Most of my pill use is on the iPad Professional M4, and that is due to two issues: the tandem OLED panel, and the software program. The OLED on the iPad Professional is a pleasure to make use of, and it is simply nice to play video games or learn content material. I dabble in music manufacturing, and it is simple to make use of the iPad to load a drum machine or synthesizer — most of those utilities simply aren’t obtainable on Android.
That mentioned, I at all times have an Android pill readily available to make use of as a normal media gadget and good residence controller. I used the Xiaomi Pad Mini within the final six months, and it did a masterful job on this regard. So when Xiaomi despatched the Pad 8 over, I simply switched out the Pad Mini with the Pad 8, and after a month of use, I am satisfied that that is one of the best mid-range Android pill you should buy. There’s so much that the Pad 8 will get proper, and I am highlighting the 4 options I like probably the most.
The 11.2-inch LCD panel is nice in day by day use
Xiaomi did not change the 11.2-inch LCD panel, and whereas it is not anyplace pretty much as good because the iPad Professional, it’s the most suitable choice you may discover on this class. The 11.2-inch dimension is good, and the colour vibrancy makes the pill a terrific selection if you happen to simply want a multimedia gadget to stream content material. Xiaomi did a very good job with the onboard sound as effectively, and the 4 built-in audio drivers produce an honest quantity of quantity.
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I’ve the usual Pad 8, however Xiaomi sells a mannequin with a nano-texture coating, and I extremely advocate getting this mannequin. The anti-glare tech makes a giant distinction, and it offers the Pad 8 a particular edge on this class. The three:2 ratio is good if you happen to’re keen on studying ebooks, and Xiaomi has one of the best Studying Mode of any model, permitting you to show all the panel monochrome.
The Pad 8 is likely one of the strongest tablets round
The Pad 8 is powered by the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4, and it dealt with all the things I threw at it with relative ease. I did not see any points with slowdowns, and gaming was pleasant on the pill with a Bluetooth controller. The mannequin I am utilizing is the 8GB/128GB configuration, and I like to recommend getting the 12GB/256GB mannequin. The 256GB variant will get UFS 4.1 storage — the 128GB mannequin has UFS 3.1 — and the extra reminiscence simply offers you a little bit higher headroom.
Though the pill has comparable dimensions as final 12 months, it’s a smidgen thinner, and the distinction is simply noticeable when utilizing the Pad 8 alongside the Pad 7. If something, I feel the Pad 8 is a more sensible choice than the Pad 8 Professional; each tablets are principally an identical, with the Professional mannequin getting a quicker platform, higher digicam (pointless on a pill), and quicker 67W charging tech.
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Xiaomi is leaning into productiveness, with the Pad 8 offered with two keyboard instances and a stylus that is higher than earlier 12 months. I just like the Focus Keyboard fairly a bit, and it has backlit keys with good tactility, all with out taking on an excessive amount of room. Oh, and in contrast to the Redmi Word 15 Professional+, the Pad 8 is not hobbled by poor software program selections — it runs Android 16 out of the field.
You get class-leading battery life
Xiaomi’s tablets at all times have good battery life, and the Pad 8 does even higher on this space. The larger 9,200mAh battery ensures the pill has sufficient juice to energy by way of productiveness duties, or if you happen to’re binge-watching a complete season of a TV present.
In reality, the battery life is the primary purpose I am now utilizing the Pad 8 as my good residence dashboard. It is nice to not need to cost the pill day by day, and it lasts higher than different mid-range tablets I used in recent times.
The Pad 8 has unmatched worth
An enormous promoting level of Android tablets is the worth, and Xiaomi has as soon as once more demonstrated that it understands this class higher than its rivals. Similar to the Pad 6 and Pad 7, the Pad 8 is an extremely good worth, notably in India, the place the pill begins at simply ₹33,999 ($364). It is not fairly pretty much as good a cut price within the U.Ok. at £399 ($535), however it’s nonetheless higher than most tablets within the section.
Xiaomi can be being wise with its accent pricing, and that makes the Pad 8 a sensible choice if you happen to’re taking a look at a mid-range productiveness pill. On the entire, Xiaomi did all the fitting issues with the Pad 8, and the pill is a superb improve if you happen to’re on an older gadget or are contemplating a change.
With highly effective internals, an enormous battery, vibrant 11.2-inch panel, and helpful software program options, the Pad 8 is the perfect mid-range pill in 2026.
