Xiaomi Pad Mini Review: The Compact Tablet That Punches Above Its Weight

Xiaomi has re-entered the compact tablet market with the launch of the Xiaomi Pad Mini, a device designed to offer portability without sacrificing high-end features. For years, Apple’s iPad mini has dominated this niche, but Xiaomi clearly intends to challenge that dominance with a product that blends style, raw performance, and competitive pricing.

Our hands-on unit is the 12GB RAM and 512GB storage version in a sleek Grey finish.

Out of the box, Xiaomi includes a 67W fast charger and a USB-A to USB-C cable. Unlike many competitors that skip chargers in the name of sustainability, Xiaomi provides one that ensures the Pad Mini reaches top-up speeds quickly, a crucial addition for users constantly on the go.

The Pad Mini Cover and Focus Pen are optional accessories but add significant value. The cover, in clean white, combines a 1.3mm PC shell with a softer PU layer for comfort. A clever rubber band on the back, secured with metal rivets, doubles as both a hand strap and a kickstand, making landscape viewing more enjoyable. The Focus Pen supports 8,192 pressure levels and a 240Hz touch sampling rate, which means note-taking and sketching feel precise. Its trio of buttons are programmable for quick tasks like screenshots or searches. It also magnetically snaps to the tablet’s side, making pairing seamless. Importantly, the pen is cross-compatible with Xiaomi’s larger Pad 6S Pro and Pad 7 models, which suggests Xiaomi is trying to create an integrated accessory ecosystem.

The Xiaomi Pad Mini’s screen is one of its headline features: an 8.8-inch IPS LCD panel with a sharp 1880x3008px resolution, buttery smooth 165Hz refresh rate, HDR10, and Dolby Vision. It achieves up to 700 nits of brightness, enough to remain visible in outdoor conditions. This panel alone positions the Pad Mini not just as a compact productivity tool but also as a serious entertainment device.

Performance is handled by the 3nm MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ chipset, a choice that stirred discussion among enthusiasts who would have preferred a Snapdragon option. Xiaomi’s decision to place the SoC in the middle of the chassis is unusual but effective: it keeps the tablet balanced in hand and distributes heat more evenly. While some users may lament the absence of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, the Dimensity chip delivers high efficiency and smooth performance across productivity apps and gaming.

Connectivity is another strength. The tablet includes two USB-C ports: one optimized for DisplayPort 1.4 video output in landscape mode, and another dedicated to charging and data transfer. This dual-port setup means you can charge while also connecting a monitor, mouse, or other USB-C device – a versatility not common in compact tablets.

Storage and RAM options are generous for this size category: 8GB/256GB and 12GB/512GB. Color choices are Purple or Gray. Pricing is aggressive compared to rivals, with Singapore starting at SGD 799, the UAE at AED 1,599, and Malaysia at 1,999 MYR. This makes the Pad Mini not only a competitor to Apple’s iPad mini but also a cheaper alternative to ZTE’s nubia Red Magic Astra or Lenovo’s Legion Y700 series – though the latter still lacks a proper global release.

Ultimately, the Xiaomi Pad Mini is a compact powerhouse that aims to undercut Apple on price while outmatching it in specs. Its accessory ecosystem, high refresh display, and dual USB-C setup make it an unusually complete package in this segment. Whether global users will embrace it depends on availability and whether Xiaomi keeps up support outside its home market. But one thing is clear: competition in the compact tablet space has finally heated up.