Android tablets are lastly getting good?

Honor Pad 9

$349 $399 Save $50

The Honor Pad 9 is a superb choice for anybody seeking to buy a brand new Android pill for content material consumption. It options a big 12.1-inch LCD show, an 8-speaker system, and a stunning design. 

Execs

• Beautiful design
• Fluid navigation

Cons

• Availability within the US
• Want extra coloration choices had been accessible exterior of China

Coming again to an Android pill after a number of years is sort of fascinating, because the final Android pill I owned was launched in 2019. The choices weren’t essentially nice again then, so I finally switched to Apple’s budget-friendly different in 2020, when the Eighth iPad was probably the most inexpensive model you possibly can buy, which on the time was the best choice for anybody seeking to get wonderful options, a pleasant show, and good audio high quality for an honest price ticket.

Quick-forward to 2024, and I get to get pleasure from a brand new Android expertise in a stunning new bundle. The Honor Pad 9 gives good options, a surprising design, and all the mandatory components to make it the proper choice for anybody seeking to get a pleasant media expertise with out breaking the financial institution. Nonetheless, the query stays: Is the Honor Pad 9 adequate to switch my iPad? Let’s discover out.

Value and availability

Honor made some fascinating selections with the Honor Tab 9. It was first launched in China on December 22, 2023, simply in time for the vacations. Its beginning value was $1,499 Yuan, which interprets to roughly $212. Nonetheless, you couldn’t get yours exterior of China till February 2024, when it got here with a €399 price ticket, making it dearer than a few of Apple’s present choices.

Fortunately for many European prospects, the Honor Pad 9 is now accessible for as little as €349, with the most recent gives that can get you as much as €50 off the bottom mannequin that comes with 8GB RAM and 256GB space for storing. You additionally get a flip cowl together with your buy, making it a barely extra enticing choice, because the Honor Pad 9 Flip cowl usually sells for €50, so that you mainly get a brand new pill for €299, which continues to be sort of good in the event you’re seeking to get a brand new Android pill.

The Honor Pad 9 might not be probably the most highly effective pill round, however it can maintain its personal whereas loading something you need. It delivers quick app launches and is even good for infrequent gaming. This pill comes full of a Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 processor, Qualcomm Adreno 710 graphics, 8GB RAM, a big 12.1-inch LCD show, 256GB space for storing, a long-lasting battery life that can preserve you streaming your favourite content material even in the event you’re flying over the Atlantic.

Honor Pad 9 Design: Killer Appears

This is among the finest points of this pill, because it’s a feast for the eyes. It seems to be and feels premium, and in the event you don’t take your time wanting on the particulars, you would possibly even take it for one in all Apple’s dearer options. I additionally love its Starry Grey end, which seems to be gorgeous and does a superb job of deterring fingerprints. It is usually accessible in “Mild White” and “Azure,” however you should have issue getting your palms on these choices exterior of China. I really like this design a lot that I nearly really feel dangerous that I needed to buy a case to maintain it protected. Nonetheless, it’s fairly handy and helpful in the event you’re planning on watching movies in your pill, and it’ll additionally preserve it protected from any potential hurt.

I’m nonetheless combined in regards to the placement of the cameras, because it makes you’re feeling like this pill was meant for use horizontally. In case you’re courageous sufficient to make use of your Honor Pad 9 and not using a case, the again digital camera may also be annoying, as it can make your pill wobble round any flat floor. Nonetheless, I imagine that almost all customers will instantly put a case on this system, serving to it lay flat anyplace you wish to put it down. It is also handy to get a case because it provides you with a greater grip on the system, since it could possibly get a bit slippery in case your palms are moist or sweaty. We discover the quantity and energy buttons positioned on the highest left facet of the pill in the event you’re utilizing it in panorama mode, which is kinda robust to achieve in case your palms are on the perimeters of the pill whereas watching your favourite content material.

The show on the Honor Pad 9 can also be good for content material consumption, because it comes with an anti-glare coating that makes viewing simpler and higher, even in vibrant locations. Nonetheless, this show gained’t be as nice for retaining smudges away. Both approach, you get a 12.1-inch LCD show with 120Hz refresh charges, which isn’t widespread for tablets on this value vary. Additionally, you will get pleasure from crisp and wealthy colours. Nonetheless, I wouldn’t suggest it for aspiring artists, because it doesn’t include a stylus, and getting the corporate’s Magic Pencil 3 will set you again an additional $100. But when cash isn’t a difficulty, you should have a pleasant time sketching and taking notes, because the expertise is excellent, nearly like utilizing an actual pencil and paper.

Efficiency: Quick navigation

The Honor Pad 9 runs on MagicOS 7.2 and Android 13, so the expertise is quick and fluid, however there are a few points that I don’t essentially love. Biometric authentication wasn’t as quick or dependable as I’d wished, that means I needed to enter my safety code approach too typically to unlock my pill. This isn’t a difficulty once I’m at dwelling, since I disable biometric authentication, and utilizing the pill is only a swipe away.

I’m additionally experiencing some points with the pill being unable to fall asleep whereas utilizing sure apps, that means that I often choose up the Honor Pad 9 with an empty battery, primarily video streaming apps and the app I take advantage of for enjoying guitar. Apart from that, I can say that I’m greater than happy with loading speeds, animations, and the general expertise, because the Honor Pad 9 delivers the efficiency you’d count on from a brand new pill.

I by no means stated that battery life was dangerous, as I managed to make use of my pill throughout my flight again from Barcelona throughout a Kimetsu No Yaiba epic marathon. I even managed to squeeze in some episodes of Dragon Quest. I arrived dwelling with greater than 30 % battery life, which is nice contemplating this pill’s energy and options. Certainly, I complained about my Honor Pad 9 operating low on battery when it doesn’t fall asleep whereas operating some apps, however that will get solved if I shut every thing earlier than placing my pill away.

It is usually troublesome for me to grasp why the Honor Pad 9 will get detrimental feedback concerning the quantity of its 8-speaker system. I really love the audio system on this pill; they’re good for music, films, and extra. I usually use the pill with my over-ear headphones when touring or once I don’t need the remainder of the world to distract me from what I’m watching, so the audio system aren’t one thing I’d point out as a detrimental level. Additional, you’re solely paying $400 for this pill or $299 in the event you benefit from the present offers, so it will be loopy to count on a jaw-dropping sound from this product if it isn’t a Professional variant or a tool that is meant to supply top-notch audio expertise. You get what you pay for, and the pill’s audio system are greater than sufficient to ship an immersive expertise in the event you’re watching stuff throughout a flight or in the event you’re alone on the sofa, however then once more, why now stream your content material immediately in your TV?

Do you have to purchase it?

Honor has made a really enticing Android pill that’s really satisfying and excellent for many. I prefer it, and my youngsters like it, particularly once we’re going out; I additionally acquired my palms on Lamicall’s Automobile Pill Mount to maintain the youngsters and the spouse entertained whereas on the highway. I imagine it’s good for content material consumption, wonderful for lengthy journeys and nice for anybody seeking to get their palms on a brand new Android pill.

That being stated, the one actual detrimental for me is the worth tag, as different choices in the marketplace would appear extra compelling, particularly for the US market, the place getting merchandise from Honor may not be as straightforward. For example, you may get the ninth technology iPad beginning at $249. Certainly, you sacrifice space for storing, however you get a pill that can work wonders for years, permitting you to do every thing you want on a extra budget-friendly choice.

There are a number of issues to like about this pill, however I’m nonetheless uncertain whether or not I’d be keen to spend €349 on one. I’m presently seeking to substitute my Eighth-generation iPad with one thing extra highly effective, and I don’t actually imagine that the Honor Pad 9 is the pill I’ll preserve round for work-related stuff. Nonetheless, It will likely be an ideal companion whereas I get my palms on one thing with extra energy below the hood.

Honor Pad 9

$349 $399 Save $50

The Honor Pad 9 is a superb choice for anybody seeking to buy a brand new Android pill for content material consumption. It options a big 12.1-inch LCD show, an 8-speaker system, and a stunning design.