4 options that assist the Honor Pad V9 stand out from the gang

I am a agency believer that

Android tablets
do not get the credit score they deserve. Whereas the Android OS itself offers a mobile-centric expertise, it does so whereas providing a degree of flexibility that you just simply will not discover on, say,

an iPad running iPadOS
. Customized residence display launchers, app sideloading, screensavers, and different PC-like instruments and options are available on Google’s cellular software program platform, without having to leap by way of any extraneous hoops.

Sadly, most of the most fascinating and aggressive Android slates aren’t out there for buy within the US, which is a real disgrace. Sure, the

Google Pixel Tablet
, the

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9
collection, and the

OnePlus Pad 2
are actively on retailer cabinets, however there’s a complete world of compelling pill computer systems that the American client base merely cannot faucet into.

Take, for instance, the

recently-released Honor Pad V9
. This mid-range pill gives a ton of {hardware} and software program goodness in a comparatively reasonably priced package deal. It begins at a base value of €450 or £400 in Europe, which interprets to roughly $532 USD. I’ve had the possibility to take a look at Honor’s price-conscious Pad V9 over the previous a number of weeks, and I’ve recognized 4 options particularly that assist the system stand out from its friends.

1

It is a super-slim pc

The pill measures in at 0.24-inches (6.1mm) thick

One of the placing facets of the Honor Pad V9 is its unbelievably slim chassis. Measuring in at 0.24-inches (6.1mm), the V9 handily bests many different mid-range tablets when it comes to svelteness. Apart from the far dearer

Apple iPad Pro line
, you will be hard-pressed to discover a pill that is considerably thinner than this. For reference, the OnePlus Pad 2 measures in at 0.26-inches (6.5mm) thick, whereas the bottom Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 is available in at 0.23-inches (5.9mm).

Whereas not absolutely the thinnest tech product I’ve ever held in my hand, Honor has completed a wonderful job of reigning within the Pad V9’s proportions. The pill is well-built, too, with its machined aluminum exterior construct, and its stable, clicky metallic buttons. Add in moderately slim show bezels which might be curved on the edges, and a decently distributed mass of 1.05 lbs (475g), and the V9 seems to be and feels extra premium than its price ticket would in any other case recommend.

Associated

Honor’s latest devices are now official, and AI is at the forefront

Forward of Cellular World Congress 2025, Honor has unveiled 4 new gadgets: the Earbuds Open, the Watch 5 Extremely, the Pad V9, and the MagicBook 14.

2

Its display is silky {smooth}

Honor has outfitted the Pad V9 with a 144Hz refresh fee

Honor has outfitted the Pad V9 with an 11.5-inch 2800 x 1840 show panel, which may hit a typical brightness of 500 nits. Its IPS LCD-based know-how is not fairly a match for the deep, inky blacks discovered on most OLED shows, however it greater than makes up for this with its help for prime dynamic vary (HDR), its IMAX Enhanced and TÜV Rheinland certifications (for cinema image calibration and for eye consolation, respectively), and its 144Hz refresh fee.

This final specification is especially notable. Apart from

gaming-first products
, we do not typically see shows refresh at a fee sooner than 120Hz. To see such a silky-smooth panel transport on a mid-range Android pill is extremely welcome in my eyes, and it makes rivals just like the 60Hz iPad Air look laughable by comparability. No, it would not make use of LTPO-based variable refresh fee (VRR) tech, however Honor does implement its personal model of dynamic refresh fee on the system degree.

Associated

Honor’s Alpha Plan is a bold AI strategy that might just pay off

Beneath new management, Honor is trekking ahead with what it calls the Alpha Plan – an aggressive push to solidify a number one place within the AI house.

3

It runs MagicOS 9 out of the field

Honor’s pores and skin runs atop of Android 15

Out of the gate, the Honor Pad V9 ships with MagicOS 9 working atop of

Android 15
. MagicOS is a slightly heavy Android pores and skin, taking liberties in its altering of the OS and its function set. The iPadOS-inspired visuals are a bit too heavy-handed for my liking, however I am a fan of the software program suite’s wealth of helpful instruments and options.

My favourite addition is Journal Unlock, which offers a gradual feed of Windows Spotlight-like images to take pleasure in on the lock display. The

eBook
mode is a pleasant contact for once I use the pill at evening in mattress, with its grayscale colour tone making it straightforward on my eyes. AI instruments like Magic Textual content (for textual content extraction) and Magic Portal (for context-aware display search) are additionally on board, however I by no means use them, as I discover Google’s equivalents to be extra exact and extra seamlessly carried out into the Android expertise.

In case you pair the Honor Pad V9 with the corporate’s optionally available Honor Magic-Pencil 3 (not included with the unit), then you can even benefit from the inking capabilities more and more being constructed into Android. I do want the stylus got here customary within the field — this may sweeten the general deal simply that little bit extra for me.

Associated

With its flagship Magic 7 Pro, Honor flirts with Android greatness

Honor’s newest flagship smartphone, the Magic 7 Professional, is an absolute powerhouse — it is software program is the one factor holding it again from true greatness.

4

It is a pretty reasonably priced mid-range package deal

The Pad V9 begins at €450 or £400 (roughly $532)

At roughly $532 when transformed on the time of writing, the Honor Pad V9 is kind of a lovely package deal. The unit — which is out there in white, grey, and violet colorways — is aesthetically pleasing, skinny and light-weight, and chock-full of helpful software program options. The IMAX Enhanced show (in addition to its eight-speaker stereo sound system) make for a wonderful content material streaming expertise, which is a vital consideration for an 11.5-inch-sized pill.

After all, being a mid-range product, the Pad V9 is not designed to be cutting-edge. Small concessions have been made all through, like the shortage of a

fingerprint sensor
, USB 2.0 speeds, and no mobile information choice. Its Mediatek Dimensity 8350 is not precisely prime of the road, with benchmark scores of 1,433 for single-core and 4,196 for multi-core on Geekbench 6. Even nonetheless, with 128GB of storage and 8GB of RAM within the base unit (configurable as much as 512GB + 12GB), there’s numerous pc right here for the asking value. It is only a disgrace I can not choose one up on retailer cabinets at my native Finest Purchase or Wal-Mart.

This system was supplied to Pocket-lint by Honor.

Associated

The Honor Magic V3 shocked me with its thin, lightweight form factor

Honor has crafted the world’s thinnest book-style foldable, and it makes me excited for the way forward for the class.