In today’s cutthroat smartphone market, finding a truly well-rounded device often feels like stumbling upon a rare gem.
But digging into the HONOR 400 Pro 5G, we quickly see this isn’t just any phone; it’s designed with care and performs great in many ways, even exceeding expectations on a few fronts. From its refined design that prioritizes both aesthetics and comfort to a suite of advanced features, the HONOR 400 Pro 5G aims to deliver a flagship-level experience without demanding a top-tier price tag.
We’ve thoroughly tested its capabilities during several weeks of use, and the results speak for themselves: This device is poised to challenge expectations and redefine what’s possible in this segment.
Less curves, more purpose
The HONOR 400 Pro 5G comes in three distinct color options. HONOR sent us the Midnight Black variant, which sports a matte, fingerprint-resistant finish across its body. Visually, it’s quite a departure from its predecessor’s aggressively curved aesthetic — where the front glass seemed to spill over to the rear panel — but we actually prefer this approach. The gentler curves make the handset feel comfortable to hold and operate, and swiping on the curved-edge display remains a more satisfying experience than on a flat panel. The large rear camera unit still stands out with its mirror-like sheen, adding a touch of premium flair to an otherwise understated design.
Beyond aesthetics, the phone boasts IP68 and IP69 ratings, offering better protection against the elements. HONOR assures us it’s “splash-proof, water-resistant and dust-proof under normal use.” While we haven’t pushed these claims to their absolute limits, our unit did endure a surprise heavy downpour without issue. This is a significant upgrade from the previous generation’s IP65 rating, and we’re pleased to see the brand prioritizing durability.
HONOR has once again opted for a plastic frame, sandwiched between glass panels that, like the rest of the device, are designed to resist fingerprints. The company also states the back panel is reinforced to withstand minor bumps and drops, though information on its manufacturer remains elusive. Unfortunately, despite its premium price point, the continued use of a plastic frame feels like a missed opportunity here. A metal build would not only offer a more substantial and premium in-hand feel, but it would also better align with the smartphone’s cost. Nevertheless, the ergonomics and overall handling are still quite good.
The rear of the HONOR 400 Pro 5G is dominated by a giant, rounded quadrilateral camera housing. This prominent module features a metallic accent, a glossy plastic casing, and plastic camera rings. Notably, the rear flash is integrated into the setup, making it even more conspicuous than on last year’s HONOR 200 Pro. Be prepared for some noticeable wobbling when the phone is placed on a flat surface due to this hefty camera bump. Thankfully, the brand includes a clear silicone case in the box, which helps mitigate this issue while providing additional protection — a welcome inclusion if the bulge proves bothersome. Weighing in at around 205 grams with battery included, this Pro is on the heavier side.
Tucked within the display is a small, pill-shaped cutout, housing the 50-megapixel selfie camera and a 2-megapixel depth sensor, a setup similar to its predecessor. However, unlike last year, HONOR has taken a page from Apple’s playbook, implementing iOS-inspired animations and features around the front-facing camera punch-hole, reminiscent of the Dynamic Island on iPhones.
The under-display fingerprint scanner proves both accurate and fast, though its placement is quite low — a common complaint with many modern devices. Face unlock, which uses the front-camera cutout, is similarly quick and precise. However, unlike the HONOR Magic7 Pro, it lacks a 3D depth sensor. This translates to a less secure and reliable experience, so we’d recommend sticking with the embedded fingerprint reader for faster unlocking.
For a touch of retro charm, the HONOR 400 Pro 5G still includes an IR blaster on its top edge, allowing you to control nearby home appliances and devices with ease. The audio department is handled by a stereo speaker setup, featuring a dedicated speaker at the bottom and the earpiece cleverly doubling as a second one, utilizing two outlets for a more immersive sound. The built-in speakers deliver balanced and impressively loud audio.
There are no extra buttons on the Pro model; the left side, in fact, is completely bare. The bottom edge houses the USB-C port and the dual-SIM tray. For the globetrotters out there, eSIM support is a welcome addition.
The HONOR 400 Pro 5G sports a 6.7-inch curved-edge AMOLED display with a sharp 1.5K resolution, translating to a pixel density of 460 dots per inch. This screen supports 10-bit color depth, a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, and comes with Widevine L1 certification and HDR support for streaming services like Netflix and YouTube. We’re pleased to report that this handset is capable of streaming high-resolution 4K HDR content at 60 FPS on YouTube, a testament to its display capabilities. A particularly useful feature is its ability to maintain full touch responsiveness even when your fingers are wet, making it handy for use in the kitchen or right after a swim.
HONOR touts an impressive 5,000 nits of peak brightness for this panel, and in our tests, the screen remained perfectly legible even under bright conditions. The HONOR 400 Pro 5G also incorporates 3,840Hz high-frequency PWM Dimming to banish screen flickering, along with a suite of other eye-care features accessible through the Eye Care mode. Out of the box, colors appear neutral, but you can easily fine-tune them to your liking in the settings.
The HONOR 400 Pro 5G offers three distinct refresh-rate modes, namely Dynamic, Standard, and High. The Dynamic mode intelligently adapts between 60Hz, 90Hz, and 120Hz depending on the application, optimizing battery life when displaying static content or videos. We observed the phone consistently adopting either a 90Hz or 120Hz refresh rate in compatible applications, which is always a welcome sight. For maximum battery longevity, the Standard mode locks the display at 60Hz. Conversely, the High mode prioritizes fluidity by forcing 120Hz wherever possible. The device excels in maintaining this high refresh rate, a notable advantage over other phones that often drop to lower levels when the display is idle.
And, yes, the HONOR 400 Pro 5G is fully capable of running compatible games at 120 FPS. While this is expected given its price point and chosen chipset, it’s still an important detail to highlight especially for competitive gamers.
More than a portrait powerhouse
Much like its predecessor, the HONOR 400 Pro 5G arrives with a serious punch in the camera department. HONOR has equipped the handset with a triple-lens rear system, now headlined by a 200-megapixel main sensor with a pretty sizable 1/1.4-inch sensor and f/1.9 aperture lens. This is complemented by a 50-megapixel telephoto featuring 3x optical zoom and optical image stabilization, alongside a 12-megapixel ultrawide with autofocus support. As previously mentioned, the phone retains the capable 50-megapixel selfie shooter from the previous generation.
In most lighting conditions, we found that the Pro delivers consistently good to great results. The 12.5-megapixel binned photos are detailed and vivid. It also achieves exceptional macro results (with a 2x crop), showcasing a pleasingly shallow depth of field around the subject. The dynamic range, however, can sometimes be inconsistent, with highlights sometimes appearing too bright or even clipped under harsh light. You still have the option to shoot at the full 200-megapixel resolution for extra detail, though this comes at the cost of even less consistent dynamic range and significantly larger file sizes.
When it comes to the dedicated telephoto, one standout observation is HONOR’s excellent job of matching its post-processing with the main camera. We can’t help but draw comparisons to a certain fruit-branded smartphone; there’s virtually no discernible difference in color and exposure here. For both portrait and macro shots, it has proven to be a very capable option.
Rounding out the trio is a 12-megapixel ultrawide, perfectly suited for group shots and expansive landscapes. While not quite as impressive as its two siblings, the ultrawide unit definitely holds its own when lighting conditions are bright. Sharpness and detail are comparable to most ultrawide cameras found on flagship phones we’ve tested. It even supports autofocus and performs commendably in low light. Unfortunately, its colors and exposure don’t quite match the main and telephoto cameras, but that’s hardly surprising.
Sample shots
Up front, the HONOR 400 Pro 5G boasts a 50-megapixel front-facing camera with a face-detecting wide lens, allowing you to capture more of the background if desired. It delivers ample detail and admirable dynamic range, though we can’t help but wish for the inclusion of autofocus.
The most significant and noteworthy camera feature here is undoubtedly HONOR’s software-optimized Portrait mode. The company’s ongoing partnership with Studio Harcourt Paris remains a clear influence, as the HONOR 400 Pro 5G’s portrait capabilities continue to be a major highlight.
We recommend shooting with either a 2x or 3x crop when capturing portraits, though note that the smartphone will automatically switch to its telephoto camera when you select the 3x crop. This distinction is important because the 2x crop photos are remarkably close in quality to the 1x shots, meaning if you prioritize overall image quality in your portraits, you might want to stick with the primary sensor. There’s also a 6x setting, but in this mode, the device crops from the 3x telephoto sensor to achieve 6x hybrid zoom. Still, the results from this focal length look surprisingly good.
More shots, this time from the GMA Gala 2025, where HONOR was a sponsor
We couldn’t resist having our photo taken here 😀
The HONOR 400 Pro 5G can record video at up to 4K resolution at 60 frames per second with both the main and zoom cameras. This enables smooth, highly detailed recordings, perfect for capturing fast-paced action or adding cinematic slow-motion effects after the fact. The ultrawide and selfie cameras max out at 2K/30fps, still offering good quality for everyday videography.
Electronic image stabilization or EIS is available across all four cameras, but HONOR says that the OIS on the primary camera works in conjunction with EIS. Our testing seems to support this claim; videos captured on our review unit had no jitter or distortion.
No surprises here. The HONOR 400 Pro 5G’s camera system is a versatile and powerful setup, particularly adept at portrait photography. Each lens delivers quality images suited to its strengths, making this phone a particularly great choice for those passionate about mobile photography and videography.
A flagship challenger
At its core, the HONOR 400 Pro 5G is a true powerhouse, fueled by the formidable Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, coupled with Adreno 750 graphics and a respectable 12GB of physical RAM. This combination delivers flagship-level performance. Excluding handsets packing the Snapdragon 8 Elite, this Pro stands shoulder to shoulder with, and even outpaces, some of the fastest devices we’ve encountered last year. Its Antutu benchmark score, exceeding 1.8 million (in Performance mode), speaks volumes — this smartphone is unequivocally a performance beast.
Even the most demanding tasks are handled with ease. In everyday use, applications launch instantaneously, scrolling is buttery-smooth, and multitasking feels utterly effortless. With a hefty 512GB of onboard storage, you’ll have ample room for all your apps, games, and media, too.
We thoroughly put our unit through its paces with Genshin Impact, a notoriously resource-intensive title. Even with all graphical settings cranked to the maximum, the phone averaged around 50 FPS across multiple sessions, occasionally hitting the peak 60 FPS. We also took Grid Legends, a top-tier, console-quality racing simulator, for a spin; as expected, the HONOR 400 Pro 5G handled it admirably. Take note that Grid Legends isn’t available on most Android devices, as there are steep hardware requirements to run it — and even then, smooth performance isn’t guaranteed.
Perhaps more impressively, our review unit never reached alarming temperatures despite extended gameplay. In the CPU Throttling Test app, it never throttled below 68%, which is quite commendable.
We even ventured into PC emulation on this Pro, managing to run the opening area of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt at around 40 FPS, maxing out at 60 FPS indoors. Emulating a AAA game at respectable frame rates is the pinnacle of smartphone performance, leaving little else to say. Bottom line: This sub-flagship is fully capable of delivering flagship-level performance, regardless of what you throw at it.
The HONOR 400 Pro 5G is powered by a large 6,000mAh silicon-carbon battery backup. This robust power source should comfortably see you through a full workday, eliminating the need to scramble for a charger. In PCMark’s battery-rundown test, our device lasted 14 hours and 15 minutes, easily surpassing the HONOR 200 Pro, even with the brightness set to 50%.
The HONOR 400 Pro 5G supports up to 100-watt fast wired charging and up to 50-watt fast wireless charging. It also offers reverse wired and wireless charging for other devices. Thankfully, HONOR bundles a 100-watt charger with the 400 Pro in the Philippines, a notable advantage over other markets where the phone doesn’t even ship with a power brick. Using the bundled charger, we clocked a charge from zero to 50% in just 15 minutes, reaching a full 100% in an astonishing 36 minutes.
To further prolong the battery’s lifespan, the company offers a host of customizable measures in its settings. When enabled, the Smart Battery Capacity feature stops charging just below the cell’s actual full capacity. Meanwhile, Smart Charging cuts off power once the battery is full and resumes charging only when the level drops below 80%, preventing constant power cycling if the smartphone remains plugged in for extended periods.
Of course this model comes with our favorite Photo to Video AI feature, too, just like the HONOR 400 5G
Finally, mirroring the standard 400 before it, the HONOR 400 Pro 5G arrives with some impressive new AI tricks baked into its native gallery app. For starters, there’s a cool feature called Photo to Video, powered by Google’s Veo 2 AI video-generation model. Photo to Video allows you to generate compelling 5-second videos from still images, and the results are consistently fantastic. Meanwhile, unwanted elements, passersby, and reflections can be seamlessly removed using AI Eraser, AI Erase Passers-by, and AI Remove Reflection, respectively. You can also combine multiple live pictures into dynamic Moving Photo Collages, expand image edges with AI Outpainting, and revitalize old photos or correct closed eyes with AI Upscale and AI Face Tune.
Courtesy of ‘Your AI Phone’
Final thoughts
The HONOR 400 Pro 5G isn’t just another contender in the sub-flagship space — it manages to stand out in a number of areas. While a plastic frame might raise an eyebrow at this price point, it’s easily overshadowed by a design that prioritizes comfort and durability, a feature-packed display, and a camera system that consistently impresses, particularly with its portrait capabilities.
Add to that a top-tier processor delivering exceptional gaming and overall performance, alongside battery life that won’t leave you scrambling for a charger, and thoughtful AI features, and it becomes clear: The HONOR 400 Pro 5G is a near-perfect all-rounder, ready for whatever you throw at it.
Now, let’s talk about the price. At P32,999 or around $575, the HONOR 400 Pro 5G arrives in the Philippines with a slightly higher price tag than its P29,999 ($519) predecessor. However, given that you’re getting faster performance without sacrificing battery life, a superior display, and an all-around more capable camera system, we believe the price increase is justified. It also remains a more affordable option compared to many other brands in this segment.
HONOR 400 Pro 5G specs
- 6.7-inch AMOLED display, 1.5K resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, 5,000 nits peak brightness
- 4nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 5G processor
- Adreno 750 GPU
- 12GB RAM
- 512GB storage
- Triple 200-megapixel main, 50-megapixel telephoto, 12-megapixel ultrawide rear cameras
- 50-megapixel front camera
- Under-display fingerprint reader
- 6,000mAh battery with 100-watt fast wired charging
- MagicOS 9.0 based on Android 15
- IP68/69 rating
- Colors: Lunar Grey, Tidal Blue, Midnight Black
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