Home » Product Reviews » Honor 400 5G 256GB Smartphone in Midnight Black, Black review
The Honor 400 5G is a mid-range Android smartphone that aims to bring flagship-style cameras and a slick screen to a more sensible budget. With 256GB of storage, 8GB of RAM and a 6.5-inch AMOLED display, it feels far from entry-level.
Its headline act is the camera system, fronted by a huge 200MP main rear camera and a 50MP selfie camera, backed up by a range of Honor AI tricks for portraits, editing and zooming. You also get 5G connectivity, fast charging and modern silicon-carbon battery tech to help it last the day.
Owners rate it well overall, with an average score of 4.3 out of 5 from early reviews, suggesting most buyers are happy with the blend of performance, design and price.
The Honor 400 5G is ideal if you want a modern, capable smartphone that feels premium in day-to-day use but you do not want to pay top-tier flagship prices. The 6.5-inch AMOLED screen and slim bar-style design make it a good fit if you stream a lot of video, browse social feeds or game on the go.
It is particularly well suited to social media fans and casual content creators. The 200MP rear camera, 50MP selfie camera and built-in AI tools for portraits, editing and zooming are designed for frequent photo and video sharing without needing to dive into manual settings.
With 256GB of storage and 8GB of RAM, it also suits people who like to keep plenty of apps, photos and offline media on their phone, and who want smooth performance for multitasking. If you are buying your first 5G handset or upgrading from an older 4G phone, this gives you a strong step up in speed and features without being overwhelming.
Those after the absolute best gaming performance, wireless charging or a longer warranty may still prefer a higher-end flagship, but for most everyday users, the Honor 400 5G hits a very comfortable sweet spot.
The 6.5-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate makes everything from scrolling through messages to watching films feel smooth and responsive, with richer colours than typical LCD screens.
Camera hardware is a real strength. The 200MP main rear camera promises very detailed shots, while the 50MP front camera should keep selfies sharp and clear. AI Portrait Snap and AI Editing aim to give photos a polished look with minimal effort.
AI Super Zoom helps when you cannot physically get closer, automatically enhancing zoomed-in shots so they stay usable rather than turning into a blur. It is a practical bonus for concerts, kids’ sports days or city breaks.
Everyday performance should be solid thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and 8GB of RAM, while 256GB of storage gives plenty of room for apps, photos and downloads without immediately needing cloud storage.
The silicon-carbon battery technology, 26-hour quoted video playback and fast charging support mean you can comfortably get through a day of heavy use, then top up quickly when you are running low.
An IP65 rating adds reassurance against dust and splashes, which is handy if you are caught in the rain or use your phone in the kitchen or bathroom.
The single-year manufacturer warranty is on the short side for a device you are likely to keep for several years, especially compared with some brands that now offer longer cover.
While the cameras are high-resolution, the rear setup is relatively simple, listing a dual-camera configuration in the detailed spec. That may mean fewer specialist lenses (such as dedicated macro or periscope telephoto) than some camera-focused rivals in this price band.
MagicOS 9.0 sits on top of Android and may feel a little busier than a “pure” Android experience, with extra apps and features that not everyone will use. Some users may prefer a cleaner interface.
At 6.5 inches, the screen is great for media but could feel a bit large for those with smaller hands or anyone wanting a truly compact handset that disappears in a pocket.
In day-to-day use, the Honor 400 5G feels built for scrolling, streaming and snapping. The flat 6.5-inch AMOLED panel keeps reflections more manageable than heavily curved displays, and the 120Hz refresh rate makes the interface feel fluid when flicking between apps or gaming.
The bar-style design and slim 7.5cm width should sit comfortably in most hands, and the Midnight Black finish looks understated and smart. The IP65 rating is reassuring if you are using it outdoors or near the sink, as it offers solid protection against dust and low-pressure water jets.
Unlocking, launching apps and switching between them should feel quick thanks to the Snapdragon processor and 8GB of RAM, so streaming music in the background while browsing maps or social feeds will not slow it to a crawl. Honor AI is designed to learn your habits and optimise tasks in the background, which should help keep things feeling snappy over time.
The 26-hour quoted video playback suggests a full day of use is realistic for mixed tasks, and when you do run low, fast charging means you can plug in briefly before heading out and still have enough power to get through the evening.
Camera use is straightforward, with AI Portrait Snap and AI Editing handling much of the heavy lifting. You can point, shoot and rely on the software to tidy up faces and backgrounds, which is ideal if you do not want to tweak settings manually.
Core performance is anchored by a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and 8GB of RAM, which is a strong combination for this segment. It should comfortably handle social media, messaging, web browsing and casual to moderate gaming, while also keeping background tasks and app switching smooth.
The 6.5-inch AMOLED display with a 2412 x 1080 resolution is a highlight. AMOLED technology gives deeper blacks and punchier colours than a typical LCD panel, which makes films and photos stand out. Paired with the 120Hz refresh rate, it also improves the feel of the interface, with less judder when scrolling through long pages.
Camera performance is a major focus. The 200MP main rear camera is designed for detailed shots and more flexibility when cropping, backed up by a secondary 12MP camera. On the front, a 50MP selfie camera should deliver sharp video calls and social posts. Features such as AI Portrait Snap and AI Editing work in the background to tidy up skin tones, blur backgrounds and tweak exposure without you needing to understand camera jargon.
AI Super Zoom is tailored to zoomed-in shots, letting the phone automatically enhance images when you cannot get close enough to your subject. It will not match a dedicated optical zoom lens, but it should give better results than basic digital zoom on cheaper handsets.
On the connectivity side, full 5G support keeps the phone ready for faster networks, which is important if you stream a lot of video or download large files on the go. USB-C makes charging straightforward, and fast charging support means you spend less time tethered to a socket.
Finally, the silicon-carbon (Si-C) battery technology and Honor AI power management aim to squeeze more life from each charge, particularly for video playback. Combined with MagicOS 9.0’s optimisation features, the Honor 400 5G is well equipped to stay responsive over time.
At £268, the Honor 400 5G sits in the affordable to mid-range bracket for smartphones, yet it offers several features that usually creep into more expensive territory, such as an AMOLED 120Hz display, a very high-resolution main camera and 256GB of storage as standard.
The 4.3 out of 5 user rating indicates that most owners feel they are getting good value, and the spec sheet supports that impression. You are not paying a premium-brand flagship price, but you still benefit from 5G connectivity, fast charging and generous on-board storage.
There are compromises, such as the relatively basic dual-camera layout behind the big megapixel numbers and the short 1-year warranty, but overall the balance between price and features is attractive. If you want a phone that feels a clear upgrade from entry-level models without paying double the price, the Honor 400 5G represents strong value.
The Honor 400 5G is a well-judged mid-range smartphone that punches above its price in several key areas. The AMOLED 120Hz display, large 256GB storage, 5G connectivity and long-lasting silicon-carbon battery make it a very capable everyday companion.
Its camera setup, spearheaded by a 200MP main lens and 50MP selfie camera, is clearly aimed at social media users and casual photographers, and the built-in AI tools help you get shareable results without much effort. Performance is solid, and the phone’s slim, splash-resistant design adds to its appeal.
It is not perfect: the one-year warranty is short, and keen photographers may want more varied camera hardware. But for most people wanting a modern smartphone that feels premium in use without a painful price tag, the Honor 400 5G is an easy model to recommend.