Honor 400 Lite Review: South Africa’s Best Budget Smartphone of 2025?

Honor 400 Lite Review: South Africa’s Best Budget Smartphone of 2025?

If you’re on the hunt for a smartphone that offers premium features without the premium price tag, you’ve just stumbled upon gold. Introducing South Africa’s best-selling budget smartphone of 2025—the Honor 400 Lite.

This feature-packed device brings flagship-level AI technology to the mid-range market, and after spending 10 days with it, TechSceneZA is here to give you a hands-on review of everything you need to know.

What’s New in the Honor 400 Lite?

Released in May 2025, the Honor 400 Lite makes waves with one quirky but interesting addition—a dedicated AI camera button, a first for Android smartphones. While the idea might seem gimmicky at first, after testing it out, we can honestly say it’s a useful shortcut for content creators and photography lovers alike.

Specs

Display	6.7” AMOLED | 120Hz | 3,500 nits | 100% DCI-P3 1080*2412
Body & Build	Slim161mm (L) x 74.55mm (W) x 7.29mm (D) 7.29mm | Lightweight 171g | IP65 Wet-hand Touch | SGS Drop Certified
Weight	171g
OS	MagicOS 9.0 (Android 15)
Processor	MediaTek Dimensity 7025-Ultra
Storage	256GB
Memory	8GB or 12GB RAM + HONOR RAM Turbo
Network	5G Dual SIM
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 5, BT 5.3, USB-C
Battery	5230mAh | 35W SuperCharge
Camera	108MP Main 5MP Ultra-Wide/Depth 16MP Selfie w/ Selfie Light
Bonus Features	AI Eraser AI Outpainting AI Motion Sensing Magic Portal Magic Capsule Google Gemini overlay

Pricing & Availability in South Africa

You can expect the Honor 400 Lite to retail between R8,000 and R9,000, depending on where you shop. On contract, it starts from around R360/month and can go up to R500/month, available through major networks like MTN and Vodacom.

Available Colors:

• Mars Green
• Velvet Black

Who Should Buy the Honor 400 Lite?

This phone is perfect for:

• Content Creators
• Students
• Young Professionals
• Social Media Enthusiasts

If you’re looking for a smartphone that combines smart AI tools, strong camera performance, and premium build quality—without draining your wallet—the Honor 400 Lite is a top pick in 2025.

Honor 400 Lite Pros

Bright & Smooth AMOLED 120Hz Display

High-Quality 108MP Main Camera

Google Gemini AI Integration

Long Battery Life + Fast Charging

Excellent for Multitasking

Dedicated AI Camera Button

Honor 400 Lite Cons

No wireless charging (but honestly, for this price, that’s forgivable)

Final Thoughts: Is the AI Button Just a Gimmick?

Let’s be honest. At first, the AI camera button seemed like a gimmick—especially when you can program similar shortcuts on other devices. But once you start using it, especially for spontaneous content creation, it becomes surprisingly handy.

Plus, with features like Magic Portal, AI Eraser, and Gemini overlay, Honor is clearly leaning into practical, everyday AI that works. It’s not just tech for tech’s sake—it’s AI with purpose.