The Honor Pad X8b is a budget-friendly tablet designed for users who want a lightweight, stylish device for entertainment and light productivity. In a market often saturated with bulky, low-end tablets, the X8b stands out by offering a refined design and a focus on eye comfort. This review is useful for anyone looking for an affordable secondary device for media consumption, students on a budget, or parents seeking a reliable tablet for their children. We will explore its sleek build, display performance, and real-world usability to determine if it truly offers the best value in its price bracket.
Key Specifications
- Display: 11-inch TFT LCD
- Resolution: 1920 x 1200 Pixels (FHD+)
- Brightness: 450 Nits (Typical)
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 (6nm)
- RAM & Storage: 6GB/8GB RAM | 128GB/256GB Storage
- Rear Camera: 5MP (f/2.2)
- Front Camera: 2MP (f/2.2)
- Battery: 8,000 mAh
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.1, USB-C 2.0
- Operating System: MagicOS 8.0 (Android 14)
- Price Range: $180 – $230 USD
Design & Build Quality
The Honor Pad X8b prioritizes portability. Crafted with a premium-feeling aluminum alloy chassis, it avoids the “cheap plastic” feel common in budget tablets. It is remarkably thin and lightweight, making it comfortable to hold for long reading sessions or movie marathons.
The overall look is minimalist, featuring symmetric bezels and a clean matte finish that resists fingerprints well. The buttons are tactile and placed on the upper-right side (in portrait), which transitions perfectly to the top when held in landscape mode. It is a device that looks far more expensive than its actual price tag suggests.
Display Quality
The 11-inch FullView display is optimized for eye health, featuring TÜV Rheinland certifications for flicker-free and low blue light performance. With an FHD+ resolution (1920 x 1200) and a 90Hz refresh rate, visuals are sharp and motion is smooth. The 500-nit peak brightness ensures that content remains legible even in bright indoor settings or shaded outdoor environments.
The 11-inch FHD+ display is the centerpiece of the Honor Pad X8b.
- Screen Type: The TFT LCD provides decent viewing angles and natural color reproduction.
- Refresh Rate: It typically supports a 90Hz refresh rate, offering smoother scrolling than standard 60Hz budget panels.
- Eye Care: Honor has integrated TUV Rheinland-certified low blue light technology, which is a major plus for students who spend hours reading e-books.
- Outdoor Visibility: At 450 nits, it is perfectly bright for indoor use, though it may struggle under direct, harsh sunlight.
Performance & Daily Usage
Powered by the Snapdragon 680 (6nm) chipset and running MagicOS 10 (Android 16), the tablet excels in daily productivity. It handles web browsing, social media scrolling, and document editing without noticeable lag. The updated software provides an intuitive multitasking experience, allowing users to switch between learning apps and entertainment seamlessly.
Driven by the Snapdragon 680, the Honor Pad X8b is built for efficiency rather than raw power.
- Daily Use: Social media browsing, video streaming on YouTube/Netflix, and checking emails are handled with ease.
- Multitasking: With 6GB or 8GB of RAM, you can keep a few apps open in the background. However, opening heavy PDF files or switching between many active apps may show a slight delay.
- Lag: There is no significant lag in the UI, thanks to the optimization of MagicOS. It remains a smooth experience for the “casual” user.
Gaming Performance
This tablet is designed for casual gaming.
- Tested Games: We tested Subway Surfers, Candy Crush, and Among Us, all of which ran perfectly.
- Heavy Gaming: For titles like PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact, you will need to set the graphics to “Low” to maintain a playable frame rate.
- Heating: Thanks to the power-efficient 6nm chip, the tablet stays cool even during an hour of gameplay.
Camera Performance
Equipped with 5MP cameras on both the front and the rear, the tablet is purpose-built for communication. The front-facing landscape camera is well-suited for high-definition video calls and online classes, while the rear camera is reliable for document scanning and capturing quick reference photos in well-lit daylight conditions.
Cameras on budget tablets are functional rather than artistic.
- Daylight: The 5MP rear camera is adequate for scanning documents or taking quick reference photos in well-lit environments.
- Front Camera: The 2MP front camera is sufficient for casual video calls, though the image quality can be grainy in low-light indoor settings. It serves its purpose for online classes but won’t replace your smartphone for selfies.
Battery Life & Charging
The headline feature is the massive 10,100mAh battery, which offers an incredible 97 days of standby time. In real-world use, it can provide up to 22 hours of continuous online video playback. It supports 22.5W fast charging, which is decent for a battery of this size, ensuring you spend less time tethered to a wall outlet.
The 8,000 mAh battery is impressive given the tablet’s thin profile.
- Usage: On a full charge, the Honor Pad X8b can easily last 2 to 3 days with moderate use (2 hours of video/browsing per day).
- Charging: It supports 22.5W Honor SuperCharge. While it isn’t “ultra-fast” by 2026 standards, it can fill the large battery in roughly 2 hours.
Connectivity & Features
The tablet focuses on a strong Wi-Fi 5 connection for stable streaming and features Bluetooth 5.0 for wireless peripherals. A standout feature is the Large-amplitude Quad-speaker system, which delivers loud, clear stereo sound. It also includes Honor Kids, a dedicated safe space for children with parental controls and vision health alerts.
- Audio: It features a quad-speaker system with Honor Histen audio tuning, providing a surprisingly loud and clear stereo experience for movies.
- Software: MagicOS 8.0 includes a “Global Taskbar” and “Split Screen” features that make it feel like a productive workstation.
- Security: It lacks a fingerprint sensor, relying instead on a PIN/Pattern or basic 2D Face Unlock.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Ultra-Slim Design: Lightweight and very portable.
- Great Audio: Quad speakers offer an excellent media experience.
- Long Battery Life: 8,000 mAh lasts through long commutes.
- Eye Comfort: High-quality flicker-free display technology.
Cons
- Entry-Level Processor: Not suitable for professional video editing or heavy gaming.
- Basic Cameras: Low-resolution sensors.
- No 5G: Wi-Fi only (in most regions).
Who Should Buy This Tablet?
- Students: Perfect for research, reading, and attending online lectures.
- Media Consumers: Great for those who want a dedicated device for Netflix and Disney+.
- Children: A safe, sturdy, and eye-friendly choice for educational apps.
- Who should avoid it: Professional gamers or power users who need to run heavy creative software.
Price & Value for Money
At its current price, the Honor Pad X8b offers good value for money, especially for users who prioritize design, battery life, and eye safety. It is one of the most stylish tablets you can find in the sub-$250 category.
2026 Budget Tablet Comparison Table
This table compares the Honor Pad X8b with its main rivals in the entry-level and budget categories.
| Feature | Honor Pad X8b | Galaxy Tab A9+ | Redmi Pad SE | Lenovo Tab M11 |
| Display | 11″ FHD+ (90Hz) | 11″ FHD+ (90Hz) | 11″ FHD+ (90Hz) | 11″ FHD (90Hz) |
| Processor | Snapdragon 680 | Snapdragon 695 (5G) | Snapdragon 680 | Helio G88 |
| RAM/Storage | 6GB / 128GB | 4GB / 64GB | 4GB / 128GB | 4GB / 128GB |
| Speakers | Quad Speakers | Quad Speakers | Quad Speakers | Quad Speakers |
| Battery | 8,000 mAh | 7,040 mAh | 8,000 mAh | 7,040 mAh |
| Charging | 22.5W | 15W | 10W (Slow) | 15W |
| Build | Aluminum (Slim) | Aluminum | Aluminum | Plastic/Metal |
| Weight | 495g (Light) | 510g | 478g | 465g |
| Price (Est.) | ~$199 | ~$220 | ~$170 | ~$180 |
Comparison Insights
- Design Advantage: The Honor Pad X8b feels the most premium in this group. While the Redmi is lighter, the Honor’s aluminum finish and ultra-slim bezels give it a “Pro” look that the Samsung and Lenovo lack.
- Battery & Charging: Honor wins the charging battle. While the Redmi Pad SE has the same 8,000 mAh capacity, its 10W charging is painfully slow. The Honor’s 22.5W SuperCharge gets you back to watching movies much faster.
- Performance: The Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ has a slight edge in performance because the Snapdragon 695 is newer and supports 5G. However, Honor provides more Base RAM (6GB), which makes multitasking with multiple apps smoother than on Samsung’s 4GB base model.
- The “Student” Choice: For those who read a lot, the Honor Pad X8b has superior eye-protection software (TUV Rheinland certified), making it a better choice for long study sessions than the Lenovo.
Final Recommendation
- Buy the Honor Pad X8b if you want a stylish, slim tablet for Netflix, social media, and reading with a battery that lasts for days.
- Buy the Samsung A9+ if you specifically need 5G cellular connectivity and slightly better gaming performance.
- Buy the Redmi Pad SE if you are on the strictest possible budget and don’t mind slow charging.
Final Verdict
Overall, the Honor Pad X8b offers a reliable experience for the price. It doesn’t try to be a laptop replacement; instead, it excels at being a high-quality “daily driver” for the family. If you need a tablet that looks great and handles the basics without a hitch, this is a solid recommendation.
FAQs
1. Is Honor Pad X8b good for gaming? It is excellent for casual games, but not recommended for heavy competitive gaming.
2. Does it support fast charging? Yes, it supports 22.5W fast charging.
3. Is it worth buying in 2026? Yes, for users who need an affordable, lightweight tablet for media and browsing.
4. Does it have Google Play Store? Yes, Honor devices (Global versions) come with full Google Mobile Services support.
Disclaimer
Disclaimer: This review is based on research, specifications, and user feedback. Actual performance may vary depending on usage, software versions, and regional hardware differences.
