The tablet market offers a surprising number of options, even in the budget segment. Today, we're pitting two contenders from Honor against each other: the Honor Pad 8 and the Honor Pad X8. Both promise affordability, but which one delivers the better overall experience?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Honor Pad 8 edges out the X8 thanks to its significantly more powerful chipset (Snapdragon 680), brighter display, and faster charging. While the X8 offers a compelling price point, the Pad 8's performance and display quality make it the superior choice for most users.
| 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 | 2022, July 22 | 2022, September 17 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, July 29 | Available. Released 2022, September 22 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, aluminum frame, aluminum back | - |
| Dimensions | 278.5 x 174.1 x 6.9 mm (10.96 x 6.85 x 0.27 in) | 240.2 x 159 x 7.6 mm (9.46 x 6.26 x 0.30 in) |
| SIM | No | No |
| Weight | 520 g (1.15 lb) | 460 g (1.01 lb) |
| | Stylus support | - |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 1200 x 2000 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~194 ppi density) | 1200 x 1920 pixels, 16:10 ratio (~224 ppi density) |
| Size | 12.0 inches, 409.9 cm2 (~84.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 10.1 inches, 295.8 cm2 (~77.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 1B colors, 350 nits (typ) | TFT LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Kryo 265 Gold & 4x1.9 GHz Kryo 265 Silver) | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM6225 Snapdragon 680 4G (6 nm) | MediaTek MT8786 |
| GPU | Adreno 610 | Mali-G52 |
| OS | Android 12, Magic UI 6.1 | Android 10, Magic UI 4 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | - |
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide), 1/5.0", 1.12µm, AF | 5 MP |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide), 1/5.0", 1.12µm | 2 MP |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | - |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers (8 speakers) | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | No | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| Radio | No | 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 | Li-Po 7250 mAh | Li-Po 5100 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Dark Blue, Gold, Mint | Dark Blue, Light Blue |
| Models | HEY-W09 | AGM3-W09HN |
| Price | About 330 EUR | About 190 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) | - |
Honor Pad 8
- More powerful chipset (Snapdragon 680)
- Brighter and higher contrast display
- Faster 22.5W charging
- Generally smoother performance
- Potentially slightly higher price than the X8
- Camera quality is still basic
Honor Pad X8
- More affordable
- Decent battery life
- Suitable for basic tasks
- Weaker chipset (MediaTek MT8786)
- Less bright display
- Slower charging
- Lower overall performance
Display Comparison
The Honor Pad 8 boasts a superior display with a measured peak brightness of 392 nits and a high contrast ratio of 1468:1. This translates to a noticeably brighter and more vibrant viewing experience compared to the Honor Pad X8, which lacks detailed display specifications but is generally considered to have a standard, less bright screen. Both tablets likely feature similar resolutions (around 2000x1200) and panel types (likely IPS LCD).
Camera Comparison
Camera quality on budget tablets is rarely a highlight. Both the Honor Pad 8 and X8 likely feature modest rear cameras (around 13MP) and front-facing cameras (around 5MP). Image quality will be similar across both devices, suitable for occasional video calls and casual snapshots, but not for serious photography. Detailed camera specs are often not readily available for these models.
Performance
Here's where the Honor Pad 8 truly shines. Its Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 chipset is significantly more powerful than the MediaTek MT8786 found in the X8. The Snapdragon 680's 6nm process also contributes to better power efficiency. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and a more responsive overall experience on the Pad 8. The X8's performance is adequate for basic tasks but will struggle with more demanding applications.
Battery Life
Both tablets likely feature batteries in the 5000-6000mAh range, offering all-day battery life for moderate usage. The Honor Pad 8's more efficient Snapdragon 680 chipset may give it a slight edge in battery endurance. The Pad 8 also supports 22.5W fast charging, a significant advantage over the X8, which likely supports standard charging speeds.
Buying Guide
The Honor Pad 8 is ideal for students, casual users, and those who enjoy streaming video and light gaming. The Honor Pad X8 is a good option for users on a very tight budget who primarily need a tablet for basic tasks like web browsing and reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ What resolution do these tablets have?
Both tablets likely have a resolution around 2000x1200, typical for their class.
❓ Are these tablets good for gaming?
The Honor Pad 8 is better suited for light gaming due to its more powerful chipset. The X8 can handle basic games, but will struggle with more demanding titles.
