfortably got into the next afternoon without needing a top-up. That’s with a mix of messaging, streaming, camera use, and a few gaming sessions thrown in.

Charging is fast too. The 66w wired charging speeds gets the phone from 0 to around 80% in just over half an hour. There’s no wireless charging, which is understandable at this price, but the wired speeds more than make up for it.

If you’re someone who’s often out and about or just forgets to plug in overnight, this battery setup will give you peace of mind.

Conclusion

The HONOR 400 is one of those rare midrange phones that feels like it’s overdelivering. From the excellent display to the surprisingly powerful camera and genuinely useful AI tools, this is a device that goes beyond just getting the basics right. It’s not flawless — wireless charging is missing, and some AI features feel a little ahead of their time — but it handles everything I threw at it with ease.

After a few weeks of regular use, I’ve come to appreciate just how well-rounded it is. It looks good, runs smoothly, takes great photos and lasts all day. If you’re looking for a solid, smart Android phone that doesn’t cost flagship money, the HONOR 400 is well worth a look.

HONOR 400 Pricing & Availability

The HONOR 400 will be available in Ireland from June 2025, with a retail price of €499 for the standard model and €799 for the HONOR 400 Pro, which packs some beefier processing power and improved camera optics. You’ll be able to pick one up from Three, Harvey Norman, and Tesco Mobile.