Full review: HONOR Pad X9a

These days, it seems as if the tablet is the go-to device for the younger generation of students. Perhaps this is due to the fact that these kinds of devices strike a good balance between work and play.

HONOR presents excellent value in the HONOR Pad X9a. It lies within the upper echelon of entry-level tablets, while some of its specs dabble in that more midrange segment. This makes it an ideal companion for students of all ages, and maybe even budding professionals.

Design & build

The HONOR Pad X9a comes in only one color option, which is Gray. It has a textured dual-tone finish and curved edges to give it that simple, yet classy look. This is definitely a style that a lot of people can get behind.

Its build, on the other hand, makes it easy to handle. The tablet features a slim 6.77mm body and weighs just 475g. Whether you’re carrying it around or just storing it in your bag, you can’t go wrong with this tablet’s portability.

Display & speakers

One thing the HONOR Pad X9a has going for it is its display. It features an 11.5-inch IPS LCD with a resolution of 2.5K and a refresh rate of 120Hz. Other tablets in this segment would usually opt for a lower resolution and refresh rate.

Overall, the visual experience was quite good. The visuals were clear, and the high refresh rate truly allows for a smoother experience. Colors were decent, but they didn’t really pop as you would want them to.

It also features an 86% screen-to-body ratio and 400 nits of peak brightness. At the end of the day, streaming videos on this device is enjoyable, and the responsive screen allows for work to be smooth and seamless.

With the audio, you can turn up the sound all the way to 200% with its four speakers. Surprisingly, the sound quality on this is pretty good even at the max. Although personally, I’m not one to turn up the volume at its peak since I’m an old head stuck in a young man’s body.

Camera

I said it before, and I’ll say it again – tablets are nobody’s go-to devices for taking great quality photos. They can be useful however, for everyday photography. The same can be said about the HONOR Pad X9a’s cameras.

The main shooter is an 8MP camera. Under ideal lighting conditions, the details are passable but the colors leave a lot to be desired. The front camera is a 5MP shooter. Just like the main camera, there’s nothing too special about the photo quality.

For taking videos, the HONOR Pad X9a supports up to 1080p@30fps on both the front and the rear cameras.

As mentioned, the cameras of this device aren’t standout features. However, they do get the job done, especially for specific tasks such as scanning documents, snapping notes or important information, or just capturing everyday memories.

Under the hood

The HONOR Pad X9a is powered by a Snapdragon 685, and is paired with 128GB of storage and 6GB of RAM. Tasks that aren’t as intensive such as browsing, scrolling through social media, light multitasking, and video streaming won’t be a problem.

More demanding tasks such as multitasking, complex video editing, and heavy gaming will reveal some limitations of the chipset. It’s also important to note that the chipset doesn’t support 5G connectivity. For less demanding games such as Call of Duty: Mobile, I had no issues running the game on the max graphics settings.

Maximizing productivity

For only an additional Php 1,000, you can get the HONOR Pad X9a with a smart Bluetooth keyboard. This bundle is perfect if you are looking to somewhat emulate the laptop experience. It is incredibly helpful as well when you are creating documents or even just taking down notes.

The HONOR Pad X9a runs on MagicOS 9.0, which is based on Android 15. This allows for multi-screen collaboration with your HONOR smartphone (select models only) wherein you can interact between both screens on the tablet, as well as drag and drop photos and videos seamlessly.

You can synchronize your HONOR smartphone and the tablet as well for information sharing. Stay updated and never miss a message from your smartphone even while you are in your flow state working on the tablet.

Battery & charging

An 8300 mAh battery powers the HONOR Pad X9a. On light and moderate usage, you are guaranteed a full day of battery life. Students can get through a day full of work while definitely sprinkling in some leisure through light gaming and streaming.

The device comes with a 35W Type-C charger. I was able to achieve a full charge approximately between 120-130 minutes, which isn’t that bad.

Verdict

The HONOR Pad X9a is obviously not a perfect tablet. However, it offers great value given its good quality display and full day battery life. At just Php 10,999 (Php 11,999 if bundled with the smart Bluetooth keyboard), the HONOR Pad X9a makes a compelling option for students and parents looking for an everyday work and play companion.

Photos by Mica de los Reyes