It’s genuinely arduous to get enthusiastic about tablets as of late. Normally, you’re both taking a look at a predictable iPad refresh or a Samsung slate that feels prefer it was designed in a boardroom to satisfy a selected value level. Nonetheless, the Honor MagicPad 4 really made me cease and listen, which is not any small feat given how crowded the “premium-but-not-quite-pro” market has develop into. After spending a strong period of time with this system as my major driver, I’ve discovered that it is not simply one other Android pill; it’s a remarkably skinny piece of glass and steel that punches method above its weight class.
Abstract
- Extremely-Skinny Profile: At simply 4.8mm, it’s one of many sleekest tablets in the marketplace, interval.
- Beautiful OLED Return: The 12.3-inch OLED panel with a 165Hz refresh fee is a large improve over its predecessor.
- Severe Horsepower: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 handles intensive multitasking and gaming with out breaking a sweat.
- Immersive Eight-Speaker Array: For a tool this skinny, the spatial audio is surprisingly vast and clear.
- Quick 66W Charging: Even with a ten,100mAh battery, you will get a 50% cost in about half an hour.
Design And Construct High quality
The very first thing you discover—and truthfully, the factor everybody I confirmed it to observed—is how absurdly skinny this factor is. At 4.8mm, it makes my previous laptop computer seem like a heavy brick. It weighs about 450g, which sounds mild on paper, however within the hand, it feels dense and premium. I’ve been carrying it round in a tote bag, and half the time I’ve to double-check that it’s really in there. I believe we’ve reached a degree the place making issues thinner does not really add a lot utility, however I can not deny that it feels costly.
Honor opted for a flat steel body that feels sturdy, although I’ll be trustworthy, the dearth of an IP score makes me a bit nervous. I’m not somebody who reads within the tub, however I’d positively assume twice earlier than leaving this on a messy kitchen counter close to a spill. The digital camera module on the again has that rounded-square look we’ve seen earlier than, which is okay, I assume. It does not scream “innovation,” however it seems skilled sufficient for a espresso store or a high-stakes workplace assembly.
One minor gripe I had was with the equipment. I used the Sensible Keyboard case for just a few days, and whereas the keys themselves have a good click on to them, the folding stand mechanism is… properly, it’s fiddly. It makes use of this bizarre system the place the again cowl folds away, and I by no means fairly felt prefer it was “locked” in place. When you’re typing on a flat desk, it’s tremendous. When you’re attempting to stability it in your lap throughout a practice experience, good luck. It would simply be me, however I discovered myself continuously readjusting it.
The Show That Steals The Present
When you’re shopping for this pill, you’re shopping for it for the display. Honor moved again to an OLED panel right here, and thank goodness for that. The earlier mannequin’s transfer to LCD felt like a step backward, so this appears like a homecoming. It’s a 12.3-inch magnificence with a 3:2 side ratio, which I personally desire for studying and writing over the extra slender 16:10 screens you see on some opponents. The colours are vibrant with out being neon-bright, and the 3000 x 1920 decision means every little thing seems extremely sharp.
Then there may be the 165Hz refresh fee. Now, do you want 165Hz on a pill? In all probability not. Most films are 24fps and most apps cap out at 60 or 120. However man, once you’re scrolling by means of a protracted PDF or taking part in a high-frame-rate recreation like Future: Rising, it’s buttery easy. It’s a type of issues you do not assume you want till you utilize it, after which going again to a 60Hz display appears like taking a look at a slideshow. I did discover that the height brightness hits 2400 nits in HDR, which is useful should you’re attempting to work close to a window, although it nonetheless struggles a bit below direct, harsh afternoon daylight.
I ought to point out the eye-care options, too. Honor is obsessive about PWM dimming—5280Hz on this case. I’m not notably delicate to display flicker, however I did discover that my eyes felt a bit much less “strained” after a three-hour binge of The Improbable 4 on Disney+. Whether or not that’s the know-how or only a placebo, I’ll take it.
Efficiency And Actual-World Use
Below the hood, we’ve bought the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5. It is not the “Elite” model, however in my day-to-day use, I could not inform the distinction. I’m not a lot of a hardcore cellular gamer, however I did hearth up some extra demanding titles simply to see what occurred, and it dealt with them with none noticeable stutter. The place it actually shines, although, is in “PC Mode.”
Once you toggle this on, the UI shifts to a windowed setting. I used to be capable of have Chrome, Slack, and a Phrase doc open concurrently with none lag. It’s not fairly a MacBook substitute—Android nonetheless has its quirks relating to desktop-style file administration—however for a cellular workstation? It’s fairly shut. The 12GB of RAM within the base mannequin appears greater than sufficient for most individuals, although should you’re a “50-tabs-open” sort of particular person, the 16GB model exists for a motive.
The audio expertise is one other excessive level. There are eight audio system tucked into this chassis. Honor makes use of some AI spatial audio methods, and whereas I often roll my eyes at “AI” being slapped on every little thing, the soundstage right here is genuinely vast. It lacks the deep bass you’d get from a devoted Bluetooth speaker or possibly a high-end iPad Professional, however for watching films in mattress, it’s unbelievable. It’s loud, clear, and does not distort even once you crank it up.
Battery Life And Charging Realities
The battery life has been surprisingly strong. Regardless of Honor shrinking the battery to 10,100mAh to maintain the system skinny—down from over 12,000mAh on the earlier model—the effectivity of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 appears to stability issues out. I managed to get by means of most of a piece week with sporadic use—emails, some YouTube, loads of internet searching—earlier than I needed to attain for the charger.
I did slightly casual check: an hour of 4K HDR streaming on YouTube drained about 8% of the battery. That’s roughly 12 to 13 hours of steady playback, which is respectable for a display this vivid and quick. Once I did must prime up, the 66W charging was a lifesaver. It bought me from zero to 55% in about half-hour. Simply bear in mind there’s no charger within the field. I used a appropriate quick charger I had mendacity round, however should you do not personal one, that’s an additional expense you’ll must think about.
Software program Quirks And Digital camera Expectations
Let’s discuss concerning the software program, as a result of that is often the place Honor (and most Android tablets) hit a snag. It’s working MagicOS 10 on prime of Android 16. It’s easy, certain, however it comes with a good quantity of “bloatware.” I do not actually need TikTok, Reserving.com, and three random cellular video games pre-installed on my productiveness system. You possibly can delete them, however it’s an annoying first step when establishing a brand new system.
The cameras are… properly, they’re pill cameras. The 13Mp rear digital camera is okay for scanning a receipt or a doc in a pinch, however the photographs lack element and have a tendency to overexpose in vivid mild. The 9Mp entrance digital camera is completely enough for a Zoom name or a fast video chat, however the colours are a bit washed out and pores and skin tones look slightly “flat.” It’s a pill; I do not anticipate it to be an expert digital camera, and it is not. It does 4K video at 30fps, which is a nice-to-have, however I can not think about many situations the place you’d select this over your cellphone for recording video.
I additionally tried the Magic Pencil 3. It’s magnetic and sticks to the highest, however the connection feels a bit precarious. The latency is low, and for jotting down notes within the Honor Notes app, it really works properly. Nonetheless, it does not fairly have the “paper-like” friction that another styluses provide. It’s a bit slippery on the glass, which takes some getting used to.
Last Verdict: Is It Price It?
On the finish of the day, the Honor MagicPad 4 is a really targeted system. It goals for a selected candy spot: individuals who need the construct high quality and display of a Professional-level pill however do not wish to pay the four-figure “Professional” tax. It’s thinner than an iPad Professional and has a display that rivals nearly something in the marketplace.
Sure, the software program assist could possibly be longer—three years is okay, however Samsung’s seven-year promise makes it look a bit stingy. And sure, the keyboard case is a bit clunky. However for round £600, you’re getting a chunk of {hardware} that feels prefer it ought to price considerably extra. When you can stay with the MagicOS quirks and the occasional fiddly accent, that is simply among the finest Android tablets of the yr. It’s a powerhouse for media, a good device for work, and arguably the best-looking slab of tech in its value bracket.
