Android tablets are finally 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 beautiful design. 

Execs

• Beautiful design
• Fluid navigation

Cons

• Availability within the US
• Want extra colour choices had been accessible outdoors 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 ultimately switched to Apple’s budget-friendly various in 2020, when the Eighth iPad was probably the most inexpensive model you could possibly buy, which on the time was the best choice for anybody seeking to get glorious options, a pleasant show, and good audio high quality for an honest price ticket.

Quick-forward to 2024, and I get to take pleasure in a brand new Android expertise in a beautiful new package deal. The Honor Pad 9 presents good options, a surprising design, and all the required substances to make it the right 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 exchange 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 worth was $1,499 Yuan, which interprets to roughly $212. Nonetheless, you couldn’t get yours outdoors of China till February 2024, when it got here with a €399 price ticket, making it costlier than a few of Apple’s present choices.

Fortunately for many European clients, the Honor Pad 9 is now accessible for as little as €349, with the newest presents that can get you as much as €50 off the bottom mannequin that comes with 8GB RAM and 256GB cupboard space. You additionally get a flip cowl along with your buy, making it a barely extra engaging choice, because the Honor Pad 9 Flip cowl usually sells for €50, so that you principally get a brand new pill for €299, which continues to be type of good for those who’re seeking to get a brand new Android pill.

The Honor Pad 9 is probably not probably the most highly effective pill round, however it’s going to 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 cupboard space, a long-lasting battery life that can hold you streaming your favourite content material even for those who’re flying over the Atlantic.

Honor Pad 9 Design: Killer Seems

This is likely one of the finest facets of this pill, because it’s a feast for the eyes. It appears and feels premium, and for those who don’t take your time trying on the particulars, you would possibly even take it for one among Apple’s costlier options. I additionally love its Starry Grey end, which appears gorgeous and does a superb job of deterring fingerprints. It is usually accessible in “Mild White” and “Azure,” however you should have problem getting your arms on these choices outdoors 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 for those who’re planning on watching movies in your pill, and it’ll additionally hold it protected from any potential hurt.

I’m nonetheless combined in regards to the placement of the cameras, because it makes you are feeling like this pill was meant for use horizontally. For those who’re courageous sufficient to make use of your Honor Pad 9 with out a case, the again digicam will even be annoying, as it’s going to make your pill wobble round any flat floor. Nonetheless, I consider that the majority customers will instantly put a case on this machine, serving to it lay flat wherever you need to put it down. It is also handy to get a case because it offers you a greater grip on the machine, since it might get a bit slippery in case your arms are moist or sweaty. We discover the quantity and energy buttons positioned on the highest left aspect of the pill for those who’re utilizing it in panorama mode, which is kinda robust to achieve in case your arms are on the edges of the pill whereas watching your favourite content material.

The show on the Honor Pad 9 can also be excellent for content material consumption, because it comes with an anti-glare coating that makes viewing simpler and higher, even in brilliant locations. Nonetheless, this show received’t be as nice for protecting smudges away. Both manner, you get a 12.1-inch LCD show with 120Hz refresh charges, which isn’t widespread for tablets on this worth vary. Additionally, you will take pleasure in crisp and wealthy colours. Nonetheless, I wouldn’t advocate 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 problem, 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, which means I needed to enter my safety code manner too typically to unlock my pill. This isn’t a problem after I’m at residence, 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, which means that I normally decide up the Honor Pad 9 with an empty battery, primarily video streaming apps and the app I exploit for taking part in guitar. Aside 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 anticipate from a brand new pill.

I by no means mentioned 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 residence with greater than 30 p.c 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 the whole lot earlier than placing my pill away.

It is usually troublesome for me to know why the Honor Pad 9 will get destructive feedback relating to the quantity of its 8-speaker system. I truly love the audio system on this pill; they’re excellent for music, motion pictures, and extra. I usually use the pill with my over-ear headphones when touring or after 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 destructive level. Additional, you’re solely paying $400 for this pill or $299 for those who benefit from the present offers, so it could be loopy to anticipate a jaw-dropping sound from this product if it is not a Professional variant or a tool that is meant to offer 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 for those who’re watching stuff throughout a flight or for those who’re alone on the sofa, however then once more, why now stream your content material instantly in your TV?

Must you purchase it?

Honor has made a really engaging Android pill that’s really pleasant and ideal for many. I prefer it, and my children like it, particularly once we’re going out; I additionally acquired my arms on Lamicall’s Car Tablet Mount to maintain the youngsters and the spouse entertained whereas on the highway. I consider it’s excellent for content material consumption, glorious for lengthy journeys and nice for anybody seeking to get their arms on a brand new Android pill.

That being mentioned, the one actual destructive for me is the value 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 will get the 9th generation iPad beginning at $249. Certainly, you sacrifice cupboard space, however you get a pill that can work wonders for years, permitting you to do the whole lot you want on a extra budget-friendly choice.

There are a number of issues to like about this pill, however I’m nonetheless not sure whether or not I’d be prepared to spend €349 on one. I’m presently seeking to exchange my Eighth-generation iPad with one thing extra highly effective, and I don’t actually consider that the Honor Pad 9 is the pill I’ll hold round for work-related stuff. Nonetheless, It will likely be an ideal companion whereas I get my arms on one thing with extra energy beneath 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 beautiful design.