Last year, Xiaomi relaunched its tablet line, raising expectations for their new offerings. While the Xiaomi Pad 5 series didn’t have any groundbreaking features compared to other rivals, there were plenty of alternatives available, such as Lenovo’s Tab series, Oppo pads, and Vivo pads.
However, the Xiaomi Pad 6 Pro stands out as an attractive gaming tablet with several upgrades and improvements over its predecessor. In this review, we will examine how the Xiaomi Pad 6 Pro performs and if the system has indeed improved, especially considering the previous complaints about MIUI for tablets.
Design and Build Quality
The design of the Xiaomi Pad 6 Pro follows the latest flagship smartphones from Xiaomi, with an enlarged version of the latest phone’s build. The camera module on the pad connects the pad and phone lines, providing a seamless experience. However, one criticism is the placement of the camera in the corner, which makes scanning documents or books in front of the user less convenient.
On the positive side, the build quality is excellent. The tablet’s back cover and frame are made of integrated aluminum, providing better cooling and durability. Xiaomi has improved the thickness and weight control compared to its predecessor, giving the Pad 6 Pro a premium and sleek appearance. The only minor gripe is the presence of a plastic screen bracket, which can make the tablet look cheap.
Display
The Xiaomi Pad 6 Pro boasts a higher resolution screen of up to 2.8K within an 11-inch area. The images and text are sharper, and the colors are more vivid and accurate, thanks to professional color management. Xiaomi has made strides in offering an almost identical visual experience across its latest tablets, phones, and TVs.
However, there’s a downside for multimedia enthusiasts. Compared to its predecessor, the Pad 6 Pro features only half the number of speaker units. While it still has four speakers, some users may find the sound quality less detailed and may prefer using headphones or external speakers for better audio experience.
Stylus and Note-taking
Xiaomi has also released the second-generation stylus for the Pad 6 Pro to enhance the writing and drawing experience. Although it boasts lower latency and better battery life, it still falls short compared to Apple Pencil and S Pen in terms of performance. Additionally, writing directly on the screen when the tablet is locked is not supported, making it less convenient for note-taking on the go.
The Quick Notes feature, activated by pressing the stylus button, could also use some improvements. The note interface covers the entire screen, making multitasking a bit cumbersome. Users can only access other activities, like browsing web pages or writing documents, by swiping up from the bottom of the screen and dragging the notes app as a floating window.
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Performance
The Xiaomi Pad 6 Pro excels in terms of performance, thanks to its Snapdragon A Plus GM1 platform. It is perhaps one of the best Android gaming tablets in its price range. The benchmark scores show it outperforming tablets equipped with Snapdragon 870 and Dimensity 9000, and its power efficiency leads to stable performance in games and heavy tasks. The cooling system ensures that heat during gaming concentrates in a small area, providing an excellent gaming experience.
MIUI for Tablets
MIUI has been continuously upgraded for Xiaomi phones, but the limited user base for tablets has led to a different story. MIUI 14.4 on the Xiaomi Pad 6 Pro still requires optimization. While the performance has improved, animations still appear relatively laggy compared to MIUI on Xiaomi phones.
Multitasking has seen some enhancements, allowing users to create a set of multitasking windows by swiping three fingers inward from the edge of the screen. However, Xiaomi has yet to make the most of the tablet’s large screen. The integrated notification center and control center waste a significant portion of the screen when swiped down from the top. The folder design on the home screen also leaves room for improvement, as it only supports a 2×2 folder, limiting convenience for users.
The basic interactions on the Xiaomi Pad 6 Pro still require improvement, such as correctly identifying the direction of the tablet and allowing smooth volume button control. Despite being the best and most affordable Android gaming tablet in the market, it may not be the ideal choice for productivity and creativity tasks due to software limitations.
Conclusion
The Xiaomi Pad 6 Pro impresses as the best and most affordable Android gaming tablet on the market, offering top-notch performance, an excellent display, and a sleek design. However, for those seeking a tablet for efficient activities like study or creativity, it may not be the best option due to the software’s limitations and room for improvement.
Xiaomi has made significant strides with the Pad 6 Pro, but it still falls short in some essential aspects. We hope that Xiaomi takes the feedback into account and continues to refine their tablet offerings. Until then, we will keep nitpicking until the Xiaomi Pad series becomes truly exceptional.
If you are primarily looking for a gaming tablet with a budget-friendly price, the Xiaomi Pad 6 Pro is definitely worth considering. However, for those seeking a more well-rounded tablet experience, it may be wise to explore other options until Xiaomi perfects their tablet software.
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