The budget tablet market is heating up, with the vivo Pad SE and Honor Pad X9a vying for attention. While both aim to deliver an affordable Android experience, they take distinctly different approaches. The vivo Pad SE prioritizes a newer, more efficient chipset, while the Honor Pad X9a focuses on maximizing battery endurance and faster charging. This comparison will dissect their strengths and weaknesses to help you choose the right tablet for your needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing long-term battery life and faster charging, the Honor Pad X9a is the better choice. Its Snapdragon 685, coupled with a reported 92-hour endurance and 35W charging, offers a more practical experience. However, the vivo Pad SE’s Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 provides a performance edge for those needing a slightly more responsive 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, April 21 | 2025, March 21 |
| Status | Available. Released 2025, April 25 | Available. Released 2025, March 26 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, aluminum frame, aluminum back |
| Dimensions | 277.1 x 185.6 x 6.8 mm (10.91 x 7.31 x 0.27 in) | 267.3 x 167.4 x 6.8 mm (10.52 x 6.59 x 0.27 in) |
| SIM | No | No |
| Weight | 559 g or 569 g (1.23 lb) | 475 g (1.05 lb) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Mohs level 4 |
| Resolution | 1600 x 2464 pixels, 3:2 ratio (~239 ppi density) | 1504 x 2508 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~254 ppi density) |
| Size | 12.3 inches, 445.8 cm2 (~86.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 11.5 inches, 376.3 cm2 (~84.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 90Hz, 600 nits | TFT LCD, 120Hz, 400 nits (peak) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (4x2.8 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM4450 Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 (4 nm) | Qualcomm SM6225 Snapdragon 685 (6 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 613 | Adreno 610 |
| OS | Android 15, OriginOS 5 HD | Android 15, MagicOS 9 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | - |
| Single | 5 MP | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/5.0" |
| Video | Yes | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 5 MP | 5 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | Yes | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers (4 speakers) | Yes, with stereo speakers (4 speakers) |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | No | No |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | 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, proximity (accessories only) | Accelerometer |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 15W wired | 35W wired |
| Type | 8500 mAh | Li-Ion 8300 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Gray, Blue, Titanium | Gray |
| Models | - | ELN2-W29 |
| Price | About 120 EUR | About 210 EUR |
| EU LABEL |
|---|
| Battery | - | 92:29h endurance, 1200 cycles |
| Energy | - | Class F |
| Free fall | - | Class E (10 falls) |
| Repairability | - | Class C |
vivo Pad SE
- More modern chipset architecture (Snapdragon 4 Gen 2)
- Potentially better sustained performance due to 4nm process
- Likely better long-term software support
- Slower 15W charging
- Likely shorter battery life compared to the X9a
- No specific battery capacity information
Honor Pad X9a
- Exceptional 92-hour battery endurance
- Faster 35W wired charging
- Reported 1200 charge cycles for extended battery lifespan
- Older chipset architecture (Snapdragon 685)
- Lower CPU clock speeds on performance cores
- Potentially less smooth multitasking compared to the SE
Display Comparison
Neither device’s display specifications are provided, so a direct comparison is limited. However, given the price points, we can expect both to utilize IPS LCD panels. The choice will likely come down to color accuracy and brightness, which require hands-on testing. The absence of details like resolution or refresh rate suggests neither tablet is aiming for a premium display experience.
Camera Comparison
Camera details are absent for both devices. Given their positioning, we can anticipate basic camera setups focused on video calls and casual snapshots. Without sensor size or aperture information, it’s impossible to assess image quality. It’s safe to assume neither tablet will excel in photography, and camera performance shouldn’t be a primary deciding factor.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The vivo Pad SE’s Qualcomm SM4450 Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 (4nm) utilizes newer Cortex-A78 cores, offering a performance advantage over the Honor Pad X9a’s Snapdragon 685 (6nm). While the Snapdragon 685 boasts higher clock speeds on its Cortex-A73 cores (2.8 GHz vs 2.2 GHz), the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2’s architectural improvements and smaller 4nm process node translate to better efficiency and sustained performance. This means the vivo Pad SE is likely to handle demanding apps and multitasking more smoothly, though the difference won’t be dramatic. The Snapdragon 685 is still a capable chip for everyday tasks.
Battery Life
The Honor Pad X9a clearly wins in battery endurance. The reported 92-hour endurance is a significant advantage, suggesting a larger battery capacity and optimized power management. Furthermore, the 35W wired charging is considerably faster than the vivo Pad SE’s 15W charging. This means the Honor Pad X9a can be fully charged much quicker, minimizing downtime. While the vivo Pad SE’s more efficient chipset may contribute to slightly lower power consumption during specific tasks, the Honor Pad X9a’s larger battery and faster charging provide a more practical benefit for most users.
Buying Guide
Buy the vivo Pad SE if you need a tablet for light multitasking, streaming, and casual gaming, and value a more modern chipset architecture for potential future software support. Buy the Honor Pad X9a if you prioritize all-day battery life, quick top-ups with 35W charging, and a tablet that can reliably handle extended use without needing to be tethered to a power outlet. This makes it ideal for students or travelers.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Snapdragon 685 in the Honor Pad X9a struggle with graphically intensive games?
While the Snapdragon 685 isn't a gaming powerhouse, it's capable of running many popular mobile games at medium settings. Expect playable frame rates in titles like PUBG Mobile and Call of Duty Mobile, but don't anticipate maxing out graphics settings. The vivo Pad SE’s Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 might offer a slight edge in gaming performance, but neither tablet is designed for hardcore gaming.
❓ How does the 4nm process of the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 in the vivo Pad SE impact real-world battery life compared to the 6nm Snapdragon 685?
The 4nm process generally leads to improved power efficiency, meaning the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 *should* consume less power than the 6nm Snapdragon 685 during similar tasks. However, the Honor Pad X9a’s significantly larger battery capacity and optimized power management likely offset this efficiency advantage, resulting in longer overall battery life. The 4nm process benefits sustained performance more than absolute battery runtime in this scenario.
❓ What is the expected lifespan of the Honor Pad X9a's battery, given its 1200 charge cycle claim?
Honor claims the battery can withstand 1200 full charge cycles while maintaining at least 80% of its original capacity. This suggests a long lifespan, potentially lasting several years with typical usage. However, battery degradation is also affected by charging habits and environmental factors like temperature. Using the 35W fast charging consistently might slightly accelerate degradation compared to slower charging, but the overall lifespan should still be excellent.
