Tablets have been stuck between media player and laptop replacement for years. With the Pad 8 series, Xiaomi is clearly choosing a side: productivity. Using flagship processors and much-improved productivity tools, the Pad 8 series could be more useful than ever. That's not to say that they won't be excellent streaming or gaming devices, though.
Design and display
Both tablets share the same thin metal body:
- 11.2-inch 3.2K display
- 144Hz refresh rate
- 800 nits brightness
- 5.75mm thickness
- ~485g weight [Embargo lift at 1530 February …
The Pro version adds a matte nano-texture glass option aimed at stylus work rather than media consumption.
Software experience
They run HyperOS 3 with a PC-like interface:
- desktop multitasking layouts
- full browser interaction (hover + right-click)
- workstation mode dock
- WPS Office integration [Embargo lift at 1530 February …
This is less “big phone UI” and more Chromebook-style workflow — clearly designed for writing and editing rather than just streaming.
Performance split
The two models separate cleanly by chip tier:
- Pad 8: Snapdragon 8s Gen 4
- Pad 8 Pro: Snapdragon 8 Elite
The Pro gains 67W charging and higher-resolution cameras, while the standard model keeps a lower-power profile with 45W charging. [Embargo lift at 1530 February …
Short comparison table
| Feature | Pad 8 | Pad 8 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 | Snapdragon 8 Elite |
| Display | 11.2″ 3.2K 144Hz | 11.2″ 3.2K 144Hz |
| Battery | 9,200mAh | 9,200mAh |
| Charging | 45W | 67W |
| Rear camera | 13MP | 50MP |
| Front camera | 8MP | 32MP |
| Storage | up to 256GB | up to 512GB |
| Price (EU) | from €449.9 | from €549.9 |
Accessories and ecosystem
Support for keyboard covers and a pressure-sensitive pen reinforces Xiaomi’s intent: these are meant to replace lightweight laptops for many tasks.
Verdict
The Pad 8 is a capable everyday tablet, while the Pad 8 Pro is effectively a portable workstation. Xiaomi is no longer pitching tablets as entertainment devices, they’re positioning them as practical computing tools, and the software finally reflects that. Saying that, both will still excel at gaming and streaming content.
