Honor MagicPad 3: Leaks Suggest a Power-Packed Tablet With a Surprising Display Change

Honor MagicPad 3 Leak: OLED Out, IPS In – But Is It Really a Downgrade?

The successor to Honor’s MagicPad 2 is reportedly launching by the end of this month, and we already have a good idea of what to expect, thanks to leaks from China. The MagicPad 3 promises powerful specs – and one notable display change that has stirred up quite a debate online.

According to the leaks, the MagicPad 3 will feature a 13.2-inch LCD panel with a high refresh rate – likely 144Hz, just like its predecessor. Under the hood, it packs Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM, and a massive 1TB of internal storage. Charging won’t be a hassle either, with 66W wired charging support. The tablet will reportedly come in three colors: Moon Shadow White, Floating Gold, and Starry Sky Gray.

But here’s where opinions start to split – unlike the MagicPad 2, which used an OLED panel, the MagicPad 3 is switching to an LCD display. For some users, that’s a dealbreaker. But this may not be just a cost-cutting move – it’s possibly a more practical shift. LCDs, especially IPS panels, are known for their durability, longevity, and absence of screen burn-in issues that OLEDs still suffer from.

Some users see the move as strategic – with AMOLED repairs often being costly, a robust IPS LCD could make sense for productivity and long-term use. Others point out that if the price doesn’t significantly drop, downgrading the screen tech may not sit well with fans expecting a premium media experience.

That said, MagicPad 3 still positions itself as a high-performance tablet, aimed at power users who want top specs without necessarily needing OLED visuals. And let’s face it – for many markets, especially where gaming PCs and high-end laptops are prohibitively expensive, tablets like this are a more accessible option.

Honor seems to be trying to strike a balance: cutting costs where it matters less for longevity, and ramping up performance where it counts. Will it pay off? That may depend on the final price and how good the LCD actually looks in person.