Design and Build
The Xiaomi Pad 5 inherits the design aesthetic of the more expensive iPads, and I mean that in all seriousness. This is clearly suggestive of the iPad Pro aesthetic, and is far superior to the archaic style of the closest equivalent iPad, with its squared off corners, thin bezel, and quality materials.
You can criticise Xiaomi's innovation in this case, but you can't criticise the outcomes. With a polished finish and a construction that feels very light and thin for its size—just 6.9mm thick, smaller than virtually any phone—the Pad 5 is as smooth as hell. It also weighs only 511g.
According to Xiaomi, my review device is Cosmic Grey, though depending on where you live, it may also come in white and green. Although the Pad 5's frame is composed of aluminium, the back is really plastic. Some people will doubtless be disappointed that there isn't a glass back, but plastic gives a gadget more sturdiness since you might use it without a case, and Xiaomi completed this one in a way that never feels cheap or, well, plasticky.
There are only two controls on the device: a power button and a volume rocker that are located on opposite sides of the same frame corner. A USB-C port and a POGO connector for the Xiaomi keyboard are also present.
The official keyboard and stylus set for the Pad 5 is available, but I haven't had a chance to try either one so I can't comment on how well it works or how high of a quality it is. Both are not offered by the UK's online Mi Store, thus in actuality you won't be able to purchase either, however availability may differ elsewhere.
Hardware-wise, there is one annoying omission: there is no fingerprint sensor. A little cylindrical marking on the right side of the frame appears to be where a fingerprint reader would be placed, however neither one is present, nor is one supported in the display. It would be unfortunate if you couldn't utilise face unlock because it's less secure and frequently less handy any fingerprint option that is offered.
Display
The screen's 120Hz refresh rate, another premium feature you might not necessarily expect at this budget, is its main selling point.
This allows for smoother animations and greater fluidity throughout the device; it's a feature that is now almost universal among Android phones, so there's a high chance you've used it already. If you're a serious gamer, it will also open up the possibility of framerates exceeding 60 fps. However, the display is quite good in other areas. This 11-inch display has a substantial 2.5K resolution (1600 x 2560). You still get outstanding colour spectrum and compatibility for both HDR10 and Dolby Vision even if it's an IPS LCD screen as opposed to an OLED one.
With vivid colours and excellent viewing angles, this display is a joy to use whether you're working, perusing the web, or streaming a few shows. No, it's not the best tablet screen ever made, but at this price, it doesn't have to be.
Audio
The audio has likely received even more attention from Xiaomi. No, there isn't a 3.5mm audio port, so you'll only be able to use Bluetooth or USB-C headphones here, but the quad speakers are still quite good.
Camera
On tablets, cameras don't actually matter that much. Or, rear cameras don't really matter.
In this particular hardware area, Apple's entry-level iPad has unquestionably outperformed Xiaomi. This year, Apple made the wise decision to place the better camera on the front of the iPad, while Xiaomi prioritised the rear camera in accordance with industry standards.
It's unfortunate that the 8Mp, f/2.0 selfie camera on this device isn't better. It will work for video conversations, which is obviously where it will be used the most, but the image quality is still rather soft due to the low resolution, and there is a sharp quality decline if you are poorly lit.
Although the 13Mp, f/2.0 back camera is superior, you probably won't use it much. Even while it's not made for proper night photography, the tablet can produce some surprisingly good pictures with brilliant colour and respectable clarity if you find yourself using it to snap pictures. If you discover the need, it can also record 4K video at 30 frames per second.
Another mystery is that the Pad 5 appears to have two cameras on its back at first sight. There's none. Look closely to see that the lower "lens" simply reads "13Mp," which is the result of Xiaomi presumably recycling the camera module from a dual-camera smartphone. Yes, it is a little deceptive, so keep that in mind.
Software
On the software side, that isn't quite the case, but that doesn't mean the experience is poor. It simply isn't up to Apple's standards yet.
The Xiaomi MIUI 12.5, which is what runs on the Pad 5 (instead of the more modern Android 12), is actually Android 11.
While Xiaomi has promised three significant Android version updates for several of its phones, the Pad 5 tablet has not yet received a similar pledge. This means that neither the number of Android upgrades the tablet will receive nor the length of time it will be protected by security software are known.
Anyone who has used a Xiaomi phone will be familiar with MIUI, which has only undergone minor changes to accommodate the tablet form factor. A two-column settings menu, control centre, and notifications are split between swiping down from the right and left sides of the screen, respectively. The task switcher has also been extended and offers split-screen possibilities.
The user interface has generally been expanded to match the larger tablet screen, but certain components still feel unfinished. The home screen is the finest illustration of this, as it has a tonne of empty space and just a few rows where widgets or app icons may really be placed. Whether you like it or not, the end result is that everything is dispersed, and there isn't really much useful space.
This is only one of a number of minor software annoyances brought on by tablets. It can be difficult to distinguish between issues with Google's Android tablet optimization and issues with Xiaomi's MIUI skin.
The Pad 5 is expected to be the start of a new wave of Android tablet launches, so there is at least some cause for optimism. Google has been working on Android 12L, a version of the operating system optimised for the larger screens of foldable phones and tablets. Since Android 12L is now complete, it is hoped that Xiaomi will release its own version for the Pad 5 later this year.
A new lock screen, columned notification and control centres, a task bar in the style of Windows, and improved split-screen and multi-tasking functionality are among the features of Android 12L. With slick software that matches the slick hardware, this will be what elevates the Xiaomi Pad 5, although right now it feels a touch under-optimized.
Specs
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 chipset
- 6GB RAM
- 128/256GB storage
- 11in 120Hz 2.5K (256×1600) IPS LCD display
- Quad speakers
- 13Mp main camera, f/2.0
- 8Mp front camera, f/2.0
- USB-C
- WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
- Bluetooth 5.0
- 8720mAh battery
- Wired charging up to 33W
- 511g
- 254.7 x 166.3 x 6.9mm
- Android 11 with MIUI 12.5
Verdict
Despite being a fantastic Android tablet, the Xiaomi Pad 5 is still an Android tablet.
On the hardware front, which has a lightweight design supported by powerful specs, a stunning display, and excellent speakers, there isn't much to criticise. There isn't much to complain about here other than the lack of more modern connectivity options, particularly an LTE variant.
The software is fine but falls short of an iPad because it is usual for an Android tablet. In spite of Xiaomi's best efforts, Android is simply not entirely optimised for tablets, thus you may occasionally experience difficulties using the Pad 5.
Even while the tablet doesn't fully utilise the large screen, it still functions without any issues, and with Android 12L's enhancements looming, there doesn't seem to be enough of a reason to avoid purchasing the Pad 5.
Simply put, this is the tablet to buy if you want to spend about this much and don't mind paying extra for Android.
Due to the wide range of use scenarios, estimating tablet battery life can be challenging. Some people will require a gadget they can use all day to take notes and work on, while others just want something to put on the coffee table so they can check their emails and maybe watch an episode of Netflix.
I usually lean toward the latter group, so the Pad 5's 8720mAh battery has impressed me in that regard. I can leave it charged and ready to use for days at a time without having to top it off, and I've never worried much about its durability.
More is shown by the fake battery benchmark. In the PCMark battery test, the Pad 5 lasts about ten and a half hours, which is better than any Samsung Galaxy Tab we've tested in the last two years and obviously enough to power a day's worth of work on the tablet.
One of the peculiarities of the Pad 5 is charging after that battery has been depleted. If you look up the tablet's specifications, you'll see that it supports 33W charging, however there isn't a 33W charger included in the package.
Instead, Xiaomi includes a 22.5W charger with the Pad 5 that can charge it to 25% in 30 minutes, which is respectable for a tablet but not particularly impressive.
However, you can reach quicker speeds if you have access to a faster charger or don't mind spending more money on one. Utilizing the 55W Xiaomi charger that comes with the Mi 11, which should have theoretically delivered power at about the 33W the tablet can tolerate, I was able to recover a slightly more remarkable 35% battery in little over a half hour.
Finally, the lack of wireless charging functionality shouldn't come as a huge surprise. Few tablets have it, especially the ones that are quite inexpensive, and it is unquestionably a feature that is less desired for these larger devices.
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