Honor Pad X8a Comprehensive Review Specs Pricing Pros & Cons

Design and Build

The Honor Pad X8a features a sleek and modern design indicative of its target audience's appreciation for minimalistic yet functional aesthetic. Measuring at 257 x 168.5 x 7.3 mm, it boasts a slim profile that encourages portability while remaining large enough for substantial screen real estate. Weighing 495 g, it strikes a balance between being easy to carry and sturdy enough to handle daily tasks. Crafted with a glass front and an aluminum frame and back, it offers a premium feel that is durable and resistant to the wear and tear associated with regular usage.

Display

The tablet features an 11.0 inches TFT LCD screen, offering vibrant visuals with a resolution of 1200 x 1920 pixels and a 16:10 aspect ratio. This setup facilitates clear and sharp viewing experiences and is bolstered by a 90Hz refresh rate, enhancing smooth scrolling and more responsive touch interactions. The display brightness peaks at 400 nits, ensuring visibility in a variety of lighting conditions, though exceptionally bright environments may challenge its display capabilities.

Performance

Under the hood, the Honor Pad X8a packs a Qualcomm SM6225 Snapdragon 680 4G processor, built on a 6nm architecture. This octa-core chipset features four high-performance Kryo 265 Gold cores clocked at 2.4 GHz and four power-efficient Kryo 265 Silver cores at 1.9 GHz. The device is equipped with an Adreno 610 GPU, which ensures moderate graphical performance ideal for gaming and multimedia consumption. Operating on Android 14 with MagicOS 8, users can expect fluid performance and a user-friendly interface tailored to optimize the tablet experience.

Memory and Storage

The Honor Pad X8a comes with two internal storage options: 64GB and 128GB, both paired with 4GB of RAM. This configuration suffices for multitasking and storing a reasonable collection of applications, media, and essential files. However, the absence of a microSD card slot limits potential storage expansion, which is an important consideration for power users or those with large storage needs.

Camera System

The tablet features a basic yet functional camera setup, with both the main and selfie cameras sporting a 5 MP sensor with an f/2.2 aperture. These cameras are capable of recording video at 1080p resolution at 30fps, making them suitable for video calls, casual photography, and basic video recording tasks. The inclusion of HDR support allows for enhanced image capture in well-lit conditions.

Audio and Connectivity

Audio output is managed by a stereo speaker system utilizing four speakers to deliver an immersive audio experience, although audiophiles might find the lack of a 3.5mm headphone jack inconvenient. Connectivity features are robust, with support for Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Bluetooth 5.1, A2DP, and LE. However, the tablet lacks cellular connectivity options, NFC, and radio.

Battery Life

Powering the Honor Pad X8a is a sizable 8300mAh non-removable Li-Ion battery. This capacity promises extensive use between charges, making it a reliable companion for media consumption, work tasks, and light gaming without the constant worry of recharging. The battery performance aligns with industry standards for large-display tablets.

Additional Features

While the tablet adheres to conventional features, it does include an accelerometer, enhancing its capacity for motion-detection based applications and utilities, which is a staple in modern devices. With the USB Type-C port, users benefit from versatile and faster data transfer capabilities, along with OTG support for additional peripheral connectivity.

Pricing and Availability

Announced in August 2024 and expected to hit the market by mid-August, the Honor Pad X8a arrives with an approximate price point of 150 EUR. Available in Space Gray, the device offers a cost-effective option for users seeking a mid-range tablet with commendable features and performance metrics for everyday tasks.