The budget tablet market is heating up, with the Doogee Tab A9+ 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 longevity with a focus on battery cycle count, 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 faster charging, despite the Doogee Tab A9+'s impressive battery endurance rating.
| 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 (~137 ppi density) | 1504 x 2508 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~254 ppi density) |
| Size | 11.0 inches, 350.9 cm2 (~80.8% 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 | 64GB 4GB 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 140 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+
- Excellent battery endurance (92:32h)
- High battery cycle count (800 cycles)
- Potentially lower price point
- Slower charging speed (10W)
- Less powerful chipset (Unisoc T7200)
- Older 12nm fabrication process
Honor Pad X9a
- Faster charging (35W)
- More powerful chipset (Snapdragon 685)
- More efficient 6nm fabrication process
- Higher battery cycle count (1200 cycles)
- Slightly lower battery endurance rating (92:29h)
- Potentially higher price point
Display Comparison
Neither device's display specifications are provided, so a direct comparison is limited. However, considering the price point, both likely utilize IPS LCD panels. The Honor Pad X9a's more powerful chipset *could* support higher resolution or refresh rate displays in future iterations, but currently, the display quality is likely comparable. Bezels are expected to be moderate on both, typical for this segment.
Camera Comparison
Without specific camera sensor details, a detailed comparison is impossible. However, it’s safe to assume both tablets feature modest camera setups geared towards casual use. The absence of information suggests neither device will excel in photography. Focusing on the chipset, the Snapdragon 685’s ISP (Image Signal Processor) is generally more advanced than Unisoc’s offerings, potentially leading to slightly better image processing, particularly in low-light conditions.
Performance
The Honor Pad X9a’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 685 (6nm) holds a clear advantage over the Doogee Tab A9+'s Unisoc T7200 (12nm). The 6nm fabrication process inherently offers better power efficiency and thermal characteristics, translating to sustained performance under load. While the Doogee utilizes a Cortex-A75 core, the Honor Pad X9a counters with faster Cortex-A73 cores (2.8GHz vs 1.6GHz). This means the Honor Pad X9a will likely exhibit smoother multitasking and quicker app loading times. The Unisoc T7200 is adequate for basic tasks, but the Snapdragon 685 provides a more future-proof experience.
Battery Life
Both tablets boast impressive battery endurance, with the Doogee Tab A9+ achieving 92:32h and the Honor Pad X9a at 92:29h. This suggests similar real-world usage times. However, the key differentiator is charging speed. The Honor Pad X9a’s 35W wired charging is a significant advantage over the Doogee’s slow 10W charging. This translates to a much faster 0-100% charge time, minimizing downtime. Furthermore, the Honor Pad X9a’s battery is rated for 1200 charge cycles, compared to the Doogee’s 800, indicating greater long-term battery health.
Buying Guide
Buy the Doogee Tab A9+ if you need a tablet that will reliably function for years, and you prioritize maximizing battery cycle life over peak performance. This is ideal for users who primarily consume media and don't engage in demanding tasks. Buy the Honor Pad X9a if you prefer a more responsive experience for multitasking, light gaming, and appreciate the convenience of significantly faster 35W charging, making it a better fit for students or those on the go.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Unisoc T7200 in the Doogee Tab A9+ struggle with demanding games like Genshin Impact?
Yes, the Unisoc T7200 is not designed for graphically intensive games. While it can handle casual gaming, you'll likely experience significant frame rate drops and stuttering in titles like Genshin Impact, even on low settings. The Snapdragon 685 in the Honor Pad X9a offers a noticeably better gaming experience.
❓ How long does it *actually* take to fully charge the Honor Pad X9a with the 35W charger?
While Honor doesn't provide an exact 0-100% charging time, based on similar devices with 35W charging and comparable battery capacities, you can expect a full charge in approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes to 2 hours. This is a substantial improvement over the Doogee Tab A9+'s estimated 5+ hour charge time with its 10W charger.
❓ Is the 1200 charge cycle rating of the Honor Pad X9a a significant advantage over the Doogee Tab A9+'s 800?
Absolutely. A higher charge cycle rating indicates the battery will maintain a higher capacity over a longer period. 1200 cycles means the battery is designed to retain at least 80% of its original capacity after 1200 full charge-discharge cycles, offering greater long-term reliability compared to the Doogee Tab A9+.
