The sub-flagship or upper mid-range segment of the smartphone market is a relatively new one that offers some premium features of a top-end model but at a price just under S$1,000 in Singapore. Into the ring has come the interesting new Honor 900 Pro.
Costing S$899, the recently-launched phone delivers a premium design and robust features that will attract some users happy to pay more than the price of a regular mid-range phone but not that of the latest and greatest gadgets.
First, the design. Weighing 205g, the Honor 400 Pro feels substantial in the hand without being cumbersome. The metal frame and matte glass back create a refined and tactile impression, which is key to this market.
Although it is not the lightest in its class, the phone adds heft to offer a sense of durability and quality. It sits comfortably in the hand, making one-handed use feasible.
However, the under-display fingerprint sensor is positioned somewhat low, which may be inconvenient for some users. Good thing, then, that the face unlock function is responsive and serves as an effective alternative.
The Honor phone’s 6.7-inch AMOLED display offers a sharp 2,800 x 1,280 resolution and is helped by a fast 120Hz refresh rate, ensuring vivid colours and smooth visuals.
The screen remains bright and readable even under direct sunlight, with a peak brightness of up to 5,000 nits. No issues for outdoor use.
The impressive display also features 3,840Hz PWM dimming, which helps reduce eye strain at lower brightness levels. Overall, the screen quality is excellent for media consumption, gaming, and general use.
The rear design is distinctive, featuring a trapezoid-shaped camera module that houses a versatile triple camera setup – a 200-megapixel main sensor, a 50-megapixel telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera.
The main camera captures detailed images in various lighting conditions, while the telephoto lens enables quality zoom up to 6x before image degradation becomes noticeable.
Unfortunately, having a 12-megapixel sensor for the ultrawide camera means lesser details for landscape shots – a bummer for photography enthusiasts.
Portrait photography is a highlight, with Honor’s Harcourt filters providing attractive bokeh effects and precise subject separation, though the strongest blur setting may appear unnatural. The ultrawide camera, while adequate for social media and casual photography, offers lower resolution and detail, especially in landscape shots or large prints.
Although the Honor 400 Pro offers solid camera capabilities, it lacks some of the advanced features found on the more capable Honor Magic 7 Pro.
Notably absent are modes like Light Painting, which allows users to capture creative effects such as light trails from traffic or smooth, flowing water through long exposure; and Movie mode, which provides tools for recording cinematic video clips.
While the phone’s Pro mode can be used to replicate long exposure effects, you’d probably need additional equipment, such as a neutral density filter and tripod.
A standout feature of the Honor 400 Pro is its image-to-video AI capability, which animates still photos to create dynamic content. This function can, for example, animate elements in classic paintings or family photos, making things more creative. However, it is limited to animating 10 images per day.
Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip – last year’s flagship processor – the Honor 400 Pro delivers smooth performance for both everyday tasks and demanding applications, such as gaming and 4K video rendering at 30 frames per second.
The device includes 12GB of memory and 512GB of internal storage, providing ample space for photos, videos, and apps. This hardware combo means the phone operates efficiently and handles multitasking with ease, despite not having today’s most advanced chips.
The Honor 400 Pro features a 6,000mAh battery, delivering reliable all-day performance on a single charge. It supports Honor’s proprietary 100W wired fast charging and 50W wireless charging, and is also compatible with high-powered third-party GaN chargers for quick fuel-ups.
However, if you often use your phone’s USB-C port to connect to another screen for a desktop-like interface or to share presentations, be aware that the Honor 400 Pro does not support this feature.
All said, the S$899 Honor 400 Pro offers good value by combining wireless charging, a sophisticated design, and high-end performance that rivals more expensive flagship devices.
It stands out as a compelling choice for those seeking a stylish, capable smartphone that balances premium features with an attractive price. Folks who desire flagship-level experiences without the flagship price tag will find it interesting.
