Xiaomi Pad 8 review: Versatile value

Greatest Costs At this time: Xiaomi Pad 8

I’ve lengthy really useful members of its line as the most effective Android pill options to iPads, and the Xiaomi Pad 8 is one other stable slate from the Chinese language model – it updates the specs of the Xiaomi Pad 7 and makes a number of different enhancements.

Launched alongside the Xiaomi Pad 8 Professional, this mannequin has a bigger battery, thinner body and extra RAM than its predecessor, however the largest improve is the usage of the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset, which offers this entry-level mannequin with close to top-end processing.

Past the upgrades, it’s nonetheless the Xiaomi Pad 7 that we all know and love – our favorite worth pill of final yr. It affords a comparatively compact and moveable Android pill that’ll be nice for college kids, with a handsome show and cheap battery life. All for simply £399, although you’ll usually discover it for much less.

If any criticisms will be levelled, it’s in departments that haven’t seen wish-list upgrades, and I discovered the Good Keyboard had a number of issues.

Design & Construct

• Compact but premium
• Digital camera module protrudes
• Three color choices: inexperienced, blue, gray

Xiaomi has saved the design language from its earlier tablets in place with the Pad 8, but it surely’s made some small refinements that aren’t revealed at first look.

The gold rush on skinny units will not be as impassioned in 2026 because it was a yr in the past (Honor MagicPad 4 apart), however Xiaomi has managed to trim the width of the pill down to five.75 inches, and the burden all the way down to 485g (admittedly solely a saving of 5g, however higher than nothing).

Tom Bedford / Foundry

These all come collectively to create a slate that feels a bit extra compact than many different Androids in the marketplace, and I’ve come to actually like the corporate’s slates as they’ll slot in a bag or on a cramped desk way more readily than options.

Like in its predecessor, Xiaomi hasn’t put a fingerprint scanner within the Pad 8, however having examined the Professional mannequin’s implementation of the ability button-mounted sensor, it’s no loss. This button, and the quantity rocker, don’t stick out very removed from the pill – I can’t say the identical in regards to the large digicam bump, and the few occasions I didn’t use a case, this made the pill rock when positioned flat on a desk.

The pill is available in Pine Inexperienced, Blue or Gray (examined) choices, a shopping for choice which’ll quantity to little if you happen to select to purchase a case to clad the slate in.

Equipment

• Focus Pen stylus
• Two keyboard choices, one stand
• All offered individually

The Xiaomi Pad 8 sells alongside a number of totally different equipment, all of which appear ‘impressed’ by Apple’s equivalents, however they’re welcome choices nonetheless. I examined all of them alongside the pill, and saved the Focus Pen and Focus Keyboard hooked as much as the gadget for your complete testing interval.

The primary is a stylus. It connects to the pill by way of a magnetic strip on an extended facet, and fees when it’s tethered like this – no separate USB charging required.

It connects robotically to the Pad 8, and is simply as helpful for navigating at a swipe as for drawing or jotting notes. It even has a number of gestures, like squeezing to deliver up a mini menu to vary your pen sort, and I choose it as top-of-the-line Apple Pencil rvials I’ve ever used.

Tom Bedford / Foundry

The Focus Keyboard has all of the keys you want, in addition to a trackpad – I personally don’t use trackpads a lot on touch-screen units, but it surely was helpful after I wanted precision. The folio feels sturdy and didn’t decide up a mark or dent in lots of backpack ride-alongs.

One odd problem I discovered, although, is that when typing with the Keyboard and midway by a phrase, the working system would typically auto-complete the phrase and add within the completed article, but not take away the half-written one. I’d should backspace to take away the hanger-on. It didn’t occur on a regular basis, however each jiffy, and it didn’t happen after I typed with the on-screen keyboard.

If you happen to don’t want the trackpad, the Keyboard provides you extra space for typing. Wish to hold issues easy? The Pad 8 cowl does what it says on the tin: retains the factor lined up when it’s in your bag. It may well additionally maintain the slate vertically or horizontally, with a bit kick-stand-type folding mechanism.

All of those peripherals are designed for the Pad 8 and Pad 8 Professional, so you should use them if you happen to’re on both gadget.

Tom Bedford / Foundry

Display & Audio system

• 11.2-inch 3.2K show
• LCD, 144Hz
• Quad audio system and Dolby Atmos sound

Xiaomi has opted for the “if it ain’t broke” mantra when selecting display specs, because the Pad 8 show has seemingly no upgrades over its predecessor – and doesn’t actually need it.

Meaning it’s an 11.2-inch show, the identical as Apple’s entry-level iPad, however at a 3:2 side ratio, making it wider. The decision is 3200 x 2136, or 3.2K, with a pixel-per-inch depend of 345, and a refresh price of 144Hz. Films, exhibits and video games look nice, and I don’t think about a slate might look higher with out upgrading to OLED.

That is LCD, however top-of-the-line you’ll discover and a purpose why Xiaomi is ready to hit an reasonably priced worth.

The Xiaomi Pad 8 helps Dolby Imaginative and prescient, which boosts HDR in video. Nonetheless, I usually discovered that when utilizing the pill’s auto-brightness, it’d make content material look method darker than I’d like (or than different slates do). I discovered myself manually altering brightness because of this, which made my exhibits look method higher.

Tom Bedford / Foundry

It’s not all about leisure, although, and a few helpful show modifications make the display worthy for common use. These embody flicker discount and low-blue-light instruments to stop eye pressure over lengthy classes. There’s additionally an optionally available studying mode, which impacts the color scheme and textures of things, and you’ll schedule this for sure hours.

4 audio system across the pill enable it to do a good job within the audio division too, with Dolby Atmos assist and a quantity increase characteristic, which ensured I used to be by no means reaching for my headphones when watching TV. The gadget additionally helps Hello-Res & Hello-Res Wi-fi Audio, one thing you can’t say about many equally priced options.

If you wish to pay attention by way of wired headphones, you’ll have to make use of USB-C ones (or a converter), as there’s no headphone jack. The pill helps a Bluetooth 6.0 connection, a model of the usual which affords higher dealing with of a number of devices and lower-latency connections.

All good, although minor, upgrades over the Pad 7’s Bluetooth 5.2.

Specs & Efficiency

• Highly effective Snapdragon 8s efficiency
• Two storage choices
• No 4G/5G possibility

One of many headline upgrades on the Xiaomi Pad 8 is that it affords a extra highly effective processor than its predecessor – the truth is, the corporate has granted it a higher-end element, which is a giant transfer because the Pad 7 has a mid-range chip.

That is Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8s Gen 4, which we additionally noticed within the likes of the Nothing Cellphone (3) and Xiaomi’s personal Poco F7; it’s not fairly the tip-top chipset Android units have ever seen, but it surely’s spectacular for this worth, with many rivals going as low cost as they’ll get away with.

Tom Bedford / Foundry

And it exhibits, as a result of the Pad 8 is an actual efficiency powerhouse, smashing by the video games I examined on it. I didn’t see any stutters or lag, plus load occasions have been quick throughout the board.

Benchmark assessments present the Pad 8 as a stable step up from its predecessor, and one of the highly effective mid-range Android slates you should buy proper now. Its Geekbench multi-core scores have been all between 6,200 and 6,400 (about 1,000 greater than the Pad 7), whereas 3DMark’s Wild Life Excessive Stress Check noticed it preserve a framerate between 17- and 32fps.

There are two RAM choices with 8- and 12GB fashions. Nonetheless, the UK has solely been granted the 8GB possibility as per the Pad 7. This can be a disgrace for anybody wanting as a lot energy as doable, but it surely ought to be sufficient for most individuals.

You’ll be able to select between two storage capacities of 128- and 256GB, with the latter providing quicker UFS 4.1 storage too. It’s seemingly value the additional £50 relying on what number of apps you propose to put in and if you happen to use cloud storage.

There’s no expandable storage, although, simply as there’s no SIM slot (or assist for an eSIM) – it’s Wi-Fi or bust right here, so look elsewhere if you happen to want 4G or 5G in-built.

Cameras

• 13Mp rear
• 8Mp entrance
• Digital camera-on alert LED

Xiaomi has chosen to retain the identical digicam specs within the Pad 8 as its predecessor, and there aren’t any complaints right here, as somebody who primarily makes use of these modules to scan paperwork or partake in video calls. The 50Mp snappers of the Professional fashions aren’t in play right here, regardless of the chunky digicam bump.

The rear digicam is a 13Mp, whereas the entrance one is 8Mp, and each are completely suited to enterprise duties. Footage are high quality, although miss the vibrancy or contrast-boosting options of Xiaomi’s smartphones. You’ll be able to leap into calls at 1080p, and document for your self at that decision too.

Tom Bedford / Foundry

I used to be shocked by how extensive the sector of view is for the entrance digicam (and by that I imply, folks in video calls with me, have been shocked by how a lot of my room they acquired to see!). It provides a extra expansive view than the entrance cameras on iPads or different tablets I’ve examined, in addition to my smartphone.

One neat characteristic, which I’d like to see on extra tablets, is that a bit LED lights up on the entrance of the pill when the digicam is on. It’s a small however appreciated design contact that allows you to know when your pill is you, partly for privateness causes, and partly so that you don’t depart the factor on by mistake.

Battery Life & Charging

• 9200mAh battery
• 45W charging
• USB-A to USB-C cable in field

One of many enhancements Xiaomi has applied over earlier generations of pill is an even bigger battery than earlier than. It now measures 9200mAh, which brings its capability near that of tablets with a lot larger screens.

This pool of energy is sufficient to assuage battery anxiousness for any person, and it’s simply as nicely, as I didn’t discover the previous Xiaomi Pads very robust for battery life. Not the case right here, although, and I might get pleasure from for much longer espresso store writing classes earlier than the battery began to fade.

Likewise, a few of the extra intensive benchmarking assessments I used had noticeably much less of an influence on the battery proportion than they’d on the 7 Professional, which I examined.

Tom Bedford / Foundry

The pill’s charging pace hasn’t seen an improve from the Pad 7, at 45W, which in impact implies that powering takes a small quantity longer as a result of bigger cell.

In concept, you’re 0-100% speeds of over an hour and a half with that form of wattage, however anecdotally, I really feel that charging pace was a lot quicker than this.

You obtain a USB-A to USB-C cable within the field with the pill, however no wall adaptor. Xiaomi recommends utilizing one in every of its personal, however I powered the pill with about ten totally different cable and adaptor combos throughout testing and by no means noticed any points.

Software program & AI

• Android 16
• HyperOS 3
• 4 years of software program assist

The Xiaomi Pad 8 runs Android 16 by default, with the corporate’s home-brewed HyperOS 3 laid excessive. I’ve lengthy insisted that HyperOS is among the most helpful Android pill working techniques, with quick-to-summon split-screening and an interface which makes use of the area it’s given. It affords a better diploma of theme customisation than many options, and has a number of distinctive animations for easy gestures and duties that provide the slate its personal ‘really feel’.

HyperOS, like MIUI earlier than it, isn’t excellent, and my pet peeve is that Mi Browser retains sending me information tales and adverts, like those you possibly can see within the image beneath. As I write this paragraph, I’ve obtained an advert for the launch of this very pill from the browser, in addition to site visitors updates (I don’t drive). There are additionally a good few extra pre-installed apps than some customers might like, although Xiaomi’s getting higher about this.

HyperOS 3’s headline options are equal components connectivity instruments, that are actually helpful for gadget house owners on varied ecosystems, and the suite of AI options which all Android tablets these days include.

Tom Bedford / Foundry

The primary of these is known as Xiaomi HyperConnect, which lets your pill work alongside different devices seamlessly. Partially, that is for sensible residence package like lights in addition to health trackers, and in some methods it’s for Xiaomi cellphone customers – in a gathering, for instance, you possibly can change out of your pill’s digicam to your cellphone’s, to make use of its totally different lenses.

Nonetheless, HyperConnect additionally has built-in linking instruments for Home windows PCs and Macs, which allow you to simply switch information and pictures between units and, within the case of Home windows, use your cellphone by way of your pc.

Then there’s Xiaomi HyperAI, a set of AI era instruments that solely appear to be out there in Xiaomi’s personal apps. That makes the helpful ones like AI Speech Recognition and AI Interpreter a bit finicky to make use of, however means the iffy gen-AI ones like AI Writing and AI Artwork aren’t intrusive if you happen to don’t like utilizing this sort of factor. As somebody who writes, attracts and edits photos in third-party apps, I didn’t come throughout HyperAI instruments after I wasn’t searching them down.

For software program assist, the Pad 8 will get 4 years as soon as once more. It’s good however you may get longer from the likes of Samsung if that is essential.

Value & Availability

The bottom worth of the Xiaomi Pad 8 is £399, which can get you 8GB RAM and 128GB storage. Then there’s a mannequin with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage which can price you £449.

These costs mark a worth hike over the Pad 7’s prices of £30 and £50 respectively, which is a modest enhance however value understanding because the older pill is of course a bit cheaper now.

You should purchase it from Xiaomi in addition to the likes of Amazon. It’s not out there within the USA.

Tom Bedford / Foundry

The Pad 8 is dearer than the larger however weaker OnePlus Pad Go 2, beginning at £319, and big-battery Honor Pad 10, beginning at £299, however extra reasonably priced than the £499-priced Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE.

The costs for the equipment are as follows, although Xiaomi will nearly at all times low cost them at checkout if you buy by way of the official retailer.

• Cowl – £45
• Focus Pen Professional -£89
• Keyboard – £119
• Focus Keyboard – £179

Try our information to the most effective tablets and finest price range tablets for extra choices.

Do you have to purchase the Xiaomi Pad 8?

Pill consumers who desire a stable, mid-range Android pill, particularly one which doesn’t break the financial institution, will discover the Xiaomi Pad 8 an important possibility.

Its specs present it as an actual leisure, gaming and work powerhouse; you’d battle to get as highly effective a chip on a smartphone at this worth, and its show and battery energy are simply as admirable.

Equipment make it dearer, however they could possibly be an actual game-changer for a lot of customers. As soon as once more, you’ll battle to discover a higher worth pill in the marketplace with this stage of {hardware} and options.

Specs

• Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 4
• 8GB / 12GB RAM
• 128GB / 256GB storage
• 11in 144Hz 3.2K (3200 x 2136) IPS LCD show
• Quad audio system
• 13Mp most important digicam, f/2.2
• 8Mp entrance digicam, f/2.2
• USB-C
• WiFi 6
• Bluetooth 6.0
• 9200mAh battery
• Wired charging as much as 45W
• 485g
• 251.2 x 173. x 5.75mm
• Android 16 with HyperOS 3