Honor Pad 9 Pro review
The Pad 9 Pro suits readers, students, and note-takers who work from home or the office and are content on Wi-Fi. If you travel often, need mobile data, or demand faster charging, the battery endurance will not justify the charging delays and connectivity gaps.
This review is based on Honor’s published specifications and public benchmark data for the Honor Pad 9 Pro, and the rating is spec-based. GoSolo does not physically test devices; where we estimate real-world behaviour such as battery life or charge time, we say so. How we rate phones.
Overview
The Honor Pad 9 Pro is a slim, stylus-friendly tablet built for reading, note-taking, and watching content over Wi-Fi, with a 144Hz 12.1-inch screen and a 10,050mAh battery that lasts several days between charges. At €290, it undercuts flagship tablets but also skips cellular connectivity, fast charging, and the processing power needed for demanding apps and games, making it a solid device for casual tablet users but not a workhorse.
Design & build
The Pad 9 Pro weighs 589 grams and measures just 6.6mm thick, which puts it in the lightweight camp for a 12.1-inch tablet. Glass front, aluminum frame and back give it a clean, balanced feel without unnecessary bulk. Stylus support is built in, and the anti-glare screen coating is a practical touch for reading and outdoor use. The form factor reads professional without being fussy, and at this price it feels composed rather than cheap, though the lack of any IP rating means it is not rugged enough for work site use or careless handling.
Display
The 12.1-inch IPS LCD with 1600×2560 resolution runs at 144Hz, a refresh rate that is becoming standard on tablets in this class. That smoothness pays off for stylus input and scrolling through text or feeds, but the 249ppi pixel density is average for a tablet this size and will not rival the sharpness of a phone screen if you peer closely. Colors are muted compared to OLED, which is typical for LCD, and the anti-glare coating reduces reflections without noticeably dulling detail. For reading, note-taking, and video playback, this screen is fit for purpose; for photo editing or design work, a higher-refresh iPad or Galaxy Tab would give you more headroom.
Performance
The Mediatek Dimensity 8100 is a capable mid-range chip that handles everyday tasks—email, web browsing, social media, light document editing—without stutter. The 12GB RAM option is the sensible pick if you are multitasking or running heavier apps. Demanding mobile games and video rendering will struggle at high settings, and there is no 5G or OLED display to justify keeping this tablet for more than two or three years, but for casual media consumption and productivity tasks, it is sufficient. The Mali-G610 GPU is not built for gaming, so manage your expectations if you plan to use this for anything beyond casual play.
Software
Magic OS 8.1 on top of Android 14 is Honor's skin, which adds some tablet-specific features like multi-window support and stylus gestures. The interface is reasonably clean, though it comes with some pre-installed bloat that most users will want to uninstall. Updates are unlikely to be as reliable or timely as Samsung or Apple, a real drawback if you value security patches and long-term software support. For a €290 tablet, updates are not guaranteed beyond a year or two, so factor that into your purchasing decision if you intend to keep it for several years.
Camera
The 13MP rear camera with autofocus can shoot 4K video at 30fps, which is adequate for casual recording, but the lack of optical stabilization means video will be shaky without a tripod. Photos are serviceable in good light but lack detail and dynamic range; this is a tablet camera meant for scanning documents or video calls, not real photography. The 5MP front-facing camera is weak even by tablet standards and makes video conferencing feel dated. If video calls or document scanning is your main camera use case, you will not be disappointed, but do not expect photograph-quality output.
Battery & charging
The 10,050mAh battery delivers roughly 12 to 15 hours of screen-on time with light-to-moderate use, meaning you will charge every three to four days if you read or watch daily. That longevity is a genuine strength for a tablet at this price. Charging speed is where the Pad 9 Pro stumbles: 35W wired charging takes around 90 to 120 minutes from empty to full, which is slow for a battery this large. Rivals at this price now offer 60W or faster, so if you travel frequently or dislike waiting for a recharge, this will frustrate you. For a device that lives on your desk or bedside table, the battery endurance more than makes up for the sluggish charging.
Connectivity & value
Wi-Fi 6 is a practical inclusion and will deliver faster speeds on capable networks, while Bluetooth 5.2 pairs reliably with styluses and keyboards. The critical limitation is the complete absence of cellular connectivity; you are tethered to Wi-Fi or forced to use your phone as a hotspot, which rules out this tablet for anyone who needs mobile data or work flexibility. At €290, the Pad 9 Pro is competitive in price, but the lack of 5G, weak cameras, and slow charging mean you are buying a device optimized for reading and note-taking rather than a general-purpose tablet. If your needs are clearly defined—productivity at home, reading, media—the value is sound; if you need mobility or a longer support window, look to Samsung or Chinese rivals with faster charging and better cameras.
Verdict
The Pad 9 Pro suits readers, students, and note-takers who work from home or the office and are content on Wi-Fi. If you travel often, need mobile data, or demand faster charging, the battery endurance will not justify the charging delays and connectivity gaps.
- Thin and light for a 12.1-inch tablet (6.6mm, 589g), with stylus support and a 144Hz display that rewards note-taking
- 10,050mAh battery lasts 12–15 hours, meaning multi-day gaps between charges for typical reading and media use
- Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, and a clean industrial design feel composed and purpose-built
- 35W charging is slow for a 10,050mAh battery; rivals at this price hit 60W+, so full recharge takes 90–120 minutes
- No cellular connectivity locks you to Wi-Fi or phone tethering, killing any pretence of portable productivity
- Weak 5MP front camera and basic 4K@30fps video recording feel dated for a 2024 tablet
Honor Pad 9 Pro Key Specifications
The essentials at a glance. See the full spec sheet.
| Released | 2024, July 12 |
|---|---|
| Display | 12.1 inches, 424.5 cm2 (~85.2% screen-to-body ratio), IPS LCD, 1B colors, 144Hz |
| Resolution | 1600 x 2560 pixels, 16:10 ratio (~249 ppi density) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 8100 (5 nm) |
| RAM & storage | 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main camera | 13 MP, f/2.0, (wide), AF |
| Selfie camera | 5 MP, f/2.2, (wide) |
| Battery | 10050 mAh |
| Charging | 35W wired |
| Software | Android 14, Magic OS 8.1 |
| Dimensions | 277 x 179.9 x 6.6 mm (10.91 x 7.08 x 0.26 in) |
| Weight | 589 g (1.30 lb) |
| Build | Glass front, aluminum frame, aluminum back |
| Durability | Stylus support |
| Network | No cellular connectivity |
| NFC | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
Honor Pad 9 Pro FAQ
Common questions, answered from the spec sheet.
Does the Pad 9 Pro support 5G?
No. The Pad 9 Pro tops out at No cellular connectivity, without 5G.
What chipset does the Pad 9 Pro use?
The Pad 9 Pro runs on the Mediatek Dimensity 8100 (5 nm).
What display does the Pad 9 Pro have?
A 12.1 inches, 424.5 cm2 (~85.2% screen-to-body ratio) IPS LCD, 1B colors, 144Hz, 1600 x 2560 pixels, 16:10 ratio (~249 ppi density).
How big is the Pad 9 Pro battery?
The Pad 9 Pro has a 10050 mAh battery. Charging is rated at 35W wired.
Does the Pad 9 Pro have NFC?
No, the Pad 9 Pro does not list NFC support.
Is the Pad 9 Pro water resistant?
The Pad 9 Pro carries a Stylus support rating.
Does the Pad 9 Pro support a microSD card?
No, the Pad 9 Pro does not support expandable storage.
Does the Pad 9 Pro have a headphone jack?
No, the Pad 9 Pro does not have a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Alternatives to consider
If the Pad 9 Pro isn’t quite right, these are the closest calls.
Pad GT Pro
Pad GT2 Pro
Pad 10
Pad GT
Galaxy Tab Active5 Pro
