HONOR 400 Lite: The Torch Has Been Passed, Now It's Running Its Own Race
The HONOR 200 Lite didn't just win on price, it won the country over by delivering where it mattered. It topped post-paid smartphone sales across all brackets in 2024, proving that South Africans don't fall for hype. We choose what holds up.
Now, the HONOR 400 Lite picks up the baton with real upgrades to battery life, camera performance, everyday usability and sleek styling, all wrapped in a body so slim it's almost unfair. And it's already proving it can keep pace with the energy, ambition and variety of Mzansi life.
One phone. One day. Five different lives. Still going.
Let's imagine the HONOR 400 Lite moving through a full day across five people, each with a different rhythm, role and reason to expect more from their phone.
6:00 AM – The Early Starter
A personal trainer grabs the phone on the way to gym. It's light at just 171g, responsive and glove friendly. One press of the AI Camera Button and a sunrise snap hit social before the first client even arrives.
9:00 AM – The Hustler on Campus
A student scans a timetable using Google Lens. The 6.7-inch AMOLED screen stays bright and clear, even under harsh morning light. At 3,500 nits, it's built for outdoor clarity. Timetables, notes and admin? No problem.
1:00 PM – The Creative in Motion
A small business owner jumps between design tools, messages and delivery tracking. There's no lag. That's the MediaTek Dimensity 7025-Ultra processor, backed by up to 12GB of RAM with HONOR RAM Turbo.
4:00 PM – The Family Navigator
A nurse turned road trip driver heads north with Maps running the whole way. The 5,230mAh battery still shows over 40 percent. No low-battery warnings. No stress.
11:30 PM – The Night Owl
A teacher winds down, scrolling messages and playing a podcast. The Circadian Night Display softens the screen light, giving tired eyes a break. Still no charge needed.
'The HONOR 400 Lite builds on the trust we earned with the HONOR 200 Lite. We do realise that every device must echo and amplify this benchmark – which is why we made sure the HONOR 400 Lite could rise to the challenges of a fast-evolving South African lifestyle. Our mission is to remain connected to the hearts and minds of South Africa by ensuring that the tech is there and ready, whether you're on the move, creating, connecting or just making the most of every day,' says, Fred Zhou, CEO, HONOR South Africa.
The HONOR 400 Lite is made to move, switch and stay charged and looking the part in Mars Green and Velvet Black. It suits people, not just profiles – with features that go the distance without making a scene.

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The Citizen
12 hours ago
- The Citizen
HONOR 400 Lite Now Available in South Africa
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15 hours ago
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A contract customer who can afford R329 per month will get 100GB worth of data, paying R3.29 per GB. ALSO READ: Fibre, cheaper data and weaver birds: Ramaphosa promises innovation Different factors MTN says it is committed to digital inclusion and continues to take active steps to make data more affordable and accessible for all South Africans. 'Our pricing structure reflects a combination of factors, including usage patterns, volume, duration of access, and commercial sustainability,' it says. 'MTN offers a wide range of products tailored to different customer segments, including both prepaid and contract options. Prepaid pricing is often influenced by the short-term nature and smaller volumes of purchases, whereas contract customers commit to higher volumes over longer periods, allowing for discounted rates through economies of scale.' A spokesperson for Cell C offered the same explanation: 'Larger bundles – whether prepaid or postpaid – benefit from economies of scale and lower per-GB costs due to predictable usage and network planning efficiencies. Prepaid products offer flexibility for users with varying needs, but smaller volumes do come with higher proportional costs and fixed costs (per bundle, per customer) increase price points on lower data bundle allocations.' But it's difficult to agree to their argument of economies of scale, because the major, if not only, production cost is the fixed cost of large computers and network equipment. ALSO READ: Data prices likely to remain high, says EFF after spectrum auction ends Is there really a difference in what economists term the marginal cost to produce another GB, whether for a small prepaid user or a wealthier client who signs a 24-month contract? MTN says it has made substantial reductions in prepaid data pricing over recent years and continues to introduce affordable bundles to meet the needs of all consumers. 'Prepaid pricing reflects the flexibility and convenience it offers to customers who need to stay in control of their spending. While prepaid users may be more price-sensitive, they also display a 'need-now' purchase pattern. This pattern caters for convenience offers such as hourly, daily, three days and weekly data bundle to match their immediate needs. Prepaid [has] a variety of offers that are personalised based on customer spend pattern and location.' It says the cost to produce 1GB of data is not a fixed figure. 'It depends on several dynamic factors, including network investments, spectrum availability, infrastructure maintenance and customer usage trends/utilisation. 'Importantly, MTN continues to invest heavily in expanding and upgrading its network to deliver high-quality and affordable connectivity to all customers. 'On the cost differences between prepaid and contract data distribution, the fundamental infrastructure used to deliver data remains the same, but serving smaller, short-term prepaid bundles versus larger contract packages presents different cost and operational dynamics. 'Larger-volume, long-term packages benefit from scale and predictable usage, which often enables more favourable pricing.' ALSO READ: Malatsi takes action to lower smart devices and phone costs in SA Cell C data is cheaper It is noticeable that Cell C's data packages are cheaper than those of MTN and Vodacom, and it admits that there are big differences in prices for small and large users. 'We recognise concerns about pricing differences between prepaid and contract data. While this reflects common industry pricing models globally, we understand the broader social implications in the South African context. 'We continue to explore ways to narrow this gap through targeted promotions, value bundles, and contextual offers to increase affordability without compromising network overhead. Through My Connecta Deals, we provide some of the most competitive, best-value offers on the market, open to all customers, including prepaid customers. 'We have a significant base of prepaid users with exceptionally high average revenue per user [ARPU]. In many cases, this is even higher than our postpaid customers,' says Cell C. 'Prepaid is not only a product for the poor; it's a preference for a payment method by the informed and empowered, offering flexibility, control and value without long-term commitments. 'Customers across income brackets increasingly choose prepaid for its convenience, transparency, and the ability to match spend with lifestyle and usage needs.' Cell C says the cost of delivering 1GB varies and is a function of network utilisation by region, network conditions and input costs like spectrum, site maintenance and international bandwidth. ALSO READ: Capitec aims to disrupt mobile market with data that doesn't expire 'While commercially sensitive, we can assure you that we operate in a highly competitive environment and our pricing reflects a balance between affordability and the substantial investment required by our partners to expand and maintain infrastructure. 'This is particularly in under-served and rural areas where the cost to serve is significantly higher,' it adds. 'There are material differences in cost to serve between larger bundle allocation consumers, who are typically contract customers, and smaller bundle allocation purchasers, who may be prepaid consumers. Prepaid data carries additional fixed per-customer-per-bundle overhead related to payment processing, usage cycles, and less predictable network load. 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Mail & Guardian
16 hours ago
- Mail & Guardian
HONOR 400 Lite: The torch has been passed, now it's running its own race
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