HONOR 400 review – The smartphone that brings pictures to life

HONOR 400: Design and workmanship

The HONOR 400 is one of the few smartphones that offers a modest size. With its 6,55-inch display, it's significantly more compact than most current models and fits comfortably in the hand.

The low weight of 184 grams also contributes to the device being pleasantly discreet in your pocket. The smaller size is particularly noticeable in everyday life, whether typing on the train or scrolling on the couch. Anyone frustrated by the ever-growing number of devices will breathe a sigh of relief.

The casing features clean lines with a flat front and back, as well as a flat frame. Everything appears tidy and functional. HONOR relies entirely on plastic, which is noticeable in the feel. While there's no creaking, the material mix doesn't feel quite as high-quality as on a device with a metal frame and glass back.

The black model (Midnight Black), which I tested, scores points with its pleasantly soft surface, which feels almost rubbery and hardly shows any fingerprints. Those who prefer a softer color can also get the smartphone in Desert Gold or the exclusive Meteor Silver, which is currently only available in the HONOR shop.

Overall, the build quality is in keeping with the price range. Nothing wobbles, the buttons have a clear pressure point, and are located exactly where you'd expect them to be. The SIM slot is located on the bottom, as is the USB-C port. There's an infrared blaster on top, which allows you to control your TV via your phone.

HONOR relies on an IP65 certification, which makes the smartphone resistant to dust and splashes. However, there's no case or charger included in the box. So, if you want to protect your device right out of the box, you'll have to take action yourself.

HONOR 400: Display

While many smartphones in this price range feature large, curved displays, the HONOR 400 sticks with a flat 6,55-inch panel. The bezels appear slightly wider overall than on devices with curved displays. The top edge, in particular, is slightly thicker, while the sides are slightly narrower.

In everyday life, the slight asymmetry is barely noticeable. In fact, the flat display offers clear advantages in terms of usability. Accidental inputs on the edge, which are more common with curved displays, are practically nonexistent.

The AMOLED display has a resolution of 2736 x 1264 pixels and delivers a surprisingly sharp image for its price range. Colors are pleasantly vibrant, contrast is rich, and the screen remains easy to read even in direct sunlight.

According to HONOR, the maximum brightness is up to 5000 nits. While this theoretical maximum is hardly achievable in practice, the brightness is perfectly sufficient for everyday use. Even in bright sunlight, the display remains easily legible.

Thanks to the 120 Hz refresh rate, everything runs smoothly. Scrolling, swiping, and animations feel consistently smooth. Once you've used a display with a high refresh rate, you'll be reluctant to go back.

Another positive feature is the high PWM dimming frequency of 3840 Hertz, which reduces flickering at low brightness levels. This is particularly noticeable when reading in the evening or in dark environments. HONOR also offers an eye-friendly night mode and a special e-book mode that adjusts the display to a particularly reader-friendly layout.

HONOR 400: Performance

The European HONOR 400 uses the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3, a solid mid-range processor that offers more than sufficient performance for everyday use. The Chinese version already features the newer Snapdragon 7 Gen 4, which significantly improves CPU, GPU, and AI performance. It's a shame that HONOR didn't take this step for the international market, but it doesn't change much about the overall solid performance.

The system runs smoothly for the most part. Apps open quickly, animations appear clean, and switching between multiple applications works without any significant lag. The 8 GB of RAM leaves plenty of room for multitasking, and scrolling through social media or streaming videos also runs smoothly.

Light games like Subway Surfers or Clash Royale pose no problem. However, with more graphics-intensive titles like Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile, things get tight. Here, you'll have to significantly lower the graphics settings to achieve reasonably stable frame rates. Regular gamers will sooner or later notice the processor's limits.

Occasionally, the system experiences minor freezes, such as when quickly switching apps or launching the camera. This isn't a serious issue, but it's noticeable compared to more powerful devices. However, the device remains pleasantly cool even under load. HONOR has its heat generation well under control.

HONOR 400: Software

The HONOR 400 runs MagicOS 9 based on Android 15. Visually, much of it resembles a blend of Android and iOS, with clean icons, smooth animations, and a focus on system integration. Those who have previously used a "pure Android" device will have to adjust for a bit, but will quickly get used to it.

HONOR promises system and security updates for the device for six years. This generous update commitment is not only encouraging, but will soon become mandatory anyway. Starting June 20, 2025, a new directive will come into effect in the EU that requires manufacturers to provide their devices with updates for at least five years after their sales launch. HONOR's commitment thus slightly exceeds this.

A central component of MagicOS 9 is the focus on artificial intelligence (AI). Numerous features in the system rely on AI support and are designed to make everyday life smarter and more efficient. Many of these are sensibly integrated and expand classic smartphone functions with practical extras. Here's an overview:

•  Magic Text recognizes text in photos or screenshots and allows you to copy, translate, or forward it directly. This works precisely and saves a lot of time, especially in everyday situations, such as menus or documents.
•  Magic Portal offers context-based forwarding options. When the system detects an address, screenshot, or message with a location, a side panel opens, allowing content to be forwarded directly to appropriate apps, such as map apps, chats, or the browser.
•  AI suggestions analyze usage behavior and suggest appropriate actions, such as opening certain apps at recurring times or quick access to frequently used functions. If you don't want this, you can disable the feature in the menu.
•  AI subtitles create live subtitles for audio content, such as videos, podcasts, or voice messages. This is a particularly helpful addition for foreign language content or in noisy environments.
•  AI translation works in real time, translating both spoken text and image content into another language. While recognition is usually reliable, not every suggestion is perfect right away for longer or complex sentences.
•  The AI ​​Writing Assistant helps you compose emails, notes, or messages. Upon request, the AI ​​formulates suggestions based on brief inputs or revises existing texts in different styles – from factual to friendly. A practical feature that integrates well into existing workflows.
•  AI deepfake detection detects faces in video calls that have been altered by AI. This feature is intended to protect against manipulated identities, but is unlikely to play a role in everyday life for most users.

Image-to-video function

One of the most exciting features in the HONOR 400 is the new image-to-video function, which is integrated directly into the Gallery app. This isn't a proprietary development by HONOR, but rather an exclusive integration of Google's AI video tool Veo 2.

The feature transforms individual photos into approximately five-second video clips. The AI ​​analyzes the image and simulates movement, light gradients, and depth. The result is small animations that feel almost like real tracking shots – including subtle effects like bouncing hair, flickering light sources, or smooth changes in perspective.

During testing, I was initially skeptical about how well this would actually work, but during a visit to Hamburg's Miniatur Wunderland, the feature really impressed me. A photo of a detailed model landscape was brought to life by the AI, so much so that at first glance, you'd hardly believe it was just a static source image.

Portraits or architectural shots are also suitable, as long as the composition is clear. The clips appear lively without being overdone and invite you to capture memories in a creative way.

It's simple to use. You select an image from the gallery, tap "Create," and wait about a minute until the video is finished. You can't edit or adjust anything. The AI ​​decides what to generate from the image. Depending on the subject and lighting, this can sometimes be more or less successful.

Currently, a maximum of ten videos can be generated per day. However, after a two-month trial period, which begins with the first use of the feature, the feature will become chargeable. HONOR has not yet commented on what the "AI subscription" will look like.

HONOR 400: Camera

It's not just the image-to-video feature that brings movement into play. The HONOR 400's classic camera equipment is also impressive.

The main camera uses a 200-megapixel sensor with an f/1.9 aperture, optical image stabilization (OIS), and a sensor size of 1/1.4 inches. This makes the main sensor one of the best in its class.

Combined with pixel binning, this produces sharp, bright 12.5 MP images that reveal details even in low light. The main camera is supported by a 12 MP ultra-wide-angle lens with a 112-degree field of view and autofocus.

In practice, the setup delivers good to very good results. In daylight, it produces high-contrast, natural-colored images with decent dynamic range. Details are plentiful without excessive software sharpening.

The white balance is usually accurate. The ultra-wide-angle module produces beautiful panoramic or architectural photos, although the edges are slightly distorted, as usual, but this is acceptable in this price range.

Compared to its bigger brother, the HONOR 400 Pro, the regular 400 lacks the additional telephoto camera. While the Pro model offers significantly more flexibility when shooting from a distance thanks to a 50-megapixel telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, the latter is limited to digital zoom. Depending on the subject, this can noticeably compromise quality.

At night, the large main sensor impresses with its decent light output. The camera software brightens things up selectively without overdoing it. Colors remain consistent, and image noise is kept to a minimum. Night mode offers additional reserves, but despite optical image stabilization, it requires a steady hand.

The selfie camera is also impressive. HONOR uses a 50-megapixel sensor with an f/2.0 aperture. Thanks to the high resolution, you can capture highly detailed self-portraits that still look good even when zoomed in. Colors appear natural, and exposure is usually well-balanced. An HDR mode helps with backlighting. The front camera can record videos in 4K, which is anything but standard in this price range.

The main camera also films in 4K, with stabilized footage thanks to OIS and EIS. The clips appear smooth, the sharpness is high, and the sound is also decent. This is easily sufficient for social media and everyday videos.

Camera AI

HONOR also brings several AI features into play that directly impact the camera. These include the intelligent portrait mode, which automatically blurs the background and focuses on faces. This works surprisingly well, even without a depth sensor.

The AI ​​also recognizes typical scenarios such as sunsets, food, or cityscapes and dynamically adjusts colors and contrast. In practice, this results in more harmonious images without much manual intervention. Of course, you can also deactivate automatic detection if you prefer.

Another exciting feature is the AI ​​image optimization after the shot: The system analyzes the photo on request, removing minor blur, smoothing skin tones, or better balancing lighting conditions. While this isn't done at a professional level, it ensures that snapshots are often shareable without prior editing.

HONOR 400: Connectivity

In terms of mobile connectivity, the HONOR 400 supports the current 5G standard on both SIM slots. It's a classic dual nano-SIM slot, although the second slot can also be used for an eSIM. In our tests, the connection remained consistently reliable, whether in the urban 5G network or on country roads with LTE fallback.

The Wi-Fi standard uses Wi-Fi 6. While it's not quite as future-proof as Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7, which more expensive models now offer, it's easily sufficient for everyday use. In our tests, data throughput using the AX standard was fast and stable, even when streaming large files or downloading app updates on the home network.

 Bluetooth 5.4 ensures stable connections to headphones, wearables, and other devices. The range is decent, as is the connection stability. As usual, HONOR relies on common audio codecs such as SBC and AAC, as well as high-resolution codecs such as aptX and LDAC.

The device generally falls somewhat short in terms of audio. HONOR only installs a single mono speaker on the bottom. While it's loud enough for podcasts, YouTube, or voice messages, it sounds flat and lacks spatial depth. Those who enjoy listening to music or videos with rich sound are better off using Bluetooth headphones. A traditional 3,5 mm jack is missing – as is the case with almost all devices in this class these days.

 NFC works reliably with Google Pay and other contactless services. Location tracking via GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, and BeiDou is accurate even between buildings. Sensors such as brightness, gyroscope, and compass are available. The in-display fingerprint scanner responds quickly, and facial recognition generally works well, but falters in low light.