HONOR 400 5G Review: Is this AI smartphone worth the Php 22,999 price tag?

AI is making life easier in so many ways—from organizing our to-do lists to editing our photos without lifting a finger. Now imagine having all that power in the palm of your hands! That’s exactly what’s happening right now with the launch of the HONOR 400 5G. We’re seeing the kind of smart tech we usually pay monthly subscriptions for, built directly into a sleek, all-around smartphone that doesn’t cost a fortune.

HONOR positions this as “Your AI Phone”, and after getting our hands on it, we finally understood why. It isn’t just about having a fast processor or a high-res camera. The HONOR 400 5G combines thoughtful AI integrations with premium hardware that’s designed for everyday creativity, communication, and convenience. And let’s not forget: It’s launching with over Php 9,000 worth of freebies plus a wild chance to win a Rolex or Hermès bag! The answer’s already pretty clear if it’s worth it but here’s our full experience with the newest mid-range challenger:

Inside the Box

Inside, you get the unit itself along with the usual HONOR inclusions — a 100W HONOR SuperCharge adapter, a USB Type-A to Type-C charging cable, a Quick Start Guide, a SIM Ejector Tool, and even a transparent silicone case. The brand also includes a pre-applied screen protector, saving you the extra cost and effort of finding one yourself.

Design and Display

On to the main star: The HONOR 400 5G’s design is something I would call a “refined aesthetic”. It’s simple yet elegant-looking. Available in Moonlight White, Ocean Cyan, and Midnight Black, the phone gives off high-end vibes without being too flashy ‘cos of its matter finish I got the black version which is only 8.2mm thin and fairly light at 199g. This makes it easier to hold even during long scrolling sessions or mobile gaming marathons. I rarely let go of my smartphone when I’m outside so this is a good thing!

Up top, you’ll find its secondary speaker, an IR blaster, and a microphone; at the bottom, it’s the usual SIM tray, microphone, USB-C port, and bottom-firing speaker combo, while on the right are its volume rocker and power button. These are the usual placements for Android smartphones so it would feel quite familiar if you’re making a switch from a different Android model.

In front, you’ll find a 6.78-inch Quad-curved Floating AMOLED display, offering a crisp 2700×1224 resolution and 120Hz refresh rate for buttery-smooth visuals. We had no trouble using it outdoors thanks to its 4000 nits peak brightness, and the screen dimming tech (TÜV Rheinland-certified 3840Hz PWM) keeps eye strain at bay. For Netflix, editing, or TikTok, this screen works well!

Camera and AI Editing

If content creation is your thing (or you just love taking a lot of selfies), the HONOR 400 5G comes loaded with AI-enhanced camera systems. This includes a 50MP f/1.9 main camera powered by a Super Dynamic H9000 sensor, alongside a 50MP telephoto camera with the Sony IMX 856 sensor, and a 12MP ultra-wide + macro shooter. In front, you also get a sharp 50MP portrait camera that handles everything from selfies to video calls with finesse.

Check out the sample photos here:

What makes it extra fun to use are the AI tools baked into the system. The HONOR AI Portrait Engine lets you play with features like AI Shadow and Light Adjustment, Harcourt Portrait filters (also available in its predecessor) for that classy studio-style look, and AI Motion Sensing Capture for snappier action shots. There’s also AI Gallery, where you can cut and paste subjects from photos, animate still images, and organize content automatically.

Here are samples of their image-to-video magic:

Even better, all these tools are part of the phone’s native software. No downloads or premium apps needed! And everything is processed efficiently, thanks to the device’s AI-optimized internals. These features can be used for free, but with limited times per day only. Still better than having to pay for such services monthly.

Storage and Performance

The HONOR 400 5G is powered by the latest Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 processor, paired with 12GB RAM and a roomy 512GB internal storage. This means multitasking is a breeze, whether you’re editing videos, toggling between apps, or playing mobile games. During our use, apps loaded quickly, switching was seamless, and we didn’t experience noticeable slowdowns even while using AI tools in real time.

The software experience is smooth as well, with MagicOS 8.0 (based on Android 14) offering smart features like Magic Portal for seamless app switching, Magic Capsule, AI File Search, and even Air Gestures. There’s a dedicated Copilot key for instant AI access, making the phone feel truly next-gen in terms of usability.

Sound-wise, the dual stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos are impressively loud and clear. Whether you’re listening to music or streaming a podcast, the audio experience feels good.

Battery Life

As for battery, the HONOR 400 5G houses a 5200mAh silicon-carbon battery, which easily lasted us over a day with moderate to heavy use. And when we did need to charge, it went from near empty to nearly full in under 40 minutes thanks to 100W SuperCharge support. That’s fast charging that actually makes a difference in your routine.

You also get 66W wireless charging, suitable for time when you forget to bring your cables, and reverse wireless charging which is a handy feature for powering up earbuds or a friend’s phone in a pinch.

Price and Availability

Here’s where things get even better. The HONOR 400 5G retails for Php 22,999, and those who pre-order from June 18 to 27 are in for the ultimate ROI – freebies! Every pre-order includes Php 9,397 worth of freebies, including the HONOR Choice Earbuds Clip (Php 4,999), JBL Go 4 Speaker (Php 2,599), and a JISULIFE Fan Pro1 (Php 1,799).

Pre-ordering the HONOR 400 5G also gets you a raffle entry for a chance to win a Rolex GMT Master II Green Arrow worth Php 600,000 or a Hermès Lindy Mini bag worth Php 420,000. Not a bad ROI for a midrange smartphone, right?

So overall, if you’re looking for an AI-powered smartphone that does more for less, the HONOR 400 5G may be worth considering. If you subtract the price of all the freebies you’ll be receiving, think of it as if you’re only paying around Php 13,000 for the smartphone! From the clear display and flagship-grade AI camera system to the smooth Snapdragon performance and AI tools, this phone proves that you don’t need to go flagship to get futuristic features.


For updates on our latest discoveries within (and outside) the Metro, don’t forget to follow Manila Millennial on FacebookYouTubeTikTok, or Instagram.

2 Replies to “HONOR 400 5G Review: Is this AI smartphone worth the Php 22,999 price tag?”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *