Honor 400 Pro Review: Premium Rival at £699?

content: Design and Build Quality

The Honor 400 Pro makes a strong first impression with its premium aesthetic, closely mirroring Huawei's Pure flagship design. Its standout feature is the distinct camera bump that adds personality to an otherwise minimalist profile. Available only in black or gray, the frosted back surface effectively resists fingerprints.

Despite the curved edges enhancing grip on this 6.7-inch device, the plastic frame slightly undermines its premium feel. The IP68/IP69 rating provides excellent water and dust resistance, a significant advantage at this price point. The optical fingerprint scanner proved reliable even with damp hands, complemented by consistent face unlock via the depth-sensing front camera.

Display Performance

Sporting a 6.7-inch OLED panel (2800x1280 resolution), the Honor 400 Pro delivers sharp visuals with HDR10 support. Outdoor visibility excels thanks to exceptional brightness, while the slim front camera cutout minimizes distraction compared to bulkier alternatives.

With a 120Hz refresh rate (though not LTPO), the display offers smooth scrolling. The standout feature is its motion sickness reduction mode, which uses moving blue dots to counteract nausea during travel. While the science is unclear, practical testing showed notable effectiveness during hour-long car sessions.

Performance and Software

Powered by Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and 12GB RAM, the device handles intensive games like Wuthering Waves smoothly. Extended gaming sessions caused moderate heating but no throttling, maintaining consistent performance. The 5,300mAh battery is exceptional, easily lasting through 7-8 hours of mixed use including camera work and streaming.

Running Magic OS 9 atop Android 15, the interface is highly customizable. However, excessive pre-installed apps require immediate cleanup. Honor hasn't confirmed update duration for this model, though 4-5 years of support is expected.

Audio and Charging

The stereo speakers reach ear-splitting volumes while maintaining clarity at 70% capacity. 100W wired charging rapidly refuels the large battery, with 50W wireless support outpacing many competitors. Bluetooth connectivity remained flawless during testing.

Camera Capabilities

The triple-camera setup includes a 200MP main sensor, 50MP telephoto (3x optical zoom), and 12MP ultrawide/macro. In natural mode, daylight shots show good detail though colors can oversaturate. Low-light performance struggles with noise, while the telephoto produces more balanced tones.

Video recording reaches 4K/60fps with effective stabilization but inconsistent HDR results. The 50MP front camera handles selfies competently in adequate light.

AI Tools and Concerns

Honor's AI implementation is aggressive. Magic Portal allows text extraction and content saving through awkward screen-knocking gestures. Most controversially, the AI Image-to-Video feature transforms photos into 5-second clips, generating realistic but unnerving animations.

This deepfake capability ironically clashes with Honor's built-in deepfake detection. The tool works remarkably well except with complex hand movements. Notably, the feature currently carries a "limited-time free trial" label.

Final Verdict

Strengths and Weaknesses

• Battery champion: All-day endurance with ultra-fast charging
• Display excellence: Bright, smooth visuals with unique anti-nausea feature
• Performance: Handles demanding tasks without throttling
• Camera limitations: Inconsistent processing and weak low-light results
• Software bloat: Significant pre-installed apps require removal
• AI ethics: Powerful tools raise responsible usage questions

The Honor 400 Pro delivers 90% of flagship experience at 70% of the cost, making it a compelling alternative to pricier rivals. While its camera can't match premium competitors and AI features present ethical dilemmas, the exceptional battery, display, and performance create substantial value at £699.

Actionable Takeaways

1. Immediately uninstall bloatware: Free up storage and streamline your interface
2. Set camera to Natural mode: Minimize oversaturation in daily shooting
3. Enable motion sickness relief: Essential for travelers or commuters
4. Experiment cautiously with AI tools: Document outputs where authenticity matters

Recommended Resources

• DxOMark (dxomark.com): For objective camera performance comparisons
• GSM Arena Battery Test Tool: To validate real-world battery claims
• Deepfake Detection Guide by MIT: Essential reading for AI ethics awareness

Which feature excites you most—the revolutionary battery life or unsettling AI video tools? Share your perspective below! For budget options, see our Honor 400 Lite review.