[Xiaomi Pad 5 Review] A Compact Tablet That Perfectly Covers the Essentials of 'Screen and Sound'

Review of Xiaomi's New Tablet PC 'Xiaomi Pad 5'

'Xiaomi Pad 5'

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Eun-mo] Xiaomi's new tablet PC, the 'Xiaomi Pad 5,' is a solid product that focuses on the most essential elements of a tablet PC, such as display and sound.

The most surprising aspect while using it was the sound. The Pad 5 is equipped with quad (4) speakers and a Dolby Atmos sound system, and the spatial sound exceeded expectations. Rather than multiple sounds merging into one and hitting the ear, it felt like several sounds were evenly layered, flowing in from various directions and distances. This spatial effect was advantageous not only when listening to music separately but also effective in enhancing immersion during video viewing.

Individual sounds were well separated without distortion. However, compared to the stable and clean bass, when the speaker volume was turned up to the maximum, the high-pitched sounds of some instruments like trumpets slightly distorted. Of course, considering that in everyday situations the volume is rarely turned up to the maximum, this is not a significant issue.

'Xiaomi Pad 5'

The display, the most important aspect of a tablet PC, was also satisfactory. The Pad 5 supports WQHD+ resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, and an adaptive screen feature known as 'True Tone.' Through the 'color scheme' option, users can adjust the screen's color and temperature to their liking, giving the overall impression of a smooth and natural display.

Especially when setting the color to the enhanced saturation mode among 'Vivid, Saturation, Standard' and the temperature to 'Cool,' and watching a 4K Hangang live cam video, the product clearly showed details from the cloudless bright sky during the day to the rippling waters of the Hangang River, making it evident that this is not a budget product. However, the fixed refresh rate, which requires choosing between 120Hz and 60Hz rather than a variable refresh rate that changes in real time depending on the video, was a slight drawback.

The viewing angle of the screen was somewhat disappointing. Because the viewing angle is relatively poor, the satisfaction level was lower when holding the tablet PC in hand and lounging at home during bright daytime compared to watching it fixed on a desk or other surface. The slightly high reflectivity on dark screens was also a downside.

Xiaomi Pad 5

The camera was generally adequate for typical uses such as document scanning. It is equipped with a single 8-megapixel front camera and a single 13-megapixel rear camera. The camera seems to be somewhat de-emphasized, but considering that tablet PCs are generally not used extensively for photo or video shooting, this is not a major drawback.

Lastly, the design is unlikely to be polarizing. The aluminum material gives the back and sides a clean finish, and the light reflects at different angles, making the appearance visually interesting. The color tested was 'Cosmic Gray,' which did not seem very resistant to fingerprints, so the 'Pearl White' color might be better for keeping it clean. With a thickness of 6.85mm and a weight of 511g, it is thin and light enough to hold comfortably. However, the side volume buttons were small and flat compared to their frequent use, causing slight inconvenience, and the separately sold smart pen was not tested, leaving some regret.

As a representative of 'cost-effectiveness,' Xiaomi's product should ultimately be considered along with its price. The list price of 449,000 KRW offers clear price competitiveness compared to competitors with similar specs. Although the brand image in Korea is somewhat lower compared to Samsung Electronics and Apple, if the focus of use is on video viewing, it appears to be a product with no significant shortcomings.