Honor Debuts AI-Powered 400 Series Phones in South Africa

SOUTH AFRICA —

Honor’s new 400 smartphone series brings cutting-edge AI features to South Africa, including the world’s first dedicated camera button for artificial intelligence functions. The Chinese tech firm positions the devices as tools for creative work and productivity.

The base Honor 400 model features a 200MP camera with 30x zoom and AMOLED screen, while the Pro version adds enhanced image processing and Veo 2 Studio capabilities. Both models incorporate “Ambient AI” for functions like call summaries and lighting adjustments.

International tech publications have highlighted the series, naming it as “Game-changing AI” (Forbes), “Quietly revolutionary” (Wired), and “Packed with AI utilities you’ll use” (TechRadar). These recognitions appear in Honor’s marketing materials.

The company says the phones include real-time translation for 11+ languages and AI tools targeting content creators and small businesses. They also feature power-saving technology useful during electricity outages. Honor claims the devices address mobile-first internet usage patterns, noting South Africa has 90 percent mobile-only internet access (source not provided, unverified).

Available color options include Meteor Silver and Lunar Grey for the Honor 400, while the Pro model comes in Ocean Cyan or Obsidian Black. The Pro variant features upgraded processing power with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset and expanded storage to 512GB.

Honor states the launch aligns with its US$10 billion “Alpha Plan” for AI development. The company concluded that “It’s an AI legacy that leads – with Mzansi along for an inspired journey.”