Xiaomi Launched Pad 5 Tablet with 120Hz Display and Snapdragon 860 SOC

Pic Credit: Xiaomi

Xiaomi has decided to bring its newest tablet series to European shores just a day after Apple's iPad and iPad Mini refresh.

The Mi Pad 5 4G, Mi Pad 5 Pro, and Mi Pad 5 Pro 5G were released in Xiaomi's home market earlier this month, but the rest of the globe will only get one variant. Xiaomi has rebranded the Mi Pad 5 4G as the Pad 5 without making any hardware changes, as far as we can determine.

The Pad 5 was created with productivity in mind, with the intent of becoming a tool for people who work or study from home. It includes the company's Smart Pen, which can be used to take notes or take screenshots fast using the function keys.

The Xiaomi Pad 5 is an 11-inch tablet with a WQHD+ 120Hz display, quad speakers, 6GB of RAM, and a Snapdragon 860 chipset – Qualcomm's flagship SoC from 2019. The IPS panel is housed in a Cosmic Gray or Pearl White chassis measuring 254.69 x 166.25 x 6.85 mm. The big display is complemented by four speakers that support Dolby Atmos and Hi-Res Audio, as well as an 8,720 mAh battery that can be recharged at up to 22.5 W using the included charger.

For meetings and seminars, the tablet offers an 8-megapixel front camera that supports 1080p video. With its 13-megapixel rear camera, it also boasts the ability to scan documents for future use or sharing.

From the narrow bezels and flat sides to tablet-specific MIUI tweaks like the applications dock, the Pad 5 looks unmistakably like an iPad Pro. The build quality isn't as good, and the screen isn't as flush with the chassis as it should be, but the inspiration is evident. However, the screen and speaker quality are both excellent, and the performance has been flawless - I've found it to be a more than capable tablet for tablety tasks such as watching videos and so on.

Even if you're just looking for a consumption device, it's unusual to find a good Android tablet these days, and the Xiaomi Pad 5 compares favourably to Apple's iPad series in terms of pricing. The 128GB version will cost €349 ($413), while the 256GB version will cost €399 ($472). The iPad Air is the closest competitor, and it starts at €679 ($803) in Europe for 64GB – though it does have the significant advantage of being an iPad.

Xiaomi hasn't offered a firm release date for the Pad 5, just suggesting that it would depend on the location.