Feed: Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics
Feed Link: https://www.engadget.com/
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Title: Honor's midrange 400 series pairs a 200-megapixel camera with the
usual AI tools

Date: Thu, 22 May 2025 15:00:18 +0000
Link: https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/h...

ItΓÇÖs been a while since a company has thrown out a truly silly number of
megapixels for a new phone. After all, the double-digit pixels found on most
flagship handsets are just used to pixel bin the size down without harming
the quality. Rejoice, then, when I tell you HonorΓÇÖs new midrange 400 series
is shipping with a 200 megapixel sensor working hand-in glove with an AI to
make use of all that data. 200 megapixels, in this economy? Apparently so.

The 400 series is the latest in HonorΓÇÖs not-at-all-confusingly-named
ΓÇ£NΓÇ¥ series of midrange handsets which bear numbers. Naturally, while
thereΓÇÖs also a low end version of the 400 to buy, the companyΓÇÖs focus
here (as always) was on the 400 Pro 5G and the regular 400 5G. Both models
get that 200 megapixel primary camera tied to a Samsung-made 1/1.4-inch
sensor with both optical and electronic image stabilization. Both are also
equipped with a 12-megapixel macro/wide camera, plus a 50-megapixel front-
facer.The Pro, however, also gets an additional 50-megapixel telephoto that
the company claims will produce some impressive digital zoom.

Of course, these handsets are less about the raw numbers and more about what
they can do when the images are run through the AI. Honor says the phones
will capture and enhance portraits, erase passers-by, create videos from
still images and can even remove reflective glare when taking pictures
through panes of glass. Plus, on-device generative expand will expand the
edge of an image if you feel the original was too closely cropped when you
shot it. And Honor says the phone will use AI to create film simulation
models to annoy all your Fuji-owning frenemies. Honor hasnΓÇÖt yet been clear
about how much of these AI innovations will be part of the phone and how much
will require an extra subscription.

As for the rest of the phone, the 400 ProΓÇÖs spec list is no slouch: ItΓÇÖs
got a Snapdragon 8, Gen 3 processor, 16GB RAM and a 5,300mAh silicon carbon
battery. Up front, youΓÇÖll be staring into a 6.7-inch 2,800 x 1,280, 120Hz
AMOLED display with a peak brightness of 5,000 nits. If you opt for the
regular 400, then youΓÇÖll get a Snapdragon 7, Gen 3, 8GB RAM and a 6.55-
inch, 120Hz AMOLED with a similarly beefy peak brightness. Both handsets will
get HonorΓÇÖs often-ballyhooed AI thread optimization for better sustained
performance under load, such as if youΓÇÖre gaming on the go. And the company
has tweaked the graphics engine to better handle peopleΓÇÖs massive photo
libraries without stuttering.

The Honor 400 series is available to buy in Europe and the UK from today,
with the Pro 5G setting you back €800 / £700. The regular 400 5G can be
snapped up for €500 / £400 if you want 256GB storage and €550 / £450 if
you want 512GB instead. Naturally, if youΓÇÖre looking for a cheaper
alternative, the ΓÇ£LiteΓÇ¥ version can be picked up for Γé¼300, but the
company didnΓÇÖt share any specs for that particular handset. As usual,
there's no word on if this handset will come to the US unless you import it
yourself.

What Honor has been eager to point out, is the company has committed to
providing six years of Android support for these handsets. That means buyers
should expect to get at least that many OS and security updates, and Android
16 will be coming to the handsets by the end of the year.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at
https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/h...
a-200-megapixel-camera-with-the-usual-ai-tools-150018371.html?src=rss

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