Honor 400 Review: A Chic Mid-Range Challenger with Intelligent Features and Exceptional Portraits
The Honor 400 signifies a notable advancement in the brand’s mid-range smartphone offerings, delivering an attractive blend of design, camera capabilities, and extensive software support. Positioned as a direct adversary to Samsung’s Galaxy A56, the Honor 400 manages to eclipse its competitor in several essential aspects, despite a couple of trade-offs. Here’s an extensive overview of what sets the Honor 400 apart in the bustling mid-range segment.
Design: Sleek, Stylish, and Comfortable to Hold
One of the most eye-catching features of the Honor 400 is its design. With a smooth, matte-textured back and a revamped camera arrangement reminiscent of the Huawei Pura 70, the phone radiates a luxurious vibe. The 6.55-inch OLED display enhances its compact nature, making it more manageable than many of its rivals like the OnePlus 13R or Galaxy A56.
Even with a robust 5,300mAh battery, the Honor 400 stays lightweight at merely 184g due to its polycarbonate construction. The frosted finish on the rear resists smudges, and color choices like Desert Gold add a stylish twist. However, the IP65 rating for water and dust resistance does not measure up to the IP67/IP68 ratings provided by competitors.
Display: User-Friendly and Colorful
The Honor 400 showcases a 6.55-inch OLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate and a resolution of 2736 x 1264. It provides outstanding brightness and color accuracy, easily surpassing the Galaxy A56 in outdoor usage.
What distinguishes the display is its commitment to eye well-being. It features AI Defocus Eyecare, 3840Hz PWM dimming, hardware-level blue light filtering, and an Ultra Dark Mode that diminishes brightness down to just 1.5 nits. These elements make it a superb option for users who are sensitive to flickering screens or eye discomfort.
Performance: Sufficient for Daily Activities
Equipped with the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chipset, the Honor 400 delivers reliable performance for everyday tasks and casual gaming. However, it falls short compared to competitors like the POCO F7 Pro and OnePlus 13R in benchmarking results and faces challenges with demanding gaming.
The device includes 8GB of RAM and choices of either 256GB or 512GB of UFS 3.1 storage. While it isn’t the most powerful option available, it manages multitasking adequately and does not overheat, even under pressure.
Battery Life and Charging
The 5,300mAh battery, enhanced with silicon-carbon technology, offers remarkable longevity. Users can anticipate more than a full day of usage from a single charge, even with intense use. The 66W fast charging support allows the device to reach a full charge in less than 50 minutes, although this is a downgrade from the 100W charging capabilities seen in the Honor 200.
Camera: Portraits Take Center Stage
The Honor 400 is equipped with a 200MP primary sensor featuring OIS and a 12MP ultra-wide angle lens. While it is missing a telephoto lens—a trait reserved for the Pro version—it shines in portrait photography, thanks to its collaboration with Harcourt Studio. The AI-driven portrait modes yield breathtaking outcomes, comparable to the best in its class.
Daylight images are vibrant with detail and color, and its low-light capabilities are praiseworthy. Nonetheless, the lack of 4K60 video recording is a significant drawback in an otherwise impressive camera setup.
Software: AI-Enhanced and Built for the Future
Running MagicOS 9.0 on top of Android 15, the Honor 400 provides a straightforward and responsive user interface packed with numerous AI functionalities. These encompass real-time translation, transcription, writing support, and sophisticated image and video editing capabilities.
Honor has pledged to provide six years of Android OS and security updates, aligning with Samsung’s commitment and exceeding many other mid-range brands. This extended support makes the Honor 400 a forward-thinking investment.
Pricing and Availability
The Honor 400 comes with a price tag of €499 ($565) for the 256GB variant and €549 ($621) for the 512GB model. It is not officially available in the U.S., but it is set to launch in select markets worldwide, including the U.K. For those in search of a telephoto lens and quicker charging, the Honor 400 Pro is offered at €799 ($905), although the standard model provides better overall value.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
– Stylish, compact design with a luxurious feel
– Excellent battery longevity and quick charging
– Impressive 200MP camera, particularly for portraits
– Eye-friendly OLED display with advanced dimming features
– Six years of software updates and intelligent functionalities
Cons:
– Lacks a telephoto lens
– No 4K60 video recording capability
– Not available in the U.S.
– IP65 rating is less than competitive
