The HONOR 400 5G is a phone we’ve been using lately, and it feels like a solid device to talk about. It sits in the middle of its family, between the 400 Lite and the Pro model. The 400 Lite has a camera button on the side, which is neat, and the Pro is the fanciest one in the series. For this HONOR 400, we noticed it has some strong points right away. It comes with a Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chipset, a bright display, and cameras that seem promising. We were curious to see how it holds up over time, so we took it for a spin to share what we found with you.
This phone caught our attention because it mixes good tech with a price that doesn’t hurt too much. The Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 is a name you’ll see in lots of mid-range phones, and it’s here to keep things running smooth. The screen looks clear, and the cameras have some fun tricks up their sleeve. We wanted to know if the HONOR 400 could handle our daily stuff and maybe even surprise us a little. In this review, we’ll walk through everything we learned about it, from how it looks to how it works in real life.
Design
When we first picked up the HONOR 400, the black color stood out to us. The back is made of matte black glass, and we liked how it doesn’t grab fingerprints like some other phones do. It feels nice in the hand, even after holding it for a while on a warm day. The frame around the edges is plastic, but the finish still looks clean and well done. The camera module on the back reminds us of the HONOR 300 series, which was great for photos. That design makes us think the HONOR 400 might take good pictures too, and we’ll get into that later.
The front of the HONOR 400 has a flat screen with a small hole punch camera at the top. We noticed the bezels are super thin, though the bottom one is a bit wider. It doesn’t bother us much when we’re using it, though. The phone feels simple but sharp, and the grip is comfy for long calls or scrolling. We heard there are at least two other colors out there for this model, so you might find one that fits your style better. Holding it, we can tell it’s built to last without feeling heavy or cheap.
Display
The screen on the HONOR 400 impressed us right away with how bright it gets. It hits a peak of 5000 nits, which means we can see everything clearly even outside in the sun. The refresh rate switches between 60Hz, 120Hz, or a dynamic setting that adjusts on its own. We liked how smooth it feels when we swipe or scroll fast. The thin bezels make the display pop, and the hole punch camera doesn’t get in the way. It’s a big, clean view that we enjoyed looking at every day.
What really stood out to us were the ebook mode and video enhancer features. The ebook mode turns the screen gray, which we found easy on the eyes when reading for a long time. Then, the video enhancer has two settings—super dynamic display and vivid display—that make videos look brighter and sharper. We tried watching some clips, and the colors really came to life with those options on. It’s a small thing, but it made us happy to see the difference, especially on this kind of phone.
Performance
The HONOR 400 runs on a Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chipset, and we’ve been testing it for a few days now. This chip is common in mid-range phones, and we can see why—it handles our usual tasks without any trouble. Opening apps, checking messages, and browsing the web all felt quick and steady. We didn’t run into any slow moments or freezes, which kept us moving through our day easily. It’s nice to know the phone can keep up with what we throw at it.
We didn’t play heavy games on the HONOR 400, but the chipset should be strong enough for that too. From what we used, like social media and videos, everything loaded fast and ran well. The phone doesn’t feel like it’s struggling, even when we switch between apps a lot. It’s the kind of performance we’d expect from something in this range, and it left us with no complaints so far. For daily stuff, it’s been a reliable little machine in our hands.
Camera
The camera setup on the HONOR 400 includes a 200MP main lens and a 12MP ultra-wide lens, but there’s no telephoto option. We started with the AI feature that turns photos into videos, and it was pretty cool to play with. If you snap a picture of someone making a gesture, it becomes a short clip. We tried it with a toy, and watching it move like a movie made us smile. The camera app is simple to use, with profiles to pick different styles, and Google Lens built in for quick searches.
For photos, the main camera handles 1x and 2x shots well, and we liked the clear details we got. At 4x zoom, the phone uses AI to fix the cropped image, and it still looks decent. Portrait mode lets us adjust the blur from F1.2 to F16, so we could make the background soft or keep it plain. Videos go up to 4K 30fps, and we found 1080P 60fps smooth too. The front camera surprised us with stabilization at 4K 30fps—it stayed steady even when we moved fast, which we didn’t expect.
Experience
Using the HONOR 400 every day has been mostly smooth for us. The fingerprint unlock sits low on the screen, but it works fast, even with wet fingers, which we tested after washing dishes. The 5300mAh battery lasts a full day without worry, and we liked that a lot. It charges at 66W wired, and there’s 5W reverse charging to juice up other gadgets. We were a bit bummed there’s no charger in the box, though. The SIM tray takes two cards but no extra storage, so we had to plan around that.
One thing we missed was a camera button, which the 400 Lite has. It’s not a big deal, but we wondered why it’s not here. The phone feels good for daily stuff—calling, texting, and watching things all worked fine. The battery kept us going from morning to night, and the quick unlock made it easy to jump back in. It’s a practical phone that doesn’t fuss too much, and we got used to it fast.
Verdict
After spending time with the HONOR 400, we can say it’s a solid phone that does a lot for its price. The build feels tough yet simple, and we liked how it stayed clean and comfy to hold. The screen stands out with its brightness and special modes, matching what we’ve seen on pricier HONOR models. The camera keeps things fun and useful, with good shots and neat AI tricks that made us want to take more pictures.
Overall, the HONOR 400 left us feeling good about what it offers. The Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 keeps it running without hiccups, and the battery life fits our busy days. Photos and videos came out nice, and the display made everything look better. It’s a phone we enjoyed using, and it handles the basics plus a little extra without any big letdowns. For something budget-friendly, it’s got plenty to like.
