If you are planning to give a Tech gift for Christmas to one of your loved ones, and more particularly a tablet, all without breaking the bank, these 2 references should please you. But between Xiaomi and Honor, which one to choose? We will try to answer it in this comparison.
Halfway between the smartphone and the laptop, the touchscreen tablet is an excellent device for family use, or for entertainment on the go. And with the end of year holiday season, it makes a very good Christmas gift. And if that's what you were planning to give as a gift, you've come to the right place.
For a budget of less than 200 euros, the Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE is a touchscreen slate that focuses on the essentials, and is suitable for light computing tasks or streaming media consumption. There are also inexpensive tablets on the market, the Honor Pad X8a, which is also at an advantageous price. These two references are currently on sale. If you don't know which one to choose, we will try to help you make your choice through this comparison.
Entry-level models in small formats
Aesthetically, both devices focus on simplicity. We are treated to a no-frills design, with flat edges and a thin body. Both fit well in the hand, but the Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 8.7 is even more compact, since it has a screen with a diagonal of 8.7 inches, compared to 11 inches for that of Honor. It is also lighter with 373 g on the scale, you can easily transport it. Moreover, the manufacturer announces that its 5:3 format allows it to be held with one hand. The Pad
Once turned on, the Honor slate screen extends over a larger diagonal and less present borders than its rival so as not to detract from the viewing experience. It benefits from an LCD panel with Full HD+ definition (1920 × 1200p) and a 90 Hz refresh rate for better fluidity. For its part, the Redmi Pad SE 8.7 is less well off: it offers an LCD display with a simple HD definition (1,340 x 800 pixels). It's certainly not the best screen, but it's enough to watch videos or read books. The Chinese firm is making up for it by offering a refresh rate of 90 Hz for smoother animations and a more pleasant feeling when used. It can also boast of supporting Dolby Atmos on its four speakers to ensure good audio reproduction.
Small performances, but effective for simple uses
Whether it's Xiaomi's or Honor's, these two touchscreen slates are not power monsters. One is equipped with a Snapdragon 680 chip (Honor Pad X8a), and the other with a MediaTek Helio G85 processor (Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 8.7).
Simple configurations, which are sufficient for most classic uses: browsing the Internet, consulting social networks, binge watcher your favorite series, but without being able to launch the most demanding games from the Google Play Store. Small advantage for the Redmi Pad SE 8.7 in terms of storage. Of course, this is the 64 GB model, but this can be expanded by a microSD card, which is not the case on the Honor model, which still includes 128 GB of internal storage.
One tablet more durable than the other
To finish this versus in due form, let’s talk about autonomy. Honor does better than its rival by integrating a larger battery, i.e. 8,030 mAh compared to 6,650 mAh for Xiaomi's. We weren't able to test both models, but in theory, the Pad X8a should last longer. According to the manufacturer, it offers up to 14 hours of video playback, 85 hours of music playback and 56 days of standby time. Its endurance even makes it an ideal device for chaining together episodes of a series without having to recharge it.
With its small size, the Xiaomi tablet has less space to accommodate a larger battery. The brand still ensures 25 hours of video playback and 34 hours of reading. As for charging, it is limited to 18 W via its USB-C port: it takes 140 minutes to go up to 100%.
So, rather Xiaomi or Honor?
With a price under 130 euros, these two tablets put up a good fight and are both recommendable. The Honor Pad X8a nevertheless has some advantages which can surely change the situation compared to its competitor.
The Honor slate is entitled to better definition and finer borders. It is therefore more pleasant for viewing content and provides better immersion. Its refresh rate of 90 Hz guarantees good fluidity in all uses. And with its larger battery, you will be able to use it all day long.
This does not prevent us from recommending the Redmi Pad SE 8.7 from Xiaomi. It will please most people for its small size, practical for taking it anywhere with you without much difficulty. Its correct screen at 90 Hz is very suitable for reading the press and video content. And here, protection is included. This is one less purchase to make, and a good way to protect your device from falls.
If the tablet from Xiaomi or the Honor brand has not convinced you, there are other models in the same price range. To discover them, we invite you to consult our guide to the best inexpensive tablets now.
