The primary time I used an anti-reflective show on a private gadget was final yr once I reviewed the Galaxy S24 Extremely. I used to be amazed by the quality-of-life enhancements it dropped at my day by day use — and I wished to see it on extra gadgets. Due to this fact, I wasn’t too happy when Apple priced its nano-textured iPad Professional out of funds by limiting it to the 1TB variant.
I wished a flagship iPad with an anti-reflective display screen, however that value made the function inaccessible. Lastly, I’ve discovered a fantastic pill with a nanotexture show that does not break the financial institution.
Additionally: I changed my iPad with a $100 Android pill, and here is my verdict after per week
The Xiaomi Pad 7 nanotexture variant brings an anti-reflective show for below $400. It is as if the bottom iPad had a nanotexture display screen as a result of, in contrast to the iPad Professional, the Xiaomi pill does not function an OLED display screen or a flagship-level processor. Regardless of that, it is simply higher than the bottom iPad, which prices nearly the identical.
I have been utilizing the Xiaomi Pad 7 nanotexture mannequin for some time, and its anti-glare display screen has enhanced my pill expertise on the go.
It is nice if you already know what you need
Xiaomi Pad 7 normal vs Nanotexture variant shows
Prakhar Khanna/ZDNET
Most mainstream smartphones and tablets have sharp, shiny, and vibrant shows. Nevertheless, their high quality is challenged when utilized in direct daylight or shiny lighting situations. Two main issues hinder usability.
Additionally: I attempted to interchange my MacBook Professional with the M3 iPad Air – then the truth of iPadOS struck me
First, most of those screens battle to retain the indoor usability expertise outdoor. My iPhone 16 Professional’s show is susceptible to smudges — I would like to scrub it each time I take it out of my pocket. Second, the media consumption expertise is not nice in a brightly lit indoor setting. Reflections from mild sources reminiscent of bulbs or tube lights will be extra outstanding than the on-screen content material.
Equally, a nanotexture show is a quality-of-life improve for those who use a pill to work out of a café or a coworking house. Just like the Galaxy S24 Extremely and Galaxy S25 Extremely, the Xiaomi Pad 7 nanotexture variant brings each anti-reflective and smudge-resistant advantages for leisure and productiveness.
It is an 11-inch, vibrant-looking display screen with a 144Hz refresh price and a pointy decision. I’ve loved looking, typing, and watching movies on this pill. The three:2 facet ratio is good for on-the-go productiveness. Whereas at dwelling, I’ve used it as my leisure gadget and have but to be disenchanted. The quad-speaker setup is loud and detailed sufficient that I do not really feel the necessity to put on headphones.
Additionally: 8 the reason why I exploit an iPad mini as an alternative of a Kindle as my book reader
The nanotexture show is improbable for content material consumption and productiveness, however has downsides. For instance, it does not appear as shiny as the usual variant, which could trouble some folks. It additionally lacks the deep blacks of OLED shows. That being stated, I might work on it at cafés, airports, and different locations with none points.
What else ought to you already know concerning the Xiaomi Pad 7?
iPad Air 13-inch vs Xiaomi Pad 7 Nanotexture variant shows
Prakhar Khanna/ZDNET
Each the Xiaomi Pad 7 and the nanotexture mannequin are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 chipset. It is not a flagship processor, nevertheless it delivers sufficient energy for easy on a regular basis use and multitasking. Whereas TCL has Nxtpaper-equipped tablets at an analogous value, they are not as highly effective because the Xiaomi pill. It additionally comes with 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB of UFS 4.0 storage, operating Android 15-based Xiaomi HyperOS 2.
I like HyperOS 2 for essentially the most half, however there are slight annoyances I have been ready for Xiaomi to repair. As an example, widgets aren’t sorted alphabetically, making it exhausting to seek out those you want when organising your house display screen. There’s additionally a brand new Workstation Mode for overlaying home windows, nevertheless it does not make the most of the entire display screen. I’ve discovered myself utilizing split-screen extra usually than Workstation Mode.
The Xiaomi Pad 7 comes with a Magic Keyboard-like Focus Keyboard. It is designed like an iPad Professional keyboard, providing you with a floating screen-like expertise. Nevertheless, it is extra inexpensive than Apple’s providing. It tilts as much as 124 levels, however — as with iPads — you may want a strong, flat floor for a cushty typing expertise. The trackpad is responsive with gestures, and the keys have a pleasant really feel.
Additionally: Why I favor this ultraportable Lenovo pill over the iPad for cellular leisure
Xiaomi’s new pill packs an 8,850mAh battery with help for 45W quick charging. It will final you no less than two motion pictures and some looking periods in between. You too can purchase the Xiaomi Focus Pen for a paper-like note-taking expertise. I have not totally tailored to it but, nevertheless it’s just like utilizing an Apple Pencil.
I am skeptical about how the nanotexture show will maintain up in the long term, however as of now, the Xiaomi Pad 7 is extra inexpensive than Apple’s Eleventh-generation iPad. Its nanotexture variant is priced at roughly $385, making it simply the perfect value-for-money pill in my ebook proper now.
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