Most tablets are usually larger (11 inches or more). However, Xiaomi is expanding its tablet range with the Xiaomi Pad Mini. This is Xiaomi's first compact tablet, with a screen size of only 8.8 inches.

On top of that, it's only 6.46mm in thickness and weighs only 326 grams. This could be the tablet that appeals to people who prefer slightly smaller devices. But is this RM1999 tablet better than other compact tablets? Let's find out.

In terms of design, this tablet is easy to hold with one hand, thanks to its lightweight and relatively smaller screen. Instead of a tablet, the device would feel more like a large smartphone. It's similar in size to book-style foldable devices like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, which has an 8-inch screen.

Rear design

Compact 8.8-inch screen

Charger is included in the box, but the stylus needs to be purchased separately

Volume buttons

13MP camera

The back may not have any interesting features as it is completely flat, with no patterns or fancy effects. But at least it is offered in grey and purple. It's worth noting that this tablet only has an IP52 rating for water and dust resistance, so do not use it near water or sandy areas.

One interesting feature is that it has two USB-C ports located on the right side and the bottom. This means you can charge this tablet in portrait or landscape orientation. That's different from typical tablets, which require you to charge and use them in landscape or portrait mode. With the Xiaomi Pad Mini, both options are available to you.

Charging in portrait mode

Charging in landscape mode

As for the screen, it has a 3K resolution (3008×1880), a 16:10 aspect ratio, and a 165Hz refresh rate. Although it's an IPS LCD panel, the colours may not be as intense or bright as an AMOLED panel. Still, the high refresh rate of 165Hz means any animations displayed when you touch it will look very smooth.

Despite being an IPS LCD panel, the screen's visual quality was decent in videos and games. The max brightness is where it lags behind, however, as it only goes up to 300 nits. As a result, the Xiaomi Pad Mini is not suitable for the outdoors. Under the sunlight, the bright glare would make the screen unviewable.

You can still watch movies with great visuals, even though it's not an AMOLED screen

This tablet also doesn't come with a screen protector, so it's advisable to use one to prevent scratches. In terms of audio, its stereo speakers can produce quite loud audio for indoor use, and the quality is clear. Unfortunately, this tablet doesn't have a 3.5mm audio jack either, so you'll still need wireless earphones for public spaces.

Under its metal and glass chassis, the Xiaomi Pad Mini houses a MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ chipset. This is the same chipset found in the Xiaomi 15T series. It's essentially an upgraded version of the standard Dimensity 9400 found in many flagship phones in late 2024, such as the vivo X200 series and the OPPO Find X8 series. The Plus version has a faster CPU clock speed (3.73GHz vs 3.62GHz), resulting in slightly higher performance.

We tested Genshin Impact on this tablet and were satisfied with its performance. The game was able to run comfortably on maxed-out graphics settings (for mobile) at a consistent 60fps. Moreover, the tablet's temperature stayed quite low during gaming sessions, even after more than 30 minutes.

Genshin Impact ran smoothly on high graphics settings

Speaking of gaming, the Xiaomi Pad Mini also has a relatively short battery life. Its 7500mAh battery delivers a screen-on time of around 12 hours, which is short for a tablet. But that's understandable considering its smaller size compared to other tablets.

Based on our Netflix sessions, with the screen brightness set to 50%, the battery drops by roughly 4% after 30 minutes of watching a movie. While playing Genshin Impact, the battery drains at a rate of about 8% every 30 minutes. Overall, its battery consumption is fairly similar to smartphones. For charging, a 67W charger is included and can fully charge the phone from 0% in 70 to 80 minutes.

In terms of software, the Xiaomi Pad Mini uses the Android 15-based Xiaomi HyperOS. Even if you're not familiar with Xiaomi's UI, it's relatively comfortable to use. It even has a split-screen function, so you can open and view multiple apps at the same time. With the Dimensity 9400+ and 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM, you won't have to worry about lag.

UI

Can use split-screen smoothly

Now, let's talk about the camera. The Xiaomi Pad Mini has a 13MP rear camera and an 8MP front camera. As you would expect, the cameras here can't produce the high-quality shots that flagship smartphones can. But if you really have to, the main camera is okay for simple photos. They're probably not what you'd call social media-worthy, however, as the quality is quite poor.

Having said that, the front camera is still decent for video calls. We'd say the Xiaomi Pad Mini can do that well, with the video quality clear enough for Google Meet.

Main camera

Selfie picture

Good quality when making video calls

So, does the Xiaomi Pad Mini sound like the right tablet for you? It clearly has its flaws, but there aren't many compact tablets on the market, so this tablet could be one of the better options. However, we think it's an interesting tablet as long as you can live with its shortcomings.

It features a compact design, a lightweight body, solid performance, and two USB-C ports for easy use when charging. Although the screen quality is quite average, the resolution is higher than competing models out there, so it's worth the RM1999 price tag.

For an alternative, check the Lenovo Legion Y700 (2025). It's not officially available in Malaysia, but you can buy imported units from platforms like Shopee or Lazada for around RM1875. However, its older Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 isn't as powerful as the Dimensity 9400. There's also the RedMagic Astra Gaming, a much more pricier RM3399 gaming tablet with a powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset

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Tech specs and features

• 8.8-inch IPS LCD screen, 3008×1880 resolution, 165Hz refresh rate, 700 nits peak brightness
• MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ chipset
• 16GB LPDDR5X RAM
• UFS 4.1 512GB internal storage
• 13MP rear camera
• 8MP front camera
• 7500mAh battery
• 67W fast charging
• USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 port
• Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
• Android 16 operating system with Xiaomi HyperOS 2
• Size: 205.13×132.03×6.46mm | weight 326 grams
• Price: RM1999

Pros: Compact design, fast performance, and fast charging

Cons: Screen is not bright enough, no screen protector, and the cameras are sub-par

Conclusion: An interesting product for those who want a compact tablet