Xiaomi Pad 7 Ultra Review: The First Android Tablet That Can Truly Rival the iPad Pro

Android tablets have been around for quite some time, and we’ve seen a wide variety of them across different price ranges. From budget-friendly models to high-value options like the OnePlus Pad 3 and the Xiaomi Pad 7, the Android tablet market is diverse. But despite all these offerings, nothing has managed to come close to the experience and polish of Apple’s iPad Pro. The truth is, these Android tablets aren’t even trying to compete with the iPad—they’re just offering good value at lower prices.

Samsung, on the other hand, did attempt to challenge Apple’s dominance with their Tab S10 Ultra. It came packed with a massive OLED display, a large battery, and even included a stylus right out of the box. However, the performance didn’t quite match expectations, and to make matters worse, it was even more expensive than the iPad. So that didn’t quite work out.

But things have changed. The tablet I’ve been using for the past two weeks has truly turned the game around. It’s called the Xiaomi Pad 7 Ultra, and it’s the first Android tablet that can genuinely compete with the iPad Pro. Even better, it comes with aggressive pricing that makes it a very compelling option.

Sleek Design That’s Shockingly Thin

Right from the first moment I held it, one thing became clear—this tablet is unbelievably thin. We’re talking just 5.1mm thin, and for a device this size, that’s genuinely impressive. In fact, it’s even thinner than the iPad Pro 11-inch that I’ve been using regularly. But thin doesn’t mean fragile here. Xiaomi has built the Pad 7 Ultra with a solid aluminum body that feels incredibly premium in hand.

The Misty Gray Purple color variant I’m using adds a touch of elegance, and everything from the build to the finish feels top-tier. To give a better idea of its screen size, I held it next to a MacBook—and surprisingly, it’s about as large as a laptop screen, but sleeker. That makes it great for multitasking or entertainment, though holding it for binge-watching sessions may be tiring. It weighs over 600 grams, so yes, it’s definitely more of a “place it on a stand” device than a handheld one for long periods.

On the back, you’ll see the Xiaomi logo along with X-Link branding near the camera module—this represents Xiaomi’s new processor lineup. You’ll also find magnetic connectors for an external case. Around the device, there’s a power button that doubles as a fingerprint scanner on the top, volume buttons on the right, a USB Type-C port on the bottom, and yes—since it’s Xiaomi—it even includes an IR blaster cleverly built into the camera area.

A Big, Beautiful AMOLED Display

Let’s talk about the showstopper—the display. The 14-inch AMOLED screen is not only big, it’s stunning. With a 3.2K resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, and 12-bit color, it’s incredibly sharp, smooth, and color-rich. The 3:2 aspect ratio makes it perfect for work and multitasking, whether you’re watching content, browsing, or editing.

There’s a notch in the display, which you won’t find on the iPad, but the bezels here are even thinner than those on the iPad Pro, making for a very immersive experience. The screen is protected by Gorilla Glass 5—not the toughest available, but still decent protection.

During my two-week review, I pushed this display hard. I watched seven full movies, finished multiple TV series, and even caught the India vs. England Test match. The colors were vibrant and well-balanced. It supports Dolby Vision, which enhances content quality further. However, since this is a Chinese unit, services like Netflix and Prime Video don’t currently show Dolby Vision or HDR. That might change with global variants.

Best Sound Ever on a Tablet

When it comes to audio, the Xiaomi Pad 7 Ultra is in a league of its own. It has a total of eight speakers, all tuned with Dolby Atmos, and the result is simply mind-blowing. This is hands down the best speaker setup I’ve experienced on a tablet—or even most laptops, for that matter.

Compared to a MacBook Pro, the sound here has better bass, clearer separation, and amazing volume. Whether it’s music, movies, or games, the speakers deliver a truly cinematic experience. You can also use the tablet as a wireless secondary display with both Mac and Windows PCs, which adds to its overall versatility.

Powering the Pad: Xiaomi’s Own XLink 01 Processor

Instead of going with Snapdragon or MediaTek, Xiaomi has used its own XLink 01 processor in this tablet. And it performs surprisingly well. My unit comes with 12GB of LPDDR5T RAM and 256GB of UFS 4.1 storage, which is a powerful combo for almost anything you’d want to do on a tablet.

The processor is slightly underclocked—likely a design decision to help with thermal control in the ultra-thin chassis—but it still performs really well. Benchmarks like AnTuTu and CPU Throttle Test showed solid scores, although in Geekbench, it doesn’t quite match the iPad Pro’s performance.

But real-world usage is what matters. I played high-end games, multitasked like crazy, and never experienced a slowdown. I even 3D-printed a custom stand so I could use my favorite controller and play comfortably. It handled everything I threw at it, and I never once saw it struggle.

Massive Battery, Superfast Charging

Here’s where the Pad 7 Ultra pulls far ahead of the iPad Pro—battery life and charging speed. The tablet packs a 12,000 mAh battery, which can easily last days on a single charge.

Even with heavy daily use, I only needed to charge it once in four days. On a particularly restless weekend, I played 9 hours of relaxing music overnight, and it still had 49% battery left the next morning.

Charging is lightning fast, too. The included 120W charger fills it up in no time, while the iPad Pro, well, still charges like it’s got all the time in the world.

Cameras That Do the Job

For video calls, the 32MP front camera is great—sharp and reliable. You won’t be using the 50MP rear camera too often, but it does capture decent shots and is handy for scanning documents or casual photos. It’s not a photography tablet, but it covers the basics well.

Connectivity and Features: Almost Complete

One feature I really missed here is the lack of an LTE version. For users like me who prefer SIM-enabled devices for connectivity on the go, this is a letdown.

On the bright side, it supports the latest Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, and even NFC. So for those who rely on Wi-Fi networks, it’s loaded with modern tech.

Price: Incredible Value for What You Get

The Xiaomi Pad 7 Ultra launched in China at ¥5,699, which is around ₹68,500 INR. When you consider what this tablet offers—a massive, premium OLED display, top-tier sound, great battery life, fast charging, and respectable performance—it’s a phenomenal deal.

Sure, it doesn’t have iPadOS. And yes, Apple’s new iPadOS 26 continues to set the gold standard in tablet software. But on the flip side, Instagram actually works better on Android tablets, which is ironic and true.

Final Thoughts: Can It Replace the iPad Pro?

In the premium tablet space, Apple continues to dominate. Most people spending over ₹80,000 are still choosing iPads—and not without reason. iPadOS delivers a level of polish and consistency that Android has yet to fully match.

But with the Xiaomi Pad 7 Ultra, Android finally has a true contender. It doesn’t just offer specs for the sake of specs—it delivers a cohesive, well-rounded experience that genuinely makes you pause before buying an iPad.

So the big question: Would you choose this over an iPad?

For the first time, that’s a very real possibility.