{"id":2787,"date":"2025-06-04T09:17:12","date_gmt":"2025-06-04T09:17:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.oriccabattery.co.uk\/Blog\/?p=2787"},"modified":"2025-06-04T09:17:12","modified_gmt":"2025-06-04T09:17:12","slug":"i-swapped-my-iphone-for-the-honor-400-and-it-beats-apples-handset-in-one-key-area","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.oriccabattery.co.uk\/Blog\/archives\/2787","title":{"rendered":"I swapped my iPhone for the Honor 400, and it beats Apple&#8217;s handset in one key area"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Honor&#8217;s latest mid-range phone offers plenty for the price, including a truly stunning display<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/8rGy3nWssEDKYvbpVLLpzG.png\" alt=\"Honor 400 review shot\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Verdict<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For such an affordable price, I\u2019m surprised by everything the Honor 400 provides, including a truly mesmerizing display, respectable performance, and a sizeable amount of internal storage. However, if you already own last year\u2019s Honor 200, you may want to skip this update and wait another year or two before upgrading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pros<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>+A truly gorgeous display<\/li><li>+Solid performance<\/li><li>+Tons of storage for the price<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cons<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>-AI features are hit and miss<\/li><li>-MagicOS still needs some work<\/li><li>-A few downgrades compared to the Honor 200<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"section-honor-400-two-minute-review\">Honor 400: Two-minute review<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the time that I\u2019ve spent with the Honor 400, part of me is stunned to see just how far the mid-range market has come. Usually, when I test phones at this end of the scale, I anticipate there being one area that significantly holds the phone back from true greatness. This is understandable \u2013 there needs to be some reason to upgrade to thebest phoneslike theiPhone 16 Proor theSamsung Galaxy S25 Ultra\u2013 but on the Honor 400, this caveat never really applied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For starters, with an affordable price tag of \u00a3399.99 in the UK, the Honor 400 already undercuts a ton of mid-range contenders like thePixel 9a, theSamsung Galaxy A56and theNothing Phone 3a Pro, which will make it a more tempting buy for those who are tied to a strict budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Diving into the phone itself, Honor spoils us with a number of features, the highlight being the 6.55-inch AMOLED display, which can reach a peak brightness of 5000 nits. I\u2019ve tested a lot of phones in my time, but Honor just knows how to make a mid-range display that\u2019s instantly eye-catching. It\u2019s colorful, easy to use outdoors, and great for streaming films and TV shows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The new 200MP main camera captures some great shots, especially when the sun is out, but the setup really comes into its own when paired with the Harcourt-inspired filters in the phone\u2019s portrait mode. If you prefer taking pictures of friends and family rather than what you had for dinner, then you\u2019ll appreciate what\u2019s available here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This amounts to a solid experience overall, but in some instances, it\u2019s a slight downgrade compared to the phone\u2019s predecessor. For instance, the Honor 200 has a slightly larger 6.7-inch display as well as an additional telephoto lens. The same Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chipset has been carried over, so you won\u2019t gain much where performance is concerned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With that in mind, I wouldn\u2019t recommend the Honor 400 to owners of last year\u2019s Honor mid-range. For those with a device that\u2019s been out for four or five years, though, it\u2019s hard to argue with the value proposition Honor has put together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">also:<a href=\"https:\/\/www.oriccabattery.co.uk\/honor-battery-HB506492EFW-p1787176.htm\">Replacement battery for Honor X40<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"section-honor-400-review-price-and-availability\">Honor 400 review: price and availability<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZR2HzBjc96d65zH2QVo99X.jpg\" alt=\"Honor 400 review images\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Starts at \u00a3399.99 in the UK<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Released in May 2025<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Situated as the middle child of the new Honor 400 series, the Honor 400 has a starting price of \u00a3399.99 for the 256GB model, but that price leaps up to \u00a3449 if you want the larger 512GB storage option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the time of writing, only UK pricing and availability have been confirmed, with the phone releasing in May 2025 both as a SIM-free device and from several UK networks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even though their naming conventions are easy to understand, the pricing within the Honor 400 range is a little confusing. At present, theHonor 400 Litecosts \u00a3249.99, just \u00a3150 less than the Honor 400, whereas theHonor 400 Proasks for an extra \u00a3300 with an RRP of \u00a3699.99.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I can only hypothesize that the Honor 400\u2019s entry-level price is a strategic move to make it more affordable than some of the established best mid-range phones, which tend to sit around \u00a3499.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Value score: 4 \/ 5<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Honor 400 review: specs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<table class=\"wp-block-table\"><tbody><tr><\/tr><tr><td>Dimensions:<\/td><td>156.5mm x 74.6mm x 7.3mm<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Weight:<\/td><td>184g<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Display:<\/td><td>6.55-inch (2736 x 1264) up to 120Hz AMOLED<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Chipset:<\/td><td>Snapdragon 7 Gen 3<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>RAM:<\/td><td>8GB<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Storage:<\/td><td>256GB \/ 512GB<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>OS:<\/td><td>Android 15<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Primary camera:<\/td><td>200MP (f\/1.9, 1\/1.4&#8221;, OIS) sensor<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Ultra-wide camera:<\/td><td>12MP (f\/2.2, FOV 112\u00b0) sensor<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Front Camera:<\/td><td>50MP sensor<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Battery:<\/td><td>5,330mAh<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Charging:<\/td><td>66W wired<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Colors:<\/td><td>Midnight Black, Meteor Silver, Desert Gold<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">also:<a href=\"https:\/\/www.oriccabattery.co.uk\/honor-battery-HB586680EFW-p1787168.htm\">Replacement battery for Honor Magic4 Pro<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"section-honor-400-review-design\">Honor 400 review: design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/PJnDFhUq2U6bjoseMEkw6X.jpg\" alt=\"Honor 400 review images\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nzGjUve7KsrtsoHtGvvR7X.jpg\" alt=\"Honor 400 review images\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Honor is definitely nipping at Apple\u2019s heels<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>The design feels more confident than the Honor 200<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The overall design of Honor\u2019s mid-range phones has always felt a little off to my eyes. For example, theHonor 90from a few years back had a wonderful Emerald Green option that made it stand out, but it was hampered by two distinct camera bumps that felt wildly out of place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Things weren\u2019t much better with last year\u2019s Honor 200, which featured far too much negative space in its camera module, making the design feel like an afterthought compared to the rest of the device. Thankfully, Honor has finally hit a far more premium, if potentially dull, aesthetic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As mentioned in the Honor 400 Lite review, it isn\u2019t hard to see where Honor is drawing its inspiration from here. The flat edges around the device, alongside the vertically aligned cameras, give off a whiff of theiPhone 16, which is no bad thing when you consider that the Honor 400 is less than half the price ofApple\u2019s \u00a3699\/$699 handset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It does feel premium in the hand, and even with a plastic chassis, I think people would be surprised to learn just how cheap the Honor 400 is at the checkout, based solely on its looks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I do wish, however, that Honor could have kept some of its signature flair where the colors are concerned. The company has instead opted for safe black, silver and gold variations. Thankfully, there is an official IP rating this time around of IP65, so you won\u2019t have to worry about dust particles or jets of water \u2013 always helpful over long-term use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While it certainly won\u2019t wow anyone, I feel that this is the most confident-looking mid-ranger that Honor has ever put out, and I have to admire it for that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Design score: 4 \/ 5<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"section-honor-400-review-display\">Honor 400 review: display<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uHsCFQAR6Rd3tjFvZvhZ8X.jpg\" alt=\"Honor 400 review images\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>It\u2019s a smaller display at 6.55 inches<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>The curves have been swapped out for a flat panel<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If there\u2019s one area where this company has easily outpaced the mid-range competition, it\u2019s in the quality of its displays, and the Honor 400 is no exception, although there is one tweak that might put off some folks from upgrading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Starting with the good, this 6.55-inch AMOLED display is just drop-dead gorgeous to look at. It gets impressively bright at up to 5000 nits, and when using it outdoors against direct sunlight, I haven\u2019t found myself squinting to make out what\u2019s on the screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The crisp 2736 x 1264 resolution also makes the phone great for catching up on Netflix or whichever streaming service takes your fancy. Using the Honor 400 at the gym, I was quite immersed in a few episodes of Prime Video&#8217;s<em>Invincible<\/em>while on the treadmill, with the phone doing the show\u2019s vivid color palette justice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Q5M7MpBP6QWFvzLukQUF8X.jpg\" alt=\"Honor 400 review images\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you don\u2019t mind sacrificing a little more battery life, you can toggle Super Dynamic Display alongside Vivid Display, two modes that use AI to analyze what you&#8217;re watching and respond with improved colors and realism in real time. I can\u2019t say that I saw an immediate difference, but the screen already looked great, so I can\u2019t really complain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While the phone\u2019s refresh rate can be set to 120Hz at all times, by default it\u2019s placed in an adaptive mode that allows it to change depending on the task at hand, saving battery life in the process. Even though this has long been a feature among thebest Android phones, it blows my mind that it\u2019s now something we get as standard in the mid-range\/budget market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Making a return is all of Honor\u2019s dimming and eye-health features. That sounds impressive on paper, with \u20183840Hz RiskFree Dimming\u2019, but what does it actually mean? In practice, this tech limits the amount of refreshes that take place at a speed imperceptible to the human eye, reducing the risk of eye fatigue over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Of course, something like this is difficult to quantify. However, I will say that out of all the phones I\u2019ve used, the Honor 400 is one of the few that doesn\u2019t leave me with noticeable eye-strain if I do a quick bit of scrolling before bed, particularly if the fantastic \u2018eBook mode\u2019 is activated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">All of this amounts to a wonderful display, but if you currently own an Honor 90 or an Honor 200, it\u2019s worth bearing in mind that both of those phones have a larger 6.7-inch display, so you are getting a slight downgrade where size is concerned. Personally, I don\u2019t mind, particularly as it makes the Honor 400 easier to use one-handed, but it\u2019s still something to consider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Display score: 4.5 \/ 5<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>also:<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.oriccabattery.co.uk\/huawei-battery-HB30G1A3EGW-p1786574.htm\">Replacement battery for Huawei Honor Pad 9<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"section-honor-400-review-cameras\">Honor 400 review: cameras<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/mFi8CfgAr4M8mLghFd6B9X.jpg\" alt=\"Honor 400 review images\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Just like the display, the cameras have also been downgraded\/upgraded<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>The new 200MP main sensor is the star of the show<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There\u2019s a definite pattern of give and take with the Honor 400. I\u2019ve already mentioned the differences in the display tech, and unfortunately, it also extends to the new camera setup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On paper, you\u2019ve got a 200MP (f\/1.9, 1\/1.4&#8221;, OIS) main sensor, flanked by a 12MP (f\/2.2, FOV 112\u00b0) ultrawide that also serves as a macro lens. That might sound fairly decent given the \u00a3399.99 price tag, but eagle-eyed readers might have already noticed that while the main sensor has had a bump from 50MP to 200MP, the phone is missing the additional 50MP telephoto lens from the Honor 200.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While it\u2019s nice to have a dedicated telephoto lens, having the upgraded megapixel count on the main lens does open up more opportunities for cropping and zooming that don&#8217;t completely wreck the quality of the photo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Enjoying the wonderful sights of Surrey\u2019s Box Hill, I was able to snap some fantastic shots that really did the trail justice, helped in large part by the brilliantly sunny weather. When I felt the need to crop in on certain photos for social media after the fact, I didn\u2019t feel hard done by in the final results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The same can be said for the ultra-wide shots, which, despite that 12MP ceiling, still packed an impressive degree of detail and color. In a pinch, that same ultra-wide lens can be used for macro shots if, like me, you enjoy getting the odd picture of fauna up close (although I can\u2019t imagine using it for much else).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You\u2019ve got 4x digital zoom for picking up subjects in the distance, but for something really far out, you can lean on Honor\u2019s 30x AI Superzoom. Just like it operates on other Honor phones, this feature uses AI to recreate the picture you\u2019ve taken. This means the end result isn\u2019t technically a photo at all, but something AI has constructed from a real photo. As you might imagine, its success rate can be mixed, and there\u2019s a general \u2018watercolour\u2019 look that plagues all of these images after the fact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Speaking of AI, there\u2019s an \u2018image to video\u2019 feature that lets you make short AI-driven animations out of shots you\u2019ve taken. I\u2019ll admit, one video it derived from a selfie felt so realistic that I didn\u2019t like the idea of seeing what else it could do. Thankfully, these videos don\u2019t go beyond five seconds, so there isn\u2019t a huge use case for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When it comes to more traditional AI features in the phone\u2019s editing suite, like AI cutout or AI outpainting (the latter of which extends the picture with generative AI), it all works rather well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Last year, Honor made a big splash by partnering with photography studio Harcourt to add more pizazz to the portrait photography of the 200 series; now those signature Harcourt filters are back on the Honor 400, looking better than ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019re the type of person whose Instagram uploads are filled with model-style shots, you\u2019ll appreciate what\u2019s on offer here. Although there are just three Harcourt filters (Vibrant, Color and Classic), they all look great and pump out truly eye-catching shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While the 50MP selfie camera doesn\u2019t utilize Harcourt\u2019s prowess, it still managed to capture self-portraits that I was more than happy to share with the world, which doesn\u2019t often happen. There\u2019s a wonderfully soft bokeh here that pairs well with the camera\u2019s autofocus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The dedicated night mode also does a respectable job, so you should be in luck with most low-light situations if you do want to take a quick snap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Camera score: 4 \/ 5<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"section-honor-400-review-camera-samples\">Honor 400 review: camera samples<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn01.dcfever.com\/articles\/news\/2025\/05\/250529_400propicsc_15.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn01.dcfever.com\/articles\/news\/2025\/05\/250529_400propicsc_05.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6pBZtMTBx3tyvqeSKcaS6Q.jpg\" alt=\"Honor 400 review photo samples\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/LgRK3GSzWZmxwB6DfxEovP.jpg\" alt=\"Honor 400 review photo samples\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/jSkx6Gj3fA9uZoycMh4kuP.jpg\" alt=\"Honor 400 review photo samples\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/k9D7QetpAnEq6KdZ4KhX8Q.jpg\" alt=\"Honor 400 review photo samples\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pgYP426MCCmkWhhVhLwExP.jpg\" alt=\"Honor 400 review photo samples\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Honor 400 review: performance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Same chipset as last year<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Respectable performance in its price range<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The best thing I can say about the Honor 400 from a performance perspective is just how little it\u2019s been on my mind over the course of testing the device. Of course, I\u2019m not saying that it exceeds thebest iPhones\u2013 far from it \u2013 but even though it uses the same Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chipset as last year, it goes to show how far the mid-range market has come, where you can now expect solid day-to-day performance without breaking the bank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the time that I spent with the Honor 400, I didn&#8217;t have an app fail to load or crash mid-use, and I could jump from one app to another without any significant delay. Even when using the phone as a hotspot to watch a video on my iPad, I could still scroll through Google Chrome on the Honor 400 without any noticeable slowdown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When it came to games, the phone handled booting up a race in Asphalt Legends Unite and the game\u2019s frenetic energy with ease. Graphics look bold and exciting on the display, and any visual stuttering was very brief and infrequent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I found the performance withinCall of DutyMobile to be even better, so if you like to get in a few rounds of Nuketown on your lunch break, you won\u2019t have any issues doing so here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I will say that for both games (and at times when I was really pushing the device), I felt some heat radiating off the Honor 400. It was never enough to make holding the device uncomfortable, but it did give me pause to make sure that I didn\u2019t overstretch the phone\u2019s limitations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I do, however, want to give a brief nod to the speakers, which performed surprisingly well in testing. I almost always anticipate a mono-speaker system at this end of the market, but there&#8217;s a stereo set-up on the Honor 400, and it can get impressively loud and immersive when you&#8217;re diving into a spot of gaming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Performance score: 4 \/ 5<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"section-honor-400-review-software\">Honor 400 review: software<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/HrGfiDrUuDq5vJLErrLB9X.jpg\" alt=\"Honor 400 review images\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Honor has gone all in on AI<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>MagicOS is better, but there\u2019s still room for improvement<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Just like almost every other company on the block right now, Honor has gone all-in on AI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As with AI implementation on other devices, I found the overall experience to be a mixed bag. I don\u2019t think the situation is quite as dire as what I\u2019ve come across usingApple Intelligenceon myiPhone 16 Plus, but there are definitely areas where Honor has plenty of room for improvement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the better side of that equation is Honor\u2019s Magic Portal, which operates similarly to Google\u2019s Circle to Search (which already exists on the Honor 400), only this time requiring that you highlight an object using your knuckle. I found the feature to be incredibly responsive, and once you\u2019ve selected your desired image or piece of text, you can quickly share it to a list of apps that appear on the side, as chosen by AI. It\u2019s genuinely a great example of AI being used intelligently, and I did find myself using it a few times to save text quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Features like AI Subtitles and AI Translate have their moments, but there\u2019s still work to be done. For the former, it can generate speech to text with decent speed and accuracy, but when I tried to get it to make subtitles from aYouTubevideo, the whole experience fell apart with nonsensical text. AI Translate fares a bit better with a quick response time for translations, but it doesn\u2019t boast quite as many available languages as Live Translate on Galaxy AI-totingSamsungphones, so you\u2019ll find a more robust experience elsewhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the lower end of the scale, AI Suggestions pretty much does what it says on the tin by offering up quick access to apps it thinks you need at certain times of day, but this is a feature Apple\u2019s had for years so I don\u2019t understand why Honor has drawn so much attention to it here as if it\u2019s something brand new. There\u2019s also AI Deepfake Detection, although this only works with video calls and doesn\u2019t let you know if you\u2019re seeing a video or image online that\u2019s fake, which is really where it should be targeted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CJ2GELrW2YnGNRENSv4Wyb.jpg\" alt=\"Product shots of the Honor 400 Pro\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Magic Capsule on the Honor 400 Pro, which also features on the 400(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">All of this sits on top of MagicOS 9.0, Honor\u2019s Android 15 overlay, which in itself is something of a head-scratcher. I will say that compared to when I last used MagicOS on the Honor 90, theoperating systemhas come quite a long way, and it feels less cumbersome to use than I remember.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s not quite as slick as stock Android, which can be found on thebest Pixel phones, but it does have a nice aesthetic. And as someone who mostly uses an iPhone, I did appreciate the nods to iOS, including Honor\u2019s take on the Dynamic Island, which shows music playback at the top of the display, as well as the need to swipe down from different sections to access the notification tray or the control center (even if I did find myself in the latter a few times when it wasn\u2019t my intention).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What holds MagicOS back is the unfortunate amount of bloatware that comes preinstalled on the Honor 400. When setting the phone up, I needed to get rid of several apps, including TikTok and Temu, not to mention Honor\u2019s own-brand apps, which include the company\u2019sGoogle Play Storecompetitor, the Honor App Market. It\u2019s not a deal-breaker, by any means, but it doesn\u2019t help the phone against fierce competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On a better note, the Honor 400 now comes with a promised six years of updates, providing official support until at least 2031. Compared to the paltry support that Honor provided for previous devices, this is a huge shift that makes the Honor 400 a better option as a phone to last you well into the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Software score: 3 \/ 5<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"section-honor-400-review-battery-life\">Honor 400 review: battery life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Slightly larger 5,300mAh cell<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Easily gets you through a full day of use comfortably<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Despite its smaller stature, the Honor 400 features a slightly increased battery capacity compared to the Honor 200, jumping from 5,200mAh to 5,300mAh. Honor hasn&#8217;t been too specific where longevity is concerned, other than claiming an \u201call-day battery life\u201d for the phone, which, thankfully, is an assessment that\u2019s more on the conservative side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I put the Honor 400 through a heavy day of use, starting at 8:30am, getting just over four hours of screen time, including 40 minutes of Instagram and 25 minutes of Prime Video, alongside 33 minutes of Spotify in the background and 1 hour and 39 minutes of using the phone as a hotspot for my iPad. With all that in mind, the phone still had 30% left in the tank by 10:30pm, 14 hours later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For my money, that\u2019s more than enough to alleviate any major battery anxiety. You also toggle one of two power-saving modes, which halt a lot of background processing to extend the longevity as much as possible. On most days, however, I didn\u2019t need to charge the Honor 400 until about halfway through the following day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When you do need to top up, you won\u2019t have to wait long as the Honor 400 boasts 66W fast charging, although there isn\u2019t a compatible fast charger included in the box. When charging at a slightly slower 60W rate on an adapter I had to hand, it took about 30 minutes to get from 20% to 69%, and a total of 54 minutes to get back to a full tank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Unfortunately, there\u2019s no wireless charging available, which does feel like a sticking point when that feature is creeping into the mid-range conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Battery score: 4 \/ 5<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"buy-it-if-3\">Buy it if&#8230;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>You want a vibrant display<\/strong>The Honor 400\u2019s bright and colorful 6.55-inch AMOLED display has been the highlight of my time using the phone. It\u2019s set a very high bar indeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>You want more storage for less<\/strong>The ability to get 256GB as standard (or 512GB for just an extra \u00a350) makes the Honor 400 a bargain for those who store tons of files locally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>You want a great phone for portrait photography<\/strong>Honor\u2019s 200MP main camera takes some great shots, but it\u2019s the Harcourt-infused filters that make it a winner for those who love to indulge in portrait photography.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"don-t-buy-it-if-3\">Don&#8217;t buy it if&#8230;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>You have last year\u2019s Honor 200<\/strong>With the Honor 400 carrying the same chipset, a smaller screen and one less camera, it isn\u2019t exactly a must-buy for last year\u2019s adopters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>You want the best Android experience<\/strong>Honor\u2019s MagicOS still has a way to go before it can compete with slicker operating system overlays found on Samsung and OnePlus phones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>You value wireless charging<\/strong>Even though you get fast wired charging here, the lack of wireless charging is noticeable given that it\u2019s slowly becoming a feature at this end of the market.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Honor&#8217;s latest mid-range phone offers plenty for the price, including a truly stunning display Verdict For such an affordable price, I\u2019m surprised by everything the Honor 400 provides, including a truly mesmerizing display, respectable performance, and a sizeable amount of internal storage. However, if you already own last year\u2019s Honor 200, you may want to &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oriccabattery.co.uk\/Blog\/archives\/2787\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;I swapped my iPhone for the Honor 400, and it beats Apple&#8217;s handset in one key area&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2787","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oriccabattery.co.uk\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2787","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oriccabattery.co.uk\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oriccabattery.co.uk\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oriccabattery.co.uk\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oriccabattery.co.uk\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2787"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.oriccabattery.co.uk\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2787\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2788,"href":"https:\/\/www.oriccabattery.co.uk\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2787\/revisions\/2788"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oriccabattery.co.uk\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2787"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oriccabattery.co.uk\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2787"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oriccabattery.co.uk\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2787"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}