Xiaomi Pad 8 Review

 

Let’s be honest for a second—Android tablets have had a rough decade. For the longest time, it felt like you either bought an iPad or you bought a piece of leggy plastic. But things changed around the Pad 6 and 7 era, and now, the Xiaomi Pad 8 is here to see if it can finally push the "pro" tablet experience into a price bracket that doesn't require a bank loan. I’ve been using the global version (the one with the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4) as my main "couch device" and light workstation for the last two weeks. Here’s the unfiltered truth on whether it’s worth your cash.

The Build: Thinner Than My Coffee Cup
The first thing you notice when you pull this out of the box is the thickness—or lack thereof. At just 5.75mm, it’s terrifyingly thin. It feels premium, though. Xiaomi stuck with the metal Uni-body, and it has this cold, industrial feel that I personally love. It weighs about 485 grams, which is light enough to hold with one hand while reading, but substantial enough that it doesn't feel like a toy. One weird choice? The camera bump. It’s a bit massive for a tablet. Since I don't really take photos with a 11-inch slab of metal, I wish they’d kept it flush, but with a case, it’s a non-issue.

That 3.2K Display is a Big Flex
Xiaomi didn’t go with OLED here—it’s still an LCD—but it’s probably the best LCD I’ve ever seen. It’s a 11.2-inch panel with a 3.2K resolution. Everything from Netflix shows to random PDF documents looks incredibly sharp. The 144Hz refresh rate is the real star. Scrolling through Twitter (or X) or just swiping through the UI feels ridiculously smooth. I also tried the Na-no Texture version, which has a matte finish to cut down on glare. If you’re a student who works under bright library lights, that extra couple of bucks for the matte screen is a total lifesaver.

Performance: The "Almost-Flagship" Chip
Under the hood is the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4. Now, it’s not the absolute top-tier "Elite" chip found in the Pro model, but for 95% of people, you won’t tell the difference. I’m a chronic multitask. I usually have Chrome (with way too many tabs), Spottily, and Slack open at the same time. The Pad 8 didn't stutter once. Gaming-wise, I threw Gen shin Impact at it on medium-high settings. It ran at a solid 60fps, though the area near the camera did get a bit warm after about 45 minutes. Nothing crazy, just the usual "I'm working hard" heat.

Hyper-OS 3: Is It Finally Good?
Software has always been Xiaomi’s "it’s complicated" area. But Hyper-OS 3 (based on Android 16) feels much more mature. They’ve added some great "Workstation" features that let you use apps in floating windows, similar to a desktop. There’s still some bloatware—random apps you’ll never use—but you can delete most of them. The way it connects to your Xiaomi phone (if you have one) to share files and clipboards is actually starting to feel as seamless as the Apple ecosystem.

The Battery: The 9,200mAh Life
This is where the Pad 8 genuinely wins. They somehow crammed a 9,200mAh battery into this tiny frame. On a heavy day (3 hours of video, some light document editing, and way too much browsing), I still ended the day with nearly 35% battery. For a lighter user, this is easily a "charge once every three days" device. It supports 45W charging, which isn't the fastest in the world—it takes about 80-90 minutes for a full top-up—but considering how long it lasts, I’m not complaining.

FAQs

1. Does it come with the Pen and Keyboard? 

Unfortunately, no. Like most brands now, Xiaomi sells the Focus Pen Pro and the keyboard separately. If you’re a student, the pen is worth it, but for casual browsing, you can skip the extras.

2. Can it run 5G? 

There are specific cellular models, but the base version is Wi-Fi only. Make sure you check the box before buying if you need internet on the go.

3. Is the LCD screen bad compared to OLED? 

Not at all. While you don't get those "inky blacks" of an OLED, the 3.2K resolution and 144Hz refresh rate make it look better than most cheap OLED screens found on mid-range tablets.

4. Does it have a headphone jack? 

No. You’ll need a USB adapter or Bluetooth headphones. It’s a bummer, but that’s the trend these days.

5. How are the speakers? 

Actually, they’re great. It’s a quad-speaker setup with Dolby Atmos. It gets surprisingly loud and doesn't distort, even when you crank it up to 100%.

CONCULSION
If you want a tablet for media consumption, student life, or light office work, the Xiaomi Pad 8 is a no-brainer. It’s got a screen that punches way above its price tag and a battery that just won't quit. If you’re a professional video editor or a 3D artist, you might want to look at the "Pro" version or an iPad Pro for the extra raw power. But for everyone else? This is easily the best value-for-money tablet of 2026.