Prakhar Khanna/ZDNET
Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.
At MWC 2026, Xiaomi announced a bunch of new devices, including a follow-up to my favorite Android tablet of 2025. The Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro Matte Glass version continues to make nanotexture screens more accessible and adds a more powerful processor and upgraded accessories, among other things for a more complete experience.
Also: Best of MWC 2026: Live updates on phones, concepts, and innovations we're seeing
I've been using the Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro Matte Glass version as my primary entertainment and productivity device since early February, and this is the first 11-inch tablet that I want to carry with my MacBook Air.
No, I didn't try to replace my laptop with Xiaomi's claimed "PC-level productivity" experience - because my use case (our content management system) needs desktop Chrome to function seamlessly. However, I used the new Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro to multitask, research, write stories, browse online, watch Netflix on long-haul flights, and more.
After a month of use, here's why I think the Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro Matte Glass model is the Android tablet to beat this year.
How does it get almost everything right?
Xiaomi's new Pad 8 Pro Matte Glass variant features a metal body with a one-piece design. At 494 grams, it is slightly heavier than the M3 iPad Air. It feels dense in the hand and is comfortable to hold. I've read articles and books and browsed websites without feeling any wrist strain. You'll need to adjust your grip once in a while, but its 5.8mm thickness feels fine for the most part.
The Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro has an 11.2-inch LCD with a 3:2 aspect ratio, a 3,200 x 2,136-pixel resolution, and a 144Hz refresh rate. I have the Matte Glass variant, which has a "next-gen nano texture display" that's claimed to deliver 44% less reflection than the previous generation.
... continue reading