- The comparison
- Mobile
- Price, specifications and comparison with the iPad Pro of the Xiaomi Mi Pad 5 and 5 Pro
After months of rumors, the Xiaomi Mi Pad 5 is real: it's a close rival to Apple's iPad Pro and also comes with its own Pro model with high-end specs. It was launched at an event in China, along with the Mi Mix 4, an audio system, new TVs, and more. Our iPad Pro comparison isn't just the rhetoric of a tech journalist: Xiaomi itself shared numerous spec comparisons between its new listing and Apple's version earlier in 2021, during the launch event. The Xiaomi Mi Pad 5 Pro is the real gem here, with plenty of specs that legitimately blow up Apple devices, but the 'standard' slate isn't something to look out for as its lower price will likely make it the go-to model. most likely. . In addition, the Mi Pad 5 series was introduced alongside 'MIUI for Pad', a version of Xiaomi's Android smartphone fork called MIUI, designed for tablets. It's a thinly veiled rival to Apple's iPadOS, which could offer useful productivity features.
Come to the point
- What is it? Xiaomi's first tablet since 2018
- When did it come out? We don't know that
- How much will it cost? It seems surprisingly affordable
Xiaomi Mi Pad 5 launch date and price
(Image credit: Xiaomi) We don't actually know the global availability of the Xiaomi Mi Pad 5 series, or if it will be available outside of China, but we can look at Chinese prices to get an idea. It's a surprisingly affordable slate, at least in China. The "standard" tablet starts at just CNY 1,999 for 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, a price that converts to around €310, €220, AU$420. There's a version that bumps storage up to 256GB for CNY 2,299 , or about $350, $260, AU$480. For the Pro model, prices go up, but only slightly, making it the most tempting buy. The 6GB RAM and 128GB model costs CNY 2.499 (about €390, €280, AU530), a 6GB/256GB version costs CNY 2.799 (about €430, €310, AU590), and the top-end model with 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage and 5G support costs CNY 3499 (around $540, £390, AU$740). Chinese conversions are often much lower than final prices in other regions, and we have to warn you that Xiaomi products aren't for sale in the US, but even these prices suggest the Mi Pad 5 series won't cost as much. than an iPad. Pro. One thing though: unlike other Android tablets from Samsung and Huawei, you won't get any accessories with the slate like a stylus or keyboard.
Design and display
(Image credit: Xiaomi) Both Xiaomi Mi Pad 5 tablets have the same design. The displays measure 11 inches diagonally, with 2560 x 1600 or 2.5K resolutions, along with 120Hz refresh rates, 500-nit peak brightness, LCD technology, and HDR10 support. At the front, the cameras are housed in the bezel, not in cut-out segments like on other tablets. In terms of appearance, they largely resemble the Xiaomi Mi 11 devices that have been stretched out; this comparison is mostly in the camera department, with a similar punch. In general, though, this is a pretty standard list: you see one tablet, you've seen them all. The slates are available in white, black, or green, though the Pro doesn't get the latter. They have four stereo speakers tuned by Dolby Atmos.
These aren't the most powerful devices running Android, but they're close. The Xiaomi Mi Pad 5 uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 chipset, while the Pad 5 Pro goes all the way up to the Snapdragon 870; both are powerful and while they don't offer the performance power of the Snapdragon 888 or 888. Also, you might not notice it in everyday use. The software used here isn't exactly MIUI, the fork of Android used by Xiaomi phones, but 'MIUI for Pad', a fork of the fork in the spirit of Apple's iPadOS.
(Image credit: Xiaomi) The main changes here appear to be a greater focus on multitasking, with easy split screen or app windows you can swipe out. An entertainment hub was also featured, but judging by the app options, it might just be China. Slate works with stylus and folio keyboard, two types of accessories tablet fans will be well familiar with. The former is used for note taking and drawing, the latter is a case that doubles as a keyboard that you can use for easy word processing. There are some differences in the camera department. The Slate has an 8MP front snapper and a 13MP rear snapper, and on the Pro the latter is paired with a 5MP depth sensor. On the 5G version of the Pro, the main rear camera is actually 50MP.
Battery duration
Battery life is one area where the standard tablet model is actually preferable, but not by much. The Xiaomi Mi Pad 5 has a power supply of 8,720 mAh, while the Pro reduces it to 8,600 mAh. However, a difference of 120 mAh isn't much and may not be noticeable in everyday use. Charging is one area where the Pro wins handily, with a 67W wired power supply. By comparison, the standard Mi Pad 5 only tops out at 33W, which is relatively slow, though it still beats most. the other tablets.