The Honor Magic Pad 2 left a lasting impression on us, so when the Honor Pad V9 was released, we couldn’t wait to dive into its features. However, after spending some time with the tablet, we started to ask some important questions. Why did the OLED display disappear? Why is the Magic Pad 2 sometimes priced lower than the V9? Will it receive regular updates? The stylus is surprisingly good, but is it enough to make the Pad V9 stand out in a crowded market? Let’s explore all the features of the Honor Pad V9 in this comprehensive review.
Design and Build Quality
At first glance, the Honor Pad V9 feels very similar to the Magic Pad 2. With an 11.5-inch screen, it’s slightly larger than most 11-inch tablets, yet it remains impressively lightweight at just 475 grams. The tablet’s slim profile, measuring only 6.1 mm in thickness, gives it an elegant feel, reminiscent of the iPad Air in terms of design. The thin bezels around the display create a modern look, with a sharp 90° drop-off to the sides.
The back of the device features a sleek metal finish with a simple Honor logo and two camera rings. The Pad V9 is available in either white or gray, which are both essentially variations of silver. No matter which color you choose, the tablet has a premium feel and a sophisticated design.
On the left side, you’ll find the power button along with a volume rocker above it. These buttons, unfortunately, feel somewhat rigid and less premium than expected. There is no built-in fingerprint sensor, which may be a dealbreaker for some users. The stylus that comes with the Pad V9 connects magnetically to the right side and charges wirelessly, which is a nice touch.
The tablet’s USB-C charging port is located on the right, and while it supports 35-watt charging, only the Chinese version of the V9 comes with 60-watt charging. The USB port supports USB 2.0 speeds, which limits some of its capabilities, including HDMI output to external monitors, a significant downside for those hoping to use the V9 as a desktop replacement.
Display: IPS vs. OLED
The Honor Magic Pad 2 was praised for its OLED display, which offered vibrant colors and deep contrasts. However, Honor opted for an IPS display on the Pad V9. While this isn’t necessarily a bad choice, it’s not the same as the OLED experience. The 11.5-inch screen offers a 2.8K resolution, 144Hz refresh rate, and 500 nits of brightness, which is a solid performance for an IPS panel. However, it can’t match the brightness, contrast, and battery life of an OLED display like the one on the Magic Pad 2.
Competitors such as the Lenovo Yoga Tab Plus boast peak brightness levels of up to 900 nits, so the Pad V9’s 500-nit display falls short in comparison. That said, watching movies or shows on the V9 is still a pleasant experience, though it doesn’t quite stand out in terms of visuals.
When it comes to sound, the Pad V9’s eight speakers deliver good audio. Honor’s IMAX enhanced sound technology, which is a Dolby Atmos alternative, helps create a more immersive audio experience during video playback. However, the tablet’s sound quality isn’t ideal for music, as vocals can sound harsh and instruments don’t feel quite right.
Performance: Power to Spare
The Honor Pad V9 is equipped with the MediaTek Dimensity 8350 Elite chipset and 8GB of RAM, making it a powerful device for tasks like gaming, multitasking, and running demanding apps. In benchmark tests, the V9 performs admirably, but tablets like the Xiaomi Pad 7 perform similarly at a lower price point.
Currently, the V9 comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, which is more than sufficient for most users. The device’s processing power may be slightly hindered by the chipset, but it still provides smooth performance in daily tasks.
In terms of gaming, the Pad V9 performs well. In 3D Mark Wildlife Extreme testing, it outperformed the iPad 11 by 6%, though it still lags behind the OnePlus Pad 2 by 50%. In real-world gaming tests, the V9 performed excellently. Games like Genshin Impact and Weathering Waves ran smoothly at 60 FPS on ultra settings, and even Fortnite was playable at 60 FPS with the highest settings. However, to push the tablet to 90 FPS, the graphics settings had to be lowered.
Despite the impressive gaming performance, the V9’s battery life leaves something to be desired. In a continuous YouTube HD video playback test at maximum brightness, the tablet lasted just over 7 hours, which is a far cry from the 13-hour battery life of the Magic Pad 2. Tablets like the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 also offer better battery longevity.
Software and User Interface
This is where the Honor Pad V9 starts to fall short. The tablet runs Honor’s Magic OS 9, which is based on Android 15. While it offers plenty of customization options, the user interface is cluttered and feels outdated compared to more polished operating systems like iPadOS or Samsung’s One UI. The icons look overly glossy, and the overall design doesn’t feel cohesive.
Moreover, the V9 comes with several pre-installed apps like Facebook, TikTok, and Booking.com, none of which add significant value to the tablet. Honor’s suite of software is also mostly useless, taking up precious storage space. The biggest issue, however, is the uncertain update policy. The Honor Magic Pad 2 has received an update to Android 15, but it’s unclear how long the Pad V9 will receive major OS updates. Honor’s track record with software updates is not great, and compared to other brands like Samsung, which provides up to 7 years of updates for their S series tablets, Honor’s commitment to the V9’s future is uncertain.
Honor has also implemented a floating Windows mode, which is meant to function as a desktop experience, similar to Apple’s Stage Manager. Unfortunately, it’s poorly executed. The split-screen feature is glitchy, corner snapping doesn’t work, and resizing windows is a hassle. There’s no HDMI output support either, so this feature feels like it exists purely for show.
Keyboard and Stylus: Solid but Not Perfect
Honor offers a keyboard cover with the Pad V9, but it’s not the most impressive accessory. The cheap plastic clamps that hold the tablet in place don’t feel secure, and the typing experience is mediocre. It’s better than the Magic Pad 2’s keyboard, but it’s no match for the high-quality keyboards offered by Apple and Samsung, especially considering their much higher price points.
On the plus side, the Honor Magic Pencil 3, which comes with the tablet, is a great tool for note-taking. The stylus has a soft tip that feels pleasant to write with and is quieter than the Apple Pencil or Xiaomi’s Focus Pen. The included Notes app is also a highlight, with a sensible organization system that works well for handwritten notes. The app is comparable to Samsung Notes in terms of features and functionality.
One neat feature is the double-tap functionality on the stylus. By tapping the side of the pen, it automatically switches to the eraser tool, making it more convenient to correct mistakes while writing. However, this feature only works within Honor’s Notes app and is not available in third-party apps, which is a limitation.
Cameras: Good for Basic Use
The Honor Pad V9 features a 30MP rear camera, which takes decent photos in good lighting. However, the camera tends to oversharpen images, making it more suited for document scanning than casual photography. The rear camera can record 4K video at 60fps, and the footage looks acceptable, though it’s nothing to write home about.
The 8MP front camera is adequate for video calls and selfies, offering 1080p video at 30fps. The facial recognition feature works well, though it can be less reliable from certain angles, particularly when the tablet is placed on a table. A fingerprint reader would have been a better solution for unlocking the device.
Final Thoughts: A Solid Mid-Range Tablet
The Honor Pad V9 is a well-designed tablet with good performance and a solid writing experience, making it a great option for note-taking. However, it falls short when it comes to display quality, software, and long-term support. If the price drops by at least $100, the V9 could be a solid choice for users looking for a mid-range gaming tablet with a great pen experience. However, if you care about display quality and software support, the Magic Pad 2 or even the Xiaomi Pad 7 may be better choices.
If you’re considering the Pad V9, we recommend comparing it with other options like the Lenovo IdeaTab Pro or the OnePlus Pad 2. Depending on pricing and your specific needs, there may be better alternatives out there.
Unlock the World of Gadgets!
Subscribe to Gadget Explorer Pro for:
- The latest tech reviews & recommendations
- Exclusive deals & insider updates
Join us now and explore like a pro!
