It’s been about a year since we picked the Xiaomi Pad 5 as among the best Android tabs in the sub Rs 30K price band. The Xiaomi Pad 6 picks up the threads from the Pad 5 and is positioned as a serious productivity device. A tablet that allows you to leave your laptop behind when you’re heading for a weekend break with your buddies. Does it walk the talk?

Elegant form

It’s a familiar design and it gets even better with the Pad 6. Xiaomi has managed to reduce the heft under 500g, the Pad 6 is also a tad thinner than its predecessor. It makes this ultra-sleek and ready to slide into your thinnest messenger bags. We like the design of the rear camera module. It’s easily one of the best looking Android tabs right now. It comes in two shades – a chic Mist Blue and the more sedate Graphite Grey that we checked out. The colour doesn’t really matter as much as a phone, because you’re likely to slide it into a case or a keyboard case. Our review unit came with Xiaomi’s Pad 6 Keyboard (an optional accessory that costs Rs 4,999); it’s a no-brainer, especially if you’re planning to get stuff done.

Big screen appeal

Gaming, videos and e-books. These are three use-case scenarios where tabs score with the large screen appeal. The extra screen real estate makes a huge difference even if you’re switching from a large smartphone screen. This is an area where the Pad 6 scores. Xiaomi has kitted this tablet with a 11-inch display that is a step up from it’s predecessor. The 2.8K display packs 309 Pixels per inch and maxes out at a screen brightness of 550 nits. The 144Hz refresh rate adds to its immersive appeal. I watched a couple of episodes of Scoop on this tab and also caught the disappointing finish to the WTC final between India and Australia and the colours were quite vivid. Gaming is also fun on this device. The quad speakers add to its entertainment creds.

Power packed

The Xiaomi Pad 6 is powered by the dependable Qualcomm 870 processor. We checked out the top-end 8GB/256GB variant, the tab is also available in a 6GB/128GB variant. Battery life is quite solid too; there’s a robust 8840 mAh battery under the hood despite its slinky form. The 33W fast charger powers the device from 1 to 100% in less than 100 minutes. If you’re likely to use your tab camera for snapping images and videos, this won’t let you down. It’s a slight improvement over the Pad 5, the rear cam is headlined with a 13MP lens, there’s also an 8MP selfie in the mix.

Work + play?

The Xiaomi Pad 6 covers all bases as a Content consumption device. The question that always crops up with a premium tab is around its Content creation and work capabilities. Xiaomi’s keyboard and the second-gen smart pen (Rs 5,999) bolster this device’s creds as a work machine. We were impressed with MIUI for Pad during our brush with the Pad 5 last year, it’s the same with this tab. You get some multi-tasking capabilities thanks to split screens and floating windows made possible by MIUI for Pad, a user interface designed for the tab. It all adds up. The Pad 6 is no laptop replacement, that’s not a claim any Android tab can make now too. It’s a great update to last year’s Pad 5 and offers some extra productivity tools that might allow you to leave your laptop behind on a short business trip. It scores with its form factor, display and competitive price tag, that make it one of the best Android tabs you can buy now.

The Xiaomi Pad 6 is available in Mist Blue and Graphite Grey. It costs Rs 26,999 (6GB/128GB) or Rs 28,999 (8GB/256GB). There’s an instant discount of Rs 3,000 on ICICI cards