🔍 Introduction
The Honor MagicPad 3 lands as a bold leap for Honor in the tablet space, promising flagship power at a competitive price. With high specs and unique design choices, it raises the question: can it rival or even surpass the iPad Air in key areas? While it ticks many boxes, there remains one glaring omission that might turn heads.
📐 Design & Build
At 5.79 mm thickness and 595 g, it’s impressively slim and light. Tech Advisor+2TechRadar+2
Honor uses a textured back instead of glass or polished metal, which helps with grip and resists fingerprints. Tech Advisor+2TechRadar+2
The metal frame and narrow bezels give it a premium feel. Tech Advisor+1
However, unlike some competitors, there’s no IP rating for water/dust resistance. Tech Advisor
🖥 Display & Audio
⚙ Performance & Hardware
🔋 Battery & Charging
📷 Cameras
🧰 Software & Features
Runs MagicOS 9 over Android 15. TechRadar+2Notebookcheck+2
Honor promises “at least one OS update and two years of security updates,” which is modest for flagship hardware. Tech Advisor+1
No fingerprint scanner — only face unlock is available, which can be inconvenient for apps requiring biometric security. Tech Advisor+1
🟢 Pros & ⚠️ Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|
| Flagship-level performance | No fingerprint scanner (big omission) |
| Massive battery with fast charging | LCD instead of OLED (lower contrast) |
| Great audio with 8 speakers | Modest software update policy |
| Slim, light design | No water/dust resistance rating |
| Big screen and smooth refresh rate | No storage expansion |
⭐ Verdict
The Honor MagicPad 3 is a compelling tablet for users who want power, battery life, and media performance — and yes, in several areas it outshines the iPad Air (especially in battery and display size). That said, the missing fingerprint sensor is a significant drawback in 2025, especially for users expecting full biometric flexibility.
If you can live with that omission — and aren’t heavily reliant on long-term software support — this tablet offers excellent value in its segment.
🧠 FAQs
Q1: Does the MagicPad 3 support 5G/Cellular?
No. It currently offers Wi-Fi only, no built-in cellular or GPS. Notebookcheck+1
Q2: Why did Honor switch from OLED to LCD?
They likely made the change to balance cost, size, and performance. But the tradeoff is lower contrast. Tech Advisor+1
Q3: How does it compare with iPad Air?
In many ways it competes head-on: larger screen, high refresh rate, strong performance. But Apple’s software support and fingerprint/Face ID remain ahead.
Q4: Will it last for many years?
Hardware-wise, yes — but software support is limited. After a few years, lack of updates could be a concern.
Q5: Is it good for gaming?
Yes — it handles modern mobile games well. The only issue is that large size might make it bulky for handheld use without a controller. Notebookcheck+1
