An iPad clone, in a great way

Is there an iPad of the Android world? You might debate that for hours, about if there had been an iPad of Android, it’d nicely be the Xiaomi Pad 7 Professional. Why? Nicely, Xiaomi is unashamedly copying Apple with regards to the design of the pill itself, software program components, and the equipment that it provides for the pill.

However whereas the copying is blatant, it’s maybe not a foul factor. Apple’s Magic Keyboard is a superb accent for the iPad, and the commercial design of the iPad is beloved. That’s to not point out the truth that the Xiaomi Pad 7 Professional is cheap, a minimum of in comparison with the higher-end iPad fashions.

So, when you’ve got the Xiaomi Pad 7 Professional accessible in your area, must you purchase it? Or must you persist with one thing from Samsung, and even Apple?

Xiaomi Pad 7 Professional specs

Xiaomi Pad 7 Professional overview: Design

The Xiaomi Pad 7 Professional clearly borrows design inspiration from the iPad, however that’s not likely a foul factor. It’s received that smooth, premium vibe with flat edges and a slim construct, and it feels sturdy and cozy to carry. Xiaomi has undoubtedly leaned right into a clear, minimalist look that Apple followers will discover acquainted.

The design of the Pad 7 Professional is geared towards horizontal use — the brand on the again is horizontal, the entrance digicam is on the highest edge when used horizontally, and so forth. If you’re holding it that manner, you’ll get the USB-C port on the fitting, the facility button over on the left, and the amount rocker up prime. The facility button additionally doubles as a fingerprint sensor, and it appeared responsive and correct sufficient in my utilization. 

Picture supply: Christian de Looper for BGR

There’s one massive visible distinction in comparison with the iPad — the massive, sq. digicam module on the again. It seems prefer it ought to home a number of cameras, however there’s really only one in there. On the alternative facet of the again of the pill, you’ll discover pogo pins that permit the pill connect with equipment just like the Xiaomi Professional Focus Keyboard — extra on that later.

You may get the Pad 7 Professional in Grey, Blue, or Inexperienced. I’ve received the Grey model, however I just like the brighter colours — they add a bit extra enjoyable to the gadget. The colours are nonetheless refined although, much like what you could find on the iPad Air.

Xiaomi Pad 7 Professional overview: Show

The Xiaomi Pad 7 Professional comes with an 11.2-inch show, however it’s a little bit of a combined bag. Xiaomi opted for an LCD panel right here, prone to maintain prices down. Whereas the LCD display right here isn’t dangerous, an OLED possibility would have been good — the distinction could be much better, because of the deeper black ranges. 

Picture supply: Christian de Looper for BGR

That mentioned, the show nonetheless manages a pointy 2136 x 3200 decision, supplying you with a crisp picture at 345ppi pixel density. Textual content regarded crisp sufficient and pictures had been detailed. It additionally boasts a 144Hz refresh charge, which makes every thing from scrolling to gaming really feel tremendous clean. The height brightness hits 800 nits, which is first rate for many conditions and wasn’t arduous to view outside, although a bit extra brightness would have been useful.

Rounding issues out, the display does assist each Dolby Imaginative and prescient and HDR10, so that you’re nonetheless getting a stable expertise when streaming HDR content material.

Xiaomi Pad 7 Professional overview: Efficiency

The Xiaomi Pad 7 Professional is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, paired with both 8GB or 12GB of RAM, relying on the mannequin you select. My overview unit is the higher-end model with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.

Picture supply: Christian de Looper for BGR

In on a regular basis use, the pill dealt with duties excellently. The software program felt snappy, and multitasking was no drawback — although, I did discover that the way in which Xiaomi handles multitasking can really feel a bit of clunky at instances software-wise. Nonetheless, for many customers, it’ll get the job completed with out a hitch, a minimum of because it pertains to efficiency. 

Whereas it doesn’t fairly hit the excessive bar set by units with the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, it’s not far off. And, there ought to be sufficient headroom in efficiency to make sure the gadget performs decently nicely for a minimum of a couple of years, even in case you’re a heavy person. 

Xiaomi Pad 7 Professional overview: Battery and charging

The Xiaomi Pad 7 Professional packs an 8,850mAh battery, and total, battery life is stable. For many customers who stream movies, browse the net, or undergo emails, the gadget ought to final a couple of days of use on a single cost. When you’re a lighter person who solely pulls it out often, you would possibly even stretch it to just about every week between fees.

Picture supply: Christian de Looper for BGR

By way of steady utilization, you possibly can count on round 12 hours of display time, although that can clearly rely on what you’re doing and the way brilliant you may have the display set. Regardless, it’s sufficient for a full day of labor, in case you plan on utilizing it for that objective

When it comes time to cost, the Pad 7 Professional helps 67W wired charging, which is fairly fast. There’s no charging brick within the field, however in case you’ve received the fitting charger, you possibly can prime it off in about an hour.

Xiaomi Pad 7 Professional overview: Software program

Software program continues to be one of many main hurdles for Android tablets, and the Xiaomi Pad 7 Professional doesn’t absolutely escape that. It ships with Xiaomi’s HyperOS, primarily based on Android 15, and whereas it’s useful, it may be a bit of buggy and complicated at instances. For example, floating window assist is inconsistent. You may open a single Chrome window as a floating app, however attempt to open a second, and also you’re out of luck except you turn to Workstation Mode — and even then, you’re restricted within the dimension and placement of your home windows.

Picture supply: Christian de Looper for BGR

Cut up-screen multitasking is restricted too. Surprisingly, even a few of Xiaomi’s personal apps, just like the Settings app, don’t assist it. Nonetheless, the remainder of the interface is generally simple, and there are some acquainted touches borrowed from Apple, such because the Management Heart-style pull-down menu for fast settings.

One of many extra attention-grabbing options right here is the flexibility to make use of the Pad 7 Professional as a wi-fi show for a Mac. Whereas there’s noticeable latency in comparison with Apple’s personal Sidecar characteristic, it’s nonetheless a cool software.

In the long run, HyperOS is okay. It’s serviceable, with some useful extras, however would possibly frustrate customers anticipating a extra polished or seamless expertise. And as all the time with Android tablets, there’s nonetheless the problem of some third-party apps not absolutely optimizing for bigger screens. 

Xiaomi Pad 7 Professional overview: Equipment

Xiaomi provides a couple of equipment for the Pad 7 Professional, however the two I spent essentially the most time with had been the Professional Focus Keyboard and the Xiaomi Focus Pen.

Picture supply: Christian de Looper for BGR

The Xiaomi Professional Focus Keyboard is principally an Apple Magic Keyboard copy. It’s a full-sized keyboard, though it skips out on perform keys, and there’s no USB-C port within the hinge for charging. The trackpad feels stable and responsive, and the keys have first rate journey. Nonetheless, they really feel a bit of softer and a bit of muchier than Apple’s keyboard — not fairly as clicky. One factor that stood out was the power of the magnets. They’re stronger than these on the Magic Keyboard, and never essentially in a great way. Eradicating the pill from the keyboard required a bit of extra effort than Apple’s model.

The Xiaomi Focus Pen is one other helpful accent. I didn’t use it fairly as a lot because the keyboard, since I don’t sometimes depend on a stylus, however it labored nicely in my restricted testing. It felt responsive, and it included buttons for added performance. General, it’s a stable and dependable stylus, and just like the Apple Pencil, it snaps to the highest fringe of the pill for charging and storage.

Picture supply: Christian de Looper for BGR

Past these, Xiaomi additionally provides a Professional Keyboard, which is extra of a folio-style possibility, and a primary cowl for the Pad 7 Professional. I didn’t use these a lot, however total, Xiaomi’s accent lineup is first rate. Positive, it’s unoriginal — however in case you’re going to repeat a product, the Magic Keyboard is an effective one to borrow from.

Conclusions

The Xiaomi Pad 7 Professional is a superb possibility for anybody on the lookout for a high-quality Android pill, particularly in case you’re after one thing that blends premium design with stable efficiency and helpful equipment. It checks quite a lot of packing containers: clean efficiency, good battery life, a high-refresh-rate show, and a number of optionally available add-ons just like the Professional Focus Keyboard and Focus Pen that make it much more versatile. Once more, these are Apply copies. Really feel about that the way you need, however on the very least, it’s making for a high-quality expertise. 

You may’t formally get the Pad 7 Professional within the U.S., which limits its attain for now. When you reside in a market the place it’s accessible, it’s value critical consideration. However in case you’re within the U.S., you’ll possible have to look elsewhere, like Samsung’s Galaxy Tab lineup.

The competitors

The largest competitors for a pill like this comes from the OnePlus Pad 2, the iPad Air, and the Honor MagicPad 2.

The Xiaomi Pad 7 Professional and the OnePlus Pad 2 each goal the mid-to-upper tier Android pill area, however they go about it a bit of otherwise. The Pad 7 Professional leans into an iPad-inspired design and ecosystem, whereas the OnePlus Pad 2 brings a barely extra authentic look with its rounded edges and centered rear digicam. Efficiency is comparable between the 2, however OnePlus edges forward barely with a MediaTek Dimensity 9300 chipset. That mentioned, Xiaomi’s accent ecosystem feels a bit extra fleshed out, particularly with the Professional Focus Keyboard and stylus choices.

In comparison with the 2025 iPad Air, the Xiaomi Pad 7 Professional provides an identical design language and accent choice, however the iPad Air’s M2 chip offers it a transparent efficiency benefit. In the end, the iPad Air feels extra polished, particularly when factoring in Apple’s optimized iPadOS software program, plus the equipment are higher-quality — although additionally dearer. 

The Xiaomi Pad 7 Professional and the Honor MagicPad 2 each ship premium Android pill experiences, however the MagicPad 2 takes a slight edge in show with its OLED panel, in comparison with Xiaomi’s LCD. Nonetheless, the Pad 7 Professional counters with stronger equipment. Efficiency and battery life are fairly shut between the 2, making the selection largely depending on whether or not you prioritize show high quality or a extra sturdy accent ecosystem.

Ought to I purchase the Xiaomi Pad 7 Professional?

Sure. It’s a stable pill that borrows the fitting issues from Apple.