The Xiaomi Pad Mini might be the iPad Mini alternative Android users have been waiting for - packed with flagship hardware, smart design choices, and a price tag that doesn’t sting.
I’ve been a fan of Xiaomi’s Pad series since the Pad 5, which was a big success for its mix of power and affordability. Each year, Xiaomi has refined the formula, and the Pad Mini feels like the next logical step - smaller, faster, and surprisingly versatile.
The Xiaomi Pad Mini retails at PhP 25,999.
Design
At first glance, the Xiaomi Pad Mini looks like a smaller version of their Xiaomi Pad line. With a clean aluminum build and well-balanced proportions, this tablet looks and feels premium. Xiaomi clearly designed this 8-inch tablet for both portrait and landscape use - it even has two USB-C ports, one on the side and another at the bottom.
The size feels just right: big enough for productivity and media, yet compact enough to hold comfortably with one hand, whether in landscape or portrait orientation.
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| Xiaomi Pad 5 (left), Xiaomi Pad Mini (Right) |
I’d say this is the smallest size a tablet can be before it starts feeling like a big phone. I also love how portable it is since it easily slips into even my smallest sling bag.
The package we received came with a case that has a built-in stand you can pop out from the back. In landscape mode, it works as a sturdy stand, while in portrait, you can slip your fingers through it to hold the tablet securely. It’s incredibly handy and easily the best way to use the Pad Mini for reading or watching content in portrait orientation.
Display & Media Experience
It may be small for a tablet, but for binge-watching, YouTube, or social media, the Xiaomi Pad Mini is still big enough to offer a more enjoyable experience than a smartphone.
Its 8.8-inch 3K 165Hz display delivers sharp details and vibrant colors, giving you that true “tablet feel” instead of just a stretched phone screen. It’s not an OLED panel, which is a bit of a letdown, but the IPS display still looks great and performs well for most tasks.
Brightness is good for indoor use, though it’s not the brightest outdoors. Still, since most people use tablets indoors, that’s an easy trade-off for what you’re getting at this price point.
The Pad Mini also features a quad-speaker setup. It’s not groundbreaking, but the sound quality is clear, making it great for watching videos, listening to music, or casual gaming.
Performance & Gaming
Here’s where things get really exciting. The Xiaomi Pad Mini is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9400+, a flagship-grade chip paired with up to 256GB of storage.
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| Xiaomi Pad Mini AnTuTu Benchmark Score |
In gaming, it’s a beast.
Wuthering Waves ran flawlessly at max settings. Literally every setting I saw, was set at its highest option and the game still ran at stable 60FPS. The compact size actually made gaming more comfortable. Everything was within thumb’s reach without covering too much of the display and I love it.
Xiaomi Pad Mini Wuthering Waves
Genshin Impact also performed impressively well. Similar to Wuthering Waves, it maintained stable frame rates even during heavy scenes.
Xiaomi Pad Mini Genshin Impact
If you’re after a portable gaming device that still lets you enjoy stunning visuals, skip the smartphone and go for the Xiaomi Pad Mini. It’s a fantastic option for gamers who want both power and portability.
Productivity
As of now, Xiaomi doesn’t offer an official keyboard attachment but connecting a Bluetooth keyboard works well. Writing, email, and light office tasks feel comfortable on this display size although at the boundary of feeling quite small. Still, it's far better than working on a phone.
The Pad Mini comes with two cameras: a 13MP rear sensor mainly for scanning documents or quick shots, and an 8MP front camera that’s clear enough for video calls and meetings.
It’s also great for meetings or quick edits on the go. The Pad Mini easily doubles as a small presentation device when paired with a wireless keyboard or stylus.
It even works great as a secondary device for multitasking. If you’re working on a laptop, keeping this on the side for media, notes, or reference is incredibly useful.
Artists and note-takers will appreciate that the Pad Mini supports the Xiaomi Smart Pen, which offers 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity.
While my drawing skills aren't artist-level, I do feel it's accurate enough for sketching, illustrating, or jotting down ideas. You’ll definitely want to install proper apps like Sketchbook or HiPaint, since the stock drawing tools are pretty basic. Once set up, this becomes a compact digital sketchpad you can bring anywhere.
Battery Life
Powering all of this is a 7,500mAh battery. While smartphones are now getting bigger batteries with some even reaching 7000mAh, the battery on the Xiaomi Pad Mini doesn't quite seem as big considering that it is a tablet.
In real-world use, it will last a full day of browsing, streaming, or writing but compared to bigger tablets I've used, the battery on this does feel like it drains a bit faster.
There's no wireless charging but it does support fast charging via USB-C, so topping up is quick and convenient.
Final Thoughts
The Xiaomi Pad Mini feels like the Android version of the iPad Mini I’ve been waiting for, with a few thoughtful extras. It hits that perfect balance for a compact tablet: lightweight, powerful, and, best of all, surprisingly affordable.
It delivers a premium experience without the premium price tag, making it an easy recommendation for anyone looking for a small yet capable Android tablet.
It’s an all-around device for entertainment, gaming, productivity, creative work, and even as a side device for multitasking. It’s hard to go wrong with this one since you’ll definitely find a good use for it in your daily life, whatever it is you’re doing.
I really hope Xiaomi continues this series with a successor because the Pad Mini proves there’s still a strong demand for compact tablets done right.