The mid-range tablet market is heating up, with the Honor Pad 9 and Lenovo Tab P11 Gen 2 vying for attention. Both offer compelling features at accessible price points, but they take different approaches to performance and efficiency. This comparison dives deep into the specifications to determine which tablet best suits your needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Honor Pad 9 emerges as the stronger choice. Its Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 chipset, built on a more efficient 4nm process, provides a performance edge and contributes to its impressive 9:18 hour active use battery life, making it ideal for extended productivity and entertainment.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | N/A | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | N/A | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA | - |
| EDGE | No | - |
| GPRS | No | - |
| Speed | LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE - cellular model only |
| Technology | LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2023, December 21 | 2022, September 01 |
| Status | Available. Released 2023, December 21 | Available. Released 2023, January |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, aluminum frame, aluminum back | - |
| Dimensions | 278.2 x 180.1 x 6.9 mm (10.95 x 7.09 x 0.27 in) | 269.1 x 169.4 x 7.4 mm (10.59 x 6.67 x 0.29 in) |
| SIM | Yes (cellular model only) | Nano-SIM (cellular model only) |
| Weight | 555 g or 568 g (1.22 lb) | 520 g (1.15 lb) |
| | - | Stylus support |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Anti-glare glass | - |
| Resolution | 1600 x 2560 pixels, 16:10 ratio (~249 ppi density) | 1200 x 2000 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~203 ppi density) |
| Size | 12.1 inches, 424.5 cm2 (~84.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 11.5 inches, 376.4 cm2 (~82.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 1B colors, 120Hz, 500 nits (typ) | IPS LCD, 120Hz, 400 nits (typ) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM6450 Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 (4 nm) | Mediatek Helio G99 (6 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 710 | Mali-G57 MC2 |
| OS | Android 13, up to 1 major Android upgrades, Magic OS 7.2 | Android 12L |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (cellular model only) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | LED flash |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.0, (wide), AF | 13 MP, f/2.4, (wide), AF |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.2, (wide) | 8 MP, f/2.0 |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers (8 speakers) | Yes, with stereo speakers (4 speakers) |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | No | GPS, GLONASS, BDS - cellular model only |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG, magnetic connector |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 35W wired | - |
| Type | Li-Po 8300 mAh | Li-Po 7700 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Gray, Blue, White | Storm Grey, Sage |
| Models | HEY2-W09 | TB350FU |
| Price | About 190 EUR | About 350 EUR |
Honor Pad 9
- Superior chipset performance with Snapdragon 6 Gen 1
- More efficient 4nm fabrication process
- Excellent battery life (9:18h active use)
- May be slightly more expensive than the Lenovo Tab P11 Gen 2
- Camera specifications are not detailed
Lenovo Tab P11 Gen 2
- Potentially more affordable price point
- Capable MediaTek Helio G99 processor for everyday tasks
- Suitable for basic media consumption and web browsing
- Less efficient 6nm chipset
- Likely shorter battery life compared to Honor Pad 9
Display Comparison
The Honor Pad 9 boasts a display capable of reaching 530 nits of brightness and a 1128:1 contrast ratio, offering a vibrant and clear viewing experience. While the Lenovo Tab P11 Gen 2’s display specifications aren’t provided, it’s reasonable to expect a slightly less impactful visual experience given the price difference. The higher contrast ratio on the Honor Pad 9 translates to deeper blacks and more vivid colors, enhancing media consumption. The lack of information on the Lenovo’s panel type makes a direct comparison difficult, but the Honor Pad 9’s measured brightness suggests superior outdoor visibility.
Camera Comparison
Neither tablet is positioned as a photography powerhouse, and detailed camera specs are absent. However, given the market segment, it’s safe to assume both feature modest camera setups. Without specific sensor details, it’s difficult to make a meaningful comparison. Focusing on the core use case of tablets – content consumption and light productivity – the camera quality is unlikely to be a deciding factor for most buyers.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Honor Pad 9 utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 (4nm), featuring an octa-core CPU with 4x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 and 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55 cores. This 4nm fabrication process is a significant advantage, offering improved power efficiency and thermal management compared to the Lenovo Tab P11 Gen 2’s MediaTek Helio G99 (6nm). The Helio G99, with its 2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 and 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 configuration, is a capable chip, but the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1’s architecture and process node provide a noticeable performance uplift, particularly in sustained workloads. This means the Honor Pad 9 is less likely to throttle under heavy use.
Battery Life
The Honor Pad 9 shines in battery life, achieving an impressive 9:18 hours of active use. While the Lenovo Tab P11 Gen 2’s battery capacity isn’t specified, the less efficient 6nm Helio G99 chipset likely results in shorter runtimes. The Honor Pad 9 also supports 35W wired charging, enabling faster replenishment of the battery compared to the Lenovo, assuming the Lenovo supports a lower wattage. This combination of efficiency and charging speed makes the Honor Pad 9 the better choice for users who need all-day battery life.
Buying Guide
Buy the Honor Pad 9 if you prioritize sustained performance for multitasking, gaming, and demanding applications, and value longer battery life for on-the-go use. Buy the Lenovo Tab P11 Gen 2 if you're seeking a capable tablet for basic tasks like web browsing, video streaming, and light productivity, and are particularly sensitive to price.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 in the Honor Pad 9 handle demanding games like Genshin Impact?
The Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 is a capable mid-range chipset, but Genshin Impact is a particularly demanding title. While playable, you'll likely need to lower graphics settings to achieve a smooth frame rate. The 4nm process will help mitigate thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions compared to the Lenovo's Helio G99.
❓ Is the Lenovo Tab P11 Gen 2 a good choice for taking notes with a stylus?
While the Lenovo Tab P11 Gen 2 supports a stylus (sold separately), the responsiveness and pressure sensitivity will likely be limited compared to tablets designed specifically for stylus input. The Honor Pad 9's performance advantage *could* translate to slightly better stylus responsiveness, but neither tablet is a direct competitor to the Samsung Galaxy Tab S series in this regard.
❓ How long will it take to fully charge the Honor Pad 9 with the 35W charger?
While a precise 0-100% charging time isn't available, the 35W charging capability suggests a full charge will take approximately 1.5 to 2 hours, significantly faster than the Lenovo Tab P11 Gen 2, which likely supports a lower charging wattage.
