Chris Hall / Foundry
The biggest disadvantage of the display is its strong reflection. Under bright lamps or directly next to a window, the reflections can become so strong that content is difficult to see. The maximum brightness of 800 nits isn’t quite enough to outshine these reflections.
Xiaomi seems to be aware of this, which is why there is a variant with a frosted glass display for an additional charge of 200 euros. The investment may be worth it if you frequently use the tablet on the go. During my testing, I also noticed that the automatic brightness dims a little too aggressively. You should therefore adjust the brightness manually to display content optimally.
Apart from that, it is a very good display in a pleasant size. I enjoyed using it to watch films and series on the go. It supports Dolby Vision and HDR10, although HDR highlights don’t look quite as impressive due to the rather reserved maximum brightness.
Chris Hall / Foundry
There are four speakers arranged around the case that support Dolby Atmos. You should avoid Xiaomi default sound in settings. He seems a little flat. In addition to Atmos, there is also an option called “Immersive Sound” that actually makes an audible difference. So be sure to turn this on.
The display and speakers work together to provide a very powerful entertainment experience on the go.
Equipment & computing power
- Snapdragon 8 Elite
- 8/12GB RAM
- 256/512GB storage
- No 5G option
One feature that clearly marks this model as a “Pro” tablet is the significantly stronger hardware compared to the Xiaomi Pad 8. A Snapdragon 8 Elite works inside, which is already a year old but still belongs to the top class.
The tablet is also well equipped with RAM and storage. However, there is neither an SD card slot for storage expansion nor a 5G option. The connection options are instead limited to Wifi 7. While the “normal” Pro model offers 8 gigabytes of RAM and 256 gigabytes of storage, you will find 12 gigabytes of RAM and 512 gigabytes of storage in the more expensive frosted glass model.
Chris Hall / Foundry
With this powerful hardware, it is not surprising that the tablet delivers very good performance. In the test it ran smoothly throughout. Games could be played at high settings and multitasking also worked without any problems.
In combination with a keyboard, the Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro becomes an efficient mobile workstation. It offers a workstation mode that adapts the tablet more closely to a desktop environment. Apps can then be opened in windows, similar to Samsung’s DeX.
I occasionally noticed a slight jerk when moving these windows. However, this hardly played a role in everyday life. The Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro can get a little warm under load, for example when playing games and streaming at the same time, but not in a critical area.
Cameras
- 50 MP, f/1.8 main camera
- 32MP, f/2.2 front camera
The 32 megapixel front camera is well suited for video calls. However, the 50 megapixel lens on the back doesn’t really justify the large camera module.
On paper, the 50-megapixel camera with f/1.8 aperture looks above average for a tablet. However, a closer look shows that the sensor is very small, which is noticeable in the image quality. The cameras are sufficient for occasional snapshots, but a smartphone delivers significantly better results.
Chris Hall / Foundry
The photos from the rear camera appear noisy and pale in low light. In good lighting conditions they lack dynamism and in bright scenes they quickly tend to overexpose.
The front camera is hardly suitable for photos, as image noise quickly appears in dark areas of the image even in moderate lighting conditions. However, it has a very wide angle, which means that a large part of the room is captured during video calls. This makes the camera ideal for group calls.
Battery life & charging
- 9.200-mAh-Battery
- 67 watt charging function
The battery life of the Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro is impressive thanks to the 9,200 milliamp hour battery. The tablet lasted several days of normal use before I had to recharge it.
I was also pleasantly surprised that the tablet practically lost no battery in standby mode for over a week in the backpack. This makes it a solid choice for anyone looking for a productive device to take on the go, or simply want to load it up with content and take it with them on a long-haul trip.
A charger is not included. I used a 100-watt Anker Prime charger and was able to charge it from 0 to 53 percent in 30 minutes thanks to the 67-watt fast charge feature. In this area too, it offers a little more than the regular Xiaomi Pad 8, which charges with a maximum of 45 watts.
User Interface & Apps
- HyperOS 3 based on Android 16
- Workstation-Modus
- 4 operating system updates and 6 years of security updates
The Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro runs Android 16 and Xiaomi’s HyperOS user interface. Owners of a Xiaomi, Redmi or Poco smartphone will immediately feel at home here. HyperOS offers some great features specifically for tablet users.
Chris Hall / Foundry
On the home page, you’ll find a dock with the option to launch apps in full-screen or windowed mode. There is also a split-screen function. The highlight, however, is the workstation mode, which offers a desktop experience and is reminiscent of Samsung DeX.
In workstation mode, a much longer dock appears at the bottom of the screen, similar to macOS. This way you can quickly access your favorite apps. The app bar opens with the push of a button, which is good for working with a keyboard and mouse.
While HyperOS on smartphones is often overloaded with unnecessary functions, this is not quite as important on tablets. Xiaomi’s Mi Browser is a bit annoying because it regularly sends notifications on a wide variety of topics. However, these can be muted.
There are some Hyper AI features, but also Google’s Gemini. In addition, Xiaomi offers AI-supported writing, image creation, translations via its own apps. In my opinion, the AI solutions do not offer any real added value here either.
Chris Hall / Foundry
Android has improved significantly on tablets in recent years, but it still doesn’t quite reach the level of an iPad. Some apps are still not optimally adapted for large displays. Even applications as popular as Facebook don’t look good in landscape format.
The biggest disadvantage on the software side, however, is the limited update supply. There are only four years of Android updates. So you won’t get a new version until 2030 at the latest. After all, Xiaomi delivers security updates for six years, so that the device remains protected even if new functions are missing.
Price & Availability
The Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro is currently available from online retailer Amazon for 499.90 euros.
Key competitors include the latest iPad Air, the Honor MagicPad 4 and the OnePlus Pad 3.
If you want to spend a little less, you can get a very similar overall package including accessories with the Xiaomi Pad 8 for around 420 euros. The hardware is a little weaker, but the tablet potentially offers better value for money.
For more alternatives, see our review of the best Android tablets.
Conclusion
The Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro offers strong features and solid performance for the money. Compared to premium Android tablets from Samsung, it is significantly cheaper and therefore an attractive entry into the upper class. It is also cheaper compared to Apple’s top models. However, the standard iPad is even lower and also scores with a slightly more rounded app experience and longer software support.
Overall, Xiaomi’s accessories are successful, but they seem a bit expensive. The Focus Keyboard is a particularly good addition for anyone looking for a compact tablet for working that is just as suitable for entertainment after work.
The bottom line is that the Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro is a very good Android tablet that deserves a clear recommendation if it suits your needs.
Technical data
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite
- 8/12GB RAM
- 128/256/512GB storage
- 11,2 Zoll, 144 Hz, 3,2K (3.200 × 2.136 Pixel) IPS-LC-Display
- Version with matt glass (optional)
- Four speakers
- 50 MP main camera, f/1.8
- 32MP front camera, f/2.2
- USB-C
- WLAN 7
- Bluetooth 6.0
- 9.200-mAh-Battery
- Wired charging with up to 67W
- 485 g
- 251,22 x 173,42 x 5,75 mm
- Android 16 with HyperOS 3
- Colors: Gray, Blue, Pine Green
(PC-Welt)
