HONOR Pad 9 vs POCO Pad: Which Tablet is the Best Choice for Back-to-School?

As the back-to-school season approaches, many students are considering the addition of a tablet to their academic toolkit. Whether used for note-taking, research, or leisure, a tablet can be a highly versatile device.

Thriving Tablet Market in the Philippines

The tablet market in the Philippines is booming, making it easier than ever to find the perfect device tailored to your needs. Among the leading contenders today are the HONOR Pad 9 and the POCO Pad. Both tablets offer similar specifications and design elements at a competitive price, making the decision between them an intriguing one.

Design and Build Quality

At first glance, the HONOR Pad 9 and the POCO Pad look quite similar, both featuring a sleek unibody metal chassis with a satin-like finish. They are designed with flat frames and rounded corners, enhancing comfort during use, especially without a case or folio.

Design Differences:

• The POCO Pad is slightly thicker at 7.52 mm and heavier at 571 grams. In contrast, the HONOR Pad 9 is slimmer and lighter, measuring 6.9 mm in thickness and weighing 555 grams.
• In terms of camera design, the HONOR Pad 9 adopts a centered, symmetrical camera module with a single rear camera, while the POCO Pad features two large camera bumps on the right, housing its single rear camera and an LED flash.

Unfortunately, neither tablet offers ingress protection, so it’s wise to avoid spills or accidents.

Verdict: Both tablets score equally in terms of design, offering practical and stylish builds.

Display and Multimedia

Both tablets come equipped with a 12.1-inch IPS-level LCD panel boasting a 2.5K resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. However, the POCO Pad stands out with support for Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, providing a richer multimedia experience.

Key Points:

• Both tablets are Widevine L1 certified, allowing for HD content streaming on platforms like Netflix, and YouTube playback supports up to 2160p.
• The HONOR Pad 9 features eight speakers, delivering slightly louder sound compared to the POCO Pad’s quad speaker setup. However, the POCO Pad includes a 3.5mm audio jack, a feature that’s becoming rare in this price range.
• Only the POCO Pad has Corning Gorilla Glass 3 for added screen protection.

Winner: The POCO Pad takes the lead with its additional features and audio options.

Camera Performance

In the mid-range segment, camera performance often falls short. Both the HONOR Pad 9 and the POCO Pad have their limitations.

Camera Specs:

• The HONOR Pad 9 has a 13-megapixel rear camera and an 8-megapixel front camera.
• The POCO Pad features an 8-megapixel rear camera with an LED flash and an 8-megapixel front camera.

While neither tablet excels in capturing high-quality images, the POCO Pad’s flash may offer a slight advantage in low-light conditions. Video recording is modest on both devices, with the HONOR Pad 9 supporting 4K video and the POCO Pad limited to Full HD.

Conclusion: Both tablets are equally competent for basic photography and video needs.

Performance and Benchmarks

When it comes to performance, the POCO Pad has a slight edge over the HONOR Pad 9.

Performance Comparison:

• The POCO Pad is powered by the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2, reaching speeds up to 2.4GHz, while the HONOR Pad 9 uses the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 with a maximum speed of 2.2GHz.
• Benchmark results show the POCO Pad outperforms the HONOR Pad 9 in ANTUTU and Geekbench tests, achieving higher scores in both CPU and GPU tests.
• Both tablets offer 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. The POCO Pad also supports expandable storage up to 1.5TB via microSD.

Performance Leader: The POCO Pad excels with its faster chipset and expandable storage.

Battery Life

Battery capacity varies between the two models, impacting their overall endurance.

Battery Details:

• The POCO Pad boasts a larger 10,000mAh battery compared to the HONOR Pad 9’s 8,300mAh.
• The POCO Pad lasts longer in the PCMark battery test, achieving 12 hours and 49 minutes, while the HONOR Pad 9 reaches 10 hours and 46 minutes. However, in video loop tests, both tablets perform similarly.
• Charging speeds are comparable, with the POCO Pad supporting 33W and the HONOR Pad 9 at 35W.

Battery Efficiency: The POCO Pad has the advantage with its larger battery capacity.

Connectivity and Software

The software experience and connectivity features are crucial for user satisfaction.

Software:

• The POCO Pad runs on Android 14 with HyperOS, while the HONOR Pad 9 uses Android 13 with MagicOS.
• The HONOR Pad 9’s MagicOS is noted for its smooth animations and less bloatware compared to the POCO Pad, which has ads and fewer optimizations.

Connectivity:

• Both tablets support essential connectivity options but lack cellular capabilities. Notably, the POCO Pad includes face unlock, a unique feature in this comparison.

Overall Experience: The HONOR Pad 9 offers a cleaner software experience, but the POCO Pad’s additional features and newer software make it more appealing.

Which Tablet Should You Choose?

The POCO Pad emerges as the superior choice with its enhanced performance, longer battery life, expandable storage, and additional features like a 3.5mm audio jack. Priced at PHP 15,999, it delivers excellent value.

While the HONOR Pad 9 provides comparable processing power and a more streamlined software experience, it falls short in some areas. For those seeking a robust and feature-rich tablet, the POCO Pad stands out as the better option.

Final Thoughts: Your choice will depend on your preferences. Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Specifications Summary:

Feature	HONOR Pad 9	POCO Pad
Price	PHP 15,999 (8GB+256GB)	PHP 15,999 (8GB+256GB)
Display	12.1-inch 2.5K IPS LCD	12.1-inch 2.5K IPS LCD
Processor	Snapdragon 6 Gen 1	Snapdragon 7s Gen 2
RAM	8GB	8GB
Storage	256GB (Non-expandable)	256GB (Expandable up to 1.5TB)
Cameras	13MP Rear, 8MP Front	8MP Rear, 8MP Front
Battery	8300mAh	10,000mAh
Charging	35W	33W
OS	Android 13 (MagicOS)	Android 14 (HyperOS)
Audio	8 Speakers	4 Speakers, 3.5mm Jack
Other	No face unlock	Face unlock, Corning Gorilla Glass 3

Make your choice based on your needs and preferences!