Finding the best productivity tablet isn’t always easy, especially if you’re balancing performance and price. While big names like Samsung tablets and Lenovo Tab series dominate in the U.S., brands like Xiaomi offer compelling alternatives—especially if you’re willing to import. One standout is the Xiaomi Pad 7, a midrange Android tablet that blends solid hardware, decent productivity features, and an affordable price tag.
After spending three weeks using the Xiaomi Pad 7 for travel, writing, and everyday tasks, here’s my full hands-on review of this underrated tablet.
Xiaomi Pad 7 vs iPad Air: Similar Looks, Different Power
At first glance, the Xiaomi Pad 7 looks strikingly similar to the iPad Air 2025—with its slim profile and minimalist design. It sports an 11.2-inch 3.3K display with a 144Hz refresh rate and Dolby Vision support. The display is bright and colorful, peaking at 800 nits, making it great for both content consumption and productivity.
Under the hood, it features the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3, a midrange processor that handles multitasking and light productivity apps with ease. While it doesn’t match the iPad’s M3 chip, it’s enough to power most workflows, especially for writing, research, and browsing.
Key specs:
- Display: 11.2″, 3.3K resolution, 144Hz
- Processor: Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3
- RAM: 8GB or 12GB
- Storage: 128GB or 256GB (no microSD slot)
- Cameras: 13MP rear, 8MP front
- OS: HyperOS 2 (based on Android)
HyperOS 2: Surprisingly Smooth for Productivity
The Xiaomi Pad 7 runs HyperOS 2, a lightweight, Android-based operating system. It offers a clean user experience with standard Android features like split screen multitasking, floating windows, and background app locking.
Split-screen mode is intuitive, allowing users to customize app layouts (50/50 or 75/25) and even pin these views to the home screen for quick access. However, UI quirks—like unintuitive drag-and-drop behavior and clunky home screen controls—can slow things down for first-time users.
The biggest downside? Bloatware. Expect around 20+ preinstalled apps, including Xiaomi-branded tools and random games like Blockblast and Fish Solitaire. They’re easy to uninstall, but still an annoyance.
Productivity Boost: Xiaomi Focus Keyboard and Pen
Xiaomi offers a Focus Keyboard accessory, designed as a direct competitor to Apple’s Magic Keyboard. The tablet magnetically attaches and “floats” above the keys, giving it a laptop-like feel. The keyboard is well-spaced with satisfying key travel and backlighting (adjustable in settings). The built-in trackpad works well, though you can’t change the scroll direction—despite the setting existing.
There’s also a Xiaomi Focus Pen available for artists and note-takers. While I didn’t test it extensively, it’s a great option for creatives or students looking for an affordable Android tablet with stylus support.
Performance and Battery: Good Enough for Daily Work
With Geekbench scores of 1,867 (single-core) and 5,004 (multi-core), the Xiaomi Pad 7 isn’t breaking speed records. But it handles writing apps, browsers, and streaming platforms like a champ. If your goal is productivity on a budget, this tablet delivers.
The 8,850 mAh battery offers all-day usage and multiple days on standby. At around 500g (without keyboard), it’s slightly heavy for one-handed reading but feels balanced when docked.
Price and Availability: A Great Deal (If You Can Find It)
The Xiaomi Pad 7 isn’t officially sold in the U.S., but you can import it through Amazon or other third-party sellers for around $450–$519. Overseas, it retails for ~£369, making it a strong midrange Android tablet for students, writers, or remote workers.
Final Verdict: Is the Xiaomi Pad 7 Worth It?
If you’re searching for a budget-friendly tablet for productivity, the Xiaomi Pad 7 is a compelling alternative to the iPad Air or Samsung Galaxy Tab S10. It’s not ideal for high-end gaming or video editing, but it excels as a writing tablet, streaming device, or web-surfing companion.
Pros:
- Gorgeous high-refresh display
- Reliable performance for daily tasks
- Excellent keyboard accessory
- Long battery life
- Solid build quality
Cons:
- Midrange chip limits intensive tasks
- No expandable storage
- Software bloat and minor UI quirks
- Limited U.S. availability
If you can handle the import process, this could be the best Android productivity tablet under $500. Otherwise, you may want to wait and see if Xiaomi brings it stateside.
