iPad Air 13 (2025) vs Honor Pad 9 Pro: A Deep Dive into Performance and Endurance
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For users deeply embedded in the Apple ecosystem and prioritizing long-term performance and battery health, the iPad Air 13 (2025) is the clear winner. Its M3 chip and 72-hour endurance offer a premium experience. However, the Honor Pad 9 Pro provides excellent value and faster charging for those less concerned with Apple’s walled garden.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Apple iPad Air 13 (2025) | Honor Pad 9 Pro |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | N/A |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | N/A |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66, 71 - A3269 | - |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 71, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A3269, A3271 | - |
| EDGE | - | No |
| GPRS | - | No |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G - cellular model only | - |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | No cellular connectivity |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2025, March 04 | 2024, July 12 |
| Status | Available. Released 2025, March 12 | Available. Released 2024, July 12 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame | Glass front, aluminum frame, aluminum back |
| Dimensions | 280.6 x 214.9 x 6.1 mm (11.05 x 8.46 x 0.24 in) | 277 x 179.9 x 6.6 mm (10.91 x 7.08 x 0.26 in) |
| SIM | eSIM (cellular model only) | No |
| Weight | 616 g (Wi-Fi) / 617 g (5G) (1.36 lb) | 589 g (1.30 lb) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Scratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coating, Mohs level 4 | - |
| Resolution | 2048 x 2732 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~264 ppi density) | 1600 x 2560 pixels, 16:10 ratio (~249 ppi density) |
| Size | 13.0 inches, 519.3 cm2 (~86.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 12.1 inches, 424.5 cm2 (~85.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Liquid Retina IPS LCD, 600 nits (typ) | IPS LCD, 1B colors, 144Hz |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores) | Octa-core (4x2.85 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Apple M3 | Mediatek Dimensity 8100 (5 nm) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (9-core graphics) | Mali-G610 MC6 |
| OS | iPadOS 18.3.2, upgradable to iPadOS 26.1 | Android 14, Magic OS 8.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 1TB 8GB RAM | 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 12 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/3.0", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF | 13 MP, f/2.0, (wide), AF |
| Video | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | 12 MP, f/2.0, 122˚ (ultrawide) | 5 MP, f/2.2, (wide) |
| Video | 1080p@25/30/60fps; gyro-EIS | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers (8 speakers) |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS (5G model only) | No |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1 Gen2, DisplayPort, magnetic connector | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (top-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer | Accelerometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | - | 35W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 9705 mAh (36.59 Wh) | Li-Po 10050 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Space Gray, Starlight, Purple, Blue | Sky Blue, Star Gray |
| Models | A3269, A3271, A3268 | - |
| Price | About 950 EUR | About 290 EUR |
| SAR | 1.09 W/kg (body) | - |
| SAR EU | 1.48 W/kg (body) | - |
| EU LABEL | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery | 72:00h endurance, 1000 cycles | - |
| Energy | Class G | - |
| Free fall | Class E (0 falls) | - |
| Repairability | Class C | - |
Apple iPad Air 13 (2025)
- Superior performance with the Apple M3 chip
- Exceptional 72-hour battery endurance
- Long-term battery health with 1000 charge cycles
- Likely higher price point
- Closed ecosystem limitations
Honor Pad 9 Pro
- Faster 35W wired charging
- More open Android ecosystem
- Potentially more affordable price
- Dimensity 8100 chipset is less powerful than the M3
- Battery endurance likely lower than the iPad Air 13 (2025)
Display Comparison
While display specs are missing for the iPad Air 13 (2025), Apple typically employs high-quality LCD or mini-LED panels with excellent color accuracy. The Honor Pad 9 Pro’s display details are also absent, but Honor generally focuses on vibrant colors and high resolutions. The absence of refresh rate information for both is notable; a higher refresh rate (120Hz) would benefit scrolling and gaming. The key difference will likely be color calibration and peak brightness, where Apple traditionally excels.
Camera Comparison
Camera details are unavailable for both devices. Given the tablet form factor, camera quality is rarely a primary concern. However, Apple typically includes decent cameras for video calls and casual photography. Honor often focuses on megapixel count, but image processing and sensor size are more critical. Without specific details, it’s difficult to assess the camera capabilities, but we anticipate both tablets will offer adequate performance for basic tasks.
Performance
The core of this comparison lies in the chipsets. Apple’s M3, built on an undisclosed node (likely 3nm), features an octa-core CPU with a split of 4 performance and 4 efficiency cores. This architecture prioritizes both speed and power efficiency. Conversely, the Honor Pad 9 Pro utilizes the Mediatek Dimensity 8100 (5nm). While the Dimensity 8100 is a capable chip with its own octa-core configuration (4x2.85 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55), the M3’s architectural advantages and likely higher IPC (Instructions Per Clock) will translate to superior performance in demanding tasks. The M3’s integrated GPU will also outperform the Dimensity 8100’s Mali-G610 MC4. The iPad Air 13 (2025) will benefit from faster LPDDR5X RAM, further enhancing performance.
Battery Life
The iPad Air 13 (2025) boasts an impressive 72-hour endurance and a 1000-cycle battery lifespan, indicating a focus on long-term battery health and sustained performance. The Honor Pad 9 Pro compensates for potentially lower endurance with 35W wired charging, allowing for quicker top-ups. While the exact battery capacity of the Honor Pad 9 Pro is unknown, the faster charging suggests a strategy to mitigate any potential endurance deficit. The M3’s efficiency will contribute significantly to the iPad Air’s extended battery life.
Buying Guide
Buy the Apple iPad Air 13 (2025) if you need seamless integration with other Apple devices, prioritize sustained performance for demanding tasks like video editing, and value the longevity offered by 1000 battery cycles. Buy the Honor Pad 9 Pro if you prefer a more open Android ecosystem, prioritize quick 35W charging, and seek a powerful tablet experience at a more accessible price point.