This £700 phone's cameras keep up with those of the Galaxy S25 Ultra — see the results for yourself
Everyone loves a good David vs. Goliath match-up, and thanks to the newly launched Honor 400 Pro, we have the opportunity to have a camera shootout where this mid-priced phone goes up against the toughest opponent the smartphone world can muster.
At £700, the Honor 400 Pro is roughly equivalent to Samsung's Galaxy S24 FE, which sells for $649/£649/AU$1,100. But to really give the 400 Pro a challenge, I instead opted to bring the $1,299 / £1,249 / AU$2,150 Galaxy S25 Ultra, Samsung's top phone for photography right now, and our top pick of the best camera phones you can buy today.
This isn't as weird a comparison as you may think. The Honor 400 Pro has a very similar camera loadout to the Galaxy S25 Ultra, with a 200MP main camera, 50MP 3x optical zoom camera, 12MP ultrawide camera and 50MP selfie camera. While the Honor 400 Pro lacks a second telephoto camera like the S25 Ultra, these are still remarkably similar specs for a phone almost half the price.
More to explore with the Honor 400 series, and we'll go through those in a review at a later date. But right now, let's see how much of a fight it puts up against a more expensive and better-equipped component.
It's a strange start with this shot of the entrance to a brick building. The Honor 400 Pro's image is weirdly bright, even after me picking out one of the darkest shots of the ones I took.
It doesn't degrade the image's level of detail, but compared to the more natural-looking Galaxy S25 Ultra, it looks off. We don't see this kind of color processing in the Honor 400 Pro's other photos, so it's either a fluke or something to do with the 200MP main camera specifically. Either way, the Honor's tripped over and given Samsung an easy win.
Winner: Galaxy S25 Ultra
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In this shot of a church and its yard, and putting the difference in zoom level aside, we have two good images to look at this time. So far, so good.
The Samsung take on the scene is more saturated, whereas the Honor has focused on brightness. Given the state of the weather on the day I took these photos, the Honor's view of the scene is much more honest, while also showing off the old stonework at its best.
Winner: Honor 400 Pro
This first of two telephoto tests is at a zoom level where both phones get to use a dedicated zoom camera. But having the right lens is only the start.
Pointing the phones at this town sign, the Honor has more color and more detail. While the Samsung's image looks brighter, the sign itself is darker and quite grainy, which is not what you need in a photo like this.
Winner: Honor 400 Pro
Here's the place where the two phones' camera set-ups differ. The Galaxy S25 Ultra has a dedicated 50MP 5x telephoto camera, whereas the Honor 400 Pro uses its 3x camera with some digital zoom to create a lossless 6x image.
This snapshot of a cat I happened to pass on my travels is roughly the same level of detail in both phones' shots, although you can see more in the S25 Ultra's version, likely because of the native zoom level. But it's hard to see the difference unless you zoom in further, making the Galaxy S25 Ultra's win only a slim one.
Winner: Galaxy S25 Ultra
We wrap things up with a selfie-off. And it's immediately obvious that the Galaxy S25 Ultra's image is brighter, helping rescue the darker parts of the image from obscurity, while the Honor 400 Pro leaves them in shadow.
Honor's selfie camera output is a slightly higher resolution than the Samsung's, with the option to go even higher if you want more detail. But as it stands, this image is weaker in terms of contrast, making fine elements like my hair harder to differentiate from my skin in places.
Winner: Galaxy S25 Ultra
And so, Samsung remains control of the top spot on our best camera phones guide. But I didn't put it up against the Honor 400 Pro thinking it would lose. I wanted to see how wide the margin of quality was, and we've seen it's not as large as you'd expect.
The Galaxy S25 Ultra is a smarter pick for most photography-focused users, both practically because of its greater availability and in terms of its overall shot quality. But the Honor 400 Pro's cameras keeping up and even beating the Samsung in places is no mean feat.
While too expensive to be considered for our best cheap phones guide, the Honor 400 Pro may have a claim to being one of the best value phones of the year, sitting alongside devices such as the OnePlus 13R and the Google Pixel 9a. We'll let you know for sure after further testing, but right now Honor deserves a pat on the back for going five rounds in the ring with the Galaxy S25 Ultra — and coming out alive.
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Tom's Guide
an hour ago
- Tom's Guide
Samsung HW-S60D review: An affordable upgrade from TV speakers, but only if that TV's a Samsung
Samsung's HW-S60D could be one of the best soundbars… but only if you have a Samsung TV. While the S60D has a range of premium features that make its $349 MSRP much more appealing, said features are restricted to Samsung TVs. Features like Wireless Dolby Atmos and Active Voice Analyzer are unfortunately only available on compatible Samsung TVs, so I was unable to experience these while testing on my Panasonic. That's not to say the S60D is a bad soundbar — if you've got a Samsung TV, it could be a great way to upgrade from the built-in TV speakers for a relatively affordable price. However, if you've got any other brand (or an older Samsung model), then you'd be better off with something else. Don't worry, I'll go through all the details in my Samsung HW-S60D soundbar review. Price $349 / £359 Connectivity HDMI, Optical, Bluetooth Weight 6 pounds Dimensions 26.3 x 2.4 x 4.1 inches Colors Black Subwoofer No Dolby Atmos No; Wireless Dolby Atmos only with Samsung TV Channel 5.0 The Samsung S60D is $347 on Amazon U.S., but its MSRP on Samsung U.S. is $349. The S60D has an RRP of £359 in the U.K. but is available for just £279 on Amazon U.K.. £279 is a much better price for this soundbar — I think £359 is pretty steep considering you can get the Polk Signa S4 soundbar and subwoofer for just £329 (a 3.1.2 channel setup as opposed to the S60D's 5.0). If you're a home theater newbie looking for your first home setup, I wholeheartedly recommend the Polk Signa S4. It's got a subwoofer and soundbar for just $399. The Signa S4 is my go-to recommendation for beginners, as it's relatively affordable and sounds just as good as some of the $500+ options. Honestly, there's not really much to say about the S60D's appearance. It looks like a soundbar. They all look the same. Still, there's nothing inherently negative about that — there's a style, and it works. The S60D is quite inconspicuous, but it's deeper than the S801D's tiny 1.5-inch depth. It's not one if you need a super slim soundbar — the Polk Signa S4 I praised earlier could help you out there at just 2.4 inches deep. Although the S60D is unassuming in appearance, it's very easy to set up. I only had to plug it in and connect with an HDMI cable to my Panasonic MZ1500 4K OLED and it was ready to go. I love the on-bar buttons: there's volume, mic, and an on/off button. You don't need to use these, though: the S60D comes with a lovely remote control that has a range of features, including channel level and listening modes. The Samsung remote is much better than the Bose remote, which I find lacking in features. As with other Samsung soundbars, the S60D uses the Smart Things app. This is one of the best smart home apps I've ever used. I'm already familiar with it as I own a Samsung washing machine, and I can't lie — it's nice to see my virtual home fill up with more products. You can name each product to whatever you like (Soundbar McSoundbarface, anyone?). As you can see, there's a range of playback modes in the Smart Things app. I found that DTS Virtual X sounded the best across a range of movies and TV shows. You can even increase center and surround channel speakers to imitate true surround sound (but obviously it isn't 'true' surround as there's no Dolby Atmos on this soundbar, and there aren't enough channels). As with the Samsung S801D Ultra Slim soundbar I recently tested, the S60D's flagship features are restricted to Samsung TVs. As I was testing on our Panasonic testing TV, unfortunately, these features were lost to me. I think this is a fair criticism, as not everyone has a Samsung TV, therefore virtually limiting users of this soundbar to Samsung loyalists. It's a shame that I couldn't experience 'Wireless Dolby Atmos' as this was the mode I was most excited about. However, the DTS Virtual X listening mode made a valiant effort to create a Dolby Atmos experience. The S60D claims it has Dolby Atmos, but it doesn't really. The upfiring channel speakers don't perform adeptly enough to create an immersive experience, and Wireless Dolby Atmos is limited to Samsung TVs, as I just mentioned. Of course you can still use it (and enjoy it, as I did), but it's a shame that these major features are restricted. I'm sure that the room calibration feature, Space Fit Sound Pro, works a treat. I just didn't get the opportunity to experience it in all its glory. There are still a range of sound modes, though, including 'Standard', 'Game', 'Music' and 'DTS Virtual X'. I found that DTS Virtual X was pretty good at tricking my brain into thinking I was listening with true Dolby Atmos, as I'll get into below. As I watched movies with this soundbar, I actually felt like I had a full surround setup. However, I do think the S60D could benefit from a dialogue enhancement sound mode. There were a few moments in 'A Complete Unknown' where I couldn't hear anything. That's definitely to do with the acting and sound mixing as well (the S60D isn't completely guilty), but is something to note if you struggle with hearing already. As I do with all soundbars I test, I watched various movies and TV shows, and listened to music. I watched 'Top Gun: Maverick', 'The Wild Robot', 'A Complete Unknown' on 4K UHD Blu-Ray, 'Stranger Things' on Netflix, and a range of music via Qobuz. Before we start, a word of warning: do not use 'Standard' audio mode, as it's really tinny. Like, really tinny. Just skip immediately to DTS Virtual X. As always, I watched 'Top Gun: Maverick' on 4K Blu-Ray. To see how immersive it could be, I upped the channel speakers to attempt Dolby Atmos. However, this didn't really improve the surround sound experience. As this soundbar doesn't have surround sound, I wasn't expecting it to mimic true 360° audio anyway. The high-frequency sounds like metal clinking and ropes swishing were a little lost with the bassy soundtrack. The jet engine sounds overpowered these smaller sound effects — I'd say the audio in this specific Top Gun scene was comparable to the Bose Smart Soundbar ($499). The louder parts of the soundtrack fell a little flat, but it's easily overlookable. It's good, but not mind-blowing. Next, I watched 'A Complete Unknown'. The singing sounded good, but there wasn't much clarity in the vocals. Dialogue scenes were a little overpowered by the soundtrack. I thought the semi-mumbled dialogue could be the problem, but I was able to hear this on the Samsung S801D. Also, I feel like loads of movies nowadays have mostly muted speech. The Samsung 60D lacks the AI voice-enhancing tech I've seen on other soundbars like the Polk Signa S4's 3 'voice adjust' modes. Samsung does have an Adaptive Sound mode for enhanced audio, but, again, this is restricted to Samsung TVs, which is a major disappointment. Last, I watched 'The Wild Robot'. There's one particular scene that's excellent for immersive audio, where the goose character is swimming for the first time. I use this always use this scene to test soundbars — the sound mixing here is excellent. Splashes in seemingly 360°, feathers rustling, and plenty of underwater bubble sounds. Even though the S60D doesn't have Dolby Atmos, the swimming scene sounded immersive and expansive. I felt like I could have been immersed in the water myself. However, it's worth noting that the water sounds weren't as clear as on the Samsung D801D Ultra Slim soundbar. To test TV, I watched 'Stranger Things'. Again, some dialogue was a bit quiet, mostly the gruffer actors like David Harbour, but I could hear all of the kids' speech clearly. In a few scenes, I felt a little overwhelmed; the dialogue was sibilance-heavy yet muffled at the same time. However, in general, the audio was good. Not excellent, but good, and way, way better than TV speakers ever could be. In the scene where Will is hiding from the monster, I felt immersed in his fear, and could hear the hissing lightbulb and his rapid breathing clearly. It was just in louder school scenes that the ambient noise overpowered the dialogue a little. 'Music' mode did enhance the dialogue a bit, but it lost some of the DTS Virtual X mode's immersive experience. It's a toss up: clear dialogue, or more surround immersion? I settled for the surround sound. Just as with the Samsung S801D soundbar, listening to music on the S60D soundbar was merely fine. It's not amazing, and it won't impress anyone really serious about the music. But does it do the trick? Sure, it's better than an Alexa or Google Home, but if you want a good speaker, you'll need to buy a speaker (or two). I listened to 'Let It Happen' by Tame Impala. While the synth mids and vocals were clear and powerful, the percussion and bass were both extremely lacking and disappointing. Next, I listened to 'Moaning Lisa Smile' by Wolf Alice, hoping to get some oomph. The heavy, grungy chorus was loud and effectual, but again, that percussion was rather tinny. Even so, I had a good time listening to music on this soundbar, but it wouldn't be the first thing I reached for for a party. If you've got a Samsung TV, you'll likely have a better experience than me. However, it's worth criticising the Samsung ecosystem for barring the best features from third-party TVs. Panasonic, Sony, TCL, and LG TVs are still incredibly popular in the U.S. and the U.K., and there's a good chance that you don't have a Samsung TV. So, if you've got a Samsung TV, then sure, this could be a great soundbar — I just couldn't test any of its flagship features. But if you have any other brand, it's just a good soundbar. I think you can get a much better deal with the Polk Signa S4 ($399 for a 3.1.2 channel, as opposed to $349 for a 5.0 setup).
Android Authority
2 hours ago
- Android Authority
These are my favourite camera phones from the past 25 years
Robert Triggs / Android Authority It's been 25 years since Samsung launched the SCH-V200, which contentiously claims the title of the first camera phone (the Sharp J-SH04 also has its eye on the prize). It certainly wasn't anything like the photography behemoths we carry around in our pockets today — just a tiny 0.35MP rear camera with storage for 20 photos at a time. Compare that to today's best camera phones with 200 megapixels, 1-inch image sensors, and quadruple lens arrays, and it's hard not to feel a little old. There have been plenty of brilliant camera phones over the past two and a half decades. So, to mark 25 years since the SCH-V200 (whether or not it truly was the first), I thought I'd take a stroll down memory lane with a few of my personal favorites. Sony Ericsson K750i (2005) I'm dating myself here, but before Android was a thing, I bought a Sony Ericsson K750i on what felt like an outrageously expensive contract (honestly, who lets teenagers sign phone contracts?). Back in 2005, I had no idea I was buying into a sleeper hit. The K750i was a massive success for Sony, thanks largely to its groundbreaking camera. It packed a 2MP shooter with dual LED flash — trust me, that was impressive at the time. Most phones topped out at 0.3MP VGA sensors. By today's standards, the specs are meager, but Sony and consumers like me saw it as a game-changer. It had a retractable lens cover (I can still hear that satisfying snap), a dedicated shutter button, and a volume rocker that doubled as a zoom control. It was built to feel like a tiny camera you could keep in your pocket. The K750i is often overlooked in early smartphone camera discussions, but it laid the groundwork for the K850i, which upped the ante with a 5MP sensor, proper Xenon flash, and a more camera-centric interface. It also paved the way for Sony Ericsson's Cyber-shot phones, which aimed to fuse Sony's point-and-shoot camera chops with mobile tech. Sony's Xperia phones carry on that same legacy. The K750i might not have been the first or the most memorable, but for me at least, it was my first taste of a phone that put the camera front and center, and I haven't looked back. Apple iPhone 4 (2010) Ryan Haines / Android Authority This one's on my list reluctantly, mostly because I didn't use early iPhones myself. And honestly, even the many premium iPhones I've tried since wouldn't crack my personal top 10. Still, credit where it's due: Apple has played a massive role in shaping camera phone culture, not always by pushing tech boundaries, but by giving mobile photography its mainstream appeal. Who doesn't love social media, after all? The iPhone 4 is where that transformation began. With a decent 5MP BSI sensor, 720p video recording, LED flash, and a front-facing camera, the iPhone 4 had a solid, if not spectacular, hardware setup. But it was the software and ecosystem that elevated the experience. It made photo and video sharing not just easy, but inevitable. The iPhone 4 and Galaxy S2 kickstarted today's photo sharing culture. FaceTime introduced millions to video calling — arguably paving the way for vlogging culture. Instagram launched the same year, giving people a reason to share their iPhone photos. iOS 4 bundled in photo albums, geotagging, iCloud backup, and even iMovie for on-device video editing. Looking back, it's hard to remember a time when those weren't standard. From a pure photography standpoint, it wasn't groundbreaking, but the iPhone 4 is the godfather of the modern mobile photography experience. However, I spent this era with the superb Samsung Galaxy S2. It launched a year later with an 8MP camera and 1080p video capabilities, putting Android on the multimedia map too. I loved mine, though I remember it more as a solid all-rounder than a photography beast. Still, the S2 arguably marked a turning point for Android imaging and the platform's broader success, much like the iPhone 4 did for Apple. Nokia Pureview 808 and Lumia 1020 (2012-2013) Robert Triggs / Android Authority Fast forward to the real heavy-hitters. In its heyday, Nokia was the mobile brand to beat when it came to imaging, pushing boundaries all the way back to the 2007 Nokia N95. Although I never owned one, 2012's PureView 808 left a lasting impression. It debuted Nokia's PureView pixel oversampling tech, which shrank massive 41MP images into lossless zoom or detailed low-res versions — effectively giving you the best of both worlds. Today's high-res, pixel-binning sensors owe a lot to this idea, albeit now done in hardware. The phone's 1/1.2-inch sensor was huge — even by today's standards — and paired with an f/2.4 lens, it could still hold its own in some respects. Sadly, the 808's Symbian OS was already being outshone by the burgeoning app ecosystems on iOS and Android. Nokia was hedging its bets with Microsoft's ill-fated Windows Phone OS, and 2012's Nokia Lumia 920 continued to review reasonably well. PureView was a precursor to today's massive megapixel sensors. By 2013, Nokia had shifted gears to the Lumia 1020. It reprised a 41MP sensor, added a faster f/2.2 lens co-developed with ZEISS, and launched with an optional camera grip accessory. It even supported RAW capture via a later update — a feature that Apple and Android phones wouldn't adopt for years. While plenty of camera phones existed before it, the 1020 was one of the last before a relative lull in all-out enthusiast-tier camera phones. I still have my canary yellow 1020 tucked away. I pulled it out five years after launch, and it still held its own against phones that had only just caught up in megapixel count. Sure, today's flagships blow it out of the water in dynamic range and detail, but that soft, natural image quality still holds a nostalgic charm of a simpler time. I'll be keeping hold of this one, it's a classic. HUAWEI P20 Pro (2018) Robert Triggs / Android Authority It's hard to pinpoint the exact moment when smartphones became true camera replacements, but the 2017–2019 window feels about right. That's when phone cameras went from 'good enough' to 'why bother with a point-and-shoot?' For me, the HUAWEI P20 Pro is the standout model that encapsulates this most exciting period in mobile photography. For starters, it was the first phone with a triple camera setup: a 40MP main shooter, an 8MP 3x telephoto, and a 20MP monochrome sensor used for image fusion. The photos? Spectacular for the time. Triple cameras and a bag of software tricks make the P20 Pro the grandfather of modern flagships. While the processing looks heavy-handed now, the P20 Pro kicked off HUAWEI's golden era. The P30 Pro was even better, and the Mate series was highly regarded too, but it was the P20 Pro that started the magic. The P20 Pro also debuted a proper night mode, multi-frame HDR, software-controlled aperture bokeh, hybrid zoom, and even 960fps slow-motion video, providing a level of versatility I hadn't experienced before. Others were working on similar features, but HUAWEI was the first to bundle them all into a flagship package that looked brilliant too. Or maybe it was just me who was persuaded to part with their cash. Honestly, I wouldn't mind if someone revisited the monochrome fusion concept today, especially given how ultrawide lenses have started to feel redundant with the rise of 23mm main sensors. This reminds me, I need to take more moody black-and-white photos for my library. Google Pixel 6 Pro (2021) Robert Triggs / Android Authority Yes, I could've mentioned the Pixel lineup much earlier — Google was pioneering HDR+ and computational photography long before 2021 — but it always felt like clever software making up for outdated hardware. That changed with the Pixel 6 Pro. Google finally joined the big leagues with a 50MP 1/1.31-inch sensor, a 48MP 4x telephoto, and a 12MP ultrawide. HDR+, Super Res Zoom, and Night Sight were all tried and tested at this point, but felt renewed with powerful hardware to back them up. I was particularly blown away by the telephoto lens, which actually produced photos as good as the main sensor — a rarity even now. Despite other review units landing on my desk, I stuck with the phone for a couple of years and barely took a bad picture with it in that time. The Pixel 6 Pro's cameras finally converted me to team Pixel. The Pixel 6 Pro also marked a turning point for Google's camera ambitions. It was when the Pixel finally became a top-tier camera phone and premiered the now-iconic Pixel camera bar. But with that new hardware came computational photography tools like Magic Eraser, Face Unblur, and Real Tone, which have since expanded into an entire AI suite that encompasses Magic Editor, Add Me, Video Boost, and a ton of other extras. Features that were once Pixel exclusives are now being copied left and right. If I had to choose one older phone camera to use today, it would be the Pixel 6 Pro. The modern day: spoilt for choice Robert Triggs / Android Authority Looking back, I've been lucky to use and even own some of the most iconic camera phones of all time — some intentionally, some by accident. I've seen the evolution from barely a megapixel to today's quad-lens phenomenons. Today's flagship phones — like the Google Pixel 9 Pro and Xiaomi 15 Ultra — are undeniably impressive, even compared to models from just a handful of years ago. So much so that they've left my beloved Fuji mirrorless collecting dust on the shelf. From today's huge sensors and multiple lenses to shooting tricks and editing tools, no other part of the smartphone has advanced quite as dramatically in the past 25 years as the camera. Of course, I can't mention every great camera phone without turning this into a small book. The HTC One M7 and its 'Ultrapixel' gamble, the LG G2/G3 and their laser autofocus, the ASUS Zenfone 6's rotating front/back camera, and Sony's Xperia line (especially the Pro-I) deserve a mention too. In fact, the G3 remains one of my all-time favorite Android phones, thermal throttling and all. But now it's your turn: did I miss your favorite camera phone of all time? Drop it in the comments — I'm always keen to reminisce.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
The Samsung Galaxy S25+ is free with this AT&T trade-in deal
Carrier deals aren't always bad. Sure, you're locked into a longer-term commitment than you would be with an MVNO, but if you're used to staying with one company for years, there are benefits. Carrier discounts are a fantastic way to score a premium flagship smartphone for less, and if you catch one at the right time, you could even pay nothing. The Samsung Galaxy S25+ is an excellent device, and given its position in the company's lineup this year, I think it's the sensible choice for most people. AT&T wants you to pick up a Samsung Galaxy S25+ for free. You need to trade in an eligible phone and stay on an AT&T unlimited plan for 36 months, but if you were going to do that anyway, it's an excellent chance to save money on one of this year's best. I know the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge is getting all the attention for being thin, but the Galaxy S25+ isn't exactly a thick smartphone. It's only 7.3mm thick and weighs only 190g — it's a joy to hold in your hand. It's also durable, with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the front and back, and an aluminum frame. The Galaxy S25+ features a gorgeous (and manageable) 6.7-inch AMOLED screen that refreshes at 120Hz. Samsung nailed the displays on this year's crop of Galaxy phones, and if you enjoy the saturated Samsung displays of old, you're going to love what you see on the Galaxy S25+. You won't be lacking in horsepower with the Galaxy S25+. Its Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset is precisely as advertised, with snappy performance and better power efficiency than I expected. I can get a full day of use and then some on a single charge from the phone's 4,900mAh battery. Camera performance is excellent, with sharp, crisp images and deep contrast from the phone's triple sensor setup. I wish the phone had the new 50MP ultrawide lens that the Galaxy S25 Ultra enjoys, but I can't complain. Of course, software is the centerpiece of this year's Galaxy S25+. I still don't understand the functions of Now Brief, but the Now Bar on One UI 7 is proving useful. I love using it to get sports scores and help with turn-by-turn navigation on Google Maps. In addition, it's hard to beat 7 years of software support and updates, meaning your Galaxy S25+ will get new features for years. All told, it's an excellent smartphone, and even better if you can pick one up for free.
