At a look
Skilled’s Ranking
Professionals
- Premium construct
- Wonderful display
- Strong efficiency
- Vary of equipment
Cons
- No fingerprint scanner
- Mediocre AI implementation
Our Verdict
Xiaomi has achieved it once more, proving that it’s nonetheless among the best Android pill makers on the market. In the event you’re not beholden to a Samsung Galaxy or Google Pixel and wish an iPad various, then the Pad 7 is a superb selection. It actually does really feel and carry out like a flagship slate with a value you’ll double-take at. Add within the vary of equipment and you’ll go all the way in which from fundamental pill to laptop computer substitute.
Value When Reviewed
This worth will present the geolocated pricing textual content for product undefined
Finest Pricing At present
Value When Reviewed
$499
Finest Costs At present: Xiaomi Pad 7
$489.99
Iterative updates are the secret for cell gadgets in 2025 and Xiaomi’s flagship pill vary is not any totally different. The Pad 7 comes together with an identical design and set of specs to its predecessor.
That’s not an inherently dangerous factor, nevertheless. The Xiaomi Pad 6 was a superb Android pill and iPad various and the brand new mannequin is available in on the similar value, £369, and it’s not fully missing in upgrades.
You get an enormous bounce in software program to HyperOS 2, a brighter display, a brand new(er) processor and sooner charging. Xiaomi additionally has a variety of equipment out there together with its first floating hinge keyboard design, serving to the Pad 7 to rival the iPad Professional as a laptop computer substitute.
Design & Construct
- Premium styling
- Effectively-made
- On the heavy aspect
The scale is likely to be a number of millimetres totally different from the Pad 6 right here and there, however you’d battle to decide on between the 2 tablets in a line-up. Nonetheless, that’s no dangerous factor because it means this can be a fashionable pill with nothing wanting a premium really feel.
From the entrance, the Pad 7 seems like most trendy tablets, together with Android, however with its 3:2 side ratio, it most intently resembles the iPad. On the again, nevertheless, it has a way more distinctive Xiaomi design.
The aluminium rear cowl is available in three colors – Gray, Blue and Inexperienced – and the sq. digital camera module seems similar to the Xiaomi 15 telephone, giving a pleasant coherent look.
The draw back, if you happen to don’t use a case, is that the digital camera module means the pill wobbles on a flat floor.
The Pad 7 is suitably skinny at simply 6.2mm nevertheless it’s placed on a bit little bit of weight, now hitting the 500g mark. I’d say this the largest draw back right here because it does begin to really feel on the hefty aspect while you add issues just like the official Cowl case and Focus Pen stylus.
Certain, the 2025 iPad Air is 40g lighter, nevertheless it prices much more and if you happen to’re searching for the Pad 7 to switch your laptop computer, then it’s probably nonetheless lighter in whole even if you happen to add one of many keyboard circumstances.
There’s little else vital to say concerning the design. A small quirk is that the facility button and quantity rocker are on totally different sides and it’s one thing I’m nonetheless getting used to.
Total, it’s a superb bundle for the worth with related rivals from Samsung and co dearer.
Equipment
- Primary Cowl
- Focus Pen
- Two Keyboard circumstances
We don’t at all times have a piece in evaluations for equipment and that’s mostly as a result of we haven’t been capable of take a look at them, however Xiaomi despatched me three circumstances and the Focus Pen stylus, so I can inform you about all of them.
In the event you’re shopping for the Pad 7 from Xiaomi’s official retailer, you’ll probably get the essential cowl (price £45) included and it’s respectable. Defending the pill throughout journey apart, it folds right into a stand, permits good get up and likewise has a loop to carry the Focus Pen.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
The stylus is £89 however on the time of writing is an elective further at £39 when shopping for the pill. At that value it’s properly price it even if you happen to’re not knowledgeable illustrator. I can’t draw for toffee however I’ve used it greater than anticipated, together with only for navigation.
The Focus Pen snaps onto the aspect with magnets for storage and charging and might go both method spherical. Two buttons on the aspect can help you do numerous issues like change between drawing implements in Mi Canvas and a distant shutter for the digital camera.
There are different options akin to screenshots and a digital laser pointer however the latter doesn’t work so properly.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
If you wish to sort with an actual keyboard, Xiaomi has two choices for you. The extra fundamental keyboard case which is £119 and presents a correct keyboard for an honest typing expertise, it simply goes proper the sting and the Pad 7 can solely sit at one angle.
These desirous to do greater than faucet out fast emails ought to go for the Professional Focus keyboard. It’s £179 however properly price it if you would like a laptop-like expertise on an Android pill.
You get the identical glorious keyboard because the cheaper mannequin nevertheless it’s positioned higher providing you with someplace to relaxation your palms. That is because of a floating hinge design within the case in addition to the addition of a small trackpad which helps navigation gestures.
Total, it really works rather well, even when I do with the angle adjustment on the hinge would enable the Pad 7 to tilt again a bit additional.
Display & Audio system
- 11.2-inch
- 144Hz
- Brighter and crisper
- Quad audio system
The show on the Pad 6 was glorious so it’s comprehensible to see Xiaomi has made solely minor tweaks.
It’s nonetheless a 3:2 side ratio (which can be considerably divisive) with a 144Hz refresh price. It’s not OLED however the high quality remains to be top-notch total, and Xiaomi has bumped the decision to three.2K and the brightness to 800 nits.
At 11.2-inch it’s barely bigger and it a candy spot for actual property with out feeling like an enormous system. Decision has been bumped to 3200 x 2136 and, for my cash, it’s among the best LCD pill shows on the market with a crisp and vibrant picture.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Maybe an important factor, although, particularly when in comparison with iPads (not Professional fashions) is that top refresh price. It makes utilizing the Pad 7 silky clean typically operation and lends itself to duties like gaming, too.
One tweak I’d make to the spec sheet is the addition of a fingerprint scanner. There isn’t one within the display or the facility button right here, so you have to depend on face unlock (or older strategies) as a substitute.
I’d additionally prefer to see an choice for a matt end show, nevertheless it’s comprehensible Xiaomi holds this again for the Pad 7 Professional.
The pill packs a punch as soon as once more within the audio division with quad audio system (two on either side in panorama orientation) with Dolby Atmos help. They’re nice for streaming, listening to audio, gaming and, properly, absolutely anything.
Whereas not flawless, they’re higher than laptops which price twice as a lot. Do word, nevertheless, there’s not headphone jack right here which is a disgrace.
Specs & Efficiency
- Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3
- 8GB RAM
- As much as 256GB storage
Within the engine room is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 processor – a 2024 chip we’ve seen in loads of telephones – backed up by 8GB of RAM. On the subject of storage (UFS 4.0), there’s a easy selection of 128- or 256GB and I’d advocate investing within the latter for under £30 extra.
It means upgrades in all three departments because the Pad 6 ran a Snapdragon 870 and got here in just one 6/128GB mannequin within the UK.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Efficiency is completely clean more often than not, with that top refresh price show serving to issues really feel zippy. The Pad 7 is completely able to operating all types of apps and options like floating home windows if you happen to want.
It’s not completely proof against stutters however they’re few and much between and in my expertise only a barely jerky animation when closing apps.
Xiaomi Pad 7 benchmarks
By way of different core specs, you get Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.4 and a USB 3.2 Gen 1 port. It’s pretty trendy if not the most recent variations throughout the board however that’s acceptable at this value and unlikely that anybody would even discover.
There’s no LTE mobile knowledge choice right here, not even with eSIM, so that you’ll have to look elsewhere if that could be a dealbreaker. It’s not even an choice on the Pad 7 Professional so look to the likes of the Galaxy Tab S10 FE.
Cameras
- 13Mp rear
- 8Mp entrance
- 1080p for webcam utilization
The digital camera module in the back of the Pad 7 would possibly recommend you get a number of cameras and it wouldn’t be a stunning transfer from Xiaomi both contemplating gadgets just like the Xiaomi 15 Extremely.
Nevertheless, there’s the identical 13Mp digital camera because the Pad 6 and likewise the identical 8Mp entrance dealing with digital camera.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
As you would possibly count on from a pill costing this a lot, they’re effective and hopefully you gained’t want the rear digital camera a lot aside from maybe to scan the odd QR code or take some fundamental snaps of one thing you need to promote on-line.
The entrance digital camera is probably going extra vital so it’s at all times a disgrace this isn’t prioritised, nevertheless it presents excellent high quality together with 1080p for video calls. Nonetheless greater decision than most laptop computer webcams that are nonetheless caught, by some means, at 720p.
Battery Life & Charging
- 8850mAh
- Sooner 45W charging
The Pad 7 comes with a slightly bigger battery than its predecessor at 8850mAh. That’s solely 10mAh nevertheless it’s nonetheless a wholesome capability even when it didn’t change.
The determine from our typical PCMark battery benchmark isn’t very spectacular at simply six hours and 34 minutes. Nevertheless, that doesn’t line up with actual world utilization the place it’s best to count on to get round 10 hours of display time, relying on components like display brightness.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
A bigger improve on this space is charging which isn’t 45W and Xiaomi says you may get 40% cost in 30-minutes. The agency has undersold this as my testing with a Xiaomi adapter with greater than sufficient oomph (90W) noticed the pill attain a powerful 54% in half an hour.
Be aware that there isn’t a charger within the field, although, only a cable.
Software program & Apps
- Android 15
- HyperOS 2
- 4 years help
On the subject of software program, you get Android 15 with Xiaomi’s HyperOS 2 excessive. Whereas the corporate has improved on this space over the previous few years, it’s nonetheless one thing of a blended bag.
It’s like a hybrid of iPadOS and Android rivals, beginning with the Apple-esque wallpaper. After all, that’s simply changed however different parts aren’t such because the cut up notification and fast settings panels.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
It’s a lot simpler to familiarize yourself with than MIUI ever was and appears rather more visually pleasing, too. I just like the app bar on the backside which incorporates app solutions, and your Google Uncover feed is a swipe away from the homescreen.
There are a number of too many pre-installed apps, akin to LinkedIn, however you possibly can uninstall them with out a lot problem. Xiaomi contains loads of its personal, a few of that are duplicates of Google’s much better choices – the Mi Browser as a major instance – whereas others have potential just like the Mi Canvas for utilizing with the Focus Pen.
On the AI entrance (it’s 2025 in any case) Google Gemini is onboard in addition to Xiaomi HyperAI, although like its telephones, this isn’t applied very properly. You won’t even discover it within the settings menu and there’s no icon for it on the homepage both.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
HyperAI can theoretically assist with writing, artwork, speech and extra, however in all honesty, I simply didn’t come throughout it in my utilization. Particularly with Gemini baked in, most customers can have no want for each.
Happily, this 12 months Xiaomi has made a selected software program promise, which is 4 years. You will get longer with rivals like Samsung, nevertheless it’s much better than no promise and figuring out you’ll get to Android 19 is reassuring.
Value & Availability
As talked about on the prime, the Pad 7 is available in on the similar value as its predecessor. It’s £369 for the entry-level mannequin which will get you 128GB of storage and 8GB of RAM.
I’d advocate doubling the storage to 256GB as this mannequin is just £399.
These are the RRPs, however you possibly can already get £90 off from the Mi Retailer on each fashions, making them much more of a cut price, in addition to freebies and reductions on extras such because the Focus Pen.
You too can purchase it from Amazon UK and although, like most Xiaomi merchandise, you possibly can’t formally purchase it within the US, the worldwide model is offered on Amazon US for underneath $500.
The value is available in a bit greater than the freshly introduced fundamental iPad, which is £329, however lower than the additionally new iPad Air in its 11-inch dimension, which might set you again not less than £599.
By way of Android competitors, there are many choices such because the Google Pixel Pill, Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE and OnePlus Pad 2. All of that are dearer and don’t provide the identical worth for cash because the Pad 7.
Try extra choices in our checklist of the most effective tablets and greatest Android tablets.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Must you purchase the Xiaomi Pad 7?
In the event you’re searching for a superb worth Android pill then, sure, the Pad 7 completely suits the invoice.
It truly is a flagship-level pill in so some ways and there’s good probability that if you happen to purchase it from the official retailer, you’ll get it cheaper with issues thrown in at no cost and elective reductions on equipment.
Certain, there are different good choices on the market and if you would like the comfort of the most affordable iPad’s software program and app choice you gained’t be dissatisfied by taking place that route. Android rivals have benefits too like elective 5G if that’s vital or the Google Pixel’s speaker dock.
However if you happen to’re searching for a well-made, high-spec pill with out breaking the financial institution then the Pad 7 is the highest choice.
Specs
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 chipset
- 6/8GB RAM
- 128/256GB storage
- 11in 144Hz 2.8K (2880×1800) IPS LCD show
- Quad audio system
- 13Mp principal digital camera, f/2.2
- 8Mp entrance digital camera, f/2.2
- USB-C
- WiFi 6
- Bluetooth 5.2
- 8840mAh battery
- Wired charging as much as 33W
- 490g
- 253.9 x 166.2 x 6.5mm
- Android 13 with MIUI Pad 14