Design and workmanship
The Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro has a high-quality, sleek, and modern look. The slim aluminum casing is cleanly finished, pleasantly thin, and at around 485 grams, still light enough to hold comfortably for extended periods, such as while reading by the pool or binge-watching a series on a plane.
Xiaomi has hit the mark with the size. At 11,2 inches, the Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro offers ample workspace while remaining portable. It fits easily into a backpack or small bag and can also be used effectively on tight surfaces like an airplane tray table.
The matte back, available in grey, blue, or green, feels nice and seems resistant to fingerprints, but can be a bit slippery without a case. Anyone buying the tablet should probably order the matching cover at the same time.
The large camera module on the back is particularly noticeable, resembling a smartphone more than a tablet. The module protrudes slightly from the casing, which also means the tablet never lies completely flat and wobbles slightly when placed down. While this isn't a major issue, it doesn't quite fit with the otherwise clean design.
Display
The 11,2-inch IPS panel with 3.2K resolution is razor-sharp; text appears as if printed, and even extended writing or reading sessions are comfortable for the eyes. The high pixel density is immediately noticeable, especially when working on documents or browsing the web.
In addition, the refresh rate of up to 144 Hz makes the entire system feel noticeably smoother. Scrolling through websites, multitasking, or navigating menus is buttery smooth. In everyday use, the display often settles at 120 Hz or below, but I didn't really miss the 144 Hz. The display remains consistently very smooth.
The tablet also performs admirably when it comes to media consumption. Series and films on Netflix look fantastic thanks to HDR support and vibrant colors. The four built-in speakers complement this perfectly, sounding surprisingly powerful for a tablet. Voices are clear and intelligible, effects have plenty of punch, and even at higher volumes, the sound remains clean and distortion-free. It's perfectly adequate for series, films, or YouTube.
The brightness is sufficient to easily see content outdoors by the pool or on the balcony, even in brighter conditions. Only in direct sunlight does the display, as is typical for an LCD, reach its limits.
The fact that the panel is "only" an IPS panel is hardly noticeable. Black tones are pleasantly black, so you only notice a real difference when holding an OLED display directly next to it.
Performance and connectivity
The Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro features top-of-the-line hardware: the Snapdragon 8 Elite mobile platform. This 3nm chip combines two performance cores with speeds up to 4,32 GHz and six additional cores with speeds up to 3,53 GHz. It also includes the Adreno 830 GPU, currently one of the most powerful graphics solutions available for Android devices.
Depending on the model, 8 or 12 GB of RAM are available, with Xiaomi even using faster LPDDR5T memory in the larger model. Internal storage options range up to 512 GB with fast UFS 4.1, which is particularly noticeable when running large apps, games, and transferring files.
During my vacation, the tablet primarily served as a compact laptop replacement. Writing texts, answering emails, browsing the internet, viewing images, opening documents, and streaming music simultaneously – the Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro handled it all with ease. Even with multiple apps open at the same time, such as a browser, notes app, messenger, and a document editor, the system remained stable and smooth.
The Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro also offers plenty of power for gaming. Demanding titles run smoothly with high graphics settings, loading times are short, and the large display makes gaming significantly more enjoyable than on a smartphone. While the casing does get a little warm after extended sessions, it doesn't become uncomfortably hot during normal use.
Under sustained load, the tablet can't maintain its peak performance continuously. However, this is hardly surprising for such a thin device and is largely irrelevant for practical use. The Pad 8 Pro performs consistently well when working, streaming, browsing, and playing occasional games.
The tablet also boasts excellent connectivity. Its USB-C port supports USB 3.2 Gen 1, enabling fast data transfers and the connection of external displays. In addition, it features modern Wi-Fi 7, ensuring high data rates and stable connections when a compatible network is available.
What's missing is a SIM or eSIM option. Especially when traveling, mobile internet would have been a real advantage; instead, you're stuck using a hotspot or Wi-Fi. A rather unusual, but quite practical addition, however, is the integrated infrared transmitter. This allows you to use the tablet as a remote control for TVs or air conditioners, which can be very useful, especially in a hotel room.
Software and Productivity
The Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro runs HyperOS 3 based on Android 16. Xiaomi has visibly optimized the interface for larger displays and integrated many features designed to make the tablet more productive, including split-screen, floating windows, and a dedicated workstation mode.
Running two apps side-by-side, plus a small window for messaging or music, works flawlessly. Activating PC or workstation mode transforms the interface into a desktop environment with freely movable windows, similar to what you might find on macOS or Windows.
Combined with the keyboard cover, it actually feels somewhat like a laptop. Apps can be moved, scaled, and used simultaneously. However, it doesn't quite reach full laptop level.
Window management is not quite as flexible as in classic desktop operating systems, some apps do not scale perfectly, and small things like closing windows via menus instead of direct buttons occasionally slow down the workflow.
The software's overall performance is a definite plus. HyperOS runs smoothly, has a clean and uncluttered interface, and offers useful additional features. These include cross-device features that allow content sharing between smartphones and tablets, as well as various AI tools for translation, transcription, and text assistance.
camera
The camera is traditionally not one of the most important features of tablets. Nevertheless, Xiaomi delivers a surprisingly solid setup here with a 50 MP main camera on the back and a 32 MP front camera.
In everyday use, the main camera is perfectly adequate for typical tablet tasks. Scanning documents, quickly snapping photos, or capturing a few moments works reliably. The images are sharp enough, colors appear natural, and the shutter lag is pleasantly short. However, for serious photography, a smartphone is still preferable, especially since the images sometimes appear somewhat flat and don't quite achieve the dynamic range of modern smartphone cameras.
Video calls (1080p) via the front camera are clear and well-exposed, the viewing angle is sufficiently wide, and the position on the long side is also well-chosen. The Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro is a very good choice for meetings or calls on the go.
Keyboard cover and pen
The Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro only becomes truly interesting with the right accessories. Without a keyboard and stylus, it remains a very good tablet; with both, it transforms into a work tool.
The keyboard cover is quick to attach and holds securely with magnets. The keyboard offers a good tactile feedback and sufficiently large keys, making even longer texts easy to type. It's perfectly adequate for emails, articles, or notes on the go. Of course, the typing experience isn't quite the same as a full-fledged laptop, but for a cover, it's surprisingly comfortable.
Depending on the model, a touchpad is also integrated, which significantly simplifies operation. Especially in workstation mode, the system feels much closer to a traditional laptop. Cursor movements are precise, gestures work reliably, and you use the touchscreen far less often.
In everyday use, however, the biggest disadvantage becomes apparent: the keyboard cover makes the tablet significantly heavier and less "tablet-like." This is perfectly fine for working, but for reading by the pool or watching shows on a plane, you almost automatically remove it.
The Focus Pen Pro is also a worthwhile addition. It's ideal for handwritten notes, quick sketches, or annotating documents. Input is recognized precisely, there's minimal lag, and writing feels responsive.
The new, buttonless gesture-based control system does take some getting used to. Those accustomed to classic stylus buttons will need to adjust. Once you're used to it, however, the system works well and offers added flexibility.
Battery and running time
Depending on usage, the 9.200 mAh battery of the Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro lasts from one to several days. Users who work, play games, and stream daily can expect approximately one to one and a half days of battery life. Those who use it sparingly can get even more out of it, as the tablet consumes surprisingly little power in standby mode.
When it does need to be plugged in, the fast charging is impressive. With up to 67 watts, the battery is fully charged again in just over an hour. Short charging breaks are often enough to get several hours of additional use.
