The iPad Killer? Xiaomi Pad 8 Hits Global Markets with a Stunning 144 Hz Punch

 

# The iPad Killer? Xiaomi Pad 8 Hits Global Markets with a Stunning 144 Hz Punch

**Published: March 1, 2026**

You know that feeling when you're watching a movie on a tablet, and the motion just feels... off? A little blurry? Like the screen can't quite keep up with what's happening?

That's the problem Xiaomi is trying to solve with its new Pad 8.

The company just launched its latest tablet globally, and the headline feature is impossible to ignore: a **144 Hz refresh rate** on an 11.2-inch 3.2K display . That's smoother than the iPad Pro's 120 Hz ProMotion, and it's coming to a tablet that costs hundreds less.

But here's the question everyone's asking: can Xiaomi finally deliver the "iPad killer" that Android fans have been waiting for? Or is this just another tablet that looks great on paper but falls short in real life?

Let me walk you through everything you need to know about the Xiaomi Pad 8, how it compares to Apple's lineup, and whether it's worth your money.

## The Short Version: What You Need to Know

**The launch:** Xiaomi officially released the Pad 8 globally on February 28, 2026, alongside the more powerful Pad 8 Pro . The tablets were unveiled at MWC Barcelona and are now available in multiple markets including Europe, Vietnam, Indonesia, and more .

**The display:** Both models feature an 11.2-inch IPS LCD screen with **3.2K resolution (3200 x 2136 pixels)** and a **144 Hz refresh rate** . Peak brightness hits 800 nits, and the display supports HDR10, Dolby Vision, and HDR Vivid .

**The processors:**

- **Pad 8:** Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 (4nm) 

- **Pad 8 Pro:** Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite (3nm) with 81% faster CPU and 103% faster GPU than previous gen 

**The battery:** 9,200 mAh in both models, with 45W charging for the Pad 8 and 67W for the Pro .

**The price:** The Pad 8 starts at €449.90 (about $530) in Europe, while the Pro model commands a premium .

## The Display That Demands Attention

Let's start with the screen, because that's where Xiaomi is making its boldest statement.

### 144 Hz: Smoother Than the Competition

Most tablets, including Apple's iPad lineup, max out at 120 Hz. Xiaomi is pushing that to **144 Hz**, and the difference is noticeable.

What does 144 Hz actually mean? It means the screen refreshes 144 times every second. For scrolling through web pages, flipping through photo galleries, or playing supported games, the experience is buttery smooth . Motion blur is reduced, and everything feels more responsive.

**The French tech site Presse-citron noted** that this high refresh rate allows you to "grimper à 144 i/s sur les jeux compatibles" —hit 144 frames per second on compatible games .

### 3.2K Resolution and Color

The 11.2-inch screen packs 3200 x 2136 pixels, giving it a sharp pixel density of around 344 PPI . That's plenty crisp for reading, watching movies, or editing photos.

Color support includes HDR10, Dolby Vision, and HDR Vivid, ensuring that Netflix and other streaming content looks vibrant and accurate . The 800-nit peak brightness means you can actually use it outdoors without squinting .

### The Matte Glass Option

For the Pad 8 Pro, Xiaomi is offering a "Matte Glass" version that uses advanced nano-texture etching technology. This reduces glare by 44% compared to standard glass, making it ideal for working outdoors or in brightly lit environments . Combined with the Focus Pen Pro, the writing experience reportedly feels closer to paper .

### The Trade-Off: IPS vs. OLED

Here's the honest take: this is still an IPS LCD panel, not OLED. Presse-citron's review called this one of the tablet's main drawbacks .

"Que ce soit au niveau des contrastes ou du respect des couleurs, le désavantage par rapport à l'OLED est criant," they wrote. "Cela se voit beaucoup dans les séries ou les jeux" .

Translation: the contrast and color accuracy just can't match OLED, and it's noticeable in movies and games. If you're coming from an OLED phone or tablet, you'll see the difference.

But for the price point, an IPS panel is understandable. The question is whether you're willing to trade perfect blacks for a much lower price tag.

## Performance: Two Chips for Two Audiences

Xiaomi is offering two distinct performance tiers with the Pad 8 and Pad 8 Pro.

### Xiaomi Pad 8: Snapdragon 8s Gen 4

The standard Pad 8 packs Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8s Gen 4, built on a 4nm process. According to Notebookcheck's benchmarks, this delivers about a **40% performance improvement** over the previous generation Pad 7 .

In real-world use, that means:

- Smooth multitasking with multiple apps open

- No lag or stuttering in everyday tasks

- Gaming at high settings, though you may need to make "quelques concessions au niveau des graphismes" 

### Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro: Snapdragon 8 Elite

The Pro model is the real beast. It uses the **Snapdragon 8 Elite**, a 3nm chip that delivers:

- 81% faster CPU performance

- 103% faster GPU performance

- Adreno 830 GPU clocked at 1100 MHz 

This is the chip for power users. It handles 4K video editing, runs demanding 3D games at max settings, and keeps up with heavy multitasking .

**ezone.hk's hands-on** noted that in Workstation Mode, the Pad 8 Pro can open "超過 10 個網頁視窗" (more than 10 web windows) without any slowdown or reloading . That's PC-level performance.

### Memory and Storage

Both models come with:

- **RAM:** 8 GB or 12 GB options 

- **Storage:** 128 GB or 256 GB options 

The storage uses UFS 3.1 or UFS 4.1 depending on the variant, ensuring fast read and write speeds .

## Battery Life: All-Day Power

One of the most impressive specs is the battery. Both tablets pack a **9,200 mAh cell** .

**Real-world usage:**

- Presse-citron tested the Pad 8 in a "boulot" (work) scenario—using it periodically during the day for work tasks and watching series at night—and got **three to four days** of use 

- Charging speeds differ: 45W for the Pad 8, 67W for the Pad 8 Pro 

**Important note:** Xiaomi does not include a charger in the box for the Pad 8 . You'll need to supply your own or buy one separately.

The Pad 8 Pro's 67W HyperCharge can get you back up to speed quickly, which is essential for a productivity-focused device .

## HyperOS 3: The Software Story

Both tablets run **Android 16 with Xiaomi's HyperOS 3** on top . This is where Xiaomi is trying to differentiate itself from the iPad.

### PC-Level Features

The big selling point is productivity. HyperOS 3 introduces:

- **PC-level browser:** Supports mouse hover previews, right-click menus, and full desktop-class webpage rendering. You can open multiple windows without reloading .

- **Workstation Mode:** Apps appear as floating cards, and the bottom dock stores all your icons. You can stack multiple apps and switch between them easily .

- **WPS Office integration:** Full PC version of WPS for Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and PDF editing .

**DoNews' review** highlighted the new split-screen options, including a 1:9 ratio that lets you run a main app while keeping a smaller app accessible on the side .

### AI Features

HyperOS 3 comes with several AI-powered tools:

- AI writing assistance

- AI translation

- AI art generation 

- AI wallpaper generation 

These are built directly into the system, making them available across apps.

### The Bloatware Problem

Here's the honest downside: HyperOS comes with a lot of pre-installed apps. Presse-citron's review called this out specifically .

"Le premier, c'est la multitude d'applications préinstallées," they wrote. You'll find Booking.com, Netflix, and other apps already on the device at first boot. Yes, you can delete them, but their presence is annoying .

Worse, Xiaomi includes "publicité à outrance dans les applications Xiaomi" —excessive advertising within Xiaomi's own apps. Pop-up ads when opening the video player or changing themes is "difficilement défendable en 2026" (hard to defend in 2026) .

### HyperConnect Ecosystem

If you're already in the Xiaomi ecosystem, the Pad 8 becomes much more valuable. HyperConnect allows seamless integration with:

- Xiaomi 17 series phones (share files, mirror screens, use phone camera on tablet) 

- Xiaomi cars (extends the smart cockpit experience) 

This "human × car × home" ecosystem is a genuine differentiator that Apple can't match.

## The Accessories: Keyboard and Pen

Xiaomi is pushing the Pad 8 as a productivity device, and that means accessories.

### Focus Keyboard

The detachable keyboard cover turns the tablet into a laptop-like device. It features:

- Metal hinge for adjustable viewing angles

- Extended trackpad area

- Strong magnetic attachment 

The whole package (tablet + keyboard + pen) weighs about 1.1 kg . Presse-citron described the keyboard as "pas incroyable" (not amazing) with a long key travel and less resistance than ideal, but "suffisant pour du travail d'appoint" (enough for occasional work) .

### Xiaomi Focus Pen Pro

The stylus supports:

- New gesture controls (single-click for color palette, double-click to adjust brush, swipe up/down to adjust size) 

- "Shortcut Ring" for quick access to six custom apps 

- Magnetic attachment to the tablet for charging and storage 

The pen is particularly useful with the Matte Glass version of the Pad 8 Pro, where the writing experience feels more like paper .

### The Pricing Strategy

Here's where Xiaomi is being clever. To offset the RAM crisis driving up component costs, they're offering bundle deals .

In Europe, the full pack (tablet + keyboard cover + mouse + stylus) is priced at €599, with a €100 launch discount bringing it down to €499 . That's essentially getting the accessories for free compared to buying the tablet alone at €449.

In Vietnam, buyers get direct discounts or vouchers during the launch period .

## The iPad Comparison: How It Stacks Up

Let's address the elephant in the room: how does the Xiaomi Pad 8 compare to the iPad?

**Table 1: Xiaomi Pad 8 vs. iPad Air (Approximate Comparison)**

| **Feature** | **Xiaomi Pad 8** | **iPad Air (Latest Gen)** |

| :--- | :--- | :--- |

| Display | 11.2" 3.2K 144 Hz IPS | 11" Liquid Retina 60 Hz IPS |

| Processor | Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 | Apple M3 |

| Refresh Rate | **144 Hz** | 60 Hz |

| Battery | 9,200 mAh | ~8,000 mAh |

| Charging | 45W | 20W |

| Price (Europe) | €450 | €700+ |

| Software | Android 16 + HyperOS 3 | iPadOS 18 |

| Ecosystem | Xiaomi ecosystem | Apple ecosystem |

*Sources: *

The comparison site Smartprix put the Pad 8 Pro directly against the iPad 12th Gen, and the numbers tell a clear story:

- **Display resolution:** 3200 x 2136 vs. 1640 x 2360 (Xiaomi wins)

- **Refresh rate:** 144 Hz vs. 60 Hz (Xiaomi wins)

- **Rear camera:** 50 MP vs. 12 MP (Xiaomi wins)

- **Price in India:** ₹34,990 vs. ₹59,900 (Xiaomi is 40% cheaper) 

But specs aren't everything. The iPad has:

- A more refined tablet OS with better app optimization

- Longer software support (5+ years vs. Xiaomi's 3-year promise)

- A massive accessory ecosystem

- No bloatware or ads

**The verdict:** If you want the best tablet experience regardless of price, get the iPad. If you want the best value and don't mind some trade-offs, the Xiaomi Pad 8 is incredibly compelling.

## The Price Story: Why It Costs More Than Expected

Here's the honest truth: the Xiaomi Pad 8 is more expensive than its predecessor.

The Pad 7 launched at around €400. The Pad 8 starts at €449 . In France, it's even higher at €499 for the base model .

**Why the price increase?** The global RAM crisis.

As we covered in our previous article on Xiaomi's broader challenges, memory prices have skyrocketed due to AI demand. Memory now accounts for nearly 30% of a tablet's bill of materials, up from 10-15% previously .

Presse-citron explained: "Une hausse spectaculaire de prix que l'on doit évidemment à la crise de la RAM, qui rend nos jouets tech préférés beaucoup plus chers" .

Xiaomi is trying to offset this with bundle deals, but the naked tablet price is undeniably higher than fans hoped.

**The alternative:** Consider the Pad 7. It's still available, still capable, and significantly cheaper. Presse-citron suggested this might be the smarter buy for many users .

## What the Reviews Say

I've gathered impressions from multiple reviews to give you a balanced picture.

### What Reviewers Love

- **The display:** 144 Hz 3.2K screen is genuinely impressive for the price 

- **Performance:** Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 handles everything smoothly; the Pro version is an absolute beast 

- **Battery life:** 9,200 mAh delivers 3-4 days of mixed use 

- **Design:** Premium aluminum build, thin (5.8mm), light (485g) 

- **Productivity features:** PC-level browser, Workstation Mode, keyboard and pen support 

### What Reviewers Criticize

- **IPS display:** Not OLED, so contrast and blacks suffer 

- **Bloatware and ads:** Too many pre-installed apps and intrusive advertising 

- **Price:** Higher than expected due to RAM crisis 

- **No charger included** 

- **Software:** HyperOS has improvements but still lags behind iPadOS 

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: When did the Xiaomi Pad 8 launch globally?**

A: Xiaomi officially released the Pad 8 series globally on February 28, 2026, at MWC Barcelona .

**Q: What's the difference between Pad 8 and Pad 8 Pro?**

A: The Pro has a faster Snapdragon 8 Elite chip (3nm vs. 4nm), faster 67W charging (vs. 45W), a better 50MP rear camera (vs. 13MP), and a 32MP front camera (vs. 8MP). The standard Pad 8 is slightly cheaper but still very capable .

**Q: How much does the Xiaomi Pad 8 cost?**

A: In Europe, the Pad 8 starts at €449.90 for the 12GB/128GB version. The 256GB version is €499.90 . In France, prices are slightly higher at €499 . In Vietnam, the Pad 8 starts at 11.99 million VND .

**Q: Does it have a headphone jack?**

A: The Pad 8 series does not include a 3.5mm headphone jack .

**Q: What's the battery life like?**

A: The 9,200 mAh battery delivers excellent endurance. Presse-citron got 3-4 days of mixed work and entertainment use .

**Q: Is the charger included?**

A: No. The Pad 8 does not include a charger in the box . The Pro model may include one, but check local listings.

**Q: Does it support 5G?**

A: Yes, cellular versions of the Pad 8 Pro support 5G with bands covering most global regions .

**Q: Can it replace a laptop?**

A: With the keyboard accessory, Workstation Mode, and PC-level browser, it can handle light productivity tasks. But it's not a full laptop replacement for heavy workloads .

**Q: How does it compare to the iPad Pro?**

A: The iPad Pro has a better OLED display, faster M-series chips, and a superior tablet OS. But the Xiaomi costs significantly less and offers features like 144 Hz refresh rate that even the iPad Pro doesn't match .

**Q: Should I buy the Pad 8 or wait for the Pad 7?**

A: The Pad 7 is cheaper and still capable. If you're on a budget, the Pad 7 is worth considering. If you want the latest features and better performance, go with the Pad 8 .

## The Bottom Line

Here's what I keep coming back to.

The Xiaomi Pad 8 is an impressive piece of hardware. The 144 Hz 3.2K display is genuinely beautiful. The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 delivers flagship-level performance. The 9,200 mAh battery keeps it running for days. And the productivity features—PC-level browser, Workstation Mode, keyboard and pen support—make it a legitimate alternative to a laptop for light work .

**The competition is fierce.** The iPad remains the king of tablets for good reason. Its software is more refined, its app ecosystem is vastly better, and it gets updates for years longer than any Android tablet.

**The price is the story.** At €450-500, the Pad 8 is significantly cheaper than an iPad Air. Xiaomi is offering 90% of the experience for 60% of the price. For many people, that's a trade worth making .

**The trade-offs are real.** You're getting an IPS display instead of OLED. You're putting up with bloatware and ads. You're accepting shorter software support. You're betting on Xiaomi's ecosystem instead of Apple's.

Is the Xiaomi Pad 8 an "iPad killer"? Probably not. The iPad's dominance is about more than hardware—it's about the entire ecosystem, the software support, the app store, the integration with other Apple devices.

But for anyone who wants a beautiful, powerful tablet without paying Apple prices, the Xiaomi Pad 8 is absolutely worth considering. It might not kill the iPad, but it's the best challenger we've seen in years.

And that 144 Hz display? Once you've used it, going back to 60 Hz feels like a step backward. Xiaomi knows that. And they're betting it's enough to win you over.

*Got questions about the Xiaomi Pad 8? Thinking of buying one? Drop a comment and let me know.*