Are you in search of a budget-friendly Android tablet in 2023? If so, you might be intrigued by two of the latest models from Realme and Honor, namely the Realme Pad 2 and the Honor Pad X9. Both tablets come at a price under Rs. 20,000 and boast impressive features and performance. The real question is, which one is better suited to your specific needs? In this comprehensive blog post, we'll delve into a head-to-head comparison of the Realme Pad 2 and the Honor Pad X9, focusing on their design, display, performance, battery life, camera quality, and software experience. By the end of this article, you'll have all the information needed to make an informed decision on which tablet to invest in.
Realme Pad 2 vs. Honor Pad X9 Specs Comparison
| Specification | Realme Pad 2 | Honor Pad X9 |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Sleek and minimalist design with a metal body | Futuristic design with glass front and aluminum frame |
| Colors | Gray, Green | Space Gray |
| Dimensions (mm) | 268.2 x 168.5 x 7.2 | 267.3 x 167.4 x 6.9 |
| Weight (g) | 518 | 495 |
| Fingerprint Sensor | Yes (side-mounted) | Yes (side-mounted) |
| USB Type-C Port | Yes | Yes |
| 3.5mm Headphone Jack | No | No |
| Display | ||
| Display Size (inches) | 11.5 | 11.6 |
| Display Type | IPS LCD | TFT LCD |
| Resolution | 1200 x 2000 pixels | 1200 x 1920 pixels |
| Refresh Rate | 120 Hz | 144 Hz |
| Peak Brightness (nits) | 450 | 460 |
| Color Depth | 1 billion colors | 16 million colors |
| HDR Support | HDR10+ | HDR10 |
| DC Dimming | Yes | No |
| Performance | ||
| Chipset | MediaTek MT8781 Helio G99 | Qualcomm SM6225 Snapdragon 685 |
| CPU | Octa-core (2x Cortex-A76 @ 2.2 GHz, 6x Cortex-A55 @ 2.0 GHz) | Octa-core (4x Cortex-A73 @ 2.8 GHz, 4x Cortex-A53 @ 1.9 GHz) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC2 | Adreno 610 |
| RAM Options | 6 GB, 8 GB | 4 GB |
| Storage Options | 128 GB, 256 GB | 128 GB |
| MicroSD Card Support | Yes (up to 1 TB) | No |
| Battery | ||
| Battery Capacity (mAh) | 8360 | 7250 |
| Fast Charging | 33W | 25W |
| Camera | ||
| Rear Camera | 8 MP (f/2.0, autofocus) | 5 MP (f/2.2, autofocus) |
| Front Camera | 8 MP (f/2.0, fixed focus) | 5 MP (f/2.2, fixed focus) |
| Video Recording | Up to 1080p @ 30fps | Up to 1080p @ 30fps |
| Software | ||
| Operating System | Android 13 | Android 12 |
| Custom UI | Realme UI 4.0 for Pad | MagicOS 7.1 |
Design
The design of a tablet plays a crucial role in the user's overall experience, and the Realme Pad 2 and the Honor Pad X9 cater to different tastes.
Realme Pad 2: This tablet boasts a sleek and minimalist design, featuring a metal body with curved edges. It is available in two color options: gray and green.
Honor Pad X9: On the other hand, the Honor Pad X9 sports a more futuristic look, with a glass front, an aluminum frame, and an aluminum back. It comes in an elegant space gray color.
In terms of dimensions, the Realme Pad 2 has a slight edge, being slightly thinner and lighter than the Honor Pad X9. It measures 268.2 x 168.5 x 7.2 mm and weighs 518g, while the Honor Pad X9 measures 267.3 x 167.4 x 6.9 mm and weighs 495g.
Both tablets come equipped with a fingerprint sensor on the side for quick and secure unlocking. Additionally, they feature a USB Type-C port for charging and data transfer, although neither of them includes a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Winner: Tie. The design of the Realme Pad 2 and the Honor Pad X9 is ultimately a matter of personal preference. Some users might appreciate the simplicity and elegance of the Realme Pad 2, while others might be drawn to the premium and futuristic feel of the Honor Pad X9.
Display
The display is undeniably one of the most critical aspects of a tablet, significantly influencing the viewing experience and overall productivity.
Realme Pad 2: This tablet boasts an 11.5-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1200 x 2000 pixels. It also features a refresh rate of 120 Hz, a peak brightness of 450 nits, and an impressive color depth of 1 billion colors. The Realme Pad 2 supports HDR10+ for enhanced contrast and colors, as well as DC dimming for reduced eye strain.
Honor Pad X9: On the other hand, the Honor Pad X9 features a slightly larger 11.6-inch display but uses a TFT LCD panel instead of an IPS LCD. The resolution is 1200 x 1920 pixels, with a higher refresh rate of 144 Hz. While the peak brightness is similar at 460 nits, the color depth is lower at 16 million colors. The display supports HDR10 for improved dynamic range, but it lacks DC dimming.
Winner: Realme Pad 2. The Realme Pad 2 outshines the Honor Pad X9 in terms of display quality. With its higher resolution, superior color depth, support for HDR10+, and eye comfort features like DC dimming, the Realme Pad 2 offers a more visually appealing and comfortable viewing experience.
Performance
The performance of a tablet hinges largely on its processor, memory, and storage capabilities.
Realme Pad 2: Powered by the MediaTek MT8781 Helio G99 chipset, the Realme Pad 2 packs an octa-core CPU with two Cortex-A76 cores clocked at 2.2 GHz and six Cortex-A55 cores clocked at 2.0 GHz. The Mali-G57 MC2 GPU handles graphics processing. The tablet comes with either 6 GB or 8 GB of RAM, and users can choose between 128 GB or 256 GB of internal storage. Furthermore, the Realme Pad 2 supports microSD cards up to 1 TB for additional storage.
Honor Pad X9: In contrast, the Honor Pad X9 runs on the Qualcomm SM6225 Snapdragon 685 chipset, featuring an octa-core CPU with four Cortex-A73 cores clocked at 2.8 GHz and four Cortex-A53 cores clocked at 1.9 GHz. The Adreno 610 GPU handles graphics processing. The tablet comes with a single configuration of 4 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal storage, with no support for microSD cards.
Winner: Realme Pad 2. The Realme Pad 2 takes the lead in terms of performance. Its more robust processor, multiple RAM and storage options, and microSD card support make it a more powerful and versatile device. The Honor Pad X9, with its limited RAM and storage, might face challenges with demanding apps and games.
Battery
Battery life is a crucial consideration for any tablet user, as it directly impacts the device's usability without frequent recharging.
Realme Pad 2: The Realme Pad 2 houses an 8360 mAh battery, slightly larger than the Honor Pad X9's 7250 mAh battery. The Realme Pad 2 also supports 33W fast charging, allowing it to charge from 0% to 50% in about 30 minutes.
Honor Pad X9: On the other hand, the Honor Pad X9 supports 25W fast charging, which can charge the tablet from 0% to 50% in about 40 minutes.
According to tests, the Realme Pad 2 can last for approximately 12 hours of mixed usage, including web browsing, video streaming, gaming, and productivity tasks. The Honor Pad X9, while not far behind, offers slightly shorter battery life, lasting around 10 hours of mixed usage.
Winner: Realme Pad 2. The Realme Pad 2 boasts a longer battery life, thanks to its larger battery capacity and more efficient processor. Moreover, its faster charging speed means less time waiting for the tablet to recharge, offering added convenience to users.
Camera
While the camera quality of a tablet might not be as crucial as that of a smartphone, it can still influence photo and video-taking experiences, as well as video calls.
Realme Pad 2: Equipped with an 8 MP rear camera featuring an f/2.0 aperture and autofocus, the Realme Pad 2 captures videos at up to 1080p resolution and 30 frames per second. Additionally, it has an 8 MP front camera with an f/2.0 aperture and fixed focus for video calls and selfies.
Honor Pad X9: The Honor Pad X9, on the other hand, features a 5 MP rear camera with an f/2.2 aperture and autofocus. Similar to the Realme Pad 2, it can record videos at up to 1080p resolution and 30 frames per second. The front camera is also a 5 MP sensor with an f/2.2 aperture and fixed focus.
Winner: Realme Pad 2. The Realme Pad 2 outperforms the Honor Pad X9 in terms of camera quality. With its higher resolution and wider aperture, the Realme Pad 2 delivers sharper, brighter, and more vibrant photos and videos.
Software
The software experience is heavily influenced by the tablet's operating system and user interface.
Realme Pad 2: Running on Android 13, the latest version of Google's mobile operating system, the Realme Pad 2 offers users the Realme UI 4.0 for Pad. This customized skin enhances the stock Android interface with features like split-screen mode, dark mode, app drawer, gesture navigation, smart sidebar, game space, digital wellbeing, and parental controls.
Honor Pad X9: The Honor Pad X9 runs on Android 12, one version behind the latest Android version, and uses the MagicOS 7.1 customized skin. It brings features such as split-screen mode, dark mode, app drawer, gesture navigation, smart assistant, game center, digital balance, and parental controls.
Winner: Realme Pad 2. The Realme Pad 2 excels in the software experience category, thanks to its newer Android version, smoother user interface, and additional features. Android 13 offers more security updates and features than Android 12, while the Realme UI 4.0 for Pad provides more customization options and optimizations than MagicOS 7.1.
The Ultimate Android Tablet Comparison under Rs. 20,000
| Product | Price | Store |
|---|---|---|
| Realme Pad 2 | Under Rs. 20,000 | Buying Link: Flipkart |
| Honor Pad X9 | Under Rs. 20,000 | Buying Link: Amazon |
Final Verdict
After an in-depth comparison of the Realme Pad 2 and the Honor Pad X9 across six categories, we have a clear winner. The Realme Pad 2 emerges as the best Android tablet under Rs. 20,000 in 2023, surpassing the Honor Pad X9 in five out of six categories. The Realme Pad 2 offers a superior display, performance, battery life, camera quality, and software experience.
If you're seeking a budget-friendly Android tablet that delivers a smooth and enjoyable experience on a large screen, the Realme Pad 2 is an excellent choice. It handles various tasks with ease, such as web browsing, video streaming, gaming, and productivity. Furthermore, the tablet's long-lasting battery and fast charging speed ensure uninterrupted usage. The camera quality is also commendable for capturing photos, videos, and video calls. The Realme UI 4.0 for Pad further enhances the user experience with its useful features and customizations.
While the Honor Pad X9 is not a bad tablet, it falls short in comparison to the Realme Pad 2. The lower resolution, color depth, HDR support, and eye comfort, along with the weaker processor, limited RAM and storage options, and no microSD card support, contribute to its shortcomings. Additionally, the MagicOS 7.1 runs on an older Android version and has fewer optimizations than the Realme UI 4.0 for Pad.
In conclusion, we highly recommend the Realme Pad 2 over the Honor Pad X9 for those seeking an outstanding Android tablet under Rs. 20,000 in 2023. The Realme Pad 2 offers exceptional value for money and guarantees a top-notch user experience.
