The Honor MagicPad 4 is an Android tablet made by Honor, now available at promotional pricing that undercuts iPad and Samsung flagships while delivering comparable hardware. This is no longer a tablet market where Samsung and Apple operate unchallenged. Honor has arrived with something genuinely competitive—a device so thin and polished it forces you to reconsider what premium actually means at this price point.
Key Takeaways
- Honor MagicPad 4 features a 165Hz OLED display and ultra-slim design thinner than iPad Air and iPad Pro
- Promotional pricing drops the tablet to £499.99, a £100 discount from the £599.99 launch price
- Early-bird bundle adds Magic-Pencil 3 stylus and Smart Keyboard for £50 extra, worth £170 separately
- TechRadar calls it “the new king of Android tablets” with excellent value for money
- Design quality and display tech rival devices costing significantly more
Design and Display Put Rivals on Notice
The Honor MagicPad 4 has a frankly gorgeous design that escalates what Honor achieved with its predecessor, the MagicPad 3. This tablet is super-slim yet powerful, and that combination alone separates it from the crowded Android tablet space. Thickness is not just a spec—it signals engineering discipline. T3’s testing confirms the MagicPad 4 is thinner than both the iPad Air and iPad Pro, a meaningful advantage for anyone who carries tablets regularly.
The display is where Honor invested heavily. A 165Hz OLED panel delivers the kind of color accuracy and refresh rate typically reserved for tablets costing hundreds more. For streaming video, reading, or creative work, this screen performs like flagship hardware. The contrast and brightness of OLED matter in real use—blacks are actually black, not gray compromises. Samsung’s tablets remain strong competitors, but the MagicPad 4 matches their display quality while undercutting their pricing strategy.
Performance and Value Reshape Android Tablets
The Honor MagicPad 4 won’t break the bank, and that statement carries real weight in a tablet market where flagship devices routinely exceed £1,000. At £499.99 with the promotional discount, you are buying a device that handles both entertainment and productivity without compromise. This is the crux of Honor’s challenge to Samsung: deliver comparable performance at a price that makes upgrading actually appealing rather than financially painful.
TechRadar’s assessment—calling the MagicPad 4 “the new king of Android tablets”—reflects the growing reality that Honor is no longer an also-ran in this category. The company’s previous MagicPad 3 was already a really accomplished bit of hardware, but the MagicPad 4 represents a leap in design language and Apple-friendly features that signal Honor is thinking beyond Android purists. For users who want a fantastic entertainer that doubles as a productivity device, this tablet delivers.
The Accessory Bundle Changes the Equation
The early-bird promotional bundle is worth examining closely. For £50 extra on top of the discounted tablet price, you get the Magic-Pencil 3 stylus and Smart Keyboard, accessories valued at £170 if purchased separately. This is not a permanent offer—it is a launch incentive—but it materially improves the value proposition. A stylus and keyboard transform a tablet from a consumption device into a genuine productivity tool. Samsung’s equivalent bundles typically cost more, even when discounted.
The catch: this bundle pricing applies only during the early-bird window at honor.com. If you are considering the MagicPad 4, timing matters. The tablet itself remains available at the promotional £499.99 price, but the accessory bundle will not last indefinitely.
How the MagicPad 4 Stacks Against iPad and Samsung
Samsung has dominated Android tablets for years, and the Galaxy Tab S series remains excellent. But the MagicPad 4 forces a hard question: why pay more for Samsung when Honor delivers comparable specs in a thinner chassis at lower cost?. The iPad Air and iPad Pro are stronger in software ecosystem and app optimization, but they cost significantly more and are thicker devices. The trade-off is real—Apple’s tablets integrate tighter with iPhones and Macs, while the MagicPad 4 excels in raw hardware value and design minimalism.
For Android users, the choice is straightforward. The MagicPad 4 offers stylish, thin design with excellent specs at incredible value for money. Samsung’s tablets are not bad—they are just harder to justify when Honor is offering this much for less.
Is the Honor MagicPad 4 worth buying?
Yes, if you want a premium Android tablet without the premium price tag. The 165Hz OLED display, ultra-thin design, and promotional pricing make this a genuinely compelling option for anyone tired of iPad’s ecosystem lock-in or Samsung’s pricing. The accessory bundle sweetens the deal further, especially for anyone planning to use the tablet for work.
Can the MagicPad 4 replace an iPad?
It depends on your ecosystem. If you are invested in Apple services and apps, the iPad remains the better choice. If you value hardware design, display quality, and price, the MagicPad 4 is a serious contender that delivers flagship features at a fraction of iPad costs.
How does the MagicPad 4 compare to the MagicPad 3?
The MagicPad 4 escalates matters further with a more polished design, superior display technology, and additional Apple-friendly features that broaden its appeal. The MagicPad 3 was already accomplished, but the new generation represents a meaningful step forward in both aesthetics and functionality.
The Honor MagicPad 4 is the tablet that finally gives Samsung a genuine reason to worry. Honor has built something that competes on design, specs, and price simultaneously—a rare combination in consumer electronics. For anyone shopping for an Android tablet right now, this is the device to beat.
Where to Buy
OnePlus Pad 3 | Samsung Galaxy Tab S11
Edited by the All Things Geek team.
Source: T3
