At a glance: Of all the 8 inch tablets I’ve tried (including the iPad mini), the Headwolf Fpad5 is the best, and the one I use as my ‘daily driver’. The built quality, flexibility and speed mean it can do double duty as a media consumption device for reading and watching video, while also letting me do basic work tasks. However, there is one big caveat: the sound quality is awful (so buy some decent headphones).
8 inch tablets are a market overlooked by most manufacturers, but those of us who own them love them dearly. They are (in my opinion) the perfect sized device for media consumption and light work. They’re the perfect couch and bed device, with a bigger screen than your phone, but without the size and bulk of a full sized iPad.
However, with the exception of Apple’s iPad mini (and even that is in need of an update) most manufacturers ignore the market. There are some devices from manufacturers such and Amazon, Lenovo and Samsung, but they’re all older models.
However, there are some manufacturers, most notably Alldocube and Headwolf, who have stepped up. Headwolf is a name you’ve probably never heard of – it’s one of dozens of Chinese firms knocking out affordable (often downright cheap) Android tablets. On paper, the Headwolf Fpad5 is an incredibly capable machine – and I spent a few weeks using it to find out what it’s really like.
Verdict: Flawed genius
Of all the 8 inch tablets I’ve tried (including the iPad mini), the Headwolf is the best, and the one I use as my ‘daily driver’. The built quality, flexibility and speed mean it can do double duty as a media consumption device for reading and watching video, while also letting me do basic work tasks. However, there are caveats: the sound quality is awful and as with many Android tablets, it’s unclear just how many software upgrades you’ll be getting.
- Buy now from Amazon for $149 (with coupon)
- Processor: Helio G99 Octa Core Android Tablet
- Screen: 8.4 inch FHD 1920 * 1200
- Memory/storage: 16GB RAM + 128GB ROM
- Battery: 5500mAh
- Cameras: 13MP+8MP
- Software: Android 14
Design and build
The Headwolf is really well made, feeling solid in the hand, with a slightly rough rear that make it easier to grip than the rival Alldocube device, for instance. Buttons feel solid and have a great ‘click’ feel, the only issue I really found was with the USB power socket, which feels a little loose, raising concerns over its durability. One part of the design I particularly like is the bevelled screen edge, which makes is slightly easier to hold than rival devices.
There’s a headphone socket on the top, and a dual slot for your SIM card and and SD memory expansion card, although I was unable to try out the phone capabilities due to a lack of eSim support.
Display
Measuring 8.4inches, the Fpad5 screen is great. However, one thing I did notice is that blacks are not quite as deep as on rival devices such and the iPad mini and Alldocube Mini Pro, leading to. slightly washed out look. However, this is something that didn’t really bother me in day to day use. Colors are bright, and once you’ve played about with the resolution settings, which you’ll need to do in YouTube, videos look great.
Battery life
The Fpad5 packs a 5500mAh battery, which Headwolf says offers 6-8 hours of use. We found this to be true, averaging about 7 hours of reading and watching video, with the odd game playing session. Overall, while not outstanding, it’ll get you through an average day or a long flight (trust us, the 8 inch tablet really is the perfect plane device).
Software
Unlike its arch rival the Alldocube, the Fpad5 run Android 14, the latest version of Google’s OS. It also offers face unlock, which the Alldocube doesn’t, and it works relatively well if the lighting in your room is decent. One of the great things about the Fpad5 is that it’s running what is pretty much stock Android, so there’s not a bunch of software installed by the manufacturer, save for one marketing app.
Sound
One of the things that first attracted me to to Fpad5 was the promise of stereo speakers compared to the Alldocube’s mono. And while there are two speakers, they are sadly both awful, and also both on the bottom of the device, so when you’re watching a movie, for instance, you still get sound from one side only.
What else to consider
Apple iPad Mini: Apple is one of the few major manufacturers to make a small tablet, and the iPad mini is heads above everything else hear in terms of build quality, screen quality and ease of use. However, it’s in need of an update, and Apple’s iPadOS software doesn’t feel quite right on the small screen, in fact it almost feels like the iOS we’re used to on phones would be a better fit here. The sound is also great, and phenomenal when compared to the disaster that is sound on the Headwolf and Alldocube devices. As a fully paid up Apple fanboy, I should love the iPad mini. But somehow it just doesn’t work for me – there’s still no WhatsApp iPad app, and it feels a little too close the the iPhone 15 Pro Max I use as my daily handset.
Alldocube iPlay50 Mini Pro NFE: First, be warned there are a LOT of different models of this tablet, ranging in price from $80 to over $150. I tried the Mini Pro NFE version with 256gb of RAM, which retails for about $155 on Amazon. It’s fantastic, and very, very similar to the Fpad5. However, I found the build quality poorer, and experienced a lot of flexibility in the chassis in particularly when taking it in and out of its case. However, the screen is great, and it’s also often on sale – if you get a bargain, it’s probably a better bet that the Fpad5.
Amazon Fire HD8: It’s cheap. I picked up a refurbished model for just over $40, and they are always on heavy sale for prime Day. You’re limited to Amazon’s app store (although there are workarounds to add Google’s Play Store). The huge issue is that it’s slow – and not just quite slow, it’s tap on the screen and go and make yourself a cup of tea slow. But there’s actually a lot to love about the HD8 apart from it’s price. It feels great in the hand without a case thanks to a rubberised back I really wish the Fpad5 had, and for reading and watching the odd youtube video or Netflix show, it’s just about good enough.
Who am I?
Hi, I’m Mark Prigg and I’m a journalist who has been writing about and reviewing technology for over 25 years, at places like the Daily Mail, Travel + Leisure and Wired. Ever since I sat in the audience to watch Steve Jobs unveil the original iPad, I’ve been on a hunt for the perfect tablet, trying a plethora of devices in my hunt.
