The budget tablet market is heating up, with options like the Blackview Oscal Pad 13 and Honor Pad X9a vying for attention. Both aim to deliver a capable Android experience without breaking the bank, but they take different approaches. The Oscal Pad 13 focuses on a balanced feature set, while the Honor Pad X9a prioritizes battery life and a more refined chipset.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing longevity and smoother performance, the Honor Pad X9a is the better choice. Its Snapdragon 685 chipset, built on a 6nm process, offers a significant performance advantage over the Oscal Pad 13’s Unisoc T606, and its exceptional 92-hour battery endurance is a standout feature.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 | N/A |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 900 / 2100 | N/A |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 40 | N/A |
| EDGE | - | No |
| GPRS | - | No |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | - |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | No cellular connectivity |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2023, April 12 | 2025, March 21 |
| Status | Available. Released 2023, April 17 | Available. Released 2025, March 26 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, aluminum frame, aluminum back |
| Dimensions | 239.2 x 158 x 7.6 mm (9.42 x 6.22 x 0.30 in) | 267.3 x 167.4 x 6.8 mm (10.52 x 6.59 x 0.27 in) |
| SIM | Hybrid Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) | No |
| Weight | 435 g (15.34 oz) | 475 g (1.05 lb) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Mohs level 4 |
| Resolution | 1200 x 1920 pixels, 16:10 ratio (~224 ppi density) | 1504 x 2508 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~254 ppi density) |
| Size | 10.1 inches, 295.8 cm2 (~78.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 11.5 inches, 376.3 cm2 (~84.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | TFT LCD, 120Hz, 400 nits (peak) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x1.6 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.6 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (4x2.8 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Unisoc T606 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SM6225 Snapdragon 685 (6 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MP1 | Adreno 610 |
| OS | Android 12, Doke-OS 3.0 | Android 15, MagicOS 9 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | No |
| Internal | 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | - |
| Single | 13 MP | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/5.0" |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 8 MP, 1/4", 1.12µm | 5 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | Yes | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | - |
| 35mm jack | - | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with dual speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers (4 speakers) |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | No |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | USB Type-C, OTG | USB Type-C |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Unspecified | Accelerometer |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 35W wired |
| Type | Li-Ion 7680 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 8300 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Glacier Blue, Space Grey | Gray |
| Models | - | ELN2-W29 |
| Price | About 130 EUR | About 210 EUR |
| EU LABEL |
|---|
| Battery | - | 92:29h endurance, 1200 cycles |
| Energy | - | Class F |
| Free fall | - | Class E (10 falls) |
| Repairability | - | Class C |
Blackview Oscal Pad 13
- Potentially lower price point
- Balanced feature set for basic use
- May offer expandable storage (market dependent)
- Less powerful Unisoc T606 chipset
- Inferior power efficiency compared to Snapdragon 685
- Likely slower app loading and multitasking
Honor Pad X9a
- Superior Snapdragon 685 performance
- Exceptional 92-hour battery life
- Faster 35W wired charging
- Potentially higher price
- May lack expandable storage
- Camera performance is likely average
Display Comparison
Neither device boasts a premium display. While specific display specs (resolution, panel type) are missing for the Oscal Pad 13, the Honor Pad X9a’s display is likely an IPS LCD. The key difference lies under the hood: processing power impacts UI smoothness. The Snapdragon 685 will contribute to a more fluid experience when scrolling and navigating the interface, even if both displays share similar resolutions. Bezels are likely comparable given the price points, and color accuracy will be standard for this segment.
Camera Comparison
Camera performance is unlikely to be a deciding factor for either tablet. Both will likely feature basic camera setups geared towards casual snapshots. Without specific sensor details for the Oscal Pad 13, it’s safe to assume the Honor Pad X9a’s camera will offer slightly better image quality due to Qualcomm’s image signal processing capabilities. Focusing on the main sensor is crucial; any 2MP macro or depth sensors on either device are unlikely to deliver meaningful results.
Performance
The Honor Pad X9a’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 685 (6nm) is the clear winner here. The 6nm fabrication process is significantly more efficient than the Unisoc T606’s 12nm process, resulting in lower power consumption and reduced thermal throttling. The Snapdragon 685’s Cortex-A73 cores (2.8 GHz) are also architecturally superior to the Oscal Pad 13’s Cortex-A75 cores (1.6 GHz), offering a noticeable performance boost in CPU-intensive tasks. The Unisoc T606 will handle basic tasks, but the Snapdragon 685 will provide a smoother experience with multitasking and demanding applications.
Battery Life
The Honor Pad X9a dominates in battery life. Its reported 92-hour endurance and 1200 charge cycles are exceptional for a tablet in this price range. The 35W wired charging is also a significant advantage, allowing for faster top-ups. While the Oscal Pad 13’s battery capacity is unknown, it’s unlikely to match the X9a’s longevity. The Snapdragon 685’s power efficiency further contributes to the X9a’s impressive battery performance.
Buying Guide
Buy the Blackview Oscal Pad 13 if you need a versatile tablet for basic tasks like media consumption and light productivity, and are comfortable with potentially slower app loading times. Buy the Honor Pad X9a if you prioritize all-day battery life, smoother multitasking, and a more responsive user experience, even if it means spending slightly more.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Unisoc T606 in the Oscal Pad 13 struggle with demanding games like Genshin Impact?
Yes, the Unisoc T606 is not designed for graphically intensive games. While it can handle simpler titles, Genshin Impact will likely run at very low settings with significant frame rate drops. The Snapdragon 685 in the Honor Pad X9a will offer a noticeably better gaming experience, though still not ideal for high-end titles.
❓ How does the 6nm process of the Snapdragon 685 impact real-world battery life compared to the 12nm Unisoc T606?
The 6nm process is significantly more power-efficient. This means the Snapdragon 685 consumes less power for the same level of performance, resulting in longer battery life. The Honor Pad X9a’s 92-hour endurance is a direct result of this efficiency, while the Oscal Pad 13 will likely require more frequent charging.
❓ Is the 35W charging on the Honor Pad X9a a significant advantage?
Yes, 35W charging is relatively fast for a tablet in this price range. It will significantly reduce charging times compared to a standard 10W or 15W charger, allowing you to quickly top up the battery when needed. The Oscal Pad 13’s charging speed is unknown, but likely slower.
