Xiaomi Pad 6: Everything you need to know

Those looking for an Android tablet will welcome the news that Xiaomi is releasing at least one of its new models internationally. Already available in China and India, the Xiaomi Pad 6 is now available to buy in the UK.

Here’s what you need to know about the highly anticipated Xiaomi Pad 6 and Pad 6 Pro. 

When will the Xiaomi Pad 6 be released worldwide?

Xiaomi revealed the Pad 6 and Pad 6 Pro in China on 18 April, at the same event where it unveiled the Xiaomi 13 Ultra phone and the Xiaomi Band 8 wearable.

The regular Pad 6 subsequently launched in India on 13 June, but with no sign of the Pro model, and on 7 July the company announced the Pad 6 would also be sold in the UK with no mention of the Pro.

It will be available to order from 10 July at 10am BST and if you get in there before 17 July, you’ll get a free pair of Xiaomi Buds 3T Pro.

For reference, the Pad 5 and Pad 5 Pro were first announced in China in August 2021, with the regular model going on sale in the rest of the world months later in early 2022. That means we could once again see the Pro stay China-only.

As with most Xiaomi products, we wouldn’t expect them to launch in the US.

How much does the Xiaomi Pad 6 cost?

In China the Xiaomi Pad 6 starts at ¥1,999 (around $290/£235) for the base 6GB/128GB model, while the Pro starts from ¥2,499 (around $360/£290) for 8GB/128GB.

In the UK, only the 6GB/128GB Pad 6 will be sold and it will cost £369 – quite a bit more than it does in China even when you factor in an extra 20% for VAT. However, that’s the same price Xiaomi charged for the Pad 5. You can choose between Gravity Gray, Gold and Mist Blue.

In India, the Pad 6 starts from ₹26,999 (around $330/£260), the exact same price the Pad 5 cost when it launched.

What are the Pad 6 specs and features?

Because it’s the model that’s available in the West, we’ll start by focussing on the regular Xiaomi Pad 6.

The 11in LCD screen is the same size and display tech as on last year’s model, but has had a meaty upgrade to a 144Hz refresh rate and a more detailed 2880×1800 resolution, both of which should elevate the tablet for gaming and media consumption.

The Snapdragon 870 chip powering the tablet is the natural follow-up to the 860 used last time, and it comes with the same 6GB RAM and 128GB storage in the base model.

There’s 33W charging for the very slightly larger 8840mAh battery, which should provide some decent longevity.

The Pro packs a few key upgrades. The big one is a jump to the flagship Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip, which is paired with 8GB RAM for further improved performance.

The battery is actually a tiny bit smaller at 8600mAh, but the 67W charging is twice as fast, which should more than make up for that.

The Pro also packs quad speakers, and an impressively detailed 20Mp selfie camera, which should be great for video calls.

Hopefully, the Xiaomi Pad 6 will deliver on all of its promise. If you can’t wait until then, check out our roundup of the best Android tablets to see if something else takes your fancy.