Android tablets haven’t been so much of a focus for major mobile phone brands, but that’s not to say there hasn’t been anything exciting for those looking for something as equally competitively solid specs-wise or at least as close as it can be to the entry level Apple iPad, which surprisingly it easily outspecs.
Which is why us when the offer to test the all new Xiaomi Pad 5 was presented to us, we couldn’t say no. And while we won’t fully get to enjoy the device along with the Xiaomi Smart Pen and the keyboard, the experience has been really good so regardless. Here’s out first impression with the Pad 5 so far.
- Slick, gorgeous design
With its slick form factor, the slim bezels and flat edges and a solid build, which are commonly used in premium Apple tablets, it’s not surprising why I’ve had few people easily mistake it for an iPad – iPad Pro to be precise. With a thickness of 6.9mm (same as my Z Flip 3), not only is it thinner than some of the high-end phones of today (the S22 we are currently reviewing weighs 7.6mm), but among the slimmest & smallest – at only 511g – you’ll find in this segment.
- All-round entertainment
As Xiaomi product marketing head, Abi Go describes it, the Pad 5 is a “portable workstation and a fun entertainment device” rolled into one. It comes with a detachable keyboard and a stylus in some markets, though in South Africa you’ll have to buy it separately. Plus, the tablet packs an extra-large 8,720 mAh battery, thanks to the power-saving processor, the amped up Qualcomm Snapdragon 860, which makes it a breeze to stream and binge-watch your favourite shows, for up to 10 hours. Better yet, the device can be fully recharged in the shortest time possible, via a USB C with up to 63W.
The 120Hz / 2K display resolution (1600 x 2560) offers buttery-smooth and clean scrolling, animation, and transitions – with impressively bright and wide, vibrant colours – something users will appreciate more during gaming performance.
While there isn’t 5G variant of the tablet in SA as yet, it still delivers an impressive audio experience, thanks to 4 strong speakers with Dolby Atmos compatibility, providing exceptional surround sound.
- Quality Camera
The standard device has a 13MP main sensor, while elsewhere the premium Pad Pro 5G sports a higher 50MP camera, paired with a 5MP sensor. However, both tablets have an 8MP front camera which records 1080p videos. So far, the overall camera performance is unexpectedly impressive, for a tablet – something which we’ll dwell into in the future.
- Competitively priced
When it comes to finding direct Android rivals, so far it would be a struggle to find one in this class. The previous Galaxy Tab S7 to start with, comes with a hefty R14,999 price tag, while the Tab A Series is a far cry specs-wise. Even an iPad Mini 6 Wi-Fi with half the storage at 64GM has a heftier R9,899 price tag, understandably so as it support a 5G connectivity, while the 10.9-inch iPad Air Wi-Fi (64GB) can cost you R11,000 or more.
While this arguably renders the Xiaomi Pad 5 a truly affordable iPad alternative, the only issue with the comes when you consider adding the stylus for those with more workload and are looking to use it as a mini laptop, which will set you back just over R1,500 …. plus, we are yet to establish the approximate price for the keyboard.
Conclusion
Pros: At R7,999, Xiaomi Pad 5 is reasonably priced for those who are looking for an 11-inch Android tablet with solid specs. It comes in two storage variants; 128GB and 256GB both with 6 GB RAM.
Cons: You may be turned off by the fact that it’s a Wi-Fi only, and that there’s no fingerprint scanner, unless you’re willing to cough up more for the Pro model, which comes with one, along with 8 speakers instead of 4.
