Xiaomi Pad 8 review: Best tablet under Rs 40,000?

When it comes to tablets, most of the Indian users want a mid-range device that doesn't compromise on performance for entertainment or productivity. In fact, a recent IDC study suggests that the consumer tablet shipments grew by 20 per cent in 2025, largely due to the growing demand for high-performance, mid-tier devices.

And if there’s one company looking to cement its position in this space, it’s Xiaomi. The brand now offers a solid portfolio of tablets across the mid-range to mid-premium segment, catering to users who want a balance of performance, display quality, and value.

Last year, the Xiaomi Pad 7 was the company’s flagship tablet in India, and it genuinely impressed us. It was lightweight, capable, and priced smartly, and became an easy recommendation from us for anyone looking for a good Android tablet under Rs 35,000.
This year Xiaomi has introduced its successor, the Xiaomi Pad 8. It builds on what worked well with its predecessor and improves in key areas.

You now get an 11.2-inch LCD display with a sharp 3.2K resolution, up to 144Hz refresh rate, and Dolby Vision support, to keep up with the entertainment. Under the hood, it gets an upgrade with the new Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset, paired with up to 12GB RAM and UFS 4.1 storage. Backed by a 9,200mAh battery with 45W fast charging, the tablet promises to comfortably handle long work or entertainment sessions.

Overall, from casual doodling and note-taking to heavier tasks, the Xiaomi Pad 8 feels like a well-rounded and practical upgrade — at least on paper. But what about real-life performance?

When I first unboxed the Pad 8, my expectations were naturally high — not just because it brings some decent hardware upgrades, but also due to the noticeable jump in price. For reference, the Xiaomi Pad 7 entered the market at a starting price of Rs 26,999 for the 8GB RAM + 128GB storage variant. The Pad 8, however, was launched last month at Rs 33,999 for the same configuration.

So, the first question is: does it justify the hike?

After using the tablet for over 10 days here at India Today Tech, it does feel like a meaningful upgrade. In fact, if you manage to bring the price down with bank offers, it still makes a strong case even in the sub-Rs 30,000 bracket. However, at its full price under Rs 40,000, the competition gets tighter, and your decision will largely depend on what you really want from a tablet.

Slim, light, and easy to go around with

Before we dive into performance, let’s take a moment to appreciate the design. There’s nothing particularly flashy or “wow” about it, but it’s the feel and the lightweight body that steals the show.

The Xiaomi Pad 8 is just 5.75mm thin and weighs around 485 grams, making it slightly slimmer and lighter than the Pad 7. We used the Graphite Grey variant, which looks clean and minimal. At the back, you get a camera module that follows Xiaomi’s familiar square design language, similar to what we’ve seen on its smartphones and the Pad 7. That said, the back isn’t smudge-proof, so you will notice greasy fingerprint marks quite easily.

The quad-speaker setup is neatly placed along the sides, along with the power button and volume controls. Overall, the tablet feels lightweight and well-balanced, giving off a vibe similar to more premium devices like the iPad Pro.

The Pad 8 is fairly compact and fits easily into a small bag, and even after 10+ days of carrying it around, it never felt like a burden. For anyone who uses a tablet as an on-the-go companion, whether for work or entertainment, the Pad 8 is simply easy to live with.

Display is sharp, smooth, and bright enough

On the front, the Pad 8 features an 11.2-inch 3.2K LCD panel with a 144Hz refresh rate. The specs are similar to the Pad 7, but brightness levels have been improved. However, glare is noticeable, especially with a strong light source behind you, which means you often have to adjust angles or bump up the brightness.

I used the Pad 8 for everything, casual browsing, streaming on Netflix and YouTube, gaming, multitasking, even just scrolling through docs, and it all felt smooth. Colours pop nicely, and the thin bezels make watching content feel clean and distraction-free.
The picture quality also held up well throughout.

Performance: A step up, but not a giant leap

Under the hood, the Pad 8 moves to the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4, which, on paper, is a solid upgrade over the Pad 7’s Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3. In day-to-day use, though, the difference is noticeable but not dramatic. The Pad 7 was already quite smooth for most tasks, so the jump doesn’t feel drastic.

That said, the Pad 8 handled everything I threw at it without any complaints, whether it was multitasking between apps, gaming, writing and filing stories on a CMS, or even some casual doodling on the Mi Canvas app. I didn’t run into any lag or stutter during my time with it. During longer gaming sessions, the tablet did get slightly warm, but never to a point where it felt uncomfortable.

As for the exact metrics, I have attached the benchmark scores for your reference below.
The Pad 8 runs on HyperOS 3, based on Android 16. The interface feels clean and well-organised, and the new Workstation Mode genuinely helps when you want a more laptop-like experience, especially if you pair it with a keyboard.

One thing to keep in mind, though, while the Pad 8 is excellent for everyday tasks like emails, documents, entertainment, and casual gaming, it’s not meant for heavy professional workloads like complex video editing. Keep your expectations in check, and it will rarely disappoint.

Audio

One thing that usually disappoints me with tablets is the speaker output. They’re generally good, but not always loud enough. With the Pad 8, though, that’s not really an issue. The speakers are clear, loud, and don’t get screechy even at high volumes.

The speakers are powered by Dolby Atmos which offers a layer of immersion, and I found myself streaming movies and shows without ever needing external speakers or headphones.

Battery life is good enough

This is where I have to be a little critical. The Pad 8 packs a 9,200mAh battery, the largest Xiaomi has put in a tablet so far, and with moderate use, I managed roughly a day and a half before reaching for the charger. On paper, that sounds reasonable.
But here’s the catch: I lost nearly 24 per cent battery in just two hours of YouTube streaming. That’s quite a bit, and I noticed the drain more during regular use than when I was travelling. If you consume a lot of media, you’ll likely find yourself charging it every day.

The bundled 67W charger is decent, but in 2026, when some Android tablets are pushing 80W and beyond, it does feel a bit held back. For a tablet that drains fairly quickly, faster charging would have been better for the overall experience.

Accessories boost the power

I used both the Focus Keyboard and the Focus Pen Pro extensively during my review, and they really push what the Pad 8 can do.

The Focus Keyboard is a clear step up from what Xiaomi offered with the Pad 7. The keys have good travel, the layout feels comfortable, and the automatic backlighting comes in handy in low-light situations.

The trackpad is smaller than a typical laptop’s, but it responds well and now supports haptic feedback — something I missed on the previous version.

The Focus Pen Pro snaps on magnetically and charges wirelessly, so there’s no dongle hassle. With over 16,000 pressure levels, it feels precise for sketching and comfortable for notetaking. I spent a good amount of time doodling on Mi Canvas and jotting down notes, and while it doesn’t fully replicate pen-on-paper, it’s easily the best stylus experience I’ve had on a Xiaomi tablet.

Should you buy the Xiaomi Pad 8?

The Xiaomi Pad 8 is a strong option if you’re looking for a premium Android tablet under Rs 40,000.

It gets a lot of things right. The display is sharp and smooth, performance is reliable for everyday use, and the overall design feels slim, lightweight, and premium. The quad-speaker setup, backed by Dolby Atmos, also adds to the experience, making it great for streaming without needing external audio.

At the same time, it’s not without its quirks. Battery life is decent but not exceptional, especially if you consume a lot of media, and the charging speed is comparatively slow. There’s also some noticeable glare on the display in bright environments, which can occasionally take away from the viewing experience.

Still, if you’re looking for a well-rounded tablet that balances performance, display quality, and usability, the Pad 8 makes a solid case for itself.