The Xiaomi Pad 6 marks the successor to the popular Pad 5, entering the Indian market as a compelling Android tablet under Rs. 30,000. The Pad 5 (Review) set a high bar with its compelling value proposition, and the Pad 6 aims to surpass its predecessor with subtle but significant improvements. These enhancements include a smoother display, a larger battery, and a faster processor, all aimed at delivering a more immersive and efficient user experience. But does the Pad 6 truly live up to the hype? Let’s dive into our comprehensive review to uncover its strengths and weaknesses, helping you determine if it’s the right fit for your needs.
Xiaomi Pad 6: Design & Display
Xiaomi has taken a significant step forward in the Pad 6’s design, emphasizing a premium feel. The flat-frame aesthetic remains, but the Pad 6 adopts an all-metal unibody construction, a departure from the Pad 5’s plastic rear and metal frame combination. This shift, combined with a reduced weight of 490g and a slim 6.51mm profile, contributes to a more refined and comfortable hold.
The camera module on the Pad 6 draws inspiration from Xiaomi’s flagship smartphone in India, the Xiaomi 13 Pro (Review). It’s important to note that the camera quality between these two devices is not comparable, as the Pad 6 features a single rear camera sensor. Nonetheless, the design element adds a touch of elegance. The bezels surrounding the display are generous enough for a comfortable grip, with the front camera strategically positioned at the top-center of the bezel, ideal for video calls.
Xiaomi Pad 6 boasts an 11-inch IPS LCD panel, similar to its predecessor, but with significant upgrades in resolution and refresh rate technology. The display now supports an adaptive 144Hz refresh rate, dynamically adjusting between 30Hz and 144Hz based on the on-screen content. While during our testing, we observed the refresh rate reaching a maximum of 120Hz (Smart switch mode), this still delivers a remarkably smooth visual experience. The display also features a 2.8K screen resolution (2,880×1,800 pixels), further enhancing the visual clarity.
The Pad 6’s display is further enriched by its HDR10 and Dolby Vision HDR certifications, ensuring vibrant and accurate color reproduction. Indoors, the display shines with excellent brightness, colors, and viewing angles. However, under harsh outdoor sunlight, it can struggle to compete, requiring you to squint occasionally. The display’s maximum rated brightness of 550 nits could have been higher for better outdoor visibility.
Complementing the multimedia experience are the quad-speakers, which deliver powerful audio with ample bass and Dolby Atmos support. The speakers are undeniably loud.
Xiaomi Pad 6: Specifications & Software
Under the hood, the Xiaomi Pad 6 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 SoC, a powerful chipset, though now a couple of years old but still more than capable. While the tablet does not offer storage expansion support via a microSD card slot, it incorporates a robust 8,840mAh battery with 33W fast charging enabled.
The Xiaomi Pad 6 runs Android 13-based MIUI 14 for Pad software, a clean and feature-rich custom Android skin ideal for productivity and personalization. Xiaomi has thoughtfully included several software features to leverage the large screen, including floating windows and split-screen functionality. The latter allows you to open a second compatible app by performing a three-finger swipe from left to right on the display while the primary app is open. For even greater efficiency, the software lets you pair apps and save them as a homescreen icon, enabling both apps to open with a single tap.
Xiaomi has prioritized app optimization for the Pad 6’s 16:10 aspect display, ensuring a seamless experience with its own apps and working with several popular app developers. For instance, the homescreen of the Disney+ Hotstar app can now be viewed in landscape mode, a welcome improvement over the Redmi Pad (Review) experience. However, there are still numerous popular apps that haven’t been optimized for the large screen – a common Android issue rather than a Xiaomi-specific issue.
Regarding future updates, Xiaomi has committed to providing three major MIUI versions for the Pad 6, but details concerning the inclusion of new Android generations and the duration of support remain unclear.
Xiaomi Pad 6: Performance & Battery Life
The Xiaomi Pad 6’s Snapdragon 870 SoC has ample power to handle demanding tasks, including gaming. We put it to the test with BGMI and Asphalt 9: Legends, and the Pad 6 delivered smooth performance. However, we encountered some discomfort while holding the tablet during gameplay, as its large screen and flat edges made it a bit cumbersome for intricate touch inputs. If you intend to play games, a Bluetooth controller is recommended.
Our week-long experience with the Pad 6 was largely bug-free, and the tablet displayed excellent RAM management. In AnTuTu (v10), it achieved a score of 755,321 points, while in Geekbench 6, it scored 1,308 and 3,371 points in single-core and multi-core tests respectively.
The Smart Pen on the Pad 6 is remarkably responsive, with negligible lag between input and output. The pen’s pressure sensitivity allows for thicker lines when pressed harder in the Notes app, making for a more precise and versatile writing experience. The primary button on the pen, upon a long press, conveniently launches the Notes app, while the secondary button is dedicated to taking screenshots. You can also use the pen for vertical scrolling on web pages within Chrome.
Battery life on the Xiaomi Pad 6 is consistently impressive, capable of lasting a full day with moderate gaming. On days involving intense gaming for over an hour, the average screen-on time (SoT) hovered around seven hours. With lighter usage, SoT extended to approximately eight and a half hours. In our HD video battery loop test, the Pad 6 lasted for 12 hours and 4 minutes, an average result considering its larger battery. The device takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes to charge from 0-100 percent using the bundled 33W adapter.
The Xiaomi Smart Pen, charged via magnetic connection, boasts a claimed battery life of 150 hours, a significant improvement over the previous generation’s eight-hour claim. Xiaomi claims a mere one minute of charging provides seven hours of usage.
Xiaomi Pad 6: Cameras
The Xiaomi Pad 6 is equipped with a single 13-megapixel rear camera, primarily intended for document scanning. While the camera output is decent for photography, delivering acceptable colors and dynamic range, it’s not a primary focus of the tablet.
For video calls and selfies, a 8-megapixel front camera handles reasonably well, producing satisfactory colors and exposure in sufficient lighting. It does have a tendency to apply a face beauty filter by default. The camera supports Focus Frame, a feature comparable to Apple’s Centre Stage, currently functional in WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger video calls. Focus Frame tracks your face and adjusts the frame accordingly, ensuring you remain centered throughout the call.
Xiaomi Pad 6: Verdict
The Xiaomi Pad 6 stands out as a formidable contender for the best value-for-money Android tablet. Its upgraded design, crisper display, robust performance, and long-lasting battery life are all delivered without increasing the price compared to its predecessor. However, considering it’s been a year since the Pad 5, a more modern processor would have been a welcome addition. Also, the absence of a fingerprint sensor and a cellular model is notable. While the battery life is good overall, we expected a more impressive performance for video playback in particular.
The Xiaomi Pad 6 makes a strong case for productivity with its dedicated accessories, and combined with the bundle offers, maintains a lower price point compared to its premium competitor, the OnePlus Pad (Review). The OnePlus Pad, while visually more distinct and offering a superior processor as well as better accessories, comes with a higher price tag. Ultimately, the Xiaomi Pad 6 offers a strong value proposition and is a compelling choice for those looking for an enjoyable and productive Android tablet experience.
