Most of my pill use is on the iPad Professional M4, and that is due to two issues: the tandem OLED panel, and the software program. The OLED on the iPad Professional is a pleasure to make use of, and it is simply nice to play video games or learn content material. I dabble in music manufacturing, and it is simple to make use of the iPad to load a drum machine or synthesizer — most of those utilities simply aren’t obtainable on Android.
That stated, I all the time have an Android pill available to make use of as a common media system and good house controller. I used the Xiaomi Pad Mini within the final six months, and it did a masterful job on this regard. So when Xiaomi despatched the Pad 8 over, I simply switched out the Pad Mini with the Pad 8, and after a month of use, I am satisfied that that is the very best mid-range Android pill you should purchase. There’s so much that the Pad 8 will get proper, and I am highlighting the 4 options I like probably the most.
The 11.2-inch LCD panel is nice in each day use
Xiaomi did not change the 11.2-inch LCD panel, and whereas it isn’t anyplace pretty much as good because the iPad Professional, it’s the best choice you may discover on this class. The 11.2-inch measurement is right, and the colour vibrancy makes the pill an amazing alternative in the event you simply want a multimedia system to stream content material. Xiaomi did a very good job with the onboard sound as nicely, and the 4 built-in audio drivers produce an honest quantity of quantity.
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I’ve the usual Pad 8, however Xiaomi sells a mannequin with a nano-texture coating, and I extremely suggest getting this mannequin. The anti-glare tech makes a giant distinction, and it offers the Pad 8 a particular edge on this class. The three:2 ratio is right in the event you’re curious about studying ebooks, and Xiaomi has the greatest Studying Mode of any model, permitting you to show the complete panel monochrome.
The Pad 8 is without doubt one of the strongest tablets round
The Pad 8 is powered by the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4, and it dealt with all the things I threw at it with relative ease. I did not see any points with slowdowns, and gaming was pleasing on the pill with a Bluetooth controller. The mannequin I am utilizing is the 8GB/128GB configuration, and I like to recommend getting the 12GB/256GB mannequin. The 256GB variant will get UFS 4.1 storage — the 128GB mannequin has UFS 3.1 — and the extra reminiscence simply offers you a little bit higher headroom.
Though the pill has related dimensions as final 12 months, it’s a smidgen thinner, and the distinction is barely noticeable when utilizing the Pad 8 alongside the Pad 7. If something, I believe the Pad 8 is a better option than the Pad 8 Professional; each tablets are mainly similar, with the Professional mannequin getting a quicker platform, higher digicam (pointless on a pill), and quicker 67W charging tech.
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Xiaomi is leaning into productiveness, with the Pad 8 bought with two keyboard instances and a stylus that is higher than earlier 12 months. I just like the Focus Keyboard fairly a bit, and it has backlit keys with good tactility, all with out taking over an excessive amount of room. Oh, and in contrast to the Redmi Be aware 15 Professional+, the Pad 8 is not hobbled by poor software program selections — it runs Android 16 out of the field.
You get class-leading battery life
Xiaomi’s tablets all the time have good battery life, and the Pad 8 does even higher on this space. The larger 9,200mAh battery ensures the pill has sufficient juice to energy by way of productiveness duties, or in the event you’re binge-watching a whole season of a TV present.
The truth is, the battery life is the primary purpose I am now utilizing the Pad 8 as my good house dashboard. It is nice to not need to cost the pill each day, and it lasts higher than different mid-range tablets I used lately.
The Pad 8 has unmatched worth
A giant promoting level of Android tablets is the worth, and Xiaomi has as soon as once more demonstrated that it understands this class higher than its rivals. Similar to the Pad 6 and Pad 7, the Pad 8 is an extremely good worth, notably in India, the place the pill begins at simply ₹33,999 ($364). It is not fairly pretty much as good a cut price within the U.Okay. at £399 ($535), nevertheless it’s nonetheless higher than most tablets within the section.
Xiaomi can also be being smart with its accent pricing, and that makes the Pad 8 a good selection in the event you’re a mid-range productiveness pill. On the entire, Xiaomi did all the precise issues with the Pad 8, and the pill is a good improve in the event you’re on an older system or are contemplating a change.
With highly effective internals, an enormous battery, vibrant 11.2-inch panel, and helpful software program options, the Pad 8 is the best mid-range pill in 2026.
