- The Xiaomi Pad Mini is an 8.8-inch Android tablet designed to rival the iPad mini.
- It has a sharper 165Hz display, strong performance, and a large battery.
- Smart accessories like the Focus Pen and haptic feedback improve usability.
- The tablet is not launching in the US, UK, or Australia despite strong demand.
For years the iPad mini has dominated the compact tablet space. It has been the go-to device for anyone who wanted a small but powerful tablet. Now Xiaomi has stepped up with the Xiaomi Pad Mini, a new contender that feels like it was designed to challenge Apple’s small tablet directly.
The Xiaomi Pad Mini is an 8.8-inch Android tablet that combines premium design with strong performance. At first glance it looks like a serious rival to the iPad mini. Unfortunately for many fans, it is not launching in key Western markets.
A Compact Device With Big Power
The Xiaomi Pad Mini is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9400 Plus chipset. This is a mobile chip but it delivers top-tier performance. Buyers can choose between two models. One comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The other offers 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.
The higher-end version feels especially fast. Apps launch quickly and multitasking is smooth. Even games like Call of Duty Mobile run without lag.
The display is one of the biggest highlights. The 8.8-inch screen has a resolution of 1880 by 3008 pixels. It gets up to 700 nits of brightness and supports a 165Hz refresh rate. That is sharper, brighter, and much smoother than the current iPad mini screen.
Its 16:10 aspect ratio makes it perfect for streaming videos. The speakers also deliver clear and surprisingly powerful sound for a device of this size.
Premium Experience at a Competitive Price
The Xiaomi Pad Mini is expected to sell for around 500 dollars in some markets. In the UK it would be about 450 pounds and in Australia about 900 Australian dollars. That price puts it firmly in the mid-premium range.
Despite the cost, the tablet feels refined and smooth in everyday use. The size is ideal for many users. At 8.8 inches it is more portable than an 11-inch iPad Pro but still capable enough for work and play.
The tablet runs on Xiaomi HyperOS 2, a customized version of Android 15. The software includes floating windows for easier multitasking and even supports external monitors through DisplayPort. That is made possible by one of the two USB-C ports. The long-edge port supports DisplayPort 1.4 while the short-edge port handles data transfer. Both can charge the device.
Battery life is another strong point. The Pad Mini has a battery that is about 50 percent larger than the one in the iPad mini. That means longer use between charges.
Smart Extras Make It Even More Useful
The Xiaomi Pad Mini includes a 13MP rear camera that can record 4K video at 30 frames per second. The selfie camera is wide-angled, which is useful for video calls, although some might find it too wide.
One surprising feature is haptic feedback. This is not common in tablets. It makes the device feel more responsive and phone-like, which adds to its appeal as a portable gadget.
Xiaomi also offers a range of accessories. The Xiaomi Pad Mini Cover snaps onto the back and includes a rubber strap that can act as a handle or a kickstand. It is not as stable as the kickstands on some rivals but it is simple and light.
The Xiaomi Focus Pen is another accessory that stands out. It feels similar to the Apple Pencil but has extra buttons that allow for quick tool changes. Writing and drawing with the pen on the Pad Mini is smooth and accurate. It works particularly well with Xiaomi’s Mi Canvas app for sketching and note-taking.
Availability Limits Its Global Impact
The biggest drawback of the Xiaomi Pad Mini has nothing to do with its performance or design. It is the fact that the tablet is not coming to many major markets.
So far, Xiaomi has launched the Pad Mini in Singapore, Malaysia, and the UAE. The company has confirmed that it has no plans to release the tablet in the United States, the United Kingdom, or Australia.
This means that even though the Xiaomi Pad Mini could rival or even outperform the iPad mini in several areas, it will not reach a huge number of potential buyers. For many tablet enthusiasts in the West, that will be a real disappointment.
One small but noticeable omission is the lack of a fingerprint scanner. Users will need to rely on a passcode or face unlock. Xiaomi’s face unlock is image-based, which some people consider less secure than Apple’s infrared-based FaceID.
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