Tablets have always walked a fine line between productivity and entertainment. Some are built for binge-watching, others for creative work, while a select few attempt to cater both. The Xiaomi Pad Mini falls into that last category, but with compact form factor and flagship internals. This allows the tablet to add a new dimension of true portability while maintaining its flagship status. I’ve been using the Xiaomi Pad Mini as a daily companion for both work and downtime, and it’s safe to say this is one of the most thoughtfully designed devices Xiaomi has launched in recent memory. Let's dig deeper in this review.
Design
The first thing that struck me about the Pad Mini was how portable it felt. The 8.8-inch display may sound modest on paper, but the size hits a sweet spot for me. It’s large enough to get real work done, yet small enough to slip into a sling bag without feeling like you’re carrying around a laptop replacement.
The metal unibody design adds a premium touch. It’s thin, sleek, and feels secure in one hand. The back panel comes with a silky matte finish which is easy on the hand. This gives an ergonomic grip for long reading sessions which is less fatiguing than larger tablets. Xiaomi has clearly positioned the Pad Mini as something you can carry all day without it weighing you down.
I love the tablet's svelte design that's highlighted by how thin it is. In fact, it is only 6.7-millimeter thin. The sides houses the regular ports an buttons but the tablet adds an extra USB-C that's usually found on gaming smartphones. In portrait, the power button is on the top right-most corner; it is accompanied by the speaker and the microphone that's flushed slightly to the left. The right side has the volume rocker while the left side has the extra USB-C port. The bottom is busy with the speakers and main USB-C port and another microphone.
The tablet works perfectly with the Xiaomi Focus Pen. I can just snap the pen magnetically onto the tablet, and it even charges wirelessly, which honestly surprised me because I usually only see this charging mechanism on Pro-level tablets. Xiaomi also has an official Pad Mini cover that leaves a space so the pen can still reach the charging surface of the tablet.
Display
The 8.8-inch 3K display (2940 × 1800) is easily one of the sharpest I’ve seen on a tablet this size. At 403 ppi, text looks crisp, and images pop with detail. I find the tablet useful when reading e-books or editing photos. It doesn’t feel compromised by the smaller screen because the clarity makes up for the size.
For motion-heavy content like gaming and streaming, the 144Hz refresh rate ensures that everything feels ultra-smooth. Animations glide effortlessly, and swiping between apps feels instantaneous. One of the highlights of this tablet is the fact that it's a great companion when binge-watching shows. I took it on a flight to Siargao and it kept me entertained on my two-hour flight. The experience is immersive, thanks to the 16:10 aspect ratio, it's wider than standard, but not awkwardly stretched.
If you're keen on your eye health, the tablet also has TÜV Rheinland certifications for low blue light and flicker-free viewing. On nights when I used the Pad Mini for extended reading, my eyes didn’t feel as strained. This is a features you only appreciate after hours of usage, but it speaks volumes about the device’s focus on comfort.
Performance and Hardware
Inside the Xiaomi Pad Mini is the MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ chipset that's built on a 6nm flagship process. Paired with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage, the performance is straight up in flagship territory. Apps open instantly and multitasking flows smoothly. Even when under heavy workloads like editing short videos in Lumafusion while exporting photos from my favorite photo editing app, the tablet didn’t cause noticeable lag.
What I also like about the Xiaomi Pad Mini is its focus on gaming. For one, I reap all the benefits from the powerhouse chipset. Heavy hitters like Genshin Impact and Call of Duty Mobile ran at high settings with consistent frame rates. The thermal management was efficient, too. While the Pad Mini warmed up slightly after extended sessions, it never reached uncomfortable levels.
One of the joys of the Pad Mini is how easily it fits into downtime. I used it as my go-to device for binge-watching Netflix in bed, where its compact size made it more comfortable than balancing a laptop. The dual speakers delivered rich, clear audio, which made watching shows or even casual YouTube sessions enjoyable without headphones. I found myself reaching for the Pad Mini instead of my phone during reading sessions because the balance between portability and clarity was just right.
Scribbling notes, sketching quick drafts, or even highlighting PDFs felt natural. For creatives and students alike, this pen integration elevates the tablet from casual use to something much more versatile. Meanwhile, if you're keen on benchmarks, here are some scores from our tests:
- Antutu Benchmark: 2,783,701
- Geekbench CPU: 2605 SC, 7909 MC
- Geekbencg GPU (Vulkan): 22,399
- Geekbench GPU (OpenCL): 20980
Connectivity was equally future-proof with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4. This ensuring stable, fast connections whether streaming, transferring files, or pairing with accessories. Speaking of which, the Pad Mini integrates seamlessly into Xiaomi’s broader ecosystem. Using Xiaomi Smart Hub, I could manage smart home devices directly from the tablet, making it feel like a control center in my bag.
Camera
Tablets aren’t usually known for their cameras, but the Xiaomi Pad Mini makes sure you’re not left short when you need to snap a quick shot or hop on a video call. It features a 13MP rear camera with f/2.2 aperture and PDAF tech. This is more than capable of capturing surprisingly sharp photos for documents, quick references, or casual moments. The details are respectable in good lighting, and colors remain natural. If you ask me, this is more than just a backup camera.
Flipping the device, you'll get an 8MP front camera with f/2.3 aperture. It sits at the top bezel in portrait mode and is perfectly placed for video calls. I used it for a couple of Microsoft Teams sessions, and the image quality was clear enough that I didn’t feel the need to switch to my laptop. Combined with AI-powered enhancements, the front camera manages exposure well, even when there’s backlight. Here are some of the photos we took using the rear camera:
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| Sample Photo: 1x vs 2x Zoom |
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| Sample Photo: 1x vs 2x Zoom |
While you won’t be using the Pad Mini as your main photography device, the cameras feel reliable for what they’re intended for: online classes, work meetings, and occasional snapshots. It’s practical, and in a compact tablet, practicality matters more than bells and whistles.
Software
The Xiaomi Pad Mini is runs on the company's proprietary skin, HyperOS 2.0 that's based on Android 15. The tablet will also be one of the firsts to receive HyperOS 3 update in October. What sets the Pad Mini apart from other compact tablets is Xiaomi’s focus on HyperAI tools. These AI-powered features turned the tablet into more than just a media and browsing device.
The AI Writing is very useful for drafting quick articles or even generating outlines for reports. It may not be a replacement for my own writing, it worked well for brainstorming or overcoming writer’s block. The AI Speech Recognition is also functional when I tested it during meetings, and the transcription was surprisingly accurate. It saved me from manually jotting down long notes.
The suite also comes with AI Calculator for handling equations beyond simple arithmetic. As someone who occasionally needs to crunch numbers for work reports, this became a go-to. The Mi Canvas or AI Art is great for doodling or creating quick visual concepts. This opens creative possibilities. Pairing this with the Focus Pen made it feel like carrying a digital sketchpad.
Of course, the tablet also supports Circle to Search and Google Gemini. These AI-driven search tools gave me contextual info faster than opening multiple apps. Circle to Search, in particular, became second nature. I’d circle an item in a photo, and instantly get more info. In practice, these features streamlined my workflow. Instead of switching between apps and devices, I had a compact tablet that could anticipate and support my needs intelligently.
As for the basics, the tablet's software is best in multitasking on this screen size. Split-screen functionality worked smoothly. I could run Chrome on one side and a notes app on the other without the interface feeling cramped.
Battery and Accessories
Battery life was another highlight. The 7500mAh battery easily powered me through a full day of productivity and entertainment. On one test day, I managed back-to-back meetings on Google Meet, followed by a long Netflix session, and still had juice left by bedtime. Charging is equally impressive, with 67W HyperCharge topping up the tablet to nearly full in under an hour. The inclusion of 18W reverse wired charging meant I could even use the Pad Mini as a power bank to give my phone a quick boost. It is something I didn’t realize I’d find so useful until I actually needed it.
As mentioned, Xiaomi also launched accessories that complement the Pad Mini. The Xiaomi Pad Mini Cover (Php 999) adds protection without bulking it up, while the Xiaomi Focus Pen (Php 3,499) unlocks the full creative and productivity potential of the tablet. I found the pen especially useful when editing documents, sketching in Mi Canvas, or highlighting readings during research.
However, I'm still looking forward to seeing a keyboard case as this would make perfect sense if ever I'll make this tablet as my go-to productivity device.
Verdict: Should You Buy the Xiaomi Pad Mini?
At Php 25,999, the Xiaomi Pad Mini positions itself as a premium compact tablet. And in my weeks of use, it delivers on that promise. It combines flagship-grade performance, AI-driven tools, and a crystal-clear display into a form factor that’s truly portable.
What I loved most was how naturally it adapted to my lifestyle. It was small enough to carry anywhere, yet powerful enough to handle real productivity. From morning meetings and afternoon writing sessions to late-night Netflix binges, it proved to be a reliable companion. It's also great when I'm traveling since I don't have to worry about its weight, and it seamlessly fit in my bag. The only drawback is the lack of LTE support which could be a deal breaker to those planning to use this on the go.
The Xiaomi Pad Mini is for creators on the move, students juggling work and study, or professionals who want an AI-powered secondary device. The Xiaomi Pad Mini hits that sweet spot of portability and power.
Xiaomi Pad Mini Specs
8.8-inch 3K crystal-clear display | 403 ppi | 16:10 aspect ratio
Up to 165Hz high refresh rate | 700 nits (HBM)
Eye-care DC dimming
TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light (Hardware Solution) Certified
TÜV Rheinland Flicker Free Certified
TÜV Rheinland Circadian Friendly Certified
Performance
MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ processor
3nm process
RAM: 8GB or 12GB (LPDDR5X)
Storage: 256GB or 512GB (UFS 4.1)
7500mAh (typ) battery
67W HyperCharge
18W wired reverse charging
Dual USB-C ports
Xiaomi HyperAI
AI Art
AI Speech Recognition
AI Interpreter
AI Calculator
Google Gemini
Php 25,999
