Honor 400 Lite Review
In a market flooded with mid-range smartphones, the Honor 400 Lite stands out as an impressive option that balances performance, design, and affordability. After spending considerable time with this device, including putting it through its paces in professional settings, I've developed a strong understanding of what makes this phone tick—and whether it deserves your attention.
Style and Design
The Honor 400 Lite makes a strong first impression with its remarkably slim profile. At just 7.29mm thick, it feels premium in the hand, with a lightweight build reminiscent of the latest iPhones. The phone's triangular camera island on the back adds a distinctive touch, especially in the eye-catching "Mars Green" colorway with its dual-tone finish.
However, I can't ignore the elephant in the room: several design elements seem heavily inspired by Apple's recent offerings. Most notably, the notification area on the display bears a striking resemblance to the Dynamic Island found on newer iPhones. Honor's version actually uses up a bit less screen space than Apple's does, I would have preferred something more original. That said, I understand the appeal—many consumers, particularly younger users, might see this as a premium feature they'd otherwise miss out on at this price point.
Impressive Hardware…. for the Price
Under the hood, the Honor 400 Lite packs a MediaTek Dimensity 7025 Ultra chipset paired with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. While this configuration won't compete with flagship devices, it delivers surprisingly snappy performance for day-to-day tasks. In my testing, it felt comparable to the Exynos 1580 found in Samsung's Galaxy A56 5G, though Samsung might have a slight edge in graphics-intensive applications.
The 6.7-inch AMOLED display is genuinely impressive for this category. With Full HD+ resolution and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, scrolling through content feels fluid and responsive. The standout feature here is the peak brightness of 3,500 nits—a figure I had to double-check because it seemed too good to be true for this price point. This exceptional brightness proved invaluable during outdoor use, eliminating the need to squint or shade the screen even in direct sunlight.
The generous 5,230mAh battery easily delivers all-day power with capacity to spare. While the 35W charging isn't breaking any speed records, it's perfectly adequate for most users, taking the phone from empty to about 50% in half an hour. You'll rarely find yourself desperately hunting for a charger in the middle of the day.
Real-World Test
Rather than relying solely on benchmarks and everyday use, I decided to put the Honor 400 Lite through a more demanding real-world test. I brought it along as a backup device during a professional photo shoot with models and various setups. The phone handled the situation beautifully from a photography perspective, capturing shots that I could immediately share as behind-the-scenes content on social media.
Throughout this extended professional use, the battery held up really well, and the exceptional screen brightness made outdoor viewing a non-issue. The dedicated "AI camera button" that Honor has implemented—while not something I used extensively during the mounted setup—proved more intuitive during regular use than similar implementations I've tested. The ability to zoom in and out or use it as a shutter button feels natural from the start.
AI
Running on Magic OS 9.0 (based on Android 15), the software experience is one of the phone's highlights. Honor has implemented AI features that go beyond marketing gimmicks to deliver genuine utility. The "Magic Portal" function sounds flashy but offers practical benefits—tap and hold text or images, and the system recognizes your intent, making it surprisingly easy to translate, copy, or share content between apps.
While Honor hasn't explicitly detailed their update policy for this model, shipping with Android 15 out of the box suggests we can reasonably expect at least three to four years of software support, ensuring decent longevity.
Camera Capabilities
The camera system—featuring a 108MP main sensor, 5MP wide/depth lens, and 16MP selfie camera—delivers results that exceed expectations for this price bracket. The AI enhancements actually prove useful rather than gimmicky:
AI Motion Capture automatically boosts frame rates when capturing moving subjects, perfect for action shots of pets, kids, or, in my case, models in motion.
AI Outpainting cleverly extends photos beyond their original frame when you need a bit more composition space.
AI Eraser removes unwanted elements from photos without leaving telltale artifacts or shadows—a feature that performed notably better than similar options I've tested on competing devices.
For casual photography and social media content, the Honor 400 Lite punches well above its weight. Is it going to replace a professional camera? Of course not, but the gap continues to narrow, especially in good lighting conditions.
Media Consumption and Gaming
The excellent display makes the Honor 400 Lite a great device for consuming content. Videos look vibrant with good contrast, and the 120Hz refresh rate ensures easy scrolling through social feeds. Audio performance from the stereo speakers is decent though not exceptional—perfectly adequate for casual listening, but you'll want to connect headphones (via Bluetooth or USB-C, as there's no headphone jack) for a more immersive experience.
For gaming, the phone handles casual and moderately demanding titles like Call of Duty Mobile and PUBG without issue. More graphically intensive games like Genshin Impact will run, but you might need to dial back some settings for the smoothest experience. Thermal management impresses, with the phone maintaining comfortable temperatures even during extended gaming sessions.
Verdict: Is It Worth Your Money?
Currently retailing for under £300 in the UK, the Honor 400 Lite delivers exceptional value. You're getting a premium-feeling device with an outstanding display, solid battery life, capable cameras, and thoughtful software features that genuinely enhance the user experience.
Yes, there are compromises. The selfie camera, while decent, isn't going to win any awards. Some of the design elements might bother those seeking originality. But these trade-offs feel entirely reasonable given the price point.
For most users seeking a reliable, feature-rich smartphone that won't break the bank, the Honor 400 Lite represents one of the more attractive options in the current mid-range market. It covers all the essentials with polish while adding enough premium touches to make it feel like a significantly more expensive device.
Whether you're upgrading from an older budget phone or looking for a capable secondary device, the Honor 400 Lite deserves serious consideration. It demonstrates that "affordable" no longer has to mean "settling for less"—a welcome trend in the increasingly competitive mid-range smartphone segment.
Pros:
Exceptional display with class-leading brightness
Premium, slim design
Excellent battery life
Useful AI camera features
Smooth performance for everyday tasks
Great value for money
Cons:
Design elements that closely mimic iPhone features
No expandable storage
35W charging is adequate but not remarkable
If you're in the market for a reliable, feature-packed mid-range smartphone that punches above its weight in several key areas, the Honor 400 Lite should absolutely be on your shortlist. It manages to hit the sweet spot between affordability and premium feel that many competitors miss.
Have you been considering the Honor 400 Lite, or do you have questions about specific aspects of the phone? I'm continuing to test this device and would be happy to answer any queries you might have!
