Honor Pad V9: A Powerful Android Tablet Challenging the iPad's Dominance

This ultraportable Android tablet has set a new bar for me - and it's not a Samsung or Google

The tablet's display and sound are beautiful if you can find media to do it justice, but the Android platform is prone to bugs and app crashes compared to iOS (through no fault of Honor's). While Apple is pretty consistent with iPads, Android tablets can be as varied as the brands that sell them. This makes the prospect of an Android tablet enticing, especially when you want high customization options and a low price. However, I'd not yet found an Android tablet capable of everything I needed in a single device -- until I tested the Honor Pad V9. Also: Finally, a Windows 11 tablet I'd recommend to both business and professional users Many of us are familiar with the marketing pitch that a tablet can go from work to play; this couldn't be truer than with the Honor Pad V9, which features robust work and entertainment features and a battery life to back it up. The best features of the Honor Pad V9 aren't intrinsic Android features; they're Honor features powered by Android-based MagicOS 9.0. These include formula recognition and handwriting beautification in Honor Notes, AI Voiceprint Noise Reduction and Intelligent Speaker Recognition, and various eye protection features like an AI Defocus Comfort Display that adjusts on-screen content to reduce eye strain. Some of the personalization features include a Magic Lock Screen that lets you design your theme, colors, and images and explore different aesthetics and a 3D Avatar that you can create to your image that "hangs out" on your lock screen interacting with different wallpapers and animations. The Honor Pad V9 has a MediaTek Dimensity 8350 Elite processor that shines in work and gaming. In my testing, this tablet has proven capable of handling floating windows, split-screen applications, and image and video editing. It also transitions smoothly to handling graphic-demanding games. Also: I replaced my Kindle and iPad within hours of using this tablet (and it's on sale) Honor's answer to Apple's Game Mode is the Game Manager. When you open a game, you can access the Game Manager by swiping right from the top left of your screen. This toolbar gives you device information, like the battery life, time, current frame rate (up to 60fps), and CPU and RAM usage. It also lets you adjust brightness, quickly clean up memory, set your tablet to Do Not Disturb, apply Mistouch Prevention, Game Booster, or Game Filters, record your screen, and many more. The Game Manager menu also has a customizable list of shortcuts to apps on the left side. I've used this tablet to write my ZDNET articles and message my coworkers this week, and it still has enough battery life to stream media or read, which is more than I can say for my iPad 10th Generation or iPad mini. Even before using this tablet for work, I'd sporadically use it for entertainment and then leave it on my desk for a day or two and find myself shocked to see it was still on, with battery life to spare. Also: I changed these 12 settings on my Android phone to instantly improve battery life For example, I tested how long I could use the Honor Pad V9 after it gave me a 20% low-battery reminder. I could read on the Kindle app for about an hour and then stream a Netflix show for 93 minutes before the tablet finally died. I barely look at my iPhone 14 Pro Max after the 20% warning, and it dies. This strong battery life is possible thanks to the tablet's 10,1000mAh battery, a big difference from the 2024 iPad Pro's 8,160mAh battery -- a tablet that's almost twice the price. The IMAX-Enhanced audio ensures that the Honor Pad V9's six speakers deliver an audio experience unequaled by other tablets. The tablet supports DTS:X technology and spatial audio, which, combined with the powerful speaker array, ensures that you feel like you're surrounded by sound. I was so shocked at the quality of this tablet's audio output that, at one point, I found myself looking around for a sound that it turned out had been produced by the Honor Pad V9 itself. The Honor Pad V9 is so superior to other tablets in its price range that it's hard to narrow the list of top-performing features into a single review. Going from an iPad Mini that goes everywhere with me to the Honor Pad V9 had me doing even more on my tablet than before. Thanks to the tablet's eye protection features, I've found myself reaching for my tablet to stream shows rather than watching TV and even using it for reading instead of my Kindle (though not often). Also: Why I pick this ultraportable Lenovo tablet over the iPad for multimedia consumption In addition, the tablet uses AI to prioritize voice and reduce noise during video calls, so I was able to use the 8MP front-facing camera for press briefings and work meetings. The near 4K-resolution display (2800x1840 pixels) is so crisp that most available media doesn't do it justice. With its impressive speaker array, the audio output makes for an immersive experience uncommon in entertainment tablets. If you're not looking to edit feature-length movies or run very demanding tasks on your tablet, I can certainly recommend forgoing a power-user tablet like the iPad Pro in favor of the Honor Pad V9.

This $500 Android tablet beat my iPad Pro in almost every way - and it's not a Samsung

The tablet's display and sound are beautiful if you can find media to do it justice, but the Android platform is prone to bugs and app crashes compared to iOS (through no fault of Honor's). While Apple is pretty consistent with iPads, Android tablets can be as varied as the brands that sell them. This makes the prospect of an Android tablet enticing, especially when you want high customization options and a low price. However, I'd not yet found an Android tablet capable of everything I needed in a single device -- until I tested the Honor Pad V9. Also: Finally, a Windows 11 tablet I'd recommend to both business and professional users Many of us are familiar with the marketing pitch that a tablet can go from work to play; this couldn't be truer than with the Honor Pad V9, which features robust work and entertainment features and a battery life to back it up. The best features of the Honor Pad V9 aren't intrinsic Android features; they're Honor features powered by Android-based MagicOS 9.0. These include formula recognition and handwriting beautification in Honor Notes, AI Voiceprint Noise Reduction and Intelligent Speaker Recognition, and various eye protection features like an AI Defocus Comfort Display that adjusts on-screen content to reduce eye strain. Some of the personalization features include a Magic Lock Screen that lets you design your theme, colors, and images and explore different aesthetics and a 3D Avatar that you can create to your image that "hangs out" on your lock screen interacting with different wallpapers and animations. The Honor Pad V9 has a MediaTek Dimensity 8350 Elite processor that shines in work and gaming. In my testing, this tablet has proven capable of handling floating windows, split-screen applications, and image and video editing. It also transitions smoothly to handling graphic-demanding games. Also: I replaced my Kindle and iPad within hours of using this tablet (and it's on sale) Honor's answer to Apple's Game Mode is the Game Manager. When you open a game, you can access the Game Manager by swiping right from the top left of your screen. This toolbar gives you device information, like the battery life, time, current frame rate (up to 60fps), and CPU and RAM usage. It also lets you adjust brightness, quickly clean up memory, set your tablet to Do Not Disturb, apply Mistouch Prevention, Game Booster, or Game Filters, record your screen, and many more. The Game Manager menu also has a customizable list of shortcuts to apps on the left side. I've used this tablet to write my ZDNET articles and message my coworkers this week, and it still has enough battery life to stream media or read, which is more than I can say for my iPad 10th Generation or iPad mini. Even before using this tablet for work, I'd sporadically use it for entertainment and then leave it on my desk for a day or two and find myself shocked to see it was still on, with battery life to spare. Also: I changed these 12 settings on my Android phone to instantly improve battery life For example, I tested how long I could use the Honor Pad V9 after it gave me a 20% low-battery reminder. I could read on the Kindle app for about an hour and then stream a Netflix show for 93 minutes before the tablet finally died. I barely look at my iPhone 14 Pro Max after the 20% warning, and it dies. This strong battery life is possible thanks to the tablet's 10,1000mAh battery, a big difference from the 2024 iPad Pro's 8,160mAh battery -- a tablet that's almost twice the price. The IMAX-Enhanced audio ensures that the Honor Pad V9's six speakers deliver an audio experience unequaled by other tablets. The tablet supports DTS:X technology and spatial audio, which, combined with the powerful speaker array, ensures that you feel like you're surrounded by sound. I was so shocked at the quality of this tablet's audio output that, at one point, I found myself looking around for a sound that it turned out had been produced by the Honor Pad V9 itself. The Honor Pad V9 is so superior to other tablets in its price range that it's hard to narrow the list of top-performing features into a single review. Going from an iPad Mini that goes everywhere with me to the Honor Pad V9 had me doing even more on my tablet than before. Thanks to the tablet's eye protection features, I've found myself reaching for my tablet to stream shows rather than watching TV and even using it for reading instead of my Kindle (though not often). Also: Why I pick this ultraportable Lenovo tablet over the iPad for multimedia consumption In addition, the tablet uses AI to prioritize voice and reduce noise during video calls, so I was able to use the 8MP front-facing camera for press briefings and work meetings. The near 4K-resolution display (2800x1840 pixels) is so crisp that most available media doesn't do it justice. With its impressive speaker array, the audio output makes for an immersive experience uncommon in entertainment tablets. If you're not looking to edit feature-length movies or run very demanding tasks on your tablet, I can certainly recommend forgoing a power-user tablet like the iPad Pro in favor of the Honor Pad V9.

I just tested my new favorite Android tablet -- here's why the Honor Pad V9 takes on the iPad (and wins)

Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate. The Honor Pad 9 was an Android tablet disguised as an iPad. MagicOS offers the same levels of "it just works" smoothness to the UI, but drawbacks in performance and the speakers stopped just short of pipping the lower-end iPad 10th Gen to the post -- not to mention the huge app store. Well, one year later, and the Honor Pad V9 takes its performance to a new level, the battery is way bigger, the speakers are better, and MagicOS just got a dose of AI. Packed into a new slim, sleek chassis with an improved display, I believe the Cupertino crew has just met its match. Put simply, it's one of the best Android tablets you can buy. That's not to say it's overcome all the obstacles to get to Apple. Android is still behind iPadOS in terms of app market, and the cameras remain unchanged from the potatoes you got on the Pad 9. But in where it matters -- getting stuff done, playing games and binge watching to your heart's content -- this is a stellar option. Alongside this, Kids Space managed to keep my nephew entertained for so long. Provided you get a durable case (he's rather clumsy), this is also a shout for one of the best kids tablets you can snag. With important gains made in key areas, there's a lot to love about the Honor Pad V9 -- all of which became obvious over my month with it. Yes, the display is technically smaller than the 12.1-inch panel you got in the Pad 9. But what you get for that mesmerizing-yet-smaller 11.5-inch screen (more on that later) is a smaller, slimmer and lighter design that feels unmistakably premium in the hand. The aluminum shell feels great with a nice even weight distribution to not cause any obvious fatigue when holding in one hand, and the NIL Nano-topography process ensures a (mostly) fingerprint-free screen. It works by adding a textured surface that's so fine it can only be seen through a microscope. You won't be able to feel it -- the display glass feels nice and smooth to navigate around. But this industry-first process for tablet glass does make it surprisingly resistant to your typical finger smudges. Now, one key thing that comes with making your devices even thinner is something that I'm sure will summon JerryRigEverything like Beetlejuice if I say it three times -- does it bend? The answer, fortunately, is no. With enough strength, you can see the tiniest milli-degree curve but it doesn't stick around. The bend resistance here is strong enough to give you a resounding confidence in its durability. By default, if ever I have shows to binge watch on my train journeys down to London, I grab my MacBook Pro. But now, the Honor Pad V9 has officially taken over -- thanks to its drop dead gorgeous 11.5-inch display. Moving from the 16:10 of Pad 9 to a 3:2 aspect ratio makes this feel like a great slab to use in both portrait and landscape. And that 2800 x 1840-pixel resolution is super crispy for text and graphics -- all running at a silky smooth 144Hz refresh rate. I get it. You saw "IPS LCD" in the specs and probably had a moment of doubt. IPS panels aren't exactly known for their eye-popping vibrancy, and given this tablet's lower price, it's fair to question its display quality. But those concerns vanish the moment you lay eyes on the screen. Case in point: watching my partner's latest obsession, Entergalactic, Kid Cudi's stunningly animated love story. The resolution handles every intricate detail with precision, while the color and contrast deliver a dazzling rush of vibrancy that keeps every frame alive. MagicOS 9.0 -- built on Android 15 -- grows on what we've seen so far from what I believe to be the smoothest tablet OS in the Android ecosystem with some extra AI smarts. First off, the Magic Lock screen brings a ton of customized wallpapers and color tweaking to get just the right aesthetic for you. Second, the 3D Avatar may be a bit of a gimmick, but it's definitely fun to see your AI-generated figurine and customize it to your liking. And finally, on the more useful side of things, Honor Notes has been enriched with AI. Beyond searching, pinning and categorizing your notes, there's math formula recognition, handwriting beautification (great for my chicken scratch writing), and even voice-to-text capabilities -- even being able to translate and transcribe video meetings in real time. These are great little additions, which underpin the fundamental smoothness and logical nature of navigation. All the multi-finger gestures make multitasking effortless, swiping in from edges of the screen do exactly what you expect it to do in zipping around the OS, and the interconnection of different devices via Honor Connect screams "it just works" in a way that would make Apple sweat. The Honor Pad 9's main thorn in the paw was the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 chipset not offering much in the way of performance. Switching to MediaTek Dimensity 8350 Elite has helped with that somewhat. Don't get me wrong, you're not getting pro tablet levels of performance, but you're getting more than enough for all the casual uses of a cheaper tablet. Zipping between apps came with no slowdown and games run at respectable 60 FPS with decently sharp graphical fidelity. Pair that with a chunky 10,100 mAh battery with a high energy density ensures a good, long runtime. I ran a test of online video streaming last year, and the Pad 9 hit 11 hours and 26 minutes. With Pad V9, you're looking more at a massive 16:07. That's an impressive gain that puts it safely into worry-free battery life territory. Oh, and if the battery does drain, you can charge it back to full in just under 30 minutes. Honestly, the only real downside to the Honor Pad V9 now (outside of the whole Android tablet app selection issue) is a simple one. I'll start by saying the obvious -- don't use your tablet to take pictures. Your smartphone will almost always take far superior photos. But for those impromptu video calls or the rare moment when the Honor Pad 9 is your only option, the camera setup is serviceable, though far from impressive. The 8MP front camera works well enough for the occasional WhatsApp chat, but expect noticeable noise in dimly lit areas. Around the back, the 13MP main sensor produces images with less grain, but at the cost of fine details and rich color accuracy, leaving shots looking somewhat flat and lacking sharpness. The Honor Pad V9 takes mostly everything the company learnt from the previous Pad 9, and fixes it. It's easily one of the best Android tablets I've used in recent memory, and a serious contender for the iPad's crown. Important improvements to performance and the display make this a top notch binge watching device with the battery life to boot, and the sharpened AI features provide a helping hand that doesn't feel overbearing or gimmicky. Put simply, if you're in the market for an Android tablet, this should be on your list.