HONOR 400 5G Review

Last year, we had a fantastic experience with the HONOR 200 series. From performance to camera quality, it delivered on all fronts—giving us a firsthand look at what a solid mid-range smartphone could truly offer.

Now, HONOR is back with the all-new 400 series, and it’s making waves. Packed with advanced AI features, this latest lineup aims to push the boundaries of what a mid-range device can do. HONOR claims it will deliver an experience you won’t want to miss—and from what we’ve seen so far, it just might live up to the hype.

Construction & Build

Holding the HONOR 400 5G for the first time immediately gives off a sense of sophistication and comfort. Honestly, I find myself reaching for it all the time—it’s that lightweight and easy to grip, weighing only 184 grams.

Its slim profile hits just the right spot—comfortable in the hand and pocket-friendly. Our unit comes in the eye-catching Desert Gold colorway, which I’ve been loving lately. For those with different tastes, it also comes in Meteor Silver, Tidal Blue, and Midnight Black.

The matte-finished back and sturdy side frames give off a premium feel. Design-wise, it draws inspiration from current trends, the overall structure reminds me of the latest iPhone models, while the camera island at the back resembles the look of the HUAWEI Pura series. Honestly, I don’t mind—it looks clean and stylish.

For buttons and ports, the volume rocker and power button are placed on the right side of the phone, whereas the other side stays neat. At the bottom, you’ll see the type-C Port, SIM tray slot, and the loudspeaker. Up top, you can see the other speaker, IR Blaster, and microphone.

The HONOR 400 5G is  rated at IP66, making it only splash resistant. So, don’t you dare bring this to pools or beaches as it might get wet or submerged to water by accident.

Display & Multimedia

Jumping into the display, the HONOR 400 5G features a stunning 6.55″ AMOLED screen—and I have to say, it’s one of my favorite things about the phone. The size is just right for everyday use, whether you’re browsing social media, streaming videos, or gaming. Plus, the slim, asymmetrical bezels give it a sleek and modern look that adds to its overall appeal.

What really elevates the experience is the 120Hz refresh rate. Swiping between apps and scrolling through content feels smooth and responsive. Even my cousins, who are avid mobile gamers, were impressed with how well it handled gameplay. They had a blast using it—no lags, no hiccups.

Using the phone outdoors? No problem. With a peak brightness of 5000 nits, the display remains bright and visible even under direct sunlight. That’s a major win for those constantly on the go.

When it comes to multimedia, the HONOR 400 5G doesn’t disappoint. The color accuracy is impressive—vibrant yet balanced, with deep blacks that really enhance the viewing experience. Whether I’m binge-watching shows or casually playing games, the display delivers an immersive visual experience every time.

When it comes to audio, I’d say the HONOR 400 5G falls slightly short in this area. In my personal experience, while the phone does get quite loud, reaching a max volume of up to 200%, the sound quality doesn’t quite hit the mark.

Despite having dual speakers, the audio tends to feel a bit flat and wilted, lacking the crispness and depth I was hoping for. It’s not terrible by any means, it’s still decent and usable for casual listening, watching videos, or gaming; but if you’re particular about rich, high-fidelity sound, this might be a trade-off to consider.

For biometrics, the phone has an in-display fingerprint sensor and supports facial recognition as well. Both register quickly and smoothly. The fingerprint sensor is well-placed and easy to reach even holding the phone with one hand. And same sentiment to the selfie camera, it’s positioned cleanly and housed in a circular punch-hole design.

The HONOR 400 5G has an always-on-display feature that lets you glance at notifications without accessing the phone.

Cameras

Now, let’s talk about the camera. We know that this series is focused on photography. And just another piece of information, this series was developed in collaboration with a popular French photography studio, Studio Harcourt in France.

The predecessor had a triple-rear camera setup, comprised of a 50MP Main and Telephoto lens, and a 12MP Ultrawide. Now, the HONOR 400 5G has a dual camera setup; a 200MP Main Lens, and a 12MP Ultrawide housed in a curved trapezoid-shaped camera island. For selfies, the HONOR 400 5G still retains the 50MP Front lens.

I know some of you might think that it’s a downgrade from its predecessor wherein it had a triple rear setup. Despite the absence of a Telephoto lens, we still get great-quality photos with the existence of a 200MP Main lens that can zoom up to 30X.

Personally, all my snaps were great. We did a photoshoot using the phone and all of our photos turned out so well. We’ve used it also to document a Pre-nuptial shoot of the newly engaged couple, EA Guzman and Shaira Diaz, who’ve glanced their love to the media. And the HONOR 400 5G didn’t disappoint to capture those moments.

This newest series is making every photo even better with the help of AI. AI Features present in the HONOR 400 5G are AI Upscale, AI Cutout, and AI Outpainting. There’s also what they call the “Image-to-Video” Feature where you can give your old and faded photos a new life. This converts your desired images to video. It’s a way of reliving what has been captured in the past.

As per the video recording, the rear camera is capable of shooting at 4K@30FPS at max and 1080P@30FPS when bokeh/cinematic mode and beauty mode are enabled.

For those who are interested in the images taken on this phone, check it down below.

HONOR 400 5G

Saturday, Jun 7, 2025

Performance & Benchmarks

At the core of the HONOR 400 5G is the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 processor, paired with an Adreno 720 GPU. Our unit comes with a generous 12GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage, giving it plenty of room for multitasking and media.

While the chipset might seem like a carryover from the previous generation, it still holds up really well. Performance-wise, it runs smoothly and efficiently. I was able to jump between multiple apps and windows without any lag—everything felt fluid and seamless.

When it comes to gaming, the HONOR 400 5G doesn’t disappoint. I played Mobile Legends with all the graphics settings turned up high, and it ran like a charm. Even heavier titles like Genshin Impact and Zenless Zone Zero (ZZZ) played steadily without noticeable stuttering. The phone did get a bit warm after extended sessions, but nothing uncomfortable or alarming.

On the benchmark side, the HONOR 400 5G scored close to a million on AnTuTu, showing strong performance results across the board. It also features high read/write storage speeds, making it snappy for app loading and file transfers.

If you’re the type who checks benchmark results, it’s right down below.

OS , UI & Apps

The HONOR 400 5G runs on the latest Android 15, with MagicOS 9.0 layered on top. The user interface is clean, smooth, and easy to navigate, making everyday use feel effortless.

One of the things I appreciate about this software version is the level of personalization it offers. You can customize your app icons, widgets, and home screen to better suit your style and workflow. However, there are a few pre-installed (bloatware) apps that some users might find unnecessary—but the good news is, they can be easily uninstalled.

Aside from having cool AI Features that you can have fun with on the photo gallery, the HONOR 400 5G has Circle to Search and AI Summary, which make life easier when performing chores that may be completed with these useful features.

And HONOR promises to provide six years of Android updates and security patches for the HONOR 400 series. Accordingly, the Honor 400 series will receive upgrades till 2031 and be upgraded to Android 16 later this year.

Battery & Connectivity

Don’t let the size fool you, the HONOR 400 5G packs a massive 6000mAh battery, and it’s paired with 100W SuperCharge support. I was genuinely impressed by how long it lasted in real-world use. With my usual daily tasks, I only needed to charge it once in a day and a half, a strong testament to its endurance.

To really put it to the test, we ran the PCMark Battery Test, which measured 14 hours and 58 minutes. That’s a solid performance for heavy users and gamers alike.

For connectivity, the HONOR 400 has 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, and NFC for communication. Additionally, it contains an infrared (IR) blaster for smart home equipment, accepts two nano-SIM cards, and supports e-SIM.

Verdict & Conclusion

So, is the HONOR 400 5G worth it?

For a mid-range smartphone priced at PHP 22,999 for the 12GB + 512GB, it absolutely delivers on design, display, and day-to-day performance. While the audio could use a little improvement, the rest of the package, especially that AMOLED screen and high refresh rate, really makes it a great choice for content lovers and casual gamers.

The AI-powered features and refined build make it a strong contender in its segment. If you’re upgrading from a budget phone or last year’s mid-range, this could be a smart pick.

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What we liked about it:
* Great cameras
* AI Features
* Design and Colorway
* Large battery capacity

What we did not like:
* Speaker

HONOR 400 5G specs:
6.55-inch AMOLED display (460 PPI)
120Hz refresh rate, 5000 nits (peak)
Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3
8GB, 12GB RAM
256GB, 512GB internal storage
Dual cameras:
– 200MP Ultra-clear AI Main Camera(f/1.9, OIS)
– 12MP Ultrawide, Samsung JN1 (f/ 2.0)
50MP Selfie Camera (f/2.0)
Stereo speakers
Dual  nano-SIM, e-SIM
5G, 4G LTE
Wi-Fi 6
Bluetooth 5.4
GPS, NFC
USB Type-C
IP66 Rating
MagicOS 9.0 (Android 15)
Fingerprint sensor (in-display)
6,000mAh silicon carbon battery
90W fast charging support (wired)
HONOR 100W SuperCharge
165.5 x 74.6 x 7.3mm (dimensions)
184 grams (weight)
Desert Gold, Meteor Silver, Tidal Blue, Midnight Black