Honor is making a significant strategic pivot in its tablet lineup, pausing development on its popular compact models to focus on a new, larger device. This move comes amid industry-wide pressures from rising component costs, setting the stage for the launch of the more affordable, family-oriented Pad X10 Pro.
Honor Confirms Compact Tablet Plans Are On Hold
In a candid exchange on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, an Honor official confirmed the company's decision to suspend its compact tablet development. The confirmation came in response to a user inquiry about the next small tablet, with the official stating simply, "No more, it’s on hold." This marks a notable shift for the X series, which has historically included models like the 8.7-inch Honor Pad X7. The company has not publicly detailed the reasoning behind this strategic pause, leaving the future of its smaller form-factor tablets uncertain.
The Pad X10 Pro Emerges as the New Focus
Stepping into the spotlight is the Honor Pad X10 Pro, officially slated for a launch in China on January 5, 2026. This model represents a clear departure from the compact segment, featuring a much larger display estimated to be around 11 inches. Early visuals from a YouTube Shorts video show the tablet in blue and silver colorways, with a single rear camera and a front-facing camera positioned on the right bezel. The design appears to prioritize function over form, with noticeable bezels that are evident in real-world shots. A key feature is its support for stylus input, adding a layer of functionality for note-taking or drawing.
Reported Tablet Specifications & Context:
| Feature | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| New Model | Honor Pad X10 Pro | Launching January 5, 2026 in China. |
| Display Size | ~11 inches | Significantly larger than the paused compact line (e.g., Pad X7 had 8.7"). |
| Key Feature | Stylus Support | Confirmed input method. |
| Design Colors | Blue, Silver | Seen in early visuals. |
| Camera Setup | Single Rear Camera, Front Camera on Right Bezel | Design shows noticeable bezels. |
| Market Position | Affordable, Family & Education Focus | Positioned for kids' classes and media sharing, not high-end productivity. |
| Launch Partner | Honor Power 2 Smartphone | Features a 10,080mAh battery in an ~8mm thin body. |
| Industry Context | Rising Memory/Storage Chip Costs | Honor & Xiaomi have announced price hikes for tablets due to supply shortages driven by AI data center demand. |
| Paused Line | Honor Compact Tablets (X Series) | Official confirmed development is "on hold"; last model was Honor Pad X7. |
Positioned as an Affordable, Family-Centric Device
Honor is explicitly marketing the Pad X10 Pro not as a high-end productivity machine, but as a practical and affordable tool for family use. The company highlights scenarios like children's online classes or sharing videos with older relatives as primary use cases. This positioning suggests a focus on value, large-screen media consumption, and basic educational or communication tasks, rather than competing directly with premium productivity-focused slates from Apple or Samsung.
Launch Context: Rising Costs and a Record-Breaking Phone
The tablet's unveiling is set against a backdrop of industry-wide challenges. Both Honor and competitor Xiaomi have confirmed price increases across their tablet lineups, citing skyrocketing costs for memory (DRAM) and storage (NAND) chips. This shortage, largely driven by soaring demand from AI data centers, is forcing consumer electronics brands to adjust. The Pad X10 Pro will launch alongside the Honor Power 2 smartphone, which boasts an industry-leading 10,080mAh battery housed in a body reportedly just 8mm thin, showcasing Honor's continued push for standout hardware specifications.
A Changing Tablet Landscape for Consumers
For buyers, the tablet market in late 2025 remains vibrant but is entering a period of adjustment. While Apple's iPad lineup and Samsung's Galaxy Tab S11 series continue to define the premium segment, the value-oriented space is seeing strategic shifts. Honor's move away from compact tablets narrows consumer choice in that specific niche. Meanwhile, the confirmed price hikes from major Chinese brands signal that the era of aggressively low-cost tablets may be cooling, potentially affecting global markets in the near future. Consumers may need to weigh their purchasing decisions carefully, balancing current deals against the prospect of broader price increases.