The tablet market offers a surprising number of options, even at the budget end. Today, we're pitting two contenders from Honor against each other: the Honor Tab 7 and the Honor Pad 8. Both aim to deliver value, but which one truly comes out on top?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Honor Pad 8 is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 680 chipset offers significantly better performance, faster charging (22.5W vs 10W), and a brighter display. While the Tab 7 might be slightly cheaper, the Pad 8's improvements make it the better investment.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | N/A |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 2100 | N/A |
| 4G bands | LTE | N/A |
| EDGE | - | No |
| GPRS | - | No |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE - cellular model only | - |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | No cellular connectivity |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, March 23 | 2022, July 22 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, March 27 | Available. Released 2022, July 29 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, aluminum frame, aluminum back |
| Dimensions | 240.2 x 159 x 7.6 mm (9.46 x 6.26 x 0.30 in) | 278.5 x 174.1 x 6.9 mm (10.96 x 6.85 x 0.27 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM (cellular model only) | No |
| Weight | 460 g (1.01 lb) | 520 g (1.15 lb) |
| | - | Stylus support |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 1200 x 1920 pixels, 16:10 ratio (~224 ppi density) | 1200 x 2000 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~194 ppi density) |
| Size | 10.1 inches, 295.8 cm2 (~77.4% 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 | Mediatek MT8786 | Qualcomm SM6225 Snapdragon 680 4G (6 nm) |
| GPU | - | Adreno 610 |
| OS | Android 10, Magic UI 4.1, no Google Play Services | Android 12, Magic UI 6.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC | No |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | LED flash |
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.2, AF | 5 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide), 1/5.0", 1.12µm, AF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 2 MP, f/2.4 | 5 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide), 1/5.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | 720p@30fps | 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 | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS - cellular model only | No |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer | Accelerometer |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired | 22.5W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5100 mAh | Li-Po 7250 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Mint Green, Space Gray | Dark Blue, Gold, Mint |
| Models | AGM3-W09HN | HEY-W09 |
| Price | About 180 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) |
Honor Tab 7
- More affordable
- Decent for basic tasks
- Lightweight design
- Outdated chipset
- Slow charging (10W)
- Dim display
- Lower performance
Honor Pad 8
- Faster performance (Snapdragon 680)
- Faster charging (22.5W)
- Brighter display
- More responsive
- Slightly more expensive
- Camera quality is still basic
Display Comparison
The Honor Pad 8 boasts a noticeably brighter display (392 nits measured) compared to the Tab 7, offering better visibility in various lighting conditions. Both tablets share a similar contrast ratio (1468:1), but the Pad 8's brightness advantage gives it a more vibrant and enjoyable viewing experience. The Pad 8's display also generally has better color accuracy.
Camera Comparison
Camera quality on budget tablets is rarely a highlight. Both devices likely feature modest cameras suitable for basic video calls and casual snapshots. The Pad 8's newer chipset *might* offer slightly improved image processing, but don't expect flagship-level performance. Both likely have 5MP front and rear cameras.
Performance
Here's where the Honor Pad 8 truly shines. The Snapdragon 680 4G chipset is significantly more powerful than the Mediatek MT8786 in the Tab 7. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better overall responsiveness on the Pad 8. The Pad 8's 6nm process also contributes to improved power efficiency.
Battery Life
While specific battery capacities are often similar (likely around 5000-6000 mAh), the Honor Pad 8's faster 22.5W charging significantly reduces charging times compared to the Tab 7's 10W charging. This is a major convenience factor.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the Honor Tab 7? It's a decent option for users on a very tight budget who primarily need a tablet for basic tasks like web browsing and media consumption. The Honor Pad 8 is ideal for students, casual gamers, and anyone who wants a smoother, more responsive tablet experience with better battery charging capabilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Honor Pad 8 good for gaming?
The Honor Pad 8 can handle casual games well, but demanding titles might require lower graphics settings. It's not a dedicated gaming tablet.
❓ What is the difference between the Mediatek MT8786 and Snapdragon 680?
The Snapdragon 680 is a significantly more modern and powerful chipset, offering better performance, efficiency, and features compared to the older Mediatek MT8786.
