[Comprehensive] "Will It Open If You Knock?" Xiaomi Launches New Tablet 'Pad 5' Priced Around 400,000 Won

Xiaomi to Launch 'Xiaomi Pad 5' in Korea on 23rd for 449,000 KRW
First Tablet Release in Korea in 7 Years... "Flagship Performance at Mid-Range Price"
Six New Products Including Wireless Earphones, Air Fryer, Gaming Monitor Released

Xiaomi 'Xiaomi Pad 5'

[Asia Economy Reporter Eunmo Koo] Xiaomi's challenge in the Korean market continues. Although domestic consumers still have a negative perception of Chinese products, there is a belief that if high-quality products are continuously offered at reasonable prices, the door will eventually open. The biggest strength of Xiaomi's newly launched tablet PC, the 'Xiaomi Pad 5,' is also its 'cost-effectiveness (performance relative to price).' Xiaomi is determined to "shake up the Korean market by offering flagship-level performance products at mid-to-low price levels."

New Tablet 'Pad 5' Released... 449,000 KRW

On the 16th, Xiaomi held an online product launch event and announced that the Xiaomi Pad 5 and 'Redmi Buds 3 Pro' will be officially released in Korea on the 23rd.

The new tablet PC Pad 5 unveiled by Xiaomi is the first product released in three years since the 'Mi Pad 4' in 2018, and it is the first time in seven years since 2014 that Xiaomi is launching a tablet in the Korean market.

Xiaomi 'Xiaomi Pad 5' Pearl White.

The Xiaomi Pad 5 is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 860 application processor (AP) boasting speeds up to 2.96 gigahertz (GHz), features an 11-inch QHD resolution (1600 x 2560 pixels) display with a 120 hertz (Hz) refresh rate, and is equipped with immersive quad stereo speakers. Xiaomi explained, "The display, which applies over 1 billion vibrant colors, and the immersive sound of Dolby Atmos will elevate the user experience to the next level."

The tablet is equipped with an 8-megapixel front camera and a 13-megapixel rear camera, and its 8720 milliampere-hour (mAh) battery can play videos continuously for 16 hours. It is also compatible with the Xiaomi Smart Pen, which has two buttons for writing and screenshots. The Xiaomi Pad 5 will first be released in two colors, Cosmic Gray and Pearl White, with 6 gigabytes (GB) of RAM and 128GB of storage, and plans to release a 6GB RAM, 256GB storage model later.

The Xiaomi Pad 5 will be launched on Coupang on the 23rd at 449,000 KRW, with an early bird discount price of 399,000 KRW available for four days from the 23rd to the 26th. The Xiaomi Smart Pen will be available for separate purchase starting next month at 89,900 KRW on Coupang, 11st, Naver Smart Store, Gmarket, and Auction.

"Providing flagship performance at mid-to-low prices... continuing the cost-effectiveness policy"

Steven Wang, General Manager of Xiaomi East Asia

On this day, Xiaomi emphasized that they strived to present a product with high-end performance but at an affordable mid-to-low price. Steven Wang, Xiaomi's General Manager for East Asia, expressed confidence, saying, "Considering the design, materials used, and internal chipset, the Pad 5 is not inferior to other companies' flagship products." He added, "At the same time, we could not overlook cost-effectiveness. Through a business model that earns only a 5% margin, we want to shake the market by offering flagship products at mid-to-low price levels."

He also evaluated the Xiaomi Pad 5 as a meaningful product for presenting a new choice in the polarized tablet PC market. Currently, the tablet PC market is divided between Samsung Electronics and Apple, and since the two companies use different operating systems, the actual range of consumer choices is narrow. He believes that by addressing this, significant results can be achieved. Manager Wang said, "While low-priced products are relatively diverse, there are only two or three high-spec products," and added, "In terms of broadening the range of choices, the launch of the Xiaomi Pad 5 will lead to positive outcomes for both the market and users."

Xiaomi 'Xiaomi Pad 5' Cosmic Gray.

When asked about competitiveness against Apple's 'iPad (9th generation)' unveiled on the 15th, Manager Wang confidently stated, "The iPad 9 is an entry-level product, so it cannot be compared to the Pad 5." He explained, "Considering the components and materials used in the product, the type of display, and the speakers installed, the Pad 5 is on par with Apple's high-end product, the 'iPad Pro'." The domestic launch price of the Xiaomi Pad 5 is similar to that of the new iPad (9th generation).

Regarding the reason for releasing a tablet in the Korean market after seven years, he explained that the increase in remote work due to COVID-19 and the expectation that this trend will continue influenced the decision. He said, "The tablet market is a product category on a growth trend, and as remote work increases, consumer needs will also grow," adding, "We will continuously provide the highest-spec products at the best prices."

Wireless Earphones 'Redmi Buds 3 Pro' Also Unveiled

On the same day, Xiaomi also unveiled the wireless earphones 'Redmi Buds 3 Pro' equipped with active noise cancelling (ANC) functionality. Xiaomi explained, "The Redmi Buds 3 Pro are equipped with dual microphones that can reduce noise by up to 35 decibels (dB), creating an immersive environment for music listening," and "They offer four ANC modes depending on the situation."

The Redmi Buds 3 Pro can be used for up to 6 hours on a single charge, and usage can be extended up to 28 hours including the charging case. Xiaomi also stated that fast charging allows for 3 hours of use with just a 10-minute charge.

Available in two colors, black and white, they will be available for purchase on Coupang, 11st, Naver Smart Store, Gmarket, and Auction starting on the 23rd. The price is 67,900 KRW, with an early bird discount price of 59,900 KRW for three days until the 25th.

Manager Steven Wang said, "We are excited to introduce innovative and popular Xiaomi products that domestic customers can use effectively," and added, "We will continue to provide excellent products at amazing prices, expand our channels in the domestic market, and enrich Xiaomi's unique portfolio."

Xiaomi 'Smart Air Fryer'

Meanwhile, Xiaomi also announced the domestic release of vacuum cleaners G10 and Light, a smart air fryer, a 34-inch gaming monitor, and a 55-inch Android TV. Prices are ▲ Vacuum Cleaner G10 299,000 KRW ▲ Vacuum Cleaner Light 119,000 KRW ▲ Smart Air Fryer 79,900 KRW ▲ 34-inch Gaming Monitor 499,000 KRW ▲ 55-inch Android TV 590,000 KRW.

All products officially released domestically through this announcement can be repaired at four official SK Networks Service Xiaomi ecosystem product A/S centers.