Introduction
The HONOR 400 5G builds upon the value proposition established by its predecessor in the Philippines, the HONOR 200 5G. While not a direct successor, this device maintains the brand’s commitment to delivering compelling features at an accessible price point. The HONOR 400 5G distinguishes itself through a refined design philosophy and enhanced AI capabilities that are seamlessly integrated into the device’s operating system, eliminating the need for third-party applications.
Design and Build Quality
HONOR’s deliberate design choices with the HONOR 400 5G not only reflects current smartphone trends but also addresses practical user concerns. The flatter profile has a contemporary aesthetic and improves ergonomics, while the slightly reduced height contributes to better one-handed usability, making it more manageable for extended use.
The rear camera module resembles that of another brand but remains visually appealing. The Desert Gold color variant offers particularly attractive aesthetics that differentiate it from more common smartphone finishes.
In terms of build quality, the device has a plastic frame build but boasts an IP66 rating for water and dust resistance and an SGS 5-Star Drop Resistance Rating adds confidence for users. It maintains a lightweight profile compared to its predecessor while incorporating these protective features.
The absence of a headphone jack continues the industry trend, though this may be a downside for users who prefer wired audio connections.
Performance
The HONOR 400 5G packs a Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chipset, identical to the HONOR 200 5G. While this may be a missed opportunity for hardware advancement, the processor remains more than capable for most user requirements. The chipset handles everyday tasks efficiently and provides surprisingly robust gaming performance for a mid-range device.
Memory and storage configurations are also similar to the HONOR 200, offering up to 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. This configuration proves adequate for multitasking and content storage needs across various user profiles.
Gaming performance exceeds expectations, with demanding titles like Honor of Kings running at maximum settings without compromise. More intensive games such as Honkai: Star Rail also perform admirably, demonstrating the maturity of current mid-range processing capabilities.
Extended gaming sessions do generate noticeable heat, though at least from our test, this didn’t have any noticeable impact in performance.
Camera
The HONOR 400 5G’s camera system represents one of the most significant changes from the HONOR 200, featuring a dual-camera setup anchored by a 200MP main sensor and complemented by a 12MP ultrawide unit. The front-facing camera provides 50MP resolution for portrait photography.
The transition from a triple-camera system results in the loss of the dedicated 50MP telephoto lens, which means you don’t get an optical zoom solution. However, the AI Super Zoom feature works so well that the zoomed shots (up to 30x) still offer good image quality. There’s just a bit of the delay for that processing to kick in.
Image quality across various scenarios demonstrates competent performance. The main camera captures satisfactory detail levels with good sharpness in cityscape, portrait, and low-light conditions. However, the system struggles with light source management, particularly when photographing streetlamps and artificial lighting.
Selfies benefit from the high-resolution front camera, producing detailed images with convincing bokeh effects for portrait photography. Video recording maxes out at 4K 30fps, though the absence of 60fps recording may disappoint content creators seeking higher frame rate options.
Audio and Multimedia
The HONOR 400 5G incorporates a dual-speaker configuration that delivers balanced audio reproduction. The sound profile provides adequate low-frequency response, clear vocal reproduction, and crisp treble without excessive harshness. Volume levels prove sufficient for personal use and small room scenarios without introducing distortion at higher settings.
The 6.55-inch OLED display with 2736 x 1264 resolution and 120Hz refresh rate delivers smooth visuals, and the peak brightness of 5,000 nits ensures excellent outdoor visibility, while the high pixel density of 460 ppi maintains sharp image reproduction.
Eye comfort features including 3840Hz Risk-Free Dimming, Low Blue Light technology, Dynamic Dimming, and Circadian Night Mode address extended usage concerns. The AI Defocus feature and Ultra Dark Mode capability to reduce brightness to 1.5 nits further enhance user comfort during prolonged screen time.
The Super Rainproof Touch technology maintains display responsiveness even when moisture is present, adding practical utility for various environmental conditions.
Software and AI
MagicOS 9 running on Android 15 provides a clean software experience with only a minimal amount of pre-installed apps, reducing bloatware concerns that plague many smartphones in this price segment. The user interface operates smoothly and responsively under normal usage conditions.
The AI Eraser now includes subject detection for removing unwanted people from photos and can eliminate reflections for clearer images. Face Tune introduces Eye Open functionality that corrects closed-eye issues in photographs using artificial intelligence.
AI capabilities include image upscaling for improving older photos, AI Cutout for creating moveable stickers from image elements, and AI Outpainting for expanding image boundaries. The Image to Video feature is perhaps the most popular, transforming static photographs into short, animated clips.
While AI features provide entertainment value and occasional utility, they require internet connectivity and don’t always perform flawlessly, sometimes missing subtle details or producing inconsistent results.
Based on a reliable source, devices in the SEA region will get 2 years of Major OS updates, and 3 years of security updates.
Battery and Charging
Capacity and performance are a significant improvement for the HONOR 400 5G with the inclusion of a 6,000mAh Silicon Carbon battery, substantially larger than the HONOR 200’s 5,200mAh capacity. This enhancement is particularly impressive given the device’s reduced physical dimensions.
Real-world usage delivers approximately two days of light to moderate use, while benchmarking achieved around 15 hours in PCMark’s Web 3.0 test. 80W HONOR SuperCharge allows for zero to full charge in just over an hour.
Verdict
The HONOR 400 5G is able to balance features, performance, and value. At PHP 22,999, it costs less than its predecessor in the Philippines, while still delivering meaningful improvements in multiple areas.
The device works well as a daily driver for productivity, entertainment, and even gaming. Its camera system delivers satisfactory results, despite the absence of a dedicated telephoto lens. The new design looks great too, abandoning the usual curved look for a flatter profile.
Its AI features, while not essential for daily operation, provide engaging functionality that enhances the user experience in specific scenarios. Combined with excellent battery life and fast charging, the HONOR 400 5G delivers strong value in the competitive mid-range smartphone segment.
Emman has been writing technical and feature articles since 2010. Prior to this, he became one of the instructors at Asia Pacific College in 2008, and eventually landed a job as Business Analyst and Technical Writer at Integrated Open Source Solutions for almost 3 years.
