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The Xiaomi Pad 7 expands the expectations associated with a mid-tier tablet. It contends with the standard iPad in terms of pricing, rivals the iPad Air in functionality, and even includes a feature unique to the iPad Pro. Coupled with its refined accessories, the Xiaomi Pad 7 aims to establish new standards.
During the two weeks I spent with this tablet, I utilized it for watching media, making quick edits in Lightroom, and finishing up draft documents in Google Docs. This represents the most comprehensive tablet experience available in a slate priced under INR 40,000 (including the keyboard accessory).
Xiaomi Pad 7 As A Multimedia Device
The latest Xiaomi tablet is sleeker and appears sturdier compared to the previous generation Xiaomi Pad 6. It sports an all-glass and aluminum design with a cleaner rear panel that accommodates a 13MP camera, along with the Xiaomi logo and pogo pins positioned below it for attaching the keyboard accessory.
Although it features a single rear camera, its module design is directly inspired by the Xiaomi 14, creating an impression of a premium triple-camera setup. While having three rear cameras on a tablet may not be essential and could be misleading at first glance, I appreciate the design.
On the front, the Xiaomi Pad 7 comes with an 11.2-inch LCD display boasting a 3.2K resolution (3200×2136) at 345 pixels per inch. It supports HDR10 and Dolby Vision for compatible media and can achieve up to 800 nits of brightness, ensuring usability outdoors.
The display is sharper than its predecessor, and everything benefits from improved colors and clarity compared to the iPad. It utilizes a 3:2 aspect ratio, which may not be ideal for Netflix but is effective for both productivity and gaming.
I did not observe significant banding while watching films on Netflix or Prime Video, despite it being an LCD panel. While it may not rival OLED quality, this is one of the finest LCDs available on the market. It is enhanced by a quad-speaker system that delivers plenty of volume for an engaging movie-watching experience.
The Xiaomi Pad 7 also offers a nano-texture display variant, priced at INR 31,999 ($370). This feature, usually found on devices over INR 1,00,000 ($1,100)—such as the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and the latest M4 iPad Pro. This feature diminishes reflections and enhances content visibility in bright settings.
I have only experienced the nano-texture version in person, but I didn’t have the opportunity to evaluate it for this review, so I can’t comment on its long-term performance. Nevertheless, it’s a feature I would appreciate on every screen I possess.
Internally, the Xiaomi Pad 7 is equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 SoC, providing both power and efficiency. I tested it with various games and Lightroom, and both operated smoothly under extended workloads.
For photo editing, I suggest opting for the 256GB version (priced at INR 30,999 with 12GB RAM) due to its faster UFS 4.0 storage, which allows for quicker management of high-resolution images compared to the 128GB version (UFS 3.1 with 8GB RAM at INR 27,999). Both variants support the P3 color gamut, ensuring that the on-screen editing experience is the same, but UFS 4.0 provides added convenience.
You can also acquire the new INR 5,999 ($69) Focus Pen for more precise edits. While it may not be as seamless as the Apple Pencil, it includes extra buttons for utilizing the stylus as a pointer during presentations or activating Mi Canvas for writing and sketching.
The Xiaomi Pad 7 features an 8,850mAh battery with 45W fast charging support, capable of achieving full charge in 80 minutes. The tablet lasts for many hours. For movie marathons, you can anticipate easily watching three films consecutively.
Xiaomi Pad 7 as a 2-in-1 Work Device
The new Focus Keyboard of the Xiaomi Pad 7 is designed after the Apple Magic Keyboard in function but at a more affordable price point. The company has finally incorporated a trackpad into its keyboard accessory, significantly enhancing the user experience.
The Focus Keyboard is pleasant to type on but adds a considerable weight. Weighing around 590 grams, combined with the 500-gram tablet, the overall weight totals approximately 1.1kg, which is relatively heavy for a device of its size. The keyboard case can be tilted between 0 to 124 degrees, but I wish it could tilt further.
To use the Xiaomi Pad 7 with the keyboard case, it must be placed on a hard, flat surface. The device tends to topple when situated on a soft surface like
bed, cushion, or loveseat.
If you have it set up on a level area and you’re prepared to begin working, you’re in for an enjoyable experience. The keyboard comes with illuminated keys for a satisfactory typing experience in dim lighting. I relished using it, due to its cozy key travel and gesture-enabled trackpad. You also receive shortcuts for HyperOS 2, though it requires a slight adjustment period to become familiar with them.
Xiaomi has launched a new Workstation mode in Hyper OS 2, which retains multiple tabs on the display akin to a laptop.. For split-screen functionality, the standard HyperOS experience remains superior. Workstation mode ensures applications do not close during transitions, making it suitable for managing multiple tasks.
Nonetheless, it could improve with a more effective taskbar—one that displays recent applications. Currently, you only see the default tab, a menu button to access additional apps, and a home button.
If you touch, hold and swipe the window to the side, it minimizes to an icon and remains there until reactivated. However, if you push an application 50% off the screen with the help of a trackpad, the three-dot menu moves along, and you’re left with a half-app window that cannot be utilized.
The multitasking features work well, but it doesn’t utilize the entire screen. Resizing windows results in large margins, unlike the full-screen split view. The screen resizing experience in Workstation mode needs refinement if Xiaomi aims to encourage more users to adopt it as a 2-in-1 device.
Nevertheless, the Focus Keyboard offers impressive value at INR 8,999.
If you possess a high-end Xiaomi smartphone, you can synchronize it with the Xiaomi Pad 7. This will enable you to access your phone from the tablet. For example, you can receive calls, connect to the phone’s hotspot with a single click, use phone applications on your tablet, and more. I did not have a Xiaomi 14 Ultra at my disposal to test this feature, but it is reported to deliver a more seamless experience than previously.
The 8MP front camera, arranged in landscape configuration, is suitable for video conferencing. While its quality isn’t remarkable, it suffices for business meetings.
Xiaomi Pad 7 Review: Conclusion
The Xiaomi Pad 7 stands out as the company’s most cost-effective device in recent times. Although I have previously stated something similar regarding the Xiaomi Outdoor Speaker, the Xiaomi Pad 7 elevates the standard. It’s undeniably a superior tablet compared to the comparably priced iPad.
At approximately the INR 30,000 range, the Xiaomi Pad 7 is currently the top tablet available. It provides a bright, vibrant display combined with strong audio, a seamless user interface, excellent performance, and reliable battery life. It’s hard to critique at this price.
Xiaomi has also kept the Focus Pen and Focus Keyboard accessories priced reasonably, enhancing the overall ecosystem’s attractiveness.
Advantages:
- Crisp and luminous display
- Outstanding performance
- High-quality tablet experience
- Finally, a keyboard featuring a trackpad
- Exceptional value for the cost
Disadvantages:
- Workstation mode is still in development
- Focus Keyboard is bulky
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