Xiaomi finally launched the Xiaomi Pad 5 in India last week. It is the company’s first tablet in the country in 7 years. Also, this product was first announced in August 2021. It took the firm 8 months to bring it to India. The device is now up for sale in the region. But should you buy it or consider anything else? We try to answer this question in this article.
The Xiaomi Pad 5 is probably the best Android tablet in India in its price segment. The tablet retails at ₹26,999 and ₹28,999 for 6GB + 128GB and 6GB + 256GB memory configurations.
Unlike other Android tablets in the same price range, it offers a Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 SoC, UFS 3.1 storage, 120Hz refresh rate screen, and an 8,720mAh battery. These features are unheard of in this particular price category in India.
But for some reason, you may not like the product. For instance, Android is still not a good platform for tablets due to a lack of optimized apps. Further, it neither has a 3.5mm headphone jack nor a MicroSD card slot. It even lacks a fingerprint sensor and comes only in a WiFi-only variant in the country.
Additionally, Xiaomi is infamous for its tablet software support. Anyway, the company has promised to deliver Android 12L for the Xiaomi Pad 5.
Having said that, If you are looking for alternatives to the Xiaomi Pad 5 due to any of the aforementioned reasons or others, then you have come to the right place. We have listed the top competitors of this device that are worth considering.
The Best Xiaomi Pad 5 Alternatives in India
1. Apple iPad 9th Generation
When we talk about tablets, the iPad is the first product that comes into our mind, and for a good reason. Apple iPads are the most popular tablet product in the world due to their ever-growing reliable app ecosystem. The tablets also offer a premium build and specs to go with it.
The latest entry-level iPad, which also goes by the name of iPad 9th Generation and iPad 10.2 (2021) is the best alternative to the Xiaomi Pad 5 though it starts at ₹30,900 for the base variant with 64GB storage and only WiFi.
Apart from a much more powerful Apple A13 Bionic chip, the iPad will also receive software updates for 4-5 years. It is the second longest-supported tablet in this price segment. However, if you want more storage space, you will have to spend ₹44,900 for 256GB or ₹56,900 for 256GB and 5G support.
If your budget does not allow you to spend more than the price of the base variant of iPad 9th Generation and you are fine with 64GB, only then go with it.
2. Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook
If your usage mostly includes accessing web applications, then it’s better to buy a Chrome OS-powered tablet, which also allows you to use Android as well as Linux apps. The only option in this price range in India is the 2-year-old Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook.
As of writing this article, the product was being sold at ₹24,999. Unlike most tablets, it ships with a keyboard accessory and a kickstand stand. You only have to buy a stylus separately if you need it.
Most importantly, it Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook is the longest-supported tablet in its segment. Though It was released in 2020, it will still get updates until June 2028.
Since Chrome OS is getting better with every major update, the tablet should have more features than it launched with in the years to come.
3. Lenovo Yoga Tab 11
The Lenovo Yoga Tab 11 is arguably the best contender for Xiaomi Pad 5 alternative running Android. Though the tablet is not as powerful as the Pad 5, it offers certain features that are not available on the latter for a price tag of ₹25,999 (as of writing this post).
The Lenovo-branded tablet comes with a MicroSD card slot, a vibrations motor, and a ToF sensor for a face authentication system. It also has quad stereo speakers tuned by JBL and dual microphones with low-power DSP for far-filed voice recognition.
In addition to Dolby Vision support, it also has a built-in stainless steel kickstand which can be used to hand it anywhere. Finally, the only variant sold in India has LTE connectivity and 128GB storage.
The Lenovo Yoga Tab 11 may be less powerful with its MediaTek Helio G90T SoC and 4GB RAM, however, it has been confirmed to receive the Android 12 update by August and will continue to get security updates until April 2024.
4. Motorola Moto Tab G70
The Motorola Moto Tab G70 can be considered as a lite variant of the Lenovo Yoga Tab 11. It is almost similar to the Lenovo model without some features for a cheaper ₹22,999 price tag (as of writing this post).
It has the same display and chipset as the Yoga Tab 11 but lacks Dolby Vision support, JBL-branded speakers, a built-in stand, and a ToF sensor for biometrics. Finally, it also comes with only 64GB storage instead of 128GB.
For just ₹3,000 less, you lose out on so many features. Anyway, if you are budget is strictly around the price of the Moto Tab G70, it’s the only good option.
5. Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
Just like the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is also a 2-year-old product. Though it has already received two Android updates (Android 11 and Android 12), it is still eligible for one more major software update (Android 13).
The tablet is not as powerful as the other two Android competitors since it is run by an Exynos 9611 SoC. But it is feature-rich in terms of software. It also has a 3.5mm headphone jack, which others don’t feature.
Also, unlike any other tablet on the list, it is the only one that ships with a stylus. Talking about price, as of writing this article, the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite was being sold at ₹25,999 (4GB + 64GB, WiFi-only) and ₹29,999 (4GB + 64GB, WiFi + LTE).
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