JAKARTA – In the crowded budget smartphone arena, the Honor 400 Lite adopts a bold strategy: emulating the industry's most iconic design to capture user attention. This device, which has garnered attention for its array of AI features, makes its first impression through a chassis that is remarkably reminiscent of a modern iPhone. From its flat-edged silhouette to specific interface elements, the phone offers an experience deliberately crafted to feel familiar and premium.
Hold the phone, and the inspiration is immediate. The Honor 400 Lite features a flat-edge design with rounded corners, mirroring the current Apple aesthetic. The rear camera module is arranged in a triangular layout that closely resembles that of the iPhone, differentiated only by subtle branding and a color-accented triangle detail. Despite its large 6.7-inch footprint, the device remains lightweight at 171 grams, thanks to an all-plastic construction that maintains a solid, creak-free build.
The front display is dominated by what Honor calls the "Magic Capsule," an elongated notch that functions similarly to Apple's Dynamic Island. This area displays interactive widgets for music playback, timers, and other ongoing tasks, adding a layer of dynamic functionality to the screen's real estate. It also houses a selfie light for low-light video calls, though its utility is fairly niche.
The most talked-about hardware feature is the dedicated AI Camera Button on the right edge. This is a direct analogue to the Camera Control button on recent iPhones, serving as a two-stage shutter button and a shortcut to launch the camera. A long press activates Google Lens for visual search, while a swipe along the button enables tactile zoom control during photography. This implementation brings a photographer-centric control scheme to a very affordable price point.
Powering this design is the MediaTek Dimensity 7025 Ultra chipset. This processor delivers everyday usability for apps, browsing, and media consumption, though it may stutter with more intensive games or multitasking, a limitation acknowledged in reviews. The phone comes in a single configuration with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, providing ample space for most users.
Photography is handled by a 108MP main camera, which captures decent detail in daylight. The AI enhancements and the convenience of the physical camera button are highlights, though the overall system is outperformed by some competitors, particularly in low light or when using the lower-resolution ultra-wide sensor. The 5,230mAh battery ensures strong endurance, easily lasting a full day on a single charge.
On the software side, the phone runs Honor's MagicOS. While it benefits from a promised six years of updates, the interface is often described as cluttered and overly eager with notifications, which can undermine the sleek hardware experience.
Ultimately, the Honor 400 Lite is a device defined by its aspirational design and clever feature adoption. It successfully packages the look and feel of a much more expensive phone, alongside a genuinely useful AI button, for a budget-friendly price. For shoppers who prioritize aesthetics and a unique tactile interface over raw processing power, it presents a fascinating and stylish option.