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 accessible on Android.
That mentioned, I at all times have an Android pill readily available to make use of as a common media gadget and sensible dwelling 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 the most effective mid-range Android pill you should purchase. There’s lots that the Pad 8 will get proper, and I am highlighting the 4 options I like essentially the most.
The 11.2-inch LCD panel is nice in each day use
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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 will discover on this class. The 11.2-inch measurement is good, and the colour vibrancy makes the pill an amazing selection in the event you simply want a multimedia gadget to stream content material. Xiaomi did a superb job with the onboard sound as effectively, and the 4 built-in audio drivers produce a good 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 in the event you’re considering studying ebooks, and Xiaomi has the most effective Studying Mode of any model, permitting you to show the whole panel monochrome.
The Pad 8 is without doubt one of the strongest tablets round
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The Pad 8 is powered by the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4, and it dealt with every little thing I threw at it with relative ease. I did not see any points with slowdowns, and gaming was gratifying 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 somewhat higher headroom.
Though the pill has comparable dimensions as final yr, it’s a smidgen thinner, and the distinction is barely noticeable when utilizing the Pad 8 alongside the Pad 7. If something, I believe 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 circumstances and a stylus that is higher than earlier yr. I just like the Focus Keyboard fairly a bit, and it has backlit keys with good tactility, all with out taking over an excessive amount of room. Oh, and in contrast to the Redmi Observe 15 Professional+, the Pad 8 is not hobbled by poor software program decisions — it runs Android 16 out of the field.
You get class-leading battery life
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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 via productiveness duties, or in the event you’re binge-watching a whole season of a TV present.
In actual fact, the battery life is the principle motive I am now utilizing the Pad 8 as my sensible dwelling dashboard. It is nice to not must cost the pill each day, and it lasts higher than different mid-range tablets I used lately.
The Pad 8 has unmatched worth
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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. Identical to the Pad 6 and Pad 7, the Pad 8 is an extremely good worth, significantly in India, the place the pill begins at simply ₹33,999 ($364). It is not fairly pretty much as good a discount within the U.Ok. at £399 ($535), however it’s nonetheless higher than most tablets within the phase.
Xiaomi can be being smart with its accent pricing, and that makes the Pad 8 a good selection in the event you’re taking a look at a mid-range productiveness pill. On the entire, Xiaomi did all the correct issues with the Pad 8, and the pill is a superb improve in the event you’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.
