Xiaomi Pad 5: A Game-Changer for Mid-Range Android Tablets

The Xiaomi Pad 5 has recently entered the competitive mid-range tablet market in India, with a starting price of Rs. 26,999. It boasts a robust processor and a display with a high refresh rate, features that are often absent in tablets within this price category. This enhances its appeal, particularly since it supports separate purchases of stylus and keyboard cover accessories.

Is the Xiaomi Pad 5 a viable option for those seeking a mid-range Android tablet, and more crucially, does its software offer anything beyond mere media consumption? Let’s investigate in this review.

Xiaomi Pad 5 pricing in India

The Xiaomi Pad 5 is offered in two configurations, both featuring 6GB of RAM. The entry-level model comes with 128GB storage for Rs. 26,999, while the 256GB variant is priced at Rs. 28,999. The tablet is available in a single shade, Cosmic Gray, and includes a charger and a USB Type-A to Type-C cable in the packaging.

Three accessories can be purchased separately for this tablet. The Xiaomi Smart Pen is priced at Rs. 5,999, while the basic foldable cover costs Rs. 1,999. The Xiaomi Pad Keyboard cover is expected to be released in India soon, but its price remains undisclosed as of this review.

Xiaomi Pad 5 design

The Xiaomi Pad 5 features a metal chassis with flat edges, with a glass front and a polycarbonate back. The display is protected by Gorilla Glass 3, which is resistant to fingerprints, but the matte-finished rear tends to smudge easily and is challenging to keep clean. Opting for a cover case will safeguard the back and help prevent dust accumulation.

The back of the Xiaomi Pad 5 is made from polycarbonate and is prone to fingerprints

 

When held in landscape mode, the tablet features two speakers positioned on either side, a magnetic attachment point for the Smart Pen on the upper frame, and three contact pins for the keyboard accessory located at the bottom. The only component that protrudes slightly is the rear camera module, while the power and volume buttons are conveniently located near the top left corner, though they do require a firm press.

Weighing about 511g, the Xiaomi Pad 5 has a premium feel, but I found it somewhat heavy for one-handed operation. Adding the keyboard accessory increases the overall weight, making the package nearly as heavy as an ultra-thin laptop, so I preferred to detach it during gaming. The standard foldable cover (without the keyboard) is significantly lighter and also functions as a stand for the tablet.

Among the three accessories, I would recommend the Pad Keyboard as essential for productivity, provided it becomes available from Xiaomi.

Xiaomi Pad 5 specifications and software

The Xiaomi Pad 5 is driven by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 SoC, which was unveiled in 2021. This is essentially an enhanced version of the Snapdragon 855+ SoC, introduced in 2019. Fabricated on a 7nm process, it is designed for premium smartphones, so performance is unlikely to be an issue. However, the 6GB of RAM raises some concerns, especially considering Xiaomi’s resource-intensive MIUI skin, but we will address this in the upcoming section.

Displayed is the Xiaomi Pad 5 alongside the Smart Pen and Pad Keyboard accessories

 

In terms of connectivity, the Xiaomi Pad 5 lacks cellular support for 4G/5G and is solely available in a Wi-Fi configuration. It includes Wi-Fi ac, Bluetooth 5, and a USB Type-C port, but is missing a 3.5mm headphone jack, which seems like a missed opportunity considering its dimensions. For users needing constant Internet access while traveling, the absence of LTE might be a limitation. Unlike the Lenovo Tab P11 Pro (Review), I was able to install WhatsApp and conduct voice and video calls without issues, thus cellular connectivity would have been advantageous. The tablet houses an 8,720mAh battery and supports up to 33W fast charging, although only a 22.5W charger is included in the box.

The Xiaomi Pad 5 operates on ‘MIUI for Pad’, a tailored version of MIUI 13.0.5 based on Android 11. Although it shares a familiar design with Xiaomi’s typical mobile interface, it appears that the company has minimized the preinstalled first-party applications, which is a positive development. In fact, only Netflix is included as a third-party app by default. There is also a Notes app that mimics the look of iOS and iPadOS while functioning effectively with the Smart Pen.

The user interface on the Xiaomi Pad 5 is laden with tablet-optimized customizations. The home screen features a dock and menu bar reminiscent of macOS that remains visible at the bottom while on the home screen. This dock allows for pinning frequently used apps as well as displaying currently open applications. Users can access it via a swipe-up gesture (from either side of the horizontal bar at the bottom) while using an app. Interestingly, this gesture is unavailable when switching to a three-button navigation style instead of the default gesture method.

The dock and menu bar remains accessible at the bottom of the home screen

 

With gesture-based navigation, using the dock functions similarly to the Windows 11 taskbar, showcasing pinned apps alongside currently active applications. This minimizes the need to access the recent applications menu and facilitates smoother app switching. As seen on Xiaomi’s smartphones, users can swipe up from the bottom bar to transition between different open apps.

Additionally, apps can be launched in Floating windows, as Xiaomi describes it. However, not all applications support this mode, including some native Xiaomi applications like Calendar. Nevertheless, the functionality for floating windows effectively serves the supported apps. Simply long-pressing an app icon will reveal a pop-up menu with a floating window option. Tapping this will open the compatible app in a vertical window mode, akin to its smartphone experience.

The floating windows can be resized by dragging the dots located at the lower corners. If the app is designed for a tablet interface, the layout, such as that of Outlook, will adjust as the window’s size changes. When switching orientations between vertical and horizontal, the floating apps will reload to adjust the layout accordingly. Furthermore, these floating windows can be minimized to appear as a small preview panel, which is beneficial for maintaining focus on the main app while keeping an eye on other tasks in the windowed applications.

The Floating windows feature on the Xiaomi Pad 5 is exceptionally useful for supported applications

 

However, there are limitations to the floating window feature, as I could only open two applications in windowed mode while a third operated in fullscreen behind them. This works effectively for serious productivity tasks. I had the Chrome browser running in full screen, Google Docs in one window, and Slack in another, demonstrating the tablet’s usefulness for work-related activities.

MIUI for Pad exhibits heavy inspiration from Apple’s iPadOS, standing out as one of the superior Android tablet operating systems I’ve experienced. Naturally, several apps, including Instagram, are limited to fullscreen mode, and the Google Discover section resembles its smartphone version, albeit with a lot of empty spaces on either side of the feed. Google’s new Material You widgets look great and function well, but they lack capabilities such as dynamic wallpaper color matching due to the Pad 5 operating on Android 11.

Performance of Xiaomi Pad 5

Overall software performance on the Xiaomi Pad 5 was quite fluid, thanks to its capable processor and the 120Hz display which enhanced the seamlessness of interactions. I was able to multitask with three open apps in Floating windows without any crashes or restarts, but previously accessed apps that I retrieved from the recents menu often rebooted, indicating that the device could have benefited from additional RAM.

The 10.95-inch WQHD+ (1,600 x 2,560 pixel) LCD display renders natural colors in the Standard color mode. It’s sufficiently bright for direct sunlight exposure and offers reasonable sharpness with a 275 PPI pixel density. The display is Dolby Vision certified, and while both Netflix and Amazon Prime Video permitted viewing of Dolby Vision content seamlessly, the display struggled to showcase fine details in darker scenes within some series. Generally, black levels in streaming videos tended to come across as somewhat gray.

The tablet also supports a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz, which is advantageous for gaming. Overall, it performed admirably for a mid-range tablet, though I observed some ghosting while scrolling through text, whether in applications or while browsing the web. Audio performance was impressive, producing immersive sound when playing games and watching films, to the point where I felt no need to use headphones.

Benchmarks were in line with expectations, with the Pad 5 scoring 5,72,369 points in AnTuTu and 683 and 2,522 in Geekbench’s single and multi-core assessments, respectively. These results are comparable to mid-range smartphones like the OnePlus Nord 2 (Review), which is equipped with a MediaTek Dimensity 1200 SoC.

Gaming performance was commendable. Asphalt 9: Legends appeared vibrant and almost console-quality, featuring detailed textures and operating smoothly with the 60fps setting enabled. Call of Duty: Mobile also performed well on the highest available settings for the tablet, labeled ‘Very High’ graphics and ‘Max’ frame rate, with effects fully activated. The tablet remained cool even at these demanding settings, and users who prefer not to hold the device (because of its weight) can use a controller, provided the game supports it.

The Pad Keyboard for the Xiaomi Pad 5 is quite compact compared to a 13-inch MacBook Pro

 

The Xiaomi Pad Keyboard case features magnets concealed within its leather-like plastic exterior to hold the tablet securely in place when attached. The case quality is impressive. The keys provide a satisfactory travel distance for a soft tablet keyboard, and typing is quite comfortable despite its smaller dimensions. However, I missed having a trackpad, which would allow less interaction with the display. It’s possible to connect a mouse via a Type-C hub or Bluetooth, but a proper setup would necessitate a desk.

The keyboard also includes shortcuts, and Xiaomi has added a custom multi-tasking key referred to as the Function key. This key can be utilized in conjunction with other keys to launch both built-in and external apps. A double press of the Function key enables fast switching between recently used apps, proving beneficial for productivity. Although the keyboard met my requirements overall, there were instances when the tablet failed to recognize the keyboard even when it was properly attached.

I was also provided with the Smart Pen for testing. This accessory secures to the top of the tablet and utilizes inductive charging, reaching a full charge in approximately 20 minutes. It provides a gratifying snap when correctly placed in the center, accompanied by a notification onscreen indicating its charge level and status. Intriguingly, while it can also attach to the left and right of its intended charging spot, it does not charge in those positions. Weighing 12.2g, the pen features a soft tip with 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity akin to Samsung’s S Pen.

The Smart Pen performed as expected, serving not only for creative tasks but also for basic functions like document signing. The input lag is minimal, and it feels quite intuitive while writing. However, palm rejection while using the pen on the Xiaomi Pad 5 isn’t flawless, resulting in a few unintentional marks in the app. The Smart Pen includes two buttons: one for capturing screenshots of the on-screen content (which can be annotated later), and another to open a new note in Xiaomi’s Notes app.

The Smart Pen from Xiaomi is useful for both sketching and signing documents

 

The Xiaomi Pad 5 is equipped with a 13-megapixel rear camera and an 8-megapixel front camera. The quality of photos is decent at best, notably surpassing my expectations for a tablet. However, video recording quality is average. The rear camera is practical for document scanning, and the LED flash proves advantageous in low light conditions. The front camera adequately handles background exposure, making subjects appear clear and sharp during video calls. Additionally, it is utilized for facial recognition, which is the sole biometric security measure available as there is no fingerprint scanner. While the 2D face unlock isn’t particularly secure, it allows for quick access past the lock screen and works well in both indoor and outdoor lighting.

Sample shot from the Xiaomi Pad 5 in daylight (Click to view full size)

 

The 8,720mAh battery provided a day and a half of performance during my regular work activities, with the display set to sleep after five minutes, resulting in nearly continuous use during that time. With more casual use, mainly gaming and video watching (while synchronizing Slack and two email accounts in the background), the tablet comfortably lasted over two days on a single charge.

These outcomes were impressive, especially considering the display’s refresh rate was set to 120Hz. In an HD video loop test, the tablet lasted 15 hours and 59 minutes, a commendable result. Charging the substantial battery took 1 hour and 57 minutes with the bundled charger, which is efficient given that many tablets require significantly longer. For quicker charging, one can purchase a 33W charger from Xiaomi separately.

Conclusion

While the original Xiaomi Mi Pad (Review) was an excellent budget-friendly tablet with impressive value and performance back in 2015, the new Pad 5 from Xiaomi represents a true mid-range device designed with productivity in view, which is not commonly available at this pricing tier.

Moreover, Xiaomi has effectively optimized the software, enhancing its usefulness when combined with certain accessories. The tablet features a quality screen ideal for video viewing, and the 120Hz refresh rate proves beneficial during gaming. The Smart Pen adds extra functionality, and overall, the Pad 5 performs admirably as a productivity tool.

Nevertheless, it does lack certain features such as a 3.5mm headphone jack and cellular connectivity, yet I don’t consider these omissions to be significant drawbacks at this price point, even after extensive use of the device over several weeks.

Facing little direct competition, the Pad 5 stands against more expensive options like the Lenovo Tab P11 Pro (Review) priced at Rs. 44,990, and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE (Review) starting at Rs. 39,999 for the Wi-Fi only base model. Users considering switching to iOS will find better app compatibility with the Apple iPad (2021), which starts at Rs. 30,999 for the basic 64GB Wi-Fi model and can escalate in cost swiftly with additional accessories. However, it lacks the high-refresh rate and quad-speaker sound system that the Xiaomi Pad 5 offers, giving the Xiaomi tablet a competitive advantage.