Tablets under 10 thousand crowns seem to have a new king
It is the Xiaomi Pad 6, a basic multimedia tablet from the Chinese manufacturer
It offers a lot of performance for games, for work and lasts for 4 days
Xiaomi launched its latest tablet called the Pad 6 on the Czech market. It is the successor to last year’s 5th generation, which purely according to the specifications offers performance sufficient for various multimedia activities, a decent display, four speakers, and the quality selection of original accessories also deserves a separate mention. It looks like the manufacturer is once again showing its strength in terms of price and quality.
Xiaomi Pad 6 is offered on the Czech market in two memory variants: 6/128 GB costs CZK 8,990, and 8/256 GB costs CZK 9,990. Both prices include VAT. It is available in dark gray and gold. And it was the second named version that arrived at our editorial office.
Design and processing
The device comes in a flat box, where, in addition to the 11″ plate, there is also appropriate literature, a USB-A/USB-C cable and a 33W charging adapter. Honestly, nothing out of the ordinary, but it’s good that Xiaomi keeps its style even with tablets and brings a full package including a charger.
The manufacturer’s handwriting can be seen on the tablet itself, although there is not much room for excessive creativity with the large aluminum plate. The body is 6.5 millimeters thin, measuring 254 millimeters in height and 165.2 millimeters in width. The weight without packaging or case is 490 grams, so it is not a big problem to carry it in a bag or backpack together with a light laptop.
The back is mainly dominated by the photo module, which is designed in the style of the Xiaomi 13 series, so geometric lines separate the camera from the LED backlight. It’s a shame that the photo module sticks out a lot and this fact sometimes makes working with the tablet on the table more difficult.
All around, the device is more interesting than any phone. In the lower middle is the USB-C port and next to it a pair of symmetrically placed speakers. On the upper, opposite side, there is a second pair of speakers. They boast support for the Dolby Atmos standard, and it must be admitted that the sound is really very good – clear and loud enough, perfect for playing movies. There’s also a power button, unfortunately without an integrated fingerprint reader.
The left side (in portrait orientation) is bare, while the right side offers both a cradle for volume control and microphones, as well as a magnetic surface for attaching a stylus. Of course, there will be more to talk about. The absence of a SIM card slot will freeze, so you will have to be content only with a Wi-Fi connection when using it; the tablet does not recognize eSIM either.
Display, performance and equipment
The Xiaomi Pad 6 comes with a conventional flat LCD display with an 11″ diagonal. You can hardly expect anything better than IPS LCD in this price range, so so far so good. In addition, Xiaomi has support for HDR10 and Dolby Vision formats and up to 144Hz refresh rate (you can choose between 60, 90 and 144 Hz or the default dynamic).
The display and performance are more than sufficient for playing games. The selfie camera is hidden in the frame around the display
The resolution of 1800 × 2880 pixels is also relatively conventional, which together with an aspect ratio of 16:10 amounts to a fineness of 309 pixels per inch. However, the maximum brightness of 550 nits freezes a little, which is not enough for working in direct sunlight, and in the interior, at the maximum brightness setting, the colors turn strangely pale. I will also add the equally important information that the edges around the display are 7 millimeters.
The big win for Xiaomi is the chosen hardware and especially the performance unit. The Chinese manufacturer did not experiment in any way and bet on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 870 with a maximum clock speed of 3.2 GHz and an Adreno 650 graphics accelerator. The power generated by the tandem component is more than enough for browsing the Internet, working, and playing. At the same time, the large display allows you to easily edit photos or videos.
Other equipment includes Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, USB-C 3.2 and pins for connecting the keyboard. On the other hand, something is missing: GPS, 3.5 mm audio connector (reduction not included), fingerprint reader and NFC. Similarly, Xiaomi does not offer the basic variant of the tablet with a SIM card slot for calls and data transfers. In terms of connectivity, there is not so much joy.
Battery life and charging
Considering that you use the tablet less during the day, or at least differently than the phone, the completely different endurance must also be taken into account. Xiaomi Pad 6 has an 8840mAh lithium-polymer battery that supports Power Delivery 3.0 and Quick Charge 4.0 standards, and on top of that, 33W charging with the included adapter. This will charge the device from 1 to 100% in about 90 minutes.
Honestly, a tablet can last you 7 days or just 7 hours – it really depends on how you use it. I primarily consumed the content on it, mainly in the morning. In the afternoon, some work, a short play of PUBG Mobile or Payday: Crime War, and finally some YouTube videos or a 60-minute series from Disney+. As a result, the tablet lasted me 3-4 long days in this mode, which is an excellent result.
MIUI – a system more for play than work
The MIUI operating system on the Xiaomi Pad 6 tablet has its advantages, but also pitfalls. To begin with, it is worth mentioning that inside the tablet, customers will find Android 13 with the July security patch and the MIUI 14.0.3 graphics superstructure.
MIUI 14 operating system
MIUI is actually what we know from Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco mobile phones. The graphic superstructure is colorful, it bets a lot on its own native applications and distinctive design elements, such as the control center à la Apple or specifically arranged items in the settings.
For me personally, Xiaomi’s operating system is rather disappointing. The main element that distinguishes the standard MIUI from the tablet version is the bottom panel with saved and recently launched applications. From here you can also turn on the split screen, floating windows and other multitasking elements, which we also know from much cheaper mobile phones.
The Xiaomi tablet is also more multimedia oriented in terms of the system. A more demanding audience will look for a more advanced interface with windows, a screen divided into four (not just two) applications running at the same time, and other goodies offered by the competition (for example, Samsung DeX). The performance would be up to it, so Xiaomi is only limited by the restrained operating system.
Accessories you (don’t) need
What kind of tablet would it be without valuable accessories that more or less significantly expand the possibilities of its use. Xiaomi sells a duo of interesting accessories for the Pad 6 on the Czech market. The first of them is an original stylus called Smartpen, which costs CZK 1,999 including VAT.
Xiaomi does not hide its inspiration from Apple, so hopefully no one will mind if I compare this stylus in terms of design and partly also processing to the 2nd generation Apple Pencil. The pencil holds well, it is all round, only part is flattened to magnetically stick to the tablet chassis. It sits on the right side in portrait orientation and supports wireless charging.
You can use the stylus primarily for drawing and painting, but also for more detailed editing of photos and videos. There are also a pair of buttons on its body: one immediately launches the notepad, the other makes a clipping on the desktop.
And then there’s the keyboard. This is part of the universal magnetic case made of vegan leather. When closed, the keyboard covers the display, when open, the tablet fits into the groove and you can comfortably write on it. The keyboard has a low profile, but a fairly firm press and is quiet. Longer texts can be written on it without errors.
I also praise the whole range of functional keys, such as controlling the player, adjusting the volume or opening the dock with favorite applications. The only major flaw is that the keyboard does not have Czech stickers (it is QWERTY and there are only numbers at the top), although it is officially sold by a domestic Xiaomi representative. The case with the keyboard will also cost CZK 1,999 including tax.
Camera and video
The camera is always a bit “up to the mark” on tablets. There is actually only a 13Mpx main sensor with phase focus and f/2.2 aperture. The photo application also offers a night mode and a document scanner, HDR, AI enhancement and LED backlight.
The camera somehow corresponds to its purpose – in the equipment it is more like an emergency kit. The quality is fluctuating, in addition, it has a relatively long shutter, so any moving object will be captured very blurry. In the case of taking pictures during the day and at night, I recommend reaching for a smartphone; any model with a price of around 5,000 crowns will do you a better job.
Tip: all test images in full resolution can be found here
There is also a selfie camera on the front, which is mainly used for video calls. It has a resolution of 8 Mpx, the software can add a bokeh effect to a video or photo, and the transmission itself is offered in Full HD resolution at 30 fps. In contrast, the rear camera also handles 4K at 30 fps, or Full HD at 30 or 60 fps.
Final assessment
The Xiaomi Pad 6 is a very worthy successor to the previous models of this basic tablet line. It has high performance, a decent display and also a very good durability. Unfortunately, due to the absence of any productivity mode in the MIUI system, it is more of a multimedia device than a work device in itself – it is mainly suitable for gaming, playing movies on the go and all kinds of content consumption.
However, it is worth noting that, compared to the competition, it offers a really excellent price-quality ratio with a price of up to 10,000 crowns. Its value is then increased by original accessories, such as a case with a keyboard and a stylus. However, it must be taken into account that acquisition costs also increase with this.
The Lenovo Tab P12 is also sold for the same money, but it does not have such high-quality equipment. The same can be said about another competitor, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite. However, both mentioned rivals offer a stylus directly in the package, which you have to buy additionally from Xiaomi.
Of all three, Samsung has a big advantage in that it supports nanoSIM cards. You will miss this form of connectivity with Xiaomi, it can easily limit you in cases where you don’t have Wi-Fi or a hotspot from your phone at hand.
Xiaomi Pad 6
Design and processing
8.8/10
Performance and optimization
9.0/10
Hardware equipment
7.3/10
Photo and video quality
7.0/10
Pros
pleasant, minimalist design high-quality display with 144Hz frequency high performance for games, but also for work endurance and 33W charger in the package nice price
Cons
no eSIM support or slot for nanoSIM, no fingerprint reader, the MIUI system is not suitable for work, the stylus is not included (as with competitors) Author of the article
Jakub Fischer
Journalist, fan of modern technology, summer months and Asian food. I like Lynch movies, Pollock paintings, french house and Arsenal football club. In my spare time, I play PlayStation and go jogging.
2023-09-02 17:30:00
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