Xiaomi Pad 6 review

The Xiaomi Pad 6 was introduced in China right away after its announcement in April, but it has only just begun to spread to other countries. This one has caught our attention because it provides a well-rounded experience and a few inexpensive must-have accessories.

The unfussy unibody form of the Pad 6 and its somewhat sizable 11-inch display, which boasts a high resolution, 10-bit color depth, 144Hz refresh rate, and Dolby Vision certification, immediately catch your eye. Additionally, there are four Dolby Atmos speakers to go with that stunning display.

Xiaomi’s Pad 6 is equipped with a potent Snapdragon 870 chipset, 6GB or 8GB of RAM, and 128GB or 256GB of storage. This Pad 6 lacks cellular connectivity, so unless Xiaomi decides to make its Pro version available outside of China, you are out of luck.

The Pad 6 has Wi-Fi 6, a large 8840mAh battery with quick 33W cable charging, and it runs MIUI 14 on top of Android 13 with support for up to four active apps at once.

Additionally, Xiaomi offers a premium Cover cover, a magnetic Smart Pen, and a unique Keyboard case with a powerful magnetic attachment.

The Xiaomi Pad 6 appears to be a promising tablet that can be used for working, playing games, watching movies, and even going to school. Let’s investigate it!

Xiaomi Pad 6 specs:

• Body: 254.0×165.2×6.5mm, 490g; Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, aluminum back; Stylus support (magnetic).
• Display: 11.00″ IPS LCD, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 550 nits, 1800x2880px resolution, 14.4:9 aspect ratio, 309ppi.
• Chipset: Qualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm): Octa-core (1×3.2 GHz Kryo 585 & 3×2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4×1.80 GHz Kryo 585); Adreno 650.
• Memory: 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM; UFS 3.1.
• OS/Software: Android 13, MIUI 14.
• Rear camera: 13 MP, f/2.2, PDAF.
• Front camera: 8 MP, f/2.2, 1/4″, 1.12µm.
• Video capture: Rear camera: 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; Front camera: 1080p@30fps.
• Battery: 8840mAh; 33W wired, PD3.0, QC4.
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6; BT 5.2.
• Misc: Accelerometer, gyro, proximity (accessories only); stereo speakers (4 speakers).

The fingerprint scanner is the only glaring missing from the specs sheet that we can see. Although it’s not the most practical biometric security for a tablet, it makes online transactions and unlocks simpler. Of course, the choice is rarely available on midrange tablets.

Unboxing the Xiaomi Pad 6

iThe Xiaomi Pad 6 tablet, a USB cable, and a 33W charger with a USB-A connection are all included in the paper box.

Design

The Gorilla Glass 3 screen cover and aluminum unibody of the Xiaomi Pad 6 tablet make it a slim and light device. All surfaces of the matte aluminum are incredibly smooth to the touch and sufficiently grippy. The flat, 6.5mm-thin edges provide a strong grip and excellent handling.

The Pad 6 is a standard tablet with a sizable 11-inch screen that is interruption-free. The 144Hz dynamic refresh rate, HDR10, and Dolby Vision streaming are all supported by the IPS LCD panel’s 309ppi density. Should you choose to use the Bluetooth-enabled, magnetic Xiaomi stylus, there is also compatibility for the Smart Pen.

The screen bezels are uniformly small and thin enough all around. The front 8MP ultrawide-angle camera will be situated on top of the screen if you are holding the tablet in landscape mode with the USB-C port facing left. Due to its extra-wide field of vision, this camera features FocusFrame, a fancy name for subject tracking through cropping.

Given that we are still speaking in terms of landscape, the Tab 6 boasts four symmetrically arranged, equally potent speakers that enable Dolby Atmos.

The power/lock key is similarly located on the left side, adjacent to one of the speakers. There is no fingerprint reader or 3D face unlock on the tablet, hence there is no biometric security. You will need to use a PIN or password, but if you wish to set up 2D facial recognition or unlock with a Bluetooth accessory like a smartwatch, you can.

Between the two speakers on the right side are the USB-C port and one of the microphones.

On the bottom, nothing is present.

The volume control key, two microphones, and the magnetic pin for the add-on Smart Pen pen are all located on the top.

The back of the Xiaomi Pad 6 is largely pristine. The 13MP back camera, LED flash, and yet another microphone are all housed in a square, black shell. Because of this housing’s protrusion, the tablet will wobble slightly if you use it on a table without its case.

Additionally included are the three magnetic pins for the Keyboard case. The magnets are in fact as powerful as said, and we have never unintentionally disconnected the case.

Overall, we had a positive experience with the Xiaomi Pad 6 because it has a sturdy construction made of high-quality materials and a good grip for comfortable holding.

Accessories

Due of its simplicity and practicality, Xiaomi’s Smart Pen, now in its second generation, is undoubtedly the one accessory every Pad 6 user needs. The stylus boasts a 150-hour battery life and a 4096-level pressure sensitivity. When connected to the Pad 6, the Smart Pen can be charged magnetically and uses the battery to power itself. According to Xiaomi, a minute of charging can extend battery life by up to seven hours.

The Smart Pen (2nd Gen) can be used to paint, sketch, and take brief notes. It contains two buttons; the primary button is the one closest to the tip, and the secondary one is farther away.

The Notes app is immediately opened by the main, allowing you to quickly take a note while using the secondary to move between different nibs and colors. The second key can be used to designate a region and quickly screenshot it outside of the Notes app.

A webpage or a document can be scrolled using either of the two keys.

The 64-key Xiaomi Pad 6 Keyboard Case has a 1.3mm key travel. The keys are covered with a “special luminous ingredient” to make them glow a little bit more in low light when light is reflected off the tablet’s display. It allows custom shortcuts. That is Xiaomi’s replacement for backlit keys, which the company claims “can play havoc with the battery.”

The tablet fits snugly inside the case, and using it for typing or just watching movies is comfortable. If there is no PIN or password, it goes without saying that opening/closing the case will unlock/lock the tablet.

If you don’t require a keyboard, the Xiaomi Pad 6 Cover case offers greater versatility.

It includes two folds, allowing you to use it as a tablet stand at two different angles. There are also options for Smart Wake Up and Sleep upon open and closing.

Display

The stunning 11-inch IPS LCD screen on the Xiaomi Pad 6 offers a resolution of 2,880 x 1,800 pixels, or 309ppi. The monitor supports dynamic 144Hz refresh rate, Dolby Vision, and HDR10 streaming, as well as 10-bit color depth or 1B colors.

The screen is protected by a Gorilla Glass 3 sheet, has no notches, and covers the DCI-P3 color gamut. A color temperature sensor helps it as well so it can adjust the display’s color based on the lighting in the room.

The stunning 11-inch IPS LCD screen on the Xiaomi Pad 6 offers a resolution of 2,880 x 1,800 pixels, or 309ppi. The monitor supports dynamic 144Hz refresh rate, Dolby Vision, and HDR10 streaming, as well as 10-bit color depth or 1B colors.

The screen is protected by a Gorilla Glass 3 sheet, has no notches, and covers the DCI-P3 color gamut. A color temperature sensor helps it as well so it can adjust the display’s color based on the lighting in the room.

Color Accuracy

DCI-P3 and sRGB color spaces are supported by the Xiaomi Pad 6’s display. Three distinct color models are available in the display color options: Original PRO (sRGB by default), Vivid, and Saturated (DCI-P3 with saturation enhancement). Each mode’s color temperature can be precisely adjusted. Another choice is adaptive colors, which adjust the color temperature based on the surrounding light.

Additionally, there is a custom section where you may fine-tune colors, saturation, hue, contrast, and gamma as well as choose the color gamut (Original, P3, or sRGB).

With the exception of the slightly bluish-white and gray tones, the Original Pro (default) option reproduces sRGB correctly and is fairly accurate in our testing. The same is true for Vivid’s DCI-P3 targets.

We also examined the options under the Advanced Settings; P3 and sRGB both have a blue tint over the colors white and gray, but they both offer good accuracy. Compared to the Original Color from the Standard display settings, the Original Color from Advanced Settings is slightly more accurate toward sRGB objectives.

Refresh rate

There are two refresh modes: Default (automatic switching behavior) and Custom (select from 144Hz, 90Hz, or 60Hz refresh ceilings), and the display offers refresh rates of up to 144Hz.

According to Xiaomi, the screen is capable of seven refresh rates: 30Hz, 48Hz, and 60Hz for streaming, 50Hz for standby images, and 90Hz, 120Hz, and 144Hz for the system interface, benchmarks, games, and customized apps.

When the screen displays static, the adaptive refresh rate dips to 50Hz, as promised.

Depending on the FPS, we saw all three refresh rates (30/48/60) in video playing and streaming: 30Hz was used for 30fps films, 48Hz for 24fps material, and 60Hz for 60fps streams.

We can confirm that the UI, games, benchmarks, and supported HFR apps utilise the screen at 90Hz, 120Hz, and 144Hz, depending on the refresh rate ceiling.

With the exception of web browsers, games, and benchmarks, the Automatic refresh rate setting often limits most apps to a 60Hz ceiling while maintaining the UI’s 144Hz maximum.

Display enhancements

Two AI Image Engine functions are available on the Xiaomi Pad 6 (both are by default disabled). The first method is AI HDR enhancement, which adds more detail to both lighter and darker portions of SDR content through some type of processing.

The second one is MEMC, which converts low frame rate video to high frame rate footage. In some movies and TV shows, the latter results in a soap opera-like impression, so if you sense something is off, like things is moving too quickly or seems too genuine, just avoid using MEMC.

HDR and streaming

Widevine L1 DRM support is included into the Xiaomi Pad 6, and Full HD streaming with HDR10 and Dolby Vision support is accessible on several well-known platforms, including Netflix.

Battery life

An 8,840mAh battery powers the Xiaomi Pad 6. Xiaomi claims that it should be sufficient for 27 days of standby, 65 hours of music playback, 16 hours of video playback, or 23 hours of reading.

On our battery test, the Pad 6 scored 11:31 hours of web browsing and 12:34 hours of looped movie playback. Given that many pills can provide endurances of less than 10 hours, these results are actually quite good.

Since standby battery consumption is taken into account in our calculation for phones, we do not calculate ratings for tablet endurance. We concentrate on the active screen-on testing rather than using the same technique for tablets with their larger batteries because their sleep power use is negligible.

The video playing test was performed at 60Hz, whereas the web browsing test used a 144Hz refresh rate setting.

Charging speed

The Xiaomi Pad 6 comes with a power adapter that supports 33W fast charging and has a USB-A output.

The Xiaomi Pad 6 charged to 20% in our testing in 15 minutes, to 38% in 30 minutes, and to 100% in 90 minutes. It’s interesting that Xiaomi claims 99% in 99 minutes, however our charging time was a little bit faster.

Speakers

On its shorter sides (2×2) of the Xiaomi Pad 6, four speakers are symmetrically positioned. They support Dolby Atmos and are similarly loud and powerful.

In our test for loudness, the Pad 6 received a Very Good rating, and we can attest that the sound is noticeably loud. Even better, the audio quality was fantastic, featuring great vocals and thud as well as good but not great high frequencies.

The default setting for Dolby Atmos was used during the test. When we tested it again without Dolby Atmos, the speakers lacked bottom, had deteriorated vocals, and produced the same highs. We advise continuing to use this enhancement because of this.

Software

On top of Android 13 is MIUI 14, which powers the Xiaomi Pad 6. Although there are a few improvements, like as landscape orientation (with two-column spilt in some apps) and improved multi-tasking, MIUI for tablets isn’t all that different from MIUI for phones.

The Pad 6 lacks biometric security, thus you must use a PIN or password, a 2D face unlock that is less secure, or Bluetooth accessory recognition. There is no option for an always-on display.

All of your apps are on your homescreens (an alternative app drawer is available), and MIUI 14 supports widgets, huge folders, and quick shortcuts (touch and hold an app to access these). The Google Discover page is designed with large screens in mind.

In order to take use of the wide screen and great resolution, several programs enable a two-column view.

Similar to the majority of modern tablets, the dock at the bottom of the screen has Recently Opened apps in the left corner.

The foundational apps you may need to get started are also included with MIUI: Camera, Gallery, Videos, Notes, Recorder, Weather, File Manager, and Security Manager.

The Xiaomi Pad 6’s multitasking is its most crucial feature, therefore let’s talk about that.

The task manager displays numerous app cards simultaneously and has been designed for large screens. Split Screen and Floating Window options become available when you tap and hold a card. Additionally, each card has a Floating Window shortcut that is constantly displayed.

Two gray lines will be shown on either side of the white gesture line in the app. Swiping over them reveals the dock and the list of recently used apps.

Split screen functions as predicted in both orientations, and if you go to the Task Switcher, you even get a Split Screen card.

Up to two floating windows can be open at once. Oh, and those two can run concurrently with two split-screen apps, so the Pad 6 can run up to four apps in multi-tasking mode on a single screen. Nice!

In settings, there is a separate Features for Tablets menu. Here, you may pick up some cool multitasking gestures for split-screen and floating windows. If you have a Xiaomi phone, you can smoothly exchange files by making its screen and file system visible from the tablet from this section (Connected Devices). The last option is Conference Tools, a little sidebar that appears while watching videos.

If you have purchased one or more of these extra accessories, the menu for the stylus and keyboard is also available, and you can make some settings from here.

The Smart Pen is quite helpful for making notes and doodles while on the go and for taking personalized screenshots.

Performance

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 870 chipset powers the Xiaomi Pad 6. The SD870 has an octa-core CPU with a 1+3+4 arrangement, the prime core of which can run at a maximum speed of 3.2GHz. The visuals are handled by the Adreno 650, which ought to provide flagship-level performance, including HFR gaming.

The Pad 6 comes in three main LPDDR5 RAM and UFS3.1 storage configurations: 6GB RAM + 128GB (our model), 8GB RAM + 128GB, and 8GB RAM + 256GB.

Even if its performance isn’t the best in its price category, the Xiaomi Pad 6 nevertheless provides more than adequate value. Its processor and graphics are sufficient for a fluid user interface, multitasking, and fluid gaming experience.The sustained performance, which we also tested, is great. The tablet received remarkable scores of 94% for CPU stability and 82% for GPU stability.

Finally, the tablet’s heat dissipation system worked perfectly because there were no hot spots on the unibody.

Camera

Both the front and back cameras of the Xiaomi Pad 6 are single. A 13MP OV13B 1/3.06″ sensor with 1.12 m pixels is used on the back. It has a 28mm f/2.2 lens and supports autofocus as well as 4K video recording.

The front camera has an exceptionally wide 18mm f/2.3 lens and an 8MP 1/4″ SK Hynix Hi-846 sensor with 1.12 m pixels. This camera features the FocusFrame function, which uses intelligent on-the-fly cropping to keep you focused during video chats. And if someone else enters the frame, the viewing angle will change to make room for them and then change back again once they leave. Neat!

The camera app has the typical MIUI branding, but has been scaled down for the big screen. In either portrait or landscape configuration, the right thumb is always easily able to press the shutter release button, and side swipes in the viewfinder make it simple to change modes.

Daylight Photos

The 13MP back camera is evidence that excellent pictures can be taken without constantly using a sophisticated sensor and cutting-edge technology. This 13MP imager produces outstanding daylight images with a lot of resolved detail, low noise, strong contrast, realistic colors, and a wide dynamic range.

Low-light photos

Even though the noise is not as low as we would have liked, the Auto HDR always activates in low light and saves decent photographs with nice colors and adequate dynamic range. However, once Night Mode is activated, you will obtain photographs that are noise-free, have an enhanced dynamic range, and have more vibrant colors.

Our verdict

The 6/128 edition of the Xiaomi Pad 6 starts at €399, which is a very alluring pricing. With an enhanced aluminum unibody design, a higher-resolution and higher refresh rate display, faster hardware and charging, and some fantastic first-party accessories, it is a good upgrade over the €329 Xiaomi Pad 5.

The Pad 6 is perfect for multimedia of any kind, offers fantastic on-the-go gaming, and thanks to the color temperature sensor and automated screen changes, its 11″ Dolby Vision display is great even for reading books. Dolby Atmos and four strong speakers enhance the already fantastic experience.

The software is extremely intuitive and gives superb multitasking features despite being rather tidy. Additionally, you may use the Pad 6 for some productivity with the help of the Smart Pen (€100) and the Keyboard Cover (around €100).

The Xiaomi Pad 6 has a brilliant display, excellent speakers, and a surprisingly high-quality camera. It is also quick and powerful. Additionally, the battery life is good, and although not the fastest, the charging speed has improved since the previous model.

Overall, it’s simple to recommend the Xiaomi Pad 6. Another reason to enjoy it is the affordable price.

Pro’s & Con’s