The budget tablet market is heating up, with the Doogee Tab A9 Pro+ and Honor Pad X9a vying for attention. Both aim to deliver a capable Android experience without breaking the bank, but they take different approaches to achieving this. The Doogee prioritizes endurance with a large battery and a focus on longevity, while the Honor Pad X9a leans into faster charging and a more modern chipset fabrication process.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing long-term reliability and consistent performance, the Honor Pad X9a emerges as the better choice. Its Snapdragon 685, built on a 6nm process, offers a performance edge and superior efficiency, complemented by significantly faster 35W charging. While the Doogee boasts comparable battery endurance, the Honor’s charging speed and chipset architecture provide a more future-proof experience.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | N/A | N/A |
| 3G bands | N/A | N/A |
| 4G bands | N/A | N/A |
| EDGE | No | No |
| GPRS | No | No |
| Technology | No cellular connectivity | No cellular connectivity |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2025, May | 2025, March 21 |
| Status | Available. Released 2025, May | Available. Released 2025, March 26 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, aluminum frame, aluminum back |
| Dimensions | 257.3 x 168.8 x 8.1 mm (10.13 x 6.65 x 0.32 in) | 267.3 x 167.4 x 6.8 mm (10.52 x 6.59 x 0.27 in) |
| SIM | No | No |
| Weight | 644 g (1.42 lb) | 475 g (1.05 lb) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Mohs level 5 | Mohs level 4 |
| Resolution | 800 x 1280 pixels, 16:10 ratio (~138 ppi density) | 1504 x 2508 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~254 ppi density) |
| Size | 11.0 inches, 345.8 cm2 (~79.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 11.5 inches, 376.3 cm2 (~84.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 90Hz | 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 T7200 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SM6225 Snapdragon 685 (6 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MP1 | Adreno 610 |
| OS | Android 15 | Android 15, MagicOS 9 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB 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 | 5 MP | 5 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | Yes | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers (4 speakers) |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | No | No |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C | 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 | Accelerometer | Accelerometer |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired | 35W wired |
| Type | 8580 mAh | Li-Ion 8300 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Gray, Blue | Gray |
| Models | - | ELN2-W29 |
| Price | About 160 EUR | About 210 EUR |
| EU LABEL |
|---|
| Battery | 92:32h endurance, 800 cycles | 92:29h endurance, 1200 cycles |
| Energy | Class E | Class F |
| Free fall | Class C (104 falls) | Class E (10 falls) |
| Repairability | Class B | Class C |
Doogee Tab A9 Pro+
- Long battery cycle life (800 cycles)
- Competitive battery endurance (92:32h)
- Potentially lower price point
- Slow 10W charging
- Older Unisoc T7200 chipset
- Less efficient 12nm fabrication process
Honor Pad X9a
- Faster 35W charging
- More modern Snapdragon 685 chipset
- More efficient 6nm fabrication process
- Higher battery cycle life (1200 cycles)
- Slightly lower battery cycle count than Doogee (though still high)
- Potentially higher price point
Display Comparison
Neither device’s display specifications are provided, so a direct comparison is limited. However, the chipset differences suggest the Honor Pad X9a is more likely to support higher refresh rates or more advanced display features. The absence of display details highlights a cost-saving measure on both sides, likely resulting in similar LCD panels with standard color accuracy.
Camera Comparison
Without specific camera sensor details, a detailed comparison is impossible. However, given the budget nature of both tablets, it’s safe to assume both will feature modest camera setups. The focus should be on practical use cases like video calls and casual snapshots, rather than expecting flagship-level image quality. The absence of information suggests neither device prioritizes camera performance as a key selling point.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Honor Pad X9a’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 685 (6nm) utilizes newer Cortex-A73 cores clocked at 2.8 GHz, offering a significant performance advantage over the Doogee’s Unisoc T7200 (12nm) with its Cortex-A75 cores at 1.6 GHz. The 6nm fabrication process of the Snapdragon 685 also translates to better thermal efficiency, reducing the likelihood of performance throttling during sustained workloads. The Doogee’s chipset, while adequate for basic tasks, will struggle with demanding applications compared to the Honor.
Battery Life
Both tablets exhibit remarkably similar battery endurance at approximately 92 hours, suggesting comparable power efficiency in real-world usage. However, the Honor Pad X9a’s 35W wired charging is a game-changer compared to the Doogee’s slow 10W charging. This means the Honor can be fully recharged significantly faster, minimizing downtime. The Honor also boasts 1200 battery cycles compared to the Doogee’s 800, indicating a longer lifespan before significant capacity degradation.
Buying Guide
Buy the Doogee Tab A9 Pro+ if you absolutely need maximum battery cycle longevity (800 cycles) and are willing to trade off charging speed and peak performance. This tablet is ideal for users who primarily need a device for static tasks like reading or basic media consumption and value long-term reliability above all else. Buy the Honor Pad X9a if you prefer a more responsive user experience, faster charging, and a more efficient chipset. This tablet is better suited for users who multitask, play casual games, or frequently stream content.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Unisoc T7200 in the Doogee Tab A9 Pro+ struggle with multitasking or demanding apps?
Yes, the Unisoc T7200, while capable for basic tasks, is significantly less powerful than the Snapdragon 685. Expect noticeable slowdowns when running multiple apps simultaneously or playing graphically intensive games. The older Cortex-A75 cores and 12nm process contribute to this performance limitation.
❓ How long does it realistically take to fully charge the Honor Pad X9a with the 35W charger?
While a precise time isn't provided, 35W charging on a tablet with a typical battery capacity (estimated around 5000-7000mAh) should result in a full charge in approximately 1.5 to 2.5 hours. This is a substantial improvement over the Doogee’s 10W charging, which could take 6+ hours.
❓ What does the higher battery cycle count (1200) on the Honor Pad X9a actually mean for the average user?
A higher battery cycle count indicates the battery can be fully charged and discharged more times before experiencing significant degradation in capacity. For the average user, this translates to a longer overall lifespan for the tablet, potentially delaying the need for a battery replacement by several years.
