Xiaomi is making a big splash in the world of tablets with the Poco Pad 5G , a 12.1-inch XXL slate that promises to do everything better than the competition, especially the Redmi Pad Pro, from which it draws much inspiration.
On the menu: 5G connectivity, a 10,000 mAh battery, a microSD slot, and a refined design tailored for both multimedia and productivity.
But behind this almost too-good-to-be-true spec sheet, the question remains: can it really compete with much more expensive models? We used it daily, between Netflix, office work, and drawing, to find out if Xiaomi finally has the recipe for the perfect tablet for under €250.
Table of Contents
Unboxing: Poco takes care of its customers
As soon as you lift the lid of the black box emblazoned with the yellow Poco logo, you realize the brand wants to make an impression. No compromises here: the tablet, the 33W charger, the USB-A to USB-C cable, and even the small SIM ejector tool are all included. At a time when some brands are doing away with the charger in the name of ecology or profit, this is truly a welcome addition.
The tablet, wrapped in its protective film, then reveals itself in all its splendor. From the first moment you pick it up, the size is impressive. This isn't just another tablet; it's a large 12.1-inch slate that commands respect. Yet, despite its size, it remains surprisingly well-balanced. The aluminum chassis inspires confidence, the edges are even, with no creaks or weaknesses. It truly feels like a finished, thoughtful, solid, almost premium product. Poco is no longer content to play the outsider; it clearly intends to compete with the big players.
Design and finish: seriousness in XXL format
From the first few seconds in hand, the Poco Pad impresses with its size but surprises with its lightness. At just over 560 grams on the scale, it handles effortlessly for reading, surfing, or watching a movie, even if long sessions eventually take their toll on your arms. The build quality immediately inspires confidence. The aluminum chassis is exemplary rigidity, with no flexing or creaking, even when you force the edges a little. It's clearly a far cry from the hollow plastic of entry-level tablets.
The back features a slightly raised circular camera module, surrounded by striking brushed aluminum. Our gray model boasts an almost professional understated look, while the dark blue version adds a bolder touch. The discreetly engraved Poco logo serves as a reminder that the brand is an integral part of the Xiaomi universe, without copying its style.
The layout of the components is well thought out: power button and speakers on the top edge, volume and microphone keys on the left side, USB-C 2.0 port and 3.5 mm jack at the bottom, and finally, a hybrid drawer on the right capable of holding two nano-SIMs or one SIM and a microSD. A welcome rarity at this price point, especially when the Xiaomi Pad 6 does without it entirely.
One small drawback is that the USB-C port, which is limited to the 2.0 standard, prevents any video output and somewhat restricts file transfers. Nothing dramatic, but for such a comprehensive product, we would have liked a faster port. As for durability, the Poco Pad has an IP52 certification, which is sufficient to withstand splashes or fine dust. So you can use it without fear on the patio or in the kitchen, as long as you don't submerge it in the sink.
The screen: the real asset of this tablet
It's when you first turn on the Poco Pad that you realize how much Xiaomi has put into the panel. The large 12.1-inch LCD screen lights up with a precision that's surprising for a tablet at this price. The 2560 x 1600 pixels offer exemplary sharpness, each icon, each letter seems cut with a scalpel. The 16:10 ratio adapts perfectly: movies, web browsing, reading PDFs or office applications, everything seems fluid, natural, without ever giving that impression of a screen that's too wide or too narrow that we sometimes find elsewhere.
But it's the 120Hz refresh rate that really changes everything. From the very first scrolls, you feel that smooth, almost addictive gliding sensation. Transitions are crisp, games respond instantly, and even simple menu navigation becomes enjoyable. Switch back to a 60Hz screen, and everything suddenly seems jerky. Admittedly, not all apps benefit from this fluidity yet—YouTube, for example, remains stuck at 60Hz—but for most uses, the experience is top-notch.
In terms of brightness, Poco advertises 600 nits, and in reality, the tablet maintains around 470 nits in daily use. Sufficient for most indoor environments, less convincing in direct sunlight where reflections are felt. The screen remains glossy, as is often the case, but the viewing angles are excellent and readability remains generally very good.
The colorimetry is a real pleasure for the eyes: 98% sRGB, approximately 74% AdobeRGB and DCI-P3. The colors pop, without ever turning saturated. Skin tones remain natural, blues and reds are balanced, and gradients are well managed. For amateur photo editing or watching movies, the rendering is surprisingly accurate. And Dolby Vision support adds an extra touch of contrast, giving more depth to HDR content on Netflix or Disney+.
So yes, it's not an OLED, the blacks aren't infinite, and reflections persist, but at this price, it's hard to ask for more. The Poco Pad's screen is clearly what propels it above the fray in the category of tablets under €250.
Audio: Four speakers that amaze
From the very first notes, the Poco Pad surprises. We didn't expect such a sonic amplitude from a tablet of this price, and yet... The four speakers, carefully distributed on the edges, fill the room with clear and powerful sound. Immersion is immediate. Dolby Atmos support does its job well: dialogue stands out, sound effects move with precision, and even background music takes on depth.
The maximum volume is impressive. You can easily watch a movie or series without external speakers, even in a living room. The mids are clear, the highs soar without being harsh, and the bass, necessarily limited by the format, still manages to be heard. We're not talking about cinematic bass, but the sound remains balanced, controlled, and pleasant. Few tablets under €250 can say as much.
The tablet also automatically adapts the spatialization according to its orientation. In landscape mode, the panoramic effect works wonderfully: you can really feel the stereo widen. In portrait mode, the soundstage tightens a little, but without becoming muffled. It's clean, coherent, and perfectly calibrated for multimedia.
Another rare detail at this price point: the 3.5mm jack is still there. A real plus for those who prefer wired connectivity, or simply want to plug in a headset without latency. For others, Bluetooth 5.2 ensures a stable and fast connection with headphones or speakers. Even when gaming, the lag between sound and image remains imperceptible.
The only slight drawback is the lack of a haptic motor. There's no tactile feedback when typing or receiving notifications, which takes away a bit of the sense of "presence" when using it. But it's hard to blame it at this price. Overall, the Poco Pad delivers a surprisingly mature sound performance, capable of competing with much more expensive models.
Performance: Good balance without flashiness
The Poco Pad is powered by the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2, a mid-range chip manufactured in 4nm. It's supported by 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 256GB of UFS 2.2 storage. Nothing revolutionary on paper, but a consistent configuration for a tablet in this segment.
On a daily basis, the experience is fluid. The HyperOS 2 interface slides smoothly, applications launch quickly, and web browsing remains responsive, even with multiple tabs open. On AnTuTu v10, the Poco Pad reaches around 537,000 points , a decent score but significantly below the 800,000 points of the Xiaomi Pad 6 equipped with the Snapdragon 870. In fact, the difference is only felt in the most demanding uses like 3D gaming or video rendering.
For everyday tasks like browsing, streaming, office work, or light photo editing, the tablet doesn't flinch. Google Docs, Excel, or Canva run smoothly. Application transitions remain seamless, and split-screen multitasking is effortless.
Gaming-wise, the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 performs well. 2D or low-demand titles like Stumble Guys or Clash Royale run at a consistent 60 fps, while more ambitious games like Genshin Impact require some graphical concessions to remain stable around 30 fps.
A pleasant surprise regarding thermal control: after 20 minutes of stress testing, there was no sign of throttling. The tablet heats up slightly in the upper corner, without impacting performance or user comfort.
All in all, the Poco Pad isn't a powerhouse, but it delivers a smooth and seamless experience that's perfectly suited to multimedia and productivity. For €250, it's hard to ask for much more.
Gaming: A decent experience but not designed for heavy gamers
The Poco Pad wasn't designed as a gaming powerhouse, and that's noticeable compared to the more powerful Xiaomi Pad 6. Its Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 handles the essentials, but it doesn't shine. For casual gamers, however, the experience remains enjoyable.
On BGMI (Battlegrounds Mobile India) , the tablet maintains 60 FPS in Smooth , with some slight drops to 55 FPS in busy areas. Nothing dramatic for relaxed games, but competitive players looking for 90 FPS will have to move on.
Call of Duty Mobile runs smoothly at 60 FPS in Low quality , with a very stable frame rate and almost imperceptible variations. On the other hand, Warzone Mobile , much more demanding, quickly brings the tablet to its knees: the game fluctuates between 40 and 50 FPS with drops below 30 FPS during close combat.
The highly demanding Genshin Impact remains playable. On low settings, the average is around 55 FPS , with no noticeable slowdowns. On high settings, the frame rate drops to 45–50 FPS , which remains smooth, but more jerky in complex areas.
Finally, Wuthering Waves , even more demanding, drops the counter to 30–35 FPS in balanced mode, with drops below 30 after several minutes. By reducing the graphics, the tablet goes back up to 35–50 FPS , but the stability is not perfect.
The Poco Pad is aimed at casual gamers : it handles popular games well at medium settings, runs cool, and maintains good touch responsiveness. But for intensive or competitive gaming, you're better off aiming for a Xiaomi Pad 6 or 7, which are much more at home in this area.
Connectivity: the freedom of 5G
This is where the Poco Pad really stands out. Where the Xiaomi Pad 6 is limited to Wi-Fi, Poco has made the bold choice to integrate 5G connectivity . The tablet can accommodate two nano-SIM cards , or one SIM and a microSD card, thus offering flexibility that is rare in this price range.
This option changes everything. When you're on the go, there's no need to share your smartphone connection: the tablet connects directly to the mobile network. For a student, a mobile professional, or a user who wants to stay reachable without relying on Wi-Fi, this is a considerable advantage. In our tests, 5G demonstrated stable and fast speeds , sufficient for 4K streaming or cloud gaming without interruptions.
The rest of the connectivity is up to par: Wi-Fi 6 for fast transfers and solid range, Bluetooth 5.2 for seamless connections with keyboards, headphones, and speakers, and GPS for navigation. Even secondary sensors like the gyroscope are included, a detail that enhances the experience in games or augmented reality applications.
A tablet that stays connected in all circumstances is a real plus, and on this point, the Poco Pad is clearly ahead of the competition.
Photo and video: just what you need to help out
As we know, photography has never been a tablet's strong point, and the Poco Pad is no exception. It features two 8-megapixel sensors, one on the front and one on the back, which do the essentials without trying to shine.
The rear module is sufficient for scanning documents, capturing a table in a meeting, or taking a quick reference photo. But as soon as you move away from these practical uses, the limitations appear. Colors lack vibrancy, details fade in dim light, and the lack of stabilization makes every movement noticeable. The result here is worthy of an entry-level smartphone from several years ago.
Up front, the front-facing camera does its job for video calls. When video conferencing on Zoom, Meet, or Teams, the image remains clear as long as the lighting is good. The wide field of view allows you to fit multiple faces into the frame, making the experience pleasant for family calls or group meetings.
On the video side, nothing extravagant: 1080p at 30 frames per second on both sensors. It's sufficient for video telephony, but too limited to hope to properly film a moving scene. Without stabilization, the slightest step transforms the sequence into a shaky shot. In short, it's functional but no more, a photo section designed to troubleshoot and not to create.
Autonomy: a marathon that holds up
With its 10,000 mAh battery, the Poco Pad shows real ambitions in endurance and in practice, it largely lives up to its promises. Compared to the 8,400 mAh of the Xiaomi Pad 6, the advantage is clear.
With daily mixed use, including web browsing, social media, Wi-Fi video streaming, and a few gaming sessions, the tablet easily lasts a full day. Light users can even get two full days between charges.
During intensive video playback on Netflix with 50% brightness and Wi-Fi enabled, we exceeded nine hours before powering off, enough to binge-watch an entire season of your favorite series without stress. With very light use, mainly web reading, emails, and social media, three days of battery life becomes feasible. For a tablet that often sits on standby on the coffee table, that's very comfortable.
One detail to note: several users report a rapid drop in battery power below 15%. We've observed the same phenomenon. Above this threshold, the discharge is linear and predictable, but below 15%, the percentages scroll more quickly. Nothing dramatic, but useful to know to avoid unpleasant surprises.
The 33W fast charge can recover about 60% of the battery in an hour, and a full charge takes about two hours, which is still reasonable given the capacity. The included charger does the job perfectly. It's a shame that wireless charging isn't included, but at this price, it's hard to expect perfection.
Software: HyperOS 2 in all its glory
The Poco Pad arrives with Android 14 dressed up with HyperOS 2, Xiaomi's in-house interface that definitively replaces MIUI. On newer models, Android 15 is included. The experience is generally fluid and designed for large screens, with well-calibrated features.
The interface remains clean and very little cluttered with bloatware. There's WPS Office pre-installed, as well as the Mi Canvas app for the optional stylus, but nothing annoying. Everything is easily uninstalled or disabled. Multitasking is impressive: split-screen mode divides the display into two zones, while floating window mode allows up to four simultaneous applications, two in split-screen mode and two in floating windows. Rarely necessary in everyday life, but incredibly practical when you need it.
The customizable dock at the bottom of the screen, like an iPad, allows quick access to your favorite apps. Notification management follows Android's codes while adding a few welcome customization touches. Face unlocking works well, but the lack of a fingerprint reader is sorely felt. In an era where even €150 smartphones offer a sensor, this is this tablet's biggest shortcoming.
The HyperOS ecosystem offers interesting features for those who own other Xiaomi devices: shared clipboard, synchronized notifications, simplified file transfer. For users with multiple devices, this is a real plus. Xiaomi promises two years of Android updates and three years of security patches, which is consistent with the pricing.
One remaining drawback: there's no PC mode or equivalent to Samsung DeX. Even with the official Poco Pad Keyboard, sold separately, the tablet remains in classic Android mode. For those hoping to replace a laptop, this will be a hindrance.
Accessories: an ecosystem to complete
Xiaomi offers several Poco-branded accessories to accompany the tablet, all sold separately. The Poco Smart Pen, around 3,000 rupees (about €35), is an active stylus for note-taking and drawing, compatible with the Mi Canvas app. The problem is, it's often out of stock. If you find one, don't hesitate. The Poco Pad Keyboard, at 2,799 rupees (about €32), is a chiclet keyboard with an integrated trackpad that transforms the tablet into a makeshift laptop. Typing is still decent for occasional use.
The magnetic protective cover protects the screen and folds to act as a stand in multiple positions, similar to Apple's Smart Cover.
Bluetooth compatibility also allows you to use any keyboard or mouse on the market. With the large 12.1-inch screen, the experience is similar to that of a small laptop, making it convenient for working or drawing comfortably.
Accessories: an ecosystem to complete
Xiaomi offers several Poco-branded accessories to accompany the tablet, all sold separately. The Poco Smart Pen, around €35, is an active stylus for note-taking and drawing, compatible with the Mi Canvas app. The problem is, it's often out of stock. If you find one, don't hesitate. The Poco Pad Keyboard, around €32, is a chiclet keyboard with an integrated trackpad that transforms the tablet into a makeshift laptop. Typing is still adequate for occasional use.
The magnetic protective cover protects the screen and folds to act as a stand in multiple positions, similar to Apple's Smart Cover.
Bluetooth compatibility also allows you to use any keyboard or mouse on the market. With the large 12.1-inch screen, the experience is similar to that of a small laptop, making it convenient for working or drawing comfortably.
Poco Pad vs Xiaomi Pad 6: The Sisters' Match
These two tablets share the same Xiaomi DNA but are aimed at slightly different profiles. On the screen side, the Poco Pad takes the lead with its 12.1 inches against 11 inches and a maximum brightness of 600 nits against 550 nits on the Pad 6. In terms of performance, the Xiaomi Pad 6 dominates thanks to its Snapdragon 870 which approaches 800,000 points on AnTuTu, against around 537,000 for the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 of the Poco Pad.
The Poco Pad compensates with 8GB of RAM compared to 6GB on the Pad 6 and 256GB of storage with a microSD slot, where the Pad 6 is limited to 128GB without expansion. The Poco Pad's 10,000mAh battery also ensures a more comfortable battery life compared to the Pad 6's 8,400mAh. Connectivity is another differentiating point: integrated 5G for the Poco Pad, Wi-Fi only for the Pad 6.
Price-wise, both models are around €190-200, with the Pad 6 being able to go down to €190 on sale for the 6/128 GB version.
In conclusion, gamers will be better served by the Pad 6, while those who prioritize screen, battery life, and cellular connectivity will choose the Poco Pad. And if you're undecided, ask yourself: do I really need 5G on my tablet?
Positioning and competition
With a starting price of around €190, the Poco Pad positions itself as a serious alternative in the highly competitive mid-range Android tablet segment. It competes with the Lenovo IdeaTab and the Motorola Moto Tab G70, both of which are close to the Redmi Pad Pro, of which the Poco Pad is a near-twin, only the branding changes.
If you can stretch your budget slightly beyond €250, the recently launched Xiaomi Pad 7 offers better performance but falls outside the price range targeted by the Poco Pad. One thing to note about rivals Lenovo and Motorola is that they sometimes include the stylus in the box, while Poco has to buy it separately and it's often out of stock.
✔ Bright and smooth 12.1-inch 120Hz display
✔ 5G connectivity on all versions.
✔ Generous battery life of 10,000 mAh (several days of use).
✔ MicroSD slot to expand storage.
✔ Four convincing Dolby Atmos speakers .
✔ 8 GB of RAM for good fluidity.
✔ Neat all-aluminum finish .
✔ 33W charger included in the box.
✔ 3.5mm jack present.
✔ Ultra-competitive price compared to the competition.
✔ Dolby Vision support for HDR content.
✔ splash-proof certification
✔ Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2.
✖ Limited performance in demanding gaming.
✖ Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 less powerful than the 870 in the Pad 6.
✖ No fingerprint reader.
✖ Very basic photo and video sensors (8 MP).
✖ USB-C limited to USB 2.0 , no video output.
✖ No PC mode or DeX equivalent.
✖ Stylus and keyboard sold separately (and often out of stock).
✖ Lack of haptic motor.
✖ Software optimization could be improved (variable refresh rate).
✖ Rapid battery drop below 15%.
✖ Glossy screen with outdoor reflections.
✖ Actual brightness of 470 nits in typical use.
Verdict: Unbeatable value for money
The Poco Pad doesn't revolutionize the world of Android tablets, but it ticks almost all the boxes for a specification ideal for family, student, or multimedia use. Its 12.1-inch 2.5K 120Hz 5G connectivity sets it apart from most Wi-Fi tablets in this price range.
Of course, there are trade-offs. Gaming performance remains limited, there's no fingerprint reader, the camera sensors are insignificant, USB-C is limited, and there's no PC mode. But at less than €200 , these compromises become acceptable, and the price-performance ratio remains unbeatable .
This tablet is primarily aimed at students whose parents are looking for an alternative to a smartphone with integrated cellular connection, multimedia content lovers who want a large, high-quality screen mobile users who need to stay connected everywhere, and fans of the Xiaomi who want to complete their setup.
If you're looking for the best gaming performance, look to the Xiaomi Pad 6 , often on sale for around €190, equipped with the Snapdragon 870. If you want the pinnacle of Xiaomi, save up for the Pad 7. But for the best compromise between screen, battery life, connectivity and price, the Poco Pad is clearly worth a look .
One last tip: This tablet is due out in May 2024, and its successor could be coming soon. If you wait a little longer, you might be able to find it on sale for under €170 . At that price, it's a real bargain .
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