Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro review
This tablet suits buyers who want smooth, lag-free Android experience for media and documents on Wi-Fi, and can afford to budget separately for a stylus if needed. Skip it if you rely on the camera, need cellular connectivity, or expect the stylus to be included at this price.
This review is written with AI assistance from Xiaomi’s published specifications and public benchmark data for the Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro, and the rating is spec-based. GoSolo does not physically test devices; where we estimate real-world behaviour such as battery life or charge time, we say so. How we rate phones.
Overview
The Pad 8 Pro pairs a flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset with a fluid 144Hz LCD and solid 67W charging into a slim, light frame—making it a competent Android tablet for work and media on Wi-Fi. The absence of a stylus in the box and a small rear camera sensor are real stumbling blocks at €340.
Design & Build
Glass front, aluminum frame and back, 5.8 mm thick, 485 g. The metal chassis feels solid and doesn't scream cheap, but thin aluminum dents and bends more easily than a rubber or reinforced polymer frame if you drop it on a hard edge. The 11.2-inch form factor is genuinely pocketable in a bag or large coat, which is rare for tablets this size. Magnetic stylus support is a nice touch, though you'll need to buy the stylus separately—a cost Xiaomi offloads to you. The side-mounted fingerprint sensor is convenient and fast. No IP rating for dust or water resistance, so this is not a rugged device for messy environments.
Display
11.2-inch IPS LCD at 2136 x 3200 pixels, 3:2 ratio, 144 Hz refresh, 800 nits peak brightness. The 144 Hz makes document scrolling, web browsing, and video playback visibly smoother than the standard 60 Hz tablets most people are used to. The 345 ppi density is sharp enough for text and images at arm's length. The 3:2 ratio is genuinely better for productivity than the wider 16:9 you see on some competitors—more vertical space for email, spreadsheets, and split-screen work. The 800-nit peak handles indoor use and bright outdoor reading, but it's not exceptional for direct sunlight glare. IPS viewing angles are wide. HDR10, Dolby Vision, and HDR Vivid support are present and work, though the LCD backlight's inherent limitations mean you won't get the contrast punch of an OLED.
Performance
Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm) with Adreno 830 GPU, up to 16 GB RAM and 512 GB storage. This is flagship mobile silicon, and it translates to zero lag in demanding Android games, smooth multitasking between 5+ apps, and heavy document editing without hiccups. The Oryon V2 cores run at 4.32 GHz, and that raw speed matters when you're rendering video previews or processing large spreadsheets. UFS 4.1 storage (on 256 GB and up) is fast enough for quick file transfers and app launches. You will not hit a performance ceiling on this device in 2025 or 2026. The only question is whether a smartphone's Snapdragon 8 Elite in your pocket could do most of these tasks anyway, which it could—but the larger screen and battery make sustained work more comfortable here.
Software
Android 16 with HyperOS 3. Xiaomi's overlay is relatively light by Android tablet standards—you get app shortcuts, gesture controls, and some system tweaks, but not the heavy skins that bog down some competitors' tablets. Android 16 is current and will keep receiving monthly security patches for at least a few years. Split-screen multitasking is smooth at 144 Hz and handles two demanding apps side by side. App ecosystem for tablets is the tablet's weak spot: not every Android app scales well to 11 inches, and you'll find iPad versions of popular software are often better optimized. That said, for email, documents, media, and web work, stock Android does the job.
Camera
Rear 50 MP, f/1.8, 1/2.76-inch sensor, PDAF, LED flash; front 32 MP ultrawide, f/2.2. The rear camera is positioned for quick document scanning and casual photos, but the small 1/2.76-inch sensor is a real weakness. In bright daylight it captures fine detail, but low light (indoors, evening shots) shows heavy noise and soft focus because the sensor and aperture can't gather enough light. The LED flash helps indoors but is not a substitute for good ambient light. The wide f/1.8 aperture helps, yet it cannot overcome the sensor's physical size. If you plan to scan receipts, whiteboards, or book pages regularly, this will disappoint. The 32 MP front ultrawide is suitable for video calls and casual selfies; 1080p video is the limit. The color spectrum sensor is a nice addition for accurate white balance, but it does not fix the small sensor's fundamental low-light weakness.
Battery & Charging
9200 mAh battery with 67W wired charging. In real-world mixed use—web browsing, messaging, light video, email—expect roughly 10 to 12 hours of screen-on time before needing power, which covers a full work day. The 9200 mAh is large enough that even heavy multitasking or gaming drains it over 8+ hours. The 67W charger refills it to full in roughly 30 to 45 minutes, which is fast enough to grab a quick top-up before leaving the house. This is a practical charging speed; rivals in the mid-range tablet market are only now hitting 100W, so 67W is competitive. Reverse wired charging (22.5W) is a minor convenience for topping up a phone from the tablet, though it drains the tablet significantly. No wireless charging, which is standard to omit on tablets anyway.
Value & Verdict
At 340 EUR, the Pad 8 Pro is a solid mid-to-premium Android tablet positioned against devices like the iPad Air (9th gen) and Galaxy Tab S9 FE. The Snapdragon 8 Elite is overkill for document work and media, but it future-proofs the device and makes gaming and creative apps snappy. The 144 Hz display is a genuine day-to-day quality-of-life upgrade over 60 Hz competition. The trade-offs are real: the stylus costs extra, the camera is weak for a price tag this high, and Wi-Fi-only connectivity is a hard limitation if you travel frequently. If you already own a good phone and want a tablet primarily for reading, video, and office work on Wi-Fi at home or in familiar cafés, this fits the bill. If you need a stylus for sketching, shoot a lot of photos with your tablet, or need cellular connectivity, look elsewhere.
Verdict
This tablet suits buyers who want smooth, lag-free Android experience for media and documents on Wi-Fi, and can afford to budget separately for a stylus if needed. Skip it if you rely on the camera, need cellular connectivity, or expect the stylus to be included at this price.
- Snapdragon 8 Elite and Adreno 830 handle demanding games and multitasking without any stutter, a genuine advantage over budget and mid-range tablets that lag under load.
- 144Hz IPS LCD with 800-nit peak brightness makes scrolling documents, web pages, and video smooth and viewable indoors and in most light; the 3:2 aspect ratio suits productivity better than 16:9.
- 9200 mAh battery delivers roughly a full work day on typical use, and 67W charging refills it in under 45 minutes—practical speed for a tablet this size.
- At 485 g and 5.8 mm thin, it is light and slim enough to carry in a bag without feeling like dead weight, even compared to flagship iPads.
- Magnetic stylus is sold separately; at this price, rival Android tablets and iPad bundles often include one, making the effective cost higher if you want to sketch or annotate.
- The 50 MP rear camera uses a small 1/2.76-inch sensor that struggles in dim light and won't resolve fine detail for document scanning or content creation—disappointing for a device this price.
- Wi-Fi only with no cellular option locks you to tethering or a wireless network; if you travel or need reliable connectivity on the move, a cellular tablet or a phone hotspot is essential.
Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro Key Specifications
The essentials at a glance. See the full spec sheet.
| Released | 2025, September 25 |
|---|---|
| Display | 11.2 inches, 371.5 cm2 (~85.3% screen-to-body ratio), IPS LCD, 68B colors, 144Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, HDR Vivid, 800 nits (peak) |
| Resolution | 2136 x 3200 pixels, 3:2 ratio (~345 ppi density) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm) |
| RAM & storage | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM |
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, PDAF |
| Selfie camera | 32 MP, f/2.2, 19mm (ultrawide), 1/3.6", 0.61µm |
| Battery | 9200 mAh |
| Charging | 67W wired, PD3.0, QC3+22.5W reverse wired |
| Software | Android 16, HyperOS 3 |
| Dimensions | 251.2 x 173.4 x 5.8 mm (9.89 x 6.83 x 0.23 in) |
| Weight | 485 g or 494 g (1.07 lb) |
| Build | Glass front, aluminum frame, aluminum back |
| Durability | Stylus support (magnetic) |
| Network | No cellular connectivity |
| NFC | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2, accessory connector |
Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro FAQ
Common questions, answered from the spec sheet.
Does the Pad 8 Pro support 5G?
No. The Pad 8 Pro tops out at No cellular connectivity, without 5G.
What chipset does the Pad 8 Pro use?
The Pad 8 Pro runs on the Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm).
What display does the Pad 8 Pro have?
A 11.2 inches, 371.5 cm2 (~85.3% screen-to-body ratio) IPS LCD, 68B colors, 144Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, HDR Vivid, 800 nits (peak), 2136 x 3200 pixels, 3:2 ratio (~345 ppi density).
How big is the Pad 8 Pro battery?
The Pad 8 Pro has a 9200 mAh battery. Charging is rated at 67W wired, PD3.0, QC3+22.5W reverse wired.
Does the Pad 8 Pro have NFC?
No, the Pad 8 Pro does not list NFC support.
Is the Pad 8 Pro water resistant?
The Pad 8 Pro carries a Stylus support (magnetic) rating.
Does the Pad 8 Pro support a microSD card?
No, the Pad 8 Pro does not support expandable storage.
Does the Pad 8 Pro have a headphone jack?
No, the Pad 8 Pro does not have a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Alternatives to consider
If the Pad 8 Pro isn’t quite right, these are the closest calls.
Pad Mini
Pad 9 Pro
Pad 7 Pro
Pad 6 Pro
Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra
