Okay, so HONOR passed me their new HONOR 400 Pro to test out, and I’ve been using it daily for the past week.
At first, I was like, “Nice, another phone.” But by day three I caught myself going, “Wait, this is actually kind of wild.”
If you’ve been wondering whether this phone is just another spec-chasing flagship or if it’s genuinely different, this review’s for you. Let me break down what surprised me, what I liked, and what I didn’t expect to care about but totally did.
First things first, yes, it looks and feels premium
Let’s start with what you’ll notice right out of the box.
You know when a phone just feels nice in your hand? Not too light, not too bulky? That’s the HONOR 400 Pro.
Mine’s in Lunar Grey, which honestly sounds a bit dramatic but looks super sleek. The finish doesn’t scream for attention, but you’ll get compliments for sure. It also comes in Tidal Blue and Midnight Black if you want something more bold or classic.
It’s got this smooth, curved AMOLED display that wraps just enough around the edges. Typing, scrolling, and one-hand use are all solid. If you’re picky about how your phone feels, you’ll probably like this one.
The camera setup lowkey shocked me
Now, I didn’t expect the camera to wow me, at least not beyond the usual “it’s decent” kind of way. But the moment I started taking actual photos, especially at night, that changed.
The main one is a 200MP sensor. That number sounds ridiculous, I know, but it’s not just for show. The low-light performance actually impressed me. You can zoom into street signs at night and still read them clearly.
There’s also a 50MP telephoto that zooms up to 50x, and I tried it on a building across the street and still got crisp details.
And don’t get me started on the selfie camera, a whole 50MP that doesn’t over-soften your face or make you look fake. Just natural, sharp, and flattering.
The AI Image to Video feature really got me curious
But the moment I realised this phone wasn’t just a typical flagship was when I tried its AI Image to Video feature.
I actually tested it out on my friends while they were just sitting quietly, kind of zoning out and staring at each other. No one was moving, no one was talking, just a super still moment.
I used the feature on that photo, and somehow, the AI made it feel like there was something going on beneath the silence. A blink here, a small tilt of the head there. It made the photo feel alive, like you were catching a moment just before someone smiled or said something.
AI tools actually saved me time and effort
After that, I started exploring more of the AI features and this is where the 400 Pro started feeling like a mini production studio in my pocket.
If you’re someone who always installs multiple apps just to clean up a photo, you won’t need to anymore.
- AI Eraser 2.0: I used it to remove one of my colleagues and my laptop from a photo I took at the office. It cleaned everything up so naturally, you’d never know they were there.
- Clothes changer: Just for fun, I changed my black shirt to blue in one tap. It actually matched the lighting too.
- AI Cutout: This one’s fun. I cut myself out from that café photo and dropped myself into an MRT scene.
- AI Outpainting: I took a picture of a rabbit at a mini farm that was kind of zoomed in, and it expanded the background so smoothly.
- Upscale: I found this blurry old photo of a flower and tried it out. The detail that popped out after was actually mind-blowing.
There’s also Moving Photo Collage, which lets you combine multiple Live Photos into an animated memory reel. It’s great for birthdays, outings, or just adding some motion to your camera roll.
The battery is actually impressive
Of course, all of these features don’t matter if your battery dies halfway through the day. Thankfully, the HONOR 400 Pro is more than ready for heavy use.
With a 6000mAh battery, this phone easily lasts me a full day and sometimes even more.
I’ve been using it for everything: scrolling through social media, editing photos and videos, watching Netflix, and navigating with Maps. At the end of the day, I usually still have around 30 to 40 percent left.
The charging speed is no joke. I had the 100W wired charger, and it gave me about 51% in just 15 minutes. Full charge in under 45. It’s honestly the kind of speed that makes you stop caring about overnight charging.
HONOR also says the battery can handle freezing conditions, even down to -20°C, and still run normally. Can’t say I tested that in Malaysia, but hey, good to know if you ever end up filming snows overseas.
The screen is gorgeous and kind to your eyes
All of this tech sits behind one of the nicest displays I’ve seen on a phone.
I didn’t realise how bright 5000 nits really is until I stood outside in the sun and could still see my screen clearly.
The 6.7-inch AMOLED display has 1.5K resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, and some next-level eye comfort features:
- 3840Hz PWM Dimming
- Circadian Night Mode
- Wink reminder (yes, it tells you to blink)
- AI Defocus Display
- Ultra Dark Mode
If you’re like me and scroll late into the night, this screen will help reduce that eye strain.
The phone is fast and stays cool
So what about performance? Spoiler: it’s solid.
Running on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 with Adreno 750 GPU, it handles everything smoothly. From gaming to multitasking to using all the AI features, I never noticed lag or overheating.
The OS, MagicOS 9.0 (based on Android 15), feels light and responsive. No unnecessary bloat or confusing layouts. It’s just clean and easy to use.
Some smart features I didn’t expect to love
And just when I thought I’d explored everything, I stumbled on a few more features that ended up being surprisingly useful.
- HONOR Share: Sends files quickly to Android, iPhone, Mac, or Windows devices. I didn’t have to set up anything complicated.
- Magic Portal 2.0: I circled a product on screen with my knuckle, and it brought up shopping links. Super cool.
- AI Notes: Summarised a meeting recording and cleaned up my messy notes for me.
- Live call translation: Translates phone calls in real time. Great for international trips or awkward language gaps.
- Deepfake detection: Alerts you during video calls if it detects the person might be AI-generated.
There’s also motion sickness relief mode, which reduces dizziness when using the phone in moving vehicles. And yes, you can use the screen with wet hands. I tested this in the rain, and it actually worked.
Final verdict? This phone really grew on me
This is probably the most fun I’ve had with a phone in a while. Not because it’s flashy or trendy, but because it feels smart in a useful way.
The HONOR 400 Pro isn’t just about having a big camera or powerful specs. It’s about helping you do more with less effort, whether that’s creating memories, staying productive, or just having tools that make your daily life smoother.
Would I recommend it? Absolutely. Especially if you love photography, want to simplify your content creation, or just want a phone that feels like it’s thinking with you, not just for you.
The HONOR 400 Pro is officially available in Malaysia starting today, 22 May 2025.
If you’ve been thinking of upgrading, now’s a good time to check it out. It might just surprise you like it did me.
