The Xiaomi Pad 5 is probably the best Android tablet priced under RM2,000

During the 11T series launch event, Xiaomi has also introduced the Pad 5 tablet for the global market. It packs quite impressive hardware such as a flagship-class processor, 120Hz display, and quad-speakers for less than RM2,000.

The Pad 5 comes with an 11″ display that pushes a QuadHD+ resolution of 2560×1600 pixels and supports DCI-P3 and Dolby Vision. It has a brightness of 500nits and pushes a high refresh rate of 120Hz.

Under the hood, it runs on a 7nm, Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 processor with 4GB of LPDDR4X RAM. Onboard, it uses UFS 3.1 storage in either 128GB or 256GB storage options.

The tablet also supports the Xiaomi Smart Pen which has 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity and a 240Hz sampling rate. Similar to the 2nd gen Apple Pencil, it can charge wirelessly when it is attached to the sides of the tablet. A quick 10-second charge is rated to provide 20 minutes of usage. A full charge takes 18 minutes and it can last up to 8 hours of non-stop usage.

For now, it seems that Xiaomi is only offering the WiFi version for the global market. In China, they do offer a cellular version and there’s also a higher-spec Xiaomi Pad 5 Pro which runs on a higher Snapdragon 870 with 5G connectivity.

For imaging, it gets a 13MP main camera at the rear and a front-facing 8MP shooter. For a more immersive audio experience, the Xiaomi Pad 5 is equipped with quad-speakers that support Dolby Atmos. In terms of connectivity, it supports 5GHz 802.11ac WiFi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0.

Powering the tablet is a 8,720mAh battery which is rated to provide over 16 hours of video playback or more than 10 hours of gaming on a single charge. It charges via USB-C and a 22.5W power adapter is included in the box.

The Pad 5 is offered in Pearl White and Cosmic Grey. Out of the box, it runs on Android with MIUI for Pad skin on top. Below is the recommended retail price for the European market:

• 6GB RAM + 128GB storage – EUR 349 (about RM1,713)
• 6GB RAM + 256GB storage – EUR 399 (about RM1,958)

There are no official Malaysian pricing and availability details for the Xiaomi Pad 5 at the moment. Since European pricing typically costs a lot more, expect the local pricing to be cheaper when it goes on sale in Malaysia. When it comes to Android tablets, the Pad 5’s closest competitor is the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE which is priced from RM1,899. The new Samsung tablet runs on a Snapdragon 778G processor and has a 12.4″ QuadHD+ screen without the 120Hz refresh rate.

You can learn more about the device on the global product page.