Xiaomi Pad 8 review: Flagship power at an affordable price

The tablet market has witnessed a significant surge in popularity as a viable alternative to traditional laptops for both entertainment and casual work. Recent data from IDC reveals that tablet shipments are projected to increase by 5% year-over-year, reaching 151.9 million units by 2025, reflecting a shift in consumer preferences. While established players like Apple with its iPad and Samsung's Galaxy Tab S series dominate the landscape, Xiaomi is stepping in as a formidable contender with its latest offering, the Xiaomi Pad 8. This device combines advanced features with an attractive price point, positioning itself as a potential flagship alternative. The Xiaomi Pad 8 showcases a sleek and lightweight design, a powerful mid-range processor, and a suite of AI-powered tools that enhance productivity. Upon first glance, the Xiaomi Pad 8 exudes a premium feel, reminiscent of the iPad Air, barring the prominent camera module. Its ultra-slim profile measures just 5.75mm in thickness and weighs 485 grams, featuring a full-metal unibody design. The rear sports a square camera module and a ring-shaped LED light, along with basic power and volume controls, though it lacks a fingerprint scanner and cellular connectivity. Additionally, a magnetic space for a stylus enhances its usability. The tablet boasts an impressive 11.2-inch LCD display, delivering sharp visuals with a resolution that supports up to a 144Hz adaptive refresh rate and peak brightness of 800 nits. This display excels in content consumption, providing accurate colors and HDR support, coupled with a nano-texture coating that minimizes glare. Touch responsiveness is commendable, although outdoor visibility may falter under direct sunlight. Audio performance is another highlight, with a quad-speaker setup featuring Dolby Atmos technology, significantly enhancing the overall viewing experience. Under the hood, the Xiaomi Pad 8 is powered by the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 processor, supported by up to 12GB LPDDR5T RAM and 256GB UFS 4.1 storage. This new chip offers a marked improvement over its predecessor, boasting 26% and 32% gains in single- and multi-core performance, respectively. Users will find the tablet swift and capable of handling multitasking, media consumption, and gaming without lag. The tablet runs on the Android 16-based HyperOS 3, which presents a clean and refined user interface with minimal bloatware. Its multitasking capabilities, including floating windows and split-screen functionality, enhance productivity further. Notably, the software incorporates AI features such as AI Writing and Speech Recognition, making the experience more intuitive. For those seeking to boost their productivity, the Xiaomi Pad 8 is compatible with the Xiaomi Focus Keyboard and Focus Pen Pro. The keyboard offers a premium typing experience, though it lacks a stylus holder. Meanwhile, the pen is designed for creative tasks, featuring haptic feedback for gestures and a unique stroke direction feature for sketching. Battery life is another strong suit, equipped with a 9,200mAh battery capable of enduring a full day of medium to heavy use. In testing, the device managed about 6 hours of screen time with 25% battery remaining at the end of the day. It supports 45W charging, with a 67W charger included, allowing for a complete charge in nearly an hour. Additionally, the tablet offers reverse charging capabilities, functioning as a power bank for smartphones when needed. In conclusion, the Xiaomi Pad 8 emerges as an outstanding mid-range Android tablet, delivering flagship-level performance and a superior visual experience at an attractive price of Rs 33,999. Despite minor drawbacks such as the camera bump and the absence of an OLED display, the overall package positions the Xiaomi Pad 8 as a compelling choice for budget-conscious consumers seeking power and versatility.