When it comes to tablets, such has been the domination of Apple’s iPad that there is a saying in tech circles that there are only two types of tablet users — those who have a budget for an iPad, and those who use tablets other than an iPad. The assumption is plain: if you have around Rs 30,000 to spend on a tablet, the iPad (which now starts at Rs 30,900) is the one to go for. There’s a good reason for this line of thought. The iPad is not only the OG device that started the tablet revolution but is also the one device that did not disappear from the market when the going got tough for tablets after the initial boom. Whereas many brands have flirted on and off with the tablet segment, Apple has been remarkably consistent with the iPad, updating both its hardware and software regularly. While other brands have done well in the Indian tablet market, most of them have succeeded mainly at lower price points.
Xiaomi has, however, decided to take on the iPad with the Xiaomi Pad 5. The device marks Xiaomi's return to the tablet market and while it comes packed with some very impressive features and hardware, its price tag of Rs 26,999 puts it right in the iPad zone (where the base device starts at Rs 30,900). So, if you are looking for a good tablet and have a budget of about Rs 30,000, should you opt for the newest kid on the tablet block or the trusted veteran?
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Design and appearance: Clash of cultures
This is literally a clash of two different design languages and cultures. The iPad has remained largely unchanged since the days of the iPad 2, with curved sides that flow into a slightly curved back. On the other hand, the Xiaomi Pad 5 follows a more contemporary design with straight sides and a flat back, a bit like what is seen in Apple’s own iPad Air range. While the iPad’s rear camera is a low-profile dot, the Xiaomi Pad 5 has a prominent camera unit that initially might even look like a dual camera arrangement, although it is not. The backs are also different in terms of materials used — the Xiaomi Pad 5 uses a carbonate back while the iPad has an aluminium one. The Xiaomi Pad 5 does not feel cheap (in fact many people might not even realise that its back is carbonate as it has a metallic finish), but the iPad just feels a little more premium.
The displays are very different too — the Xiaomi Pad 5 has a larger 10.9-inch display as compared to the 10.2-inch screen on the iPad, but the difference is more in terms of aspect ratio.
The Xiaomi Pad 5 has a slightly more rectangular look to it and is designed more for viewing in landscape mode with a 16:10 aspect ratio. The iPad, on the other hand, is more square-shaped with a 3:2 aspect ratio and is designed to be used in portrait mode. The Xiaomi tablet has much narrower bezels, while the iPad has prominent bezels and even a large home button (which also doubles up as a fingerprint scanner) below the display. The Xiaomi Pad 5 is slimmer than the iPad (6.85mm as compared to 7.5mm) and is also slightly heavier at 511 grams as compared to the 498 grams of the iPad, but then it is a slightly larger device as well. Which one you choose really depends on your personal choice — the iPad is more familiar but the Xiaomi Pad 5 has a more modern feel to it.
Hardware: Plenty of chip power and display magic
In terms of specs, the Xiaomi Pad 5 seems to hold a slight edge over the iPad. It comes with a 10.9-inch display with a 2,560x1,600 pixels resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate as compared to the 10.2-inch, 2,160x1,620-pixels resolution display of the iPad which has a “normal” 60Hz refresh rate. In terms of processor, the Xiaomi Pad 5 runs on a flagship-level Qualcomm 860 chip, while the iPad uses a slightly older A13 Bionic, similar to the one seen on the iPhone 11.
The Xiaomi Pad has 6GB RAM and onboard storage options of 128GB and 256GB, while the iPad’s RAM is not officially known and its storage variants stand at 64GB and 256GB. The Xiaomi Pad 5 has a 13-megapixel rear camera and an 8-megapixel front-facing camera for video calls, while the iPad has an 8-megapixel rear camera and a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera for FaceTime. The Xiaomi Pad 5 also has quad speakers as compared to the dual speakers on the iPad, although the iPad also has a 3.5 mm audio jack. The iPad also has a fingerprint scanner and comes with a cellular connectivity variant, both of which the Xiaomi device lacks.
Pure spec chasers might prefer the display, processor, and speakers of the Xiaomi tablet, but the iPad is no pushover by any means, as we will discover in the performance section.
Performance (multimedia and gaming): Moving pictures, stunning sound
Both tablets are excellent at handling multimedia and gaming. The 16:10 aspect ratio of the Xiaomi Pad’s display makes it better for watching shows and films as there is lesser “banding” (the appearance of bands above and below the video) in landscape mode. The speakers of the Xiaomi tablet also seemed better in terms of overall quality, although the iPad’s speakers are very good as well. In terms of gaming, both tablets could handle high-end games easily but we felt that the iPad did a slightly better job, perhaps because many of the titles had been optimised for its operating system. That said, the difference between the two is not a startling one. If you are mainly going to watch videos, then the Xiaomi Pad 5 is a better option, whereas if you are into gaming, the iPad has a slight edge.
Performance (productivity): Bring on the keyboards and office suites
The days when a tablet was considered to be a “third” screen — between the mobile phone and the notebook — seem to be behind us now. Today, especially after the recent pandemic, tablets are expected to step in and work as notebooks if need be. Both the Xiaomi Pad 5 and the iPad can fulfill this role when paired with a keyboard — you can choose to buy a keyboard cover from the brands themselves or go for a more affordable third-party Bluetooth keyboard. In either case, the tablets will perform capably enough. The Xiaomi Pad 5’s slightly larger display and 16:10 aspect ratio make it more notebook-like in landscape mode as compared to the iPad, which has a 3:2 aspect ratio that is better suited for portrait mode.
The fact that the Xiaomi Pad 5 has a USB Type-C port means that it is easier to connect accessories like card readers and thumb drives to it. The iPad has a lightning port and one needs a Lightning-to-Type-C adaptor or a dongle to connect similar accessories to it. That said, the iPad has a much better front-facing camera for video calls and has a fingerprint scanner as well, which might tilt the odds in its favour in some books.
Performance (general usage): A tablet for everyday life
In terms of general usage, there is not much to separate the two tablets. They both have excellent touch response and while the Xiaomi Pad 5 does have a higher refresh rate, its impact is invisible only when you are scrolling through a lot of content. The 3:2 aspect ratio of the display of the iPad does give it a slight edge for reading content — it seemed the better choice to read news, emails, and messages.
The very narrow bezels of the Xiaomi Pad 5 can also at times be a little counterproductive as a part of one’s hands ends up on the display again and again. The fingerprint scanner on the iPad also restricts access and allows purchases and downloads more smoothly than on the Xiaomi Pad 5, where one has to use passwords.
Switching between apps and tasks is a breeze on both tablets. We just felt slightly more comfortable using the iPad, but that could simply be a matter of habit.
Styluses: The sketch and scribble factor
Both tablets come with support for their own styluses — the Apple Pencil for the iPad and the Xiaomi Smart Pen for the Xiaomi Pad 5. Although both work very efficiently, we think the Apple Pencil has a clear edge in terms of the user experience as it is just smoother to use and has a more premium feel to it, although the Xiaomi Smart Pen is admirably versatile, with two special buttons for additional functionality. That said, the Xiaomi Smart Pen is easier to charge as it charges as it sticks magnetically to the side of the Xiaomi Pad 5, while the Apple Pencil still has to be stuck into the lightning port of the iPad, making it stick out in an ungainly and even dangerous fashion. We just think iPadOS works better with the Apple Pencil but Xiaomi’s implementation of its stylus is among the best we have at this price point in the Android tab crowd.
Software: Scratching below the similar surface of MIUI for Pad and iPadOS
This is truly the one zone where any Android tablet will struggle, but Xiaomi deserves credit for the amount of work it has put into the software of the Xiaomi Pad 5, which it calls MIUI for Pad. The interfaces of the two tablets look startlingly similar (leading to some copycat allegations), but anyone who is willing to spend a little time exploring the interface will find a truckload of options there. However, the real differences between the two come to the fore when you are running apps, with a number of applications looking “stretched” and not running as well as on the Xiaomi Pad 5 as compared to the iPad.
This is very likely due to the fact that Android itself is not very tablet-friendly at the moment of writing. The iPad, on the other hand, has its own iPadOS for which many apps are optimised. Of course, while the iPad runs the latest version of the iPadOS, the Xiaomi Pad 5 comes with Android 11. That is because the iPad gets software support for a number of years. The Xiaomi Pad 5 is a bit of an unknown quantity in this regard, although Xiaomi has a good record when it comes to updating MIUI on its phones. For us, this is the biggest strength of the iPad — its software longevity. As of now, no Android tablet can match it.
Battery life: Last long, charge fast
Both the tablets are equally matched in terms of battery life, with both easily lasting 10 hours or more on a single charge. Both tablets ship with chargers in the box — the iPad with a 20W charger and the Xiaomi Pad 5 with a 22.5W charger. However, the Xiaomi Pad 5 charges in about two hours while the iPad takes a little over three hours.
Price: Tablet bang for bucks
When it comes to price, the advantage very clearly is with the Xiaomi Pad 5 which starts at Rs 26,999 for its 6GB + 128GB variant and has a 6GB + 256GB variant at Rs 28,999. Both of those are well below the starting price of the iPad, which is priced at Rs 30,900 for the 64GB storage model, and also its 256GB storage variant, which is priced at Rs 44,900.
A point to keep in mind, however, is that the Xiaomi Pad 5 is a Wi-Fi-only device while the iPad does have 4G variants, although they start at a much more expensive Rs 44,900 for 64GB and Rs 56,900 for 256GB. If you are on a tight budget, it would perhaps make sense to go for the Xiaomi Pad 5 and spend the money you save on a good Bluetooth keyboard.
Conclusion: Veteran or the new kid on tab block?
So which of the two should you go for? The two tablets are very closely matched, which shows how good the Xiaomi Pad 5 is. The Xiaomi offering does have a slight advantage when it comes to specs.
We would, however, stick with recommending an iPad, simply because of the performance and update assurance the tablet brings along with it. The iPad is assured software updates and accessory support for a long period of time. What’s more, Apple’s tablet has never gone missing right from the day of its inception. Consider that in contrast to Xiaomi launching its first tablet in India in 2015 and the second seven years later. That is the real challenge Xiaomi faces in the Indian tablet market — the need to show that it is here for the long haul in terms of software updates, new devices, and accessories.
The coming days will show us if Xiaomi can match Apple in terms of supporting and updating its tablet range. As of now, the Xiaomi Pad 5 is easily the tablet we would recommend to anyone wanting an Android tablet for around Rs 30,000. But the iPad has a history going for it.