Back-to-school season is coming up. If you’re thinking of getting a new tablet for you or your kid, the HONOR Pad X9a might be a solid pick. It’s budget-friendly and packed with value. Check out our full review to see if it’s the right one for you.
In case you missed our initial thoughts, read our HONOR Pad X9a first impressions blog.
Performance and Software
When buying a tablet today, it must have the capability to run the apps you will be using. Fortunately, the HONOR Pad X9a gives me more than enough power to run productivity apps like HONOR Docs, WPS, and Notion, without any issues.
You can also do some research or web browsing along with those productivity apps since it has a 6GB RAM + 6GB HONOR RAM Turbo. Multitasking is an ease, perfect for doing homework or projects.
Since it is powered by the 6nm Snapdragon 685 octa-core chipset, most of the apps are already well-optimized, giving you a smooth experience. Even though this chipset is already old, it helps this tablet to get the job done, but you have to manage your expectations. Still, I think the HONOR Pad X9a can help you do your task whether for school or entertainment.
In your free time, you can also do some light gaming. Based on my experience with this tablet, it allows me to play Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and Call of Duty Mobile smoothly.
On the software side, MagicOS 9.0 based on Android 15 runs smoothly on this device. Its AI features truly help boost my productivity, living up to its “AI Tablet” tagline.
Display and Multimedia Experience
As for the display, I’d say it looks pretty high quality. With its 2.5K resolution, everything looks sharp and detailed. The screen is also really vibrant, which makes watching videos a lot more fun.
It also has a 120Hz refresh rate, so scrolling feels super smooth. For me, its 120Hz high refresh is one of its strengths since other tablets in this price point usually only have 60Hz or 90Hz refresh rate. Having a high refresh rate is now a standard as it gives another level of experience, making your device look faster.
The 11.5-inch size feels just right too, especially when you’re doing split-screen stuff. The only downside is the brightness only goes up to 400 nits, so it’s really more for indoor use.
What made the experience even better were the quad speakers that go up to 200 percent volume. For me, the sound quality was pretty solid. The bass has enough kick, and the treble isn’t too harsh, so it actually sounds kind of premium.
Camera Performance
For video conferencing, the 5MP front camera delivers decent quality. While it’s not the best, it’s already sufficient for its price. It can be a bit noisy, especially in low-light conditions, but with good lighting, you wouldn’t even notice it’s only 5MP particularly when taking photos.
It also comes with an 8MP rear camera that can deliver decent quality, especially when taking photos of documents or scenery. However, I still wouldn’t recommend using your tablet to capture special moments, as your smartphone will likely produce much better image quality. That said, if your tablet is the only device you have for taking photos, it should be sufficient for basic needs.
Battery Life and Charging
With a massive 8,300mAh battery capacity, the HONOR Pad X9a’s battery is more than enough to provide a whole day of juice, and we were satisfied with its battery life. It also supports 35W HONOR SuperCharge, allowing it to recharge quickly and get you back to full power in no time.
I attempted to run some battery benchmarks but the app crashes before it finishes. But I assure you, all of your tasks will be done before it runs out of juice.
Conclusion
The HONOR Pad X9a is a tablet I can confidently recommend, especially for those seeking a reliable study or work companion without stretching their budget for a laptop. It delivers solid performance for everyday tasks, whether using office suite apps, browsing social media, casual gaming, or handling other commonly used apps. It is ideal for students, educators, and young professionals since it offers a great starting point for productivity and entertainment on a budget.
Pros
- Useful AI features
- Smooth performance for everyday tasks
- Great for multitasking (6GB + 6GB HONOR RAM Turbo)
- Sharp 11.5″ 2.5K display with 120Hz refresh rate
- Loud quad speakers with decent sound quality
- Large battery capacity with fast 35W charging
Cons
- Older Snapdragon 685 chipset
- Screen brightness limited to indoor use
- Average camera quality, especially in low light
- Not ideal for heavy gaming or demanding apps
HONOR Pad X9a Specifications
- Display: 11.5-inch IPS, 2.5K resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, 400nits peak brightness
- CPU: 2.8GHz 6nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 685 octa-core processor
- GPU: Adreno 610
- RAM: 6GB + 6GB HONOR RAM Turbo
- ROM: 128GB
- Rear Camera: 8MP + LED flash
- Front Camera: 5MP
- Battery: 8,300mAh, 35W HONOR SuperCharge (Type-C)
- OS: MagicOS 9, Android 15
- Connectivity: 2.4GHz & 5GHz WiFi, Bluetooth 5.1
- Sensors: Accelerometer, light,
- Colors: Gray
- Weight: 174g
- Dimensions: 267.3mm (L) x 167.4mm (W) x 6.77mm (D)
- Others: AI face unlock, USB-C, Hi-Res audio, Quad stereo speakers
Price and Availability
- HONOR Pad X9a – PHP 10,999 | Shopee link
- HONOR Pad X9a w/ Keyboard – PHP 11,999 | Shopee link
The HONOR Pad X9a is now available with a price starting at just PHP 10,999 via HONOR’s official stores on Shopee and Lazada. It is also available with an included Bluetooth folio keyboard for only PHP 11,999.
