OK, fine, the title is not a bad dad joke, OK?? But also… am I wrong?
If you thought the HONOR 400 5G was already a solid contender in the midrange category, then wait until you get your hands on its more powerful sibling, the HONOR 400 Pro 5G. It takes everything you liked about the regular 400 and kicks it up several notches, offering just the right mix of flagship flair without the full-blown flagship price.
Basically, if you loved the HONOR 400, you’ll definitely enjoy the Pro. And if you felt the HONOR 400 was holding back on a few specs, the Pro answers those concerns point by point.
Everything the Pro improves
Let’s go straight to what’s new and better with the HONOR 400 Pro compared to the standard model:
#1 — Faster chipset
The regular HONOR 400 already runs smoothly on the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3, but the Pro version steps up to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, the same chip powering many premium phones today. It means better performance across the board, from app launches and multitasking to gaming and AI tasks.
#2 — Faster charging + wireless option
While the HONOR 400 offers respectable 66W wired charging, the Pro leaves it in the dust with 100W wired charging. Even more impressive? It adds 50W wireless charging, a rare find in this price range and a big convenience upgrade.
#3 — Upgraded camera system
Both phones feature a powerful 200MP main camera and 12MP ultra-wide, but the Pro adds a 50MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. It’s a huge plus for mobile photography, especially when you want crisp zoom shots or more creative framing options.
#4– Curved display and higher brightness
The standard 400 features a flat 6.55-inch AMOLED display, while the Pro goes for a larger 6.7-inch curved 1.2K AMOLED with up to 5,000 nits peak brightness. The display not only looks sleeker, it’s also easier to view outdoors.
#5 — Better build and water resistance
The HONOR 400 doesn’t officially carry IP68 waterproofing, but the Pro is rated IP68/IP69, making it safe for accidental water exposure and ideal for more rugged use.
#6 — Wireless features and extras
The Pro supports wireless charging, AI image-to-video generation, and Honor’s new “Magic Portal” features, all of which work better thanks to its faster chipset and better thermal performance.
Performance and real-world use
Daily usage feels fast and fluid, thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and MagicOS 9 based on Android 15. It also helps that the HONOR 400 Pro offers up to 12GB of RAM, with support for up to 25GB of dynamic RAM expansion, plus up to 512GB of internal storage.
Battery life is excellent despite the power bump, with the 6,000mAh battery lasting more than a day even under moderate to heavy use.
Charging is impressively quick. You can get close to 100% in around 30 minutes with the 100W fast charger.
Camera results
Images from the main sensor are vibrant and detailed, with consistent colors and solid dynamic range. The added telephoto lens enhances portrait shots with better subject separation and more flattering compression. Night shots and selfies are solid too, though the ultra-wide can occasionally lack sharpness.
And here’s something surprising: I honestly didn’t believe the hype at first but the camera is REALLY good. This is probably the most WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) camera I’ve ever used. What you see in real life, in terms of colors, lighting, and tone, is almost exactly what shows up in the final photo. No weird overprocessing or unrealistic filters. Just an accurate shot that feels true to what your eyes actually see.
Some users online have noted occasional over-processing in certain lighting conditions, but in my experience, that didn’t get in the way. In fact, it’s one of the most reliably “real-looking” cameras I’ve tried on a phone this year.
Software experience
MagicOS is still a bit of a mixed bag.
You get a lot of extra features and customization options but also some bloatware out of the box.
That said, one standout feature is the AI-powered “Image-to-Video” tool, which lets you turn still photos into short video clips with just a few taps. It’s also available on the HONOR 400 5G, but the Pro’s faster processor makes the whole experience feel smoother and more seamless especially if you’re editing multiple photos in a row.
The upside is that Honor promises six years of software and security updates, which is rare in this tier.
So, should you go Pro?
If the HONOR 400 is a dependable everyday workhorse, then the HONOR 400 Pro is its overachieving sibling. The one who shows up with better gear, runs faster, takes sharper photos, and looks a little more expensive, too.
I went into this expecting a modest spec bump, but I walked away impressed. The camera is way better than I thought. It’s possibly the most accurate, true-to-life shooter I’ve ever used on a phone. That WYSIWYG quality alone makes it stand out in a market full of over-filtered, overly processed mobile photos.
So who is this for?
▪️If you’re happy with the HONOR 400, you’ll love the Pro.
▪️If you felt the 400 lacked in power, photography options, or premium touches, the HONOR 400 Pro is absolutely worth it.
With a faster chip, fancier display, pro-level camera system, and flagship-class features like wireless charging and waterproofing, the HONOR 400 Pro 5G might just be the most well-rounded mid-premium phone in its class right now.
The HONOR 400 Pro 5G is now officially launched in the Philippines starting this August 2, priced at ₱32,999.
Those who pre-order will also receive an HONOR Choice Earbuds Clip (₱4,999) and an HONOR High Speed Fan Vimi Sonic 1 Pro (₱1,099) as freebies, a nice bonus that adds even more value to the already well-specced device.
