Hardly anyone is talking about this Xiaomi Pad 9 downgrade, but our review provides facts
With the Xiaomi Pad 9, we have reviewed the next generation of the popular mid-range tablet. However, our measurements reveal a slight downgrade in speaker quality for this affordable Android tablet (prices start at $525). Has Xiaomi quietly cut costs here, as it did with the Redmi Pad 2 9.7?
The Xiaomi Pad 9's sound quality has become slightly worse
Our pink noise measurements show that the Xiaomi Pad 9 falls just short of the Xiaomi Pad 8 in terms of maximum volume. While its predecessor reaches a sound pressure level of 86.9 dB(A), the 2026 model achieves 85.1 dB(A). However, the difference is not dramatic and is unlikely to matter much in everyday use.
A look at the two Android tablets' frequency responses in the pink noise test is more revealing. While the Xiaomi Pad 8 consistently delivers higher levels in the bass range, giving its sound a stronger foundation, the 2026 model has slightly less depth. The differences are even greater at higher frequencies. The upper treble drops off much more sharply on the Xiaomi Pad 9 than on its predecessor.
Overall, the Xiaomi Pad 9 still impresses with decent speaker tuning, but our pink noise measurements show a significantly less linear response across the audible range. Users who place particular importance on the quality of the built-in speakers are actually better served by the Xiaomi Pad 8's sound characteristics.
The Xiaomi Pad 9 is still a great mid-range tablet
The Xiaomi Pad 9 is still a great mid-range tablet and an affordable alternative to the 11-inch iPad Air. To find out where the new Xiaomi tablet excels and see all our measurements for the 2026 Xiaomi Pad, read Notebookcheck's review.
Source(s)
Review Xiaomi Pad 9
Add as a preferred source on Google
