The new Xiaomi Pad 9’s best feature falls flat in our review
Our review of the new Xiaomi Pad 9 gives the mid-range tablet (prices start at $525) a strong overall rating. However, the Xiaomi tablet does not always outperform last year’s model, and the differences from its predecessor are marginal.
On paper, the best feature of the 2026 model is its increased battery capacity, up from 9,200 to 9,720 mAh. The other key specifications remain unchanged, including the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4.
Xiaomi Pad 9 offers very good battery life compared with the Apple iPad 11
However, our review reveals a surprising step backward in battery life. In our measurements, the larger battery does not translate into better endurance. Although the Xiaomi Pad 9 still delivers very good battery life compared with an iPad 11 , the additional 520 mAh is largely offset by increased power consumption.
Power consumption at idle is particularly striking in our measurements. While the Xiaomi Pad 8 requires an average of around 2 watts at a display brightness of 150 cd/m², consumption rises to over 4 watts on the Pad 9. The new 2026 model also operates slightly less efficiently under load than its predecessor, largely offsetting the larger battery’s capacity gain.
In our Wi-Fi test, this even results in a shorter battery life of 19.5 hours.
Xiaomi offers an appealing mid-range package with the Pad 9
Aside from its slightly reduced battery life, the Xiaomi Pad 9 offers an appealing overall package in the mid-range segment. In addition to its bright 144 Hz display with no PWM flickering and high color accuracy, the Xiaomi tablet offers a strong feature set, including WiFi 7, USB 3.2 and stylus support. You can find all the details and measurements for the Xiaomi Pad 9 in our review.
Source(s)
Review of the Xiaomi Pad 9
Add as a preferred source on Google
