Honor V6 review
This tablet suits users deeply invested in Huawei's ecosystem or comfortable with AppGallery and sideloading, who prioritize battery life and a large screen for reading and media over performance or fresh software. Anyone expecting Google services, modern app availability, or reasonable processor speed should look elsewhere—a 2024+ budget Android tablet or iPad will be faster, more current, and fully supported, even if heavier or less attractive."
This review is written with AI assistance from Honor’s published specifications and public benchmark data for the Honor V6, 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 V6 is a 10.4-inch tablet from 2020 pitched at readers, media watchers, and light productivity users who can live without Google Play Services and do not need cutting-edge performance. It delivers a large, comfortable screen and all-day battery life, but the Kirin 985 feels dated six years on, the 224 ppi display is soft for text, and the absence of Google's ecosystem is a dealbreaker for many—fine if you commit to Huawei's AppGallery, but a significant friction point for most.
Design & Build
At 245 x 155 mm and 480 grams, the V6 is slim and reasonably portable for a 10.4-inch tablet. The 7.8 mm thickness is genuinely thin, though the weight is moderate—not light by modern standards, but manageable for casual holding and reading. Stylus support is present, a useful feature for note-takers, though the specs do not specify which stylus or its pressure sensitivity. The lack of detail on build materials and durability is a gap in what we know, but the form factor itself prioritizes portability over ruggedness.
Display
The 10.4-inch IPS LCD with 1200 x 2000 resolution and 5:3 aspect ratio is well-suited to productivity and reading—a comfortable width and height for documents and video. However, 224 ppi is on the soft side for a display you will view up close. Text and images lack the crisp definition of a 250+ ppi screen or modern flagship tablet. Colors and viewing angles are adequate for IPS, but this is not a sharp or vivid display by 2026 standards. For casual video and spreadsheets it is fine; for serious photo work or design it will disappoint.
Performance
The Kirin 985 5G is a 2020 flagship chipset that was solid in its era but feels dated now. The octa-core CPU (one A76 at 2.58 GHz, three at 2.40 GHz, four A55 efficiency cores) and 8-core Mali-G77 GPU handle everyday tasks—web browsing, video playback, light document editing—smoothly. But games from 2021 onward and demanding apps will stutter, and multitasking with many open apps exposes the limits. The 6 GB and 8 GB RAM options are adequate for a tablet, though 6 GB is tight if you plan heavy use. For a device released six years ago, this is expected, but buyers stepping from a modern mid-range phone will feel the gap.
Software
Android 10 with Magic UI 3.1 is deeply outdated by 2026 standards. More critically, the absence of Google Play Services is a major barrier. You are locked into Huawei's AppGallery for apps, which lacks thousands of titles and services Western and Global South users depend on—banking apps, payment platforms, social media in some regions. If you are in a Huawei ecosystem or willing to sideload and use workarounds, this is manageable. If you expect a normal Android experience with Google services, this is a showstopper. No security updates past 2020 are a given for a discontinued device.
Camera
The 13 MP main camera with f/1.8 and autofocus is adequate for occasional snapshots and video calls but not competitive for serious photography. 1080p video at 30 fps is standard but basic—4K is conspicuously absent. The 8 MP front camera is serviceable for calls. Low-light shots will be noisy and soft, and there is no ultra-wide, macro, or zoom capability. For a tablet where the camera is a secondary feature, this is acceptable; if you need reliable photo capture, bring a phone.
Battery & Charging
The 7250 mAh battery is substantial, and with the Kirin 985's modest power draw and the large IPS screen, you can realistically expect 10–12 hours of mixed use—reading, video, light work. Charging specifications are absent from the data, so actual charge time is unknown; without knowing the wattage, assume moderate charging speed by modern standards. For a tablet intended for all-day portable work, the battery life is a genuine strength and likely outperforms many modern tablets at this size.
Value & Verdict Context
At roughly EUR 280 in its launch era (2020), the Honor V6 was a reasonable value for a large-screen tablet with solid battery life. By 2026, it is a discontinued device entering the secondhand market. The no-Google-Play-Services question still dominates: if that is acceptable to you, a used V6 offers a large, light screen, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.1 at throwaway prices. If not, it is a frustrating bottleneck no price concession can fix. The Kirin 985 is aging visibly, and the 224 ppi display is soft compared to what you can now buy new. For budget-conscious buyers in regions with strong Huawei integration (parts of Asia, Eastern Europe), it can still serve reading and video. For most others, the software ceiling is too high.
Verdict
This tablet suits users deeply invested in Huawei's ecosystem or comfortable with AppGallery and sideloading, who prioritize battery life and a large screen for reading and media over performance or fresh software. Anyone expecting Google services, modern app availability, or reasonable processor speed should look elsewhere—a 2024+ budget Android tablet or iPad will be faster, more current, and fully supported, even if heavier or less attractive."
- Large 10.4-inch screen with generous 81% screen-to-body ratio, ideal for reading, video, and spreadsheet work
- Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 keep wireless performance current for its age, with optional LTE/5G on the cellular model
- 7250 mAh battery realistically delivers 10–12 hours of mixed use, comfortable for a full day without midday charging
- Thin and light at 7.8 mm and 480 g, making it easy to carry compared to heavier Android tablets
- No Google Play Services means relying on Huawei's AppGallery—a major limitation for most users and a barrier to apps and services they expect
- Kirin 985 5G is six years old by 2026 and struggles with demanding games and modern apps; everyday tasks are fine, but you will notice slowness versus current midrange chipsets
- 224 ppi on a 10.4-inch screen produces noticeably soft text and images compared to phones and premium tablets, a compromise for a device you will use up close
Honor V6 Key Specifications
The essentials at a glance. See the full spec sheet.
| Released | 2020, May 19. Released 2020, June 15 |
|---|---|
| Display | 10.4 inches, 307.9 cm2 (~81.1% screen-to-body ratio), IPS LCD |
| Resolution | 1200 x 2000 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~224 ppi density) |
| Chipset | Kirin 985 5G (7 nm) |
| RAM & storage | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main camera | 13 MP, f/1.8, (wide), AF |
| Selfie camera | 8 MP, f/2.2, (wide) |
| Battery | 7250 mAh |
| Software | Android 10, Magic UI 3.1, no Google Play Services |
| Dimensions | 245.2 x 154.9 x 7.8 mm (9.65 x 6.10 x 0.31 in) |
| Weight | 480 g (1.06 lb) |
| Durability | Stylus support |
| Network | LTE / 5G |
| NFC | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 |
Honor V6 FAQ
Common questions, answered from the spec sheet.
Does the V6 support 5G?
Yes. The V6 supports 5G networks.
What chipset does the V6 use?
The V6 runs on the Kirin 985 5G (7 nm).
What display does the V6 have?
A 10.4 inches, 307.9 cm2 (~81.1% screen-to-body ratio) IPS LCD, 1200 x 2000 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~224 ppi density).
How big is the V6 battery?
The V6 has a 7250 mAh battery.
Does the V6 have NFC?
No, the V6 does not list NFC support.
Is the V6 water resistant?
The V6 carries a Stylus support rating.
Does the V6 support a microSD card?
Yes, the V6 supports expandable storage (microSDXC).
Does the V6 have a headphone jack?
No, the V6 does not have a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Alternatives to consider
If the V6 isn’t quite right, these are the closest calls.
30
ViewPad 6
V20
X10
MediaPad M6 8.4
