HONOR 400 Pro In-Depth Review: More Than Just a Camera Powerhouse

A while back, I shared my first impressions of the HONOR 400 Pro, mainly focusing on its ultra-clear 200MP camera and those fun, creative AI tools like Image to Video and AI Eraser 2.0 etc. Honestly, those features alone already made it one of the most exciting phones to play around with this year. But of course, a good phone isn’t just about the camera. After spending more time with the device, it’s clear the HONOR 400 Pro offers quite a bit more across the board. 

In this review, we’ll dive into every corner of the HONOR 400 Pro—from its sleek design to its gorgeous display, top-tier performance, and battery life that easily lasts over a day. And since we didn’t get the 300 series in Malaysia, this might be a solid upgrade over the HONOR 200 Pro in just about every way.

Design – Nature-Inspired Elegance 

Let’s start with the physical feel. The HONOR 400 Pro strikes a sweet balance between looking premium and feeling practical. The unit I’m using is in Tidal Blue, and I have to say, it does bring a touch of nature into its design. There’s something almost calming about how it looks. The back cover subtly mimics the movement of waves rolling up from the shore, giving it this natural, flowing elegance without being loud or overdone. It’s the kind of phone that catches the light just enough to be eye-catching, but not in a flashy way.

Both the back panel and the side frame have a matte finish, which I really appreciate. Unlike glossy finishes that tend to pick up fingerprints and feel a bit slippery, the matte surface here not only looks more refined but also offers better grip. Even after using it without a case for a few days, it still looked clean and felt secure in the hand. The matte frame also gives the phone a more cohesive and understated premium look, which is a nice touch, especially for users who prefer a more subtle aesthetic.

At 8.1mm thickness and weighing in at 205g, the phone is slightly heavier than its predecessor, but it feels well-balanced. You’ll notice the sturdiness in hand, but it doesn’t feel like a brick either. One big upgrade over the previous HONOR 200 Pro is the level of durability. The HONOR 400 Pro comes with IP68 and IP69 certification, which means it’s fully dust-tight and water-resistant even under high-pressure water jets. It gave clumsy people like me peace of mind when facing the splashes and drizzles in everyday life.

Display – Bright, Smooth, and Comfortable

The HONOR 400 Pro’s display is easily one of its strongest features. You’re getting a 6.7-inch AMOLED panel with a high 1280 x 2800 resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, and support for HDR content. The visuals are sharp and buttery smooth, whether you’re watching videos, gaming, or just scrolling through TikTok.

What impressed me more than anything else is how bright this screen gets—it can reach up to 5000 nits peak brightness. That sounds like just a number on paper, but in actual use, it’s super helpful.the display was still very readable under bright sunlight and I had no trouble checking messages, snapping photos, or navigating maps. No more awkward shadow-casting with your hand.

Another thing I didn’t expect to appreciate so much is the 3840Hz PWM dimming. It basically reduces screen flicker to protect your eyes during long sessions. I often scroll through my phone late at night before sleeping (guilty as charged), and with this display, my eyes actually feel less strained compared to other phones. It’s something you don’t realise until you’ve used it for a while, but once you do, it’s hard to go back.

Performance – Not the Newest, But Still Packs a Punch

The HONOR 400 Pro is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, which is still a strong performer in 2025, given it’s last year’s flagship chipset. Sure, it’s not the absolute latest on the market, but in this segment, getting a top-tier chip from just a generation ago is honestly quite solid.

With 12GB of RAM and an extra 12GB via HONOR RAM Turbo, the phone keeps everything running smoothly, and it has to, given how it's positioned to be a creator studio in your palm. Apps launch quickly, animations are fluid, and switching between tasks feels seamless. I’ve edited photos with the AI features, continuously snapping pictures, while handling work via different productivity apps back and forth—and the HONOR 400 Pro never broke a sweat. Storage-wise, the 512GB of internal space gives you more than enough room for high-res media, games, and apps, especially if you’re someone who doesn’t like to constantly delete things. 

While the HONOR 400 Pro is not trying to be a gaming phone, it certainly performs like one when needed. Actual game tests with Honor of Kings ran smoothly with high frame rates and minimal heat build-up, even during long sessions. With the processor upgrade, you can finally have both frame rates and graphic settings at the max, while maintaining a steady 120FPS. And that’s definitely a huge plus for photography enthusiasts who enjoy casual gaming. 

It’s also worth noting that the software experience is clean and responsive. Running on MagicOS, the interface feels lighter, animations are smooth, and I didn’t encounter any annoying bloatware slowing things down.

Camera – Still a Star, Day or Night

We already covered the camera’s fun and creative features in the earlier article, but it’s worth revisiting from a more practical point of view. Let’s go deeper into the actual photo performance, especially in different lighting conditions.

The main sensor continues to impress. In daylight, the images are crisp, vibrant, and full of detail. But what stood out more to me was its low-light performance. Whether I was indoors in a dim café or outside at night with street lamps, the HONOR 400 Pro consistently delivered well-exposed, sharp shots without the usual over-processing that many phones are guilty of. The AI Night mode does its thing subtly in the background, and I never felt the need to manually adjust settings.

The 50MP telephoto lens also continues to hold up well. I used it to capture shots from a distance—like pets playing in the yard or signs across the street—and the results were clear enough for social sharing and casual printing. At 50x zoom, there is also AI Zoom Mode to help the images retained enough detail to be usable.

From left to right, 1x 3x 6x and 10x

50x zoom, left AI Zoom OFF, right AI Zoom Mode ON

50x zoom, left AI Zoom OFF, right AI Zoom Mode ON

Battery – Power That Lasts and Charges Fast

The battery also receives a huge upgrade. The HONOR 400 Pro packs a massive 6000mAh battery, which easily lasted me a full day’s use—including camera testing, video playback, social media, and some serious ranked gaming sessions. Even on heavier days when I was out taking photos non-stop and editing them on the spot, I still had juice left by bedtime

To put it to the test, I ran a 70-minute gaming session on Honor of Kings with Max FPS, Ultra Resolution, and Ultimate Graphics, and it consumed about 19% of battery. At first glance, that might seem like a lot, but keep in mind that’s under heavy load with the settings pushed to the max. In actual daily use, where you’re mixing light tasks like browsing, messaging, and heavy tasks like photography or gaming, the battery easily holds up for the entire day.

And if you do run low, the 100W wired SuperCharge can get you back from empty to 50% in around 15 minutes and nearly full in about 45 minutes. There’s also 50W wireless charging support, which is great if you’re the kind who prefers cable-free desk setups. Between the large capacity and fast charging speeds, battery anxiety really isn’t a thing with this phone.

Verdict – A Truly Well-Rounded Flagship

The HONOR 400 Pro may have made headlines for its camera and fancy AI tools—and fair enough, those features are brilliant—but what really makes it shine is how well-rounded it is as a whole. From the sharp and eye-friendly display to the powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 performance, huge battery, and polished design, this phone doesn’t leave much to complain about. The AI tools are genuinely useful and fun, and the camera lives up to the hype in most shooting conditions.

Compared to the HONOR 200 Pro, which was already a strong contender in its category, the 400 Pro feels like a proper upgrade across all fronts. It’s faster, smarter, more durable, and just more enjoyable to use overall. And since we never got the 300 Series here in Malaysia, this leap forward feels even more worth it.

Whether you’re a content creator looking for AI-enhanced tools, a casual user who just wants a reliable and fast phone, or someone who simply appreciates good design and long battery life—the HONOR 400 Pro definitely deserves a spot on your shortlist. Priced at RM2,699, it doesn’t try too hard to impress, but ends up doing exactly that once you actually start using it.