The tablet market is booming, but finding a great deal can be tricky. Today, we're pitting two contenders against each other: the Blackview Tab 16 and the Honor Pad 8. Both promise impressive features at affordable prices, but which one truly delivers?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Honor Pad 8 edges out the Blackview Tab 16 thanks to its superior chipset, slightly better display brightness, and faster charging. While the Tab 16 offers a competitive price, the Honor Pad 8 provides a more polished and performant overall experience.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | 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, February 28 | 2022, July 22 |
| Status | Available. Released 2023, March 20 | Available. Released 2022, July 29 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, aluminum frame, aluminum back |
| Dimensions | 260.1 x 164.7 x 8 mm (10.24 x 6.48 x 0.31 in) | 278.5 x 174.1 x 6.9 mm (10.96 x 6.85 x 0.27 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | No |
| Weight | 533 g (1.18 lb) | 520 g (1.15 lb) |
| | - | Stylus support |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 1200 x 2000 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~212 ppi density) | 1200 x 2000 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~194 ppi density) |
| Size | 11.0 inches, 344.4 cm2 (~80.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 12.0 inches, 409.9 cm2 (~84.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD, 1B colors, 350 nits (typ) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Kryo 265 Gold & 4x1.9 GHz Kryo 265 Silver) |
| Chipset | Unisoc Tiger T616 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SM6225 Snapdragon 680 4G (6 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MP1 | Adreno 610 |
| OS | Android 12, Doke OS_P 3.0 | Android 12, Magic UI 6.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | LED flash |
| Single | 13 MP | 5 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide), 1/5.0", 1.12µm, AF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 8 MP | 5 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide), 1/5.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | Yes | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers (8 speakers) |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP | 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, OTG |
| 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 | Accelerometer | Accelerometer |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 22.5W wired |
| Type | 7680 mAh | Li-Po 7250 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Meteorite Gray, Twilight Blue, Mint Green | Dark Blue, Gold, Mint |
| Models | - | HEY-W09 |
| Price | About 170 EUR | About 330 EUR |
| Tests |
|---|
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 1468:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-22.7 LUFS (Excellent)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 279242 (v9)
GeekBench: 1545 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 7.3fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Blackview Tab 16
- Very Affordable
- Decent Display
- Large Screen Size
- Weaker Processor
- Slower Charging (unspecified)
- Potentially Lower Build Quality
Honor Pad 8
- Faster Processor (Snapdragon 680)
- Brighter Display
- Faster Charging (22.5W)
- Generally Better Build Quality
- Slightly More Expensive
- Still a Budget Tablet (camera limitations)
Display Comparison
Both tablets boast a 1468:1 contrast ratio, indicating good black levels. However, the Honor Pad 8's measured 392 nits brightness gives it a noticeable advantage in brighter environments. The Tab 16's display is likely adequate, but the Honor Pad 8 offers a more vibrant and viewable experience.
Camera Comparison
Camera quality is often an afterthought in budget tablets. While neither is expected to excel, the Honor Pad 8 likely holds a slight edge due to the generally better image processing capabilities of Qualcomm chipsets. Expect decent, but not exceptional, photo quality from both.
Performance
The Honor Pad 8's Snapdragon 680 (6nm) significantly outperforms the Blackview Tab 16's Unisoc Tiger T616 (12nm). The Snapdragon's Kryo 265 cores offer a substantial speed boost, resulting in smoother multitasking, faster app loading, and a more responsive user interface. Gaming performance will also be noticeably better on the Honor Pad 8.
Battery Life
Both tablets likely offer all-day battery life with moderate usage. The Honor Pad 8's 22.5W wired charging provides a faster charging experience compared to the Tab 16, which lacks specified charging speed.
Buying Guide
The Blackview Tab 16 is ideal for users on a tight budget who prioritize affordability and basic tablet functionality. The Honor Pad 8 is a better choice for those seeking a smoother performance, slightly better display, and faster charging, even if it means spending a bit more.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which tablet is better for gaming?
The Honor Pad 8 is significantly better for gaming due to its more powerful Snapdragon 680 chipset.
❓ Is the Blackview Tab 16 worth buying if I'm on a very tight budget?
Yes, the Blackview Tab 16 offers a large screen and basic functionality at a very competitive price. Just be aware of its performance limitations.
❓ Does the Honor Pad 8 support 5G?
No, the Honor Pad 8 is a 4G-only device.
