The Xiaomi Pad 7 is the brand’s newest premium midrange tablet that boasts a compelling mix of premium design, performance, and features that position it as a strong contender for those seeking a capable device for both work and entertainment.
Design and Build
The Xiaomi Pad 7’s unibody aluminum construction exudes good quality. The matte finish applied to both the rear panel and sides not only enhances the premium feel but also resists fingerprints and smudges.
The tablet’s button placement is thoughtfully designed, with the power button on the left side and volume rocker on the upper left when held in landscape orientation, making them easily accessible especially when taking screenshots.
While the absence of a headphone jack might disappoint some users, you get a quad speaker setup that more than compensates with audio that’s loud enough for personal use without distortion even at higher volumes.
Display Excellence
The Xiaomi Pad 7 has a 3.2K crystal-clear display with a 144Hz refresh rate. This delivers smooth visuals that enhance everything from scrolling through social media to gaming.
Color reproduction is vibrant and punchy, while blacks appear convincingly deep. The bezels strike a perfect balance – thin enough to maximize screen real estate while having enough space to comfortably hold the tablet in landscape mode.
Performance Capabilities
Powered by a Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 processor paired with up to 12GB of RAM, the Xiaomi Pad 7 handles everyday tasks with ease. Whether browsing social media, checking emails, consuming media, or playing games like Honor of Kings at maximum settings, the tablet performs admirably.
Multitasking is impressive as well, with no noticeable slowdowns even when running multiple applications simultaneously. Storage options include 128GB (online exclusive) and 256GB, providing ample space for a user’s apps, media, and documents.
Camera
So far, the 13MP rear camera seems to be able to capture good quality photos that should be more than enough for your social media posts. The 8MP selfie camera is also decent and should work well for your online meetings.
Software Experience
The Xiaomi Pad 7 runs on HyperOS 2, Xiaomi’s latest software offering that brings numerous improvements across performance, security, customization, and cross-device connectivity. The amount of personalization available is noteworthy, allowing users to tailor the interface to their preferences. Also, no bloatware, which is a breath of fresh air.
An intriguing feature is “Combined cameras,” which enables users to utilize the cameras of both the Pad 7 and another Xiaomi device simultaneously – a potentially valuable tool for livestreamers.
Battery Life and Charging
With its 8,850mAh battery, the Xiaomi Pad 7 should be capable of lasting through a full workday of light to moderate usage. The tablet also supports 45W turbo charging, though it’s worth noting this falls short of the Pad 7 Pro’s 67W capability. Our device did not include a charging brick in the box, we were just lucky enough to have a 120W charger from our Redmi 13 Pro+ 5G available.
Accessories
Xiaomi’s Focus Keyboard accessory enhances the tablet’s versatility significantly. Its innovative stand design allows for comfortable lap use while in transit, with adjustable viewing angles to suit different scenarios. The keyboard provides a comfortable typing experience, though the trackpad, while functional for gestures, is somewhat smaller than ideal.
Pros So Far
- Premium build quality with fingerprint-resistant finish
- Excellent 3.2K display with smooth 144Hz refresh rate
- Strong performance for multitasking and gaming
- Impressive quad speaker audio
- Innovative Focus Keyboard accessory
Cons So Far
- Battery performance during extended use still to be fully evaluated
- No headphone jack
- 45W charging slower than Pad 7 Pro’s capability
- No included charging brick
- Undersized trackpad on keyboard accessory
The Xiaomi Pad 7 is priced starting at PHP 19,999. Stay tuned for our full review.
Emman has been writing technical and feature articles since 2010. Prior to this, he became one of the instructors at Asia Pacific College in 2008, and eventually landed a job as Business Analyst and Technical Writer at Integrated Open Source Solutions for almost 3 years.
