Honor 400 – Review – Coolsmartphone

Design
First, let’s begin with the design. This was lined in nice depth throughout my unboxing submit and unboxing video. However if in case you have not seen this, then I’d encourage you to examine the video and the submit out earlier than persevering with to learn on.

The design of the Honor 400 is delicate however a major change from the earlier Honor 200 collection. The explanation for me saying that’s that they’ve gone with a extra boxy design on the 400 over the earlier curved edges design on the 200. They’ve additionally modified the digital camera island on the again from an oval to a extra rhombic form.

There may be additionally a major display screen dimension distinction. The 200 collection had a 6.7″ display screen with curved edges, and the 400 has a display screen dimension of 6.55″ with utterly flat, squared-off edges.

The cellphone feels fairly utilitarian and blocky, which is on no account a nasty factor. Nevertheless, the svelte and pebble-like rounded feeling of the predecessor is now not current.

One other characteristic that I immediately discovered to be lacking, which is considerably perplexing because it was discovered on the 400 Lite cellphone beforehand reviewed on CoolSmartphone.com, is the occlusion of any digital camera motion button, which was to be discovered on the right-hand facet within the decrease third of the sting of the cellphone. I don’t know what the reasoning behind that is, however I can solely think about that the digital camera shortcut button was supposed on the 400 Lite collection to check its performance and adoption earlier than they carried out it on the higher-tier units.
By way of sturdiness and ruggedness, the cellphone is IP65 rated, so it’ll address some mud and particles, and it’ll additionally address mild splashing. I’d not advocate utilizing this cellphone submerged. Then once more, I’d additionally not advocate utilizing any cellphone submerged. However it’s good to see a mid-tier system getting the IP scores that was completely for higher-end units.

The physique consists of a steel body with Gorilla Glass each back and front, I consider. The entrance is Gorilla Glass Victus, and the again is a type of Gorilla Glass. The again of the cellphone has a matte end to the glass, which does assist within the grip barely, and it’s as slim as you’d count on from a sweet bar design in 2025.
By way of colors, there can be 3 color variants, Desert Gold, Meteor Silver (unique to Honor.com)and Midnight Black, which is the one I’ve on evaluation.

{Hardware} and efficiency
The cellphone options the Snapdragon 7 Gen, which is a strong chip and can address most issues common customers will throw on the cellphone. It solely comes with 8 gigabytes of RAM. Nevertheless, there are two storage variants of 256 GB or 512 GB, relying in your desired storage and doubtlessly color variant.
Hidden beneath the body is the place we’ll discover a 5300mAh silicon-carbon battery with as much as 66W HONOR Wired SuperCharge. My evaluation unit didn’t include a charger within the field. So I can’t affirm what pace of charger you’ll get. I count on it will likely be one of many lower-powered varieties, and they’ll provide a 66-watt-capable charger without cost as a present with buy. That is based mostly upon earlier Honor gross sales.
There may be one lacking characteristic regarding charging, and that’s the skill to wirelessly cost, which is unfortunately lacking from the cellphone. I’d have appreciated to have seen this, however there needs to be one thing to differentiate this and the 400 Professional.
One other space of distinction between the 400 Professional and the 400 is the cameras. I received’t dive into this an excessive amount of as I’ll save this for the digital camera part, however the 400 solely has a twin digital camera setup that includes a 200 megapixel digital camera and a 12 megapixel ultra-wide digital camera, whereas the 400 Professional contains a triple digital camera setup that includes the identical cameras with the addition of a telephoto lens. I’ve discovered the cameras to be passable for the value level, however extra on that within the digital camera part.

Undecided why it appears to be like inexperienced right here, it’s Black, I promise

As beforehand talked about, the cellphone will cost by way of supercharger, and that is all taken care of by way of the USB Sort-C 2.0 port on the bottom of the unit. This doesn’t help show out, however does help reverse wired charging at 5 watts. This may be helpful for powering headphones, and so on., whereas on the go.
The cellphone options a number of bands over the total cell spectrum, together with as much as 5G, and it options Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac. It additionally helps Bluetooth 5.3 and all of the related codecs that you would consider. I’ve had no drawback pairing this to wi-fi headphones from each Google and OnePlus, and in addition to my Pixel Watch 3. Name high quality has been superb, as has been information reception when travelling across the UK. I’ve hardly ever skilled a time when I’ve no service, which is nice to see, significantly as there are not any seen antenna strains on the outside casing. The antennas have to be positioned in a method that the RF escapes by the again of the cellphone.

The loudspeakers are crisp and clear, up till round about 80% quantity, after which They do begin to get somewhat muddy, however most of my expertise utilizing this has been with wi-fi headphones, the place, as talked about, I’ve had no drawback with pairing or listening to music, movies, podcasts, and so on.
By way of gaming, these of you who learn my articles typically will know I’m not the largest gamer. Nevertheless, I’ve put this by my traditional gaming exams of Grand Mountain Journey 2 and Asphalt Unite. I’ve discovered that in each video games, I used to be not missing efficiency in any respect, and in contrast to the Honor 400 Lite, I didn’t expertise the laggy bug when initially beginning to play on Grand Mountain Journey 2. This isn’t stunning, as beforehand talked about, the Snapdragon 7 Gen. chip on board is lots highly effective sufficient.
Software program
The software program on the Honor 400 is similar to that on the 400 Lite that I’ve beforehand reviewed. There may be little to differentiate the 2. After all, each the telephones have… Google’s AI is constructed into the cellphone’s core. Nevertheless, with the 400, Honor and Google have co-launched a brand new characteristic known as AI Photograph to Video, which lets you take a photograph and use AI to create a really quick five-second video clip or shifting image to be used in sharing on social media, and so on. I’ve examined this with inventory photographs supplied by Honor and in addition with my photographs, and in each eventualities, it really works very, very nicely. Is it a characteristic I’ll use typically? In all probability not. However provided that this cellphone is meant for a market of probably youthful customers, and in addition the 400 collection normally is meant for that market. It’s a good characteristic to have on board.

Here’s a demo of the way it works

And right here is the tip end result.

By way of different AI that’s featured, Google Gemini is constructed into the core, and I’ve had no drawback utilizing that. There may be AI translate, AI writing and numerous AI instruments. Honor has labored onerous to make AI use straightforward and seamless. And for probably the most half, this has confirmed to achieve success. My use of AI is mostly restricted to voice-to-text by way of AI notes and Gemini, and infrequently, some AI instruments are used inside Google Photographs. Nevertheless, I’ve dabbled with the AI photograph enhancing suite constructed into the Honor’s Gallery app, and it does a great job of finishing up the edits that you’d need, resembling AI Object Remover, AI Reflection Remover, and so on.

Sadly, with this being Honor’s customary launcher, one in every of my pet peeves continues to be current. That is splitting the notification pane and the management centre. I’ve gone into this earlier than, so I can’t dwell on it. I don’t prefer it, and I would really like the selection to show it off, which is one thing given to you by Oppo and OnePlus, and I consider Samsung. So this could be a suggestion for Honor shifting ahead.

I’ve acquired no less than one software program replace because the cellphone was supplied to me, however because the cellphone has been used primarily in pre-release software program, it’s onerous to say how dependable software program updates can be. Nevertheless, Honor introduced on the twenty first that they are going to be supporting Android 16 on the 400 collection throughout the subsequent few months, and the cellphone will get six years of OS and safety updates. This brings it as much as the upper tiers of corporations supporting OS and safety updates. Not fairly matching Samsung and Google, however nonetheless very, superb.

One other facet of software program that Honor are very pleased with is their EyeCare suite. That is taken care of by 7 completely different instruments that can permit the display screen to dim or modify relying on instances and circumstances. The thought behind this idea is to let you use your cellphone with out having to fret about eye pressure, blue mild bleed, and so on. It’s one thing Honor may be very pleased with, and as such, it has its personal menu degree throughout the settings. See screenshot under.

I’ve not observed any eye pressure when utilizing the system for extended intervals, even at evening, so… what they’ve accomplished have to be working.

One other new characteristic for the Honor 400 is AI Writing instruments, that are a joint effort between HONOR and Google Gemini. Right here’s the way it works: you simply sort in a command or immediate, and the device will do all of the magic that will help you create content material. Whether or not you might want to draft one thing from scratch, make it sound higher, or change the best way it’s written, the AI Writing Instruments will help you broaden your concepts and even examine your grammar and spelling throughout completely different languages. It’s like having a private writing assistant that makes on a regular basis writing a breeze!

Listed here are some examples utilizing the rewrite device and the sensible compose device

The remainder of the software program construct is similar to what now we have seen on earlier Honor units just like the not too long ago reviewed Honor 400 Lite. Honor software program has developed right into a usable Pores and skin on high of Android, and so they have cemented help with Google going ahead as nicely, with numerous strategic strikes resembling being the primary system to supply the beforehand talked about AI Picture to Video performance.

Now shifting on to the digital camera.

Digicam

The digital camera on the Honor 400 is a very attention-grabbing proposition. it has a reasonably excessive MP depend on the primary digital camera at 200MP, after which the secondary is a large discount. Additionally it is lacking the Ultrawide digital camera from the Honor 400 Professional. So with that being stated, how does it stack up? I’ve been utilizing this to seize some photographs when I’ve been out and about over the previous few days, and I’ve some ideas. Nevertheless, earlier than we go into that,t I wish to share among the particulars of the modes which might be out there to you as a result of there’s a lot happening right here.

By way of the primary choices, you possibly can see these within the screenshot under now we have Photograph, Video, Professional, Portrait, and simply out of shot, we even have Night time after which the Extra button.

Underneath the Extra possibility, additionally, you will discover Gradual Mo, Stickers, Story, Multi Video, Timelapse, Excessive-res, Aperture, Panorama, Supermacro and Scan Doc.

Now whereas I’d like to take the time to undergo every mode for you I’m not going to do this as that may take your enjoyable away! What I’ll say is that every of those modes provides you a distinct degree of versatility when utilizing the digital camera. I’m going to cowl the primary ones although, these being Photograph, Portrait and Video

Photograph mode is the primary up, and that is to be trustworthy, most likely the place most individuals will spend their time. On this mode, you need to use the varied digital camera controls to zoom out and in, modify the brightness and publicity values, set the main target level, and so on. You even have the choice to vary the filter and to set the digital camera to seize shifting photographs. None of that is significantly particular, however I do just like the delicate touches which might be right here, such because the fan-style zoom management, which signifies the precise zoom equal to what it might be on a devoted digital camera. Listed here are just a few photographs of the digital camera interface within the Photograph mode

So you might be very nicely lined when it comes to what you possibly can and might’t do inside the usual Photograph mode. As an apart, if you would like much more guide management, then that is out there within the Professional mode. I feel that almost all customers can be very happy with the controls which might be to be discovered right here. The outcomes from this mode are proven right here.

I additionally wished to showcase the Zoom ranges for you, and that is the place now we have some AI coming into play. This primary batch of photographs are with out AI zoom turned on.

This subsequent batch AI Zoom is enabled on the final photographs because it kicks in after you exceed 10 x zoom.

The AI Zoom actually does clear the perimeters of the window up and permit for a significantly better picture. I’ve one other two photographs under that will spotlight this these have been taken at 30x Zoom

The horse is significantly better outlined within the second picture, as is the fence, so the AI is basically doing fairly a great job. It does, nonetheless, battle with textual content, as is proven within the subsequent picture, particularly when it’s in comparison with a digital camera with extra superior optics.

20 x Zoom with AI Zoom

You’ll be able to nearly make out the textual content, however when in comparison with the Oppo Discover X8 Professional at 20x Zoom, it’d as nicely be unreadable. Nevertheless, this, as talked about, is a distinct sensor with completely different optimisations and so on.

The photographs this cellphone can produce from the rear cameras are fairly darn good, however having used this again to again with the Oppo Discover X8 Professional you possibly can see the place the additional cash goes.

Transferring on to video mode, I solely have just a few samples to indicate you right here, however evidently, the cellphone will document video nicely and might accomplish that as much as 4K. The principle digital camera has Optical Picture Stabilisation, which makes for a pleasant secure platform to shoot from.

Not like after I was utilizing the Honor 400 Lite you shouldn’t get movement sick from watching the above clip because the OIS works properly to take out the motion from my steps.

This panning shot reveals how the sensor reacts to lighting adjustments of the topic, and once more, I used to be fairly happy with the end result.

Lastly, this one reveals the seize of motion, and once more more than happy with the tip end result.

Relaxation assured that it is possible for you to to seize some good high quality video with the Honor 400 with out an excessive amount of want for faff. So, for a point-and-shoot fashion digital camera, now we have two ticks. Let’s see the way it offers with portraits

So the portrait mode has a few completely different filters you possibly can select from, and in addition the flexibility to play with Bokeh results. The filters use the Studio Harcourt algorithms that have been developed for the launch of the Honor 200 Sequence final 12 months. The Digicam Lens work harmoniously with the AI-based algorithms learnt by Honor analysing Studio Harcourt photographs of their 1000’s. Utilizing machine studying, the AI then realized the right way to use the person cameras to create the right portraits for 3 distinct digital camera modes: Harcourt Vibrant, Harcourt Color and Harcourt Basic.

Using machine studying to analyse the Studio Harcourt course of. Capturing distinctive and classical fashion portraiture has taken what’s able to AI to a different degree
Because of this, the tip consumer is now in a position to utilise the three Studio Harcourt images modes out there by toggling within the digital camera settings. To emulate what might be accomplished by a DSLR digital camera.

The way you allow this mode is very simple. Enter the digital camera, choose portrait after which choose the Studio Harcourt mode that you just require. You then level and shoot, and the AI will work its magic within the background to assist create a novel fashion of portrait photographs that beforehand would have taken some actual talent to create. Listed here are the outcomes under.

If this was not sufficient, you then even have the choice to vary between completely different movie types; nonetheless, in my testing, the distinction isn’t actually that obvious, so I didn’t actually use it. What I do like is that every filter has somewhat little bit of details about what it’s doing and the way it will have an effect on your photograph, which might be accessed by urgent the (i) button subsequent to the filter.

These are nice for when you’re picturing a topic, how about when you’re utilizing the front-facing digital camera for the great outdated customary selfie. Nicely, listed here are some samples under so that you can assess.

Aside from the subject material needing to hit the fitness center onerous, I’d say these are fairly pleasing outcomes.

The Use of AI for enhancing photographs is, as you’d count on, in depth and contains all of the instruments you would consider, together with AI Outpainting, which I wished to single out as it’s actually fairly cool as to what it does. So, taking one in every of my portrait photographs from above, we’re going to broaden the picture utilizing AI Outpainting to see what it comes up with.

So long as your expectations will not be too wild, this works extraordinarily nicely, and utilizing it on the picture above is just one of many many choices you could have out there to you. You’ll be able to select from a wide selection of facet ratios and scales of extensions. It is a very nice characteristic and one I’d use a good bit. Right here is one other instance the place i’ve taken a 4:3 facet ratio shot and altered it to 9:16 facet ratio, and it labored out fairly darn nicely.

General, this, like many cameras on smartphones these day’s can be greater than sufficient for most individuals, particularly if all you might be doing is utilizing it to seize photographs for social media. If nonetheless, you need to use your photographs or video for content material creation, then you’ll begin to see weaknesses right here, and this is probably not the best choice, however it’s actually a great start line.

Conclusion

The Honor 400 is a good possibility for a contemporary AI-enabled cellphone that can serve the overwhelming majority of cell phone customers nicely. It has loads of energy for navigating the UI and enjoying all however probably the most demanding of video games. It has a really succesful digital camera system supported by a wide selection of AI goodies, because of the shut ties that Honor is making with Google. As to the place it sits within the smartphone atmosphere as a complete, I’d put this up in opposition to the likes of the Pixel 9 and the Samsung A56 units. Should you don’t have an infinite funds and also you need a cellphone that ticks quite a lot of bins, then go together with this. If, nonetheless, you want a telephoto lens and wi-fi charging, then it might be value trying on the Honor 400 Professional as it’ll have all the identical options s the Honor 400 aside from the Telephoto or Wi-fi charging.

You should purchase the Honor 400  from Honor’s web site now, and keep in mind, there’ll most likely be “early fowl” reductions or provides* out there for many who get their orders in early and pre-register at honor.com/uk. Pricing begins from £399.99 with 256GB storage, £449 with 512GB storage. Should you favor to purchase from a brick and mortar retailer, then you are able to do so from the twenty second at EE, O2, Three, Vodafone, Tesco Cellular, Argos, Currys. The cellphone may even be out there from Amazon and Very as nicely.

*There are certainly provides out there, as proven within the image under, additionally a reduction is on the market on the 512GB model by utilizing the code “A4000UK50” at checkout to get £50 off.