Xiaomi isn’t known for shying away from innovation, and its latest flagship offering, the Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro 12.4, is no exception.

This 12.4-inch tablet aims to push the boundaries of what we expect from a full-size Android tablet, building on the legacy of its predecessors. But can it truly set new benchmarks in the crowded tablet market? Let’s find out.

Bigger and better

Much like its predecessor, the Xiaomi Pad 6, the new Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro 12.4 embraces a familiar design language. The unibody chassis crafted from aluminum alloy boasts flat sides, a touch of comfortable curvature at the edges, and bezels that maintain a uniform width around the display.

The smooth metal back echoes the design cues of Xiaomi’s flagship phones with a prominent rectangular camera module (minus the Leica branding, of course). There are three magnetic contacts on the rear, designed specifically to integrate with Xiaomi’s official keyboard case for this model.

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The short Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro 12.4 unboxing video we shared last week

There’s a dual-camera setup at the back. The primary camera packs a 50-megapixel ISOCELL JN1 image sensor with some pretty interesting tech under the hood. It utilizes four-in-one pixel binning, a fancy term for merging four pixels into a single larger one. This Tetrapixel tech aims to boost low-light performance by quadrupling light sensitivity and reducing noise — great for those emergency tablet snapshots in dimly lit environments, such as a bar or restaurant.

Accompanying the primary sensor is a dedicated 2-megapixel depth sensor. Its sole purpose is to enhance Portrait mode photos by adding a more natural-looking background blur. This puts the Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro 12.4 in rare air as one of the few tablets out there capable of capturing decent portrait-style images.

Flipping the tablet around, we find a significant upgrade over previous Xiaomi tablets: a 32-megapixel front camera. This bump in resolution promises sharper selfies and crystal-clear video calls, making the device a more compelling option for remote work and digital hangouts.

Just a few sample photos to give you an idea of how the Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro 12.4 performs when you need it for emergency tablet shots. The first three images were taken in a dimly lit place whose furniture are mostly dark in color

The star of the show, however, is the LCD display. Xiaomi has bumped things up to a more generous 12.4 inches, boasting a 31.8% larger viewing area compared to the 11-inch Pad 6. This translates to a more immersive experience for tasks like media consumption and productivity. The traditional 16:9 aspect ratio gets the boot in favor of a 3:2 ratio, which Xiaomi claims is better suited for activities like reading, browsing the web, and tackling spreadsheets or presentations.

This size increase comes with a trade-off. As expected from a 12.4-inch display, the Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro 12.4 is undeniably chunky. While the weight might surprise you at 590 grams, the company manages to keep the profile surprisingly slim at just 6.26mm. Paired with the official keyboard case, the tablet transforms into a surprisingly light and portable laptop replacement.

For added convenience, Xiaomi integrates a fingerprint sensor into the power button, offering a quick and secure way to unlock the unit without resorting to passcodes. The USB 3.2 Gen 1 port, located on the right side, boasts transfer speeds of up to 5Gbps, making file transfers a breeze compared to most devices. The port also supports display output, allowing you to connect the Pad to external displays using a USB-C to USB-C or HDMI cable — perfect for presentations or expanding your workspace.

On the audio front, the Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro 12.4 is equipped with a six-speaker system, featuring four mid-bass units and two tweeters, promising a rich and immersive experience. Dolby Atmos and multichannel-audio support further elevate the audio experience, making the unit a compelling option for those seeking a stellar Netflix-binge machine.

On the software front, Xiaomi uses a modified version of HyperOS, specifically designed for larger displays. This Android 14-based interface places a big emphasis on multitasking and split-screen functionality, making it ideal for school or office work and juggling multiple apps simultaneously.

Feast for the eyes

The Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro 12.4 flaunts a display that’s as big and bold as the tablet itself. Packing a 12.4-inch LCD panel with a whopping 3,048 x 2,032 resolution (294ppi) and 12-bit color depth, it promises a feast for the eyes. But is it all sunshine and rainbows? Let’s dive in.

The screen’s sharpness is undeniable. Text appears crisp, details in photos pop, and content looks fantastic. This is further enhanced by the smooth 144Hz refresh rate, which makes scrolling and animations buttery smooth. A 360Hz touch-sampling rate ensures your every tap and gesture is registered with lightning-fast responsiveness.

Xiaomi hasn’t skimped on brightness either. While not quite flagship-phone bright, the product’s 900 nits full-screen brightness ensures decent visibility outdoors. You can manually set the refresh rate to 60Hz, 90Hz, or 144Hz, but it’s recommended that you leave it at Default and allow the device to dynamically switch between the available refresh rates and save battery.

The switch to a 3:2 aspect ratio is a double-edged sword. It’s fantastic for tasks like reading, web browsing, and productivity apps, offering more screen real estate with less scrolling. However, it comes at the cost of chunky black bars when watching movies or certain video content. The official NBA app, for example, stubbornly refuses to fill the entire screen, leaving you with a less-than-ideal viewing experience.

Thankfully, popular streaming apps like YouTube play nice with the Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro 12.4, offering up to 2160p HDR video playback. Netflix and Disney Plus lets you stream full HD content as well.

Color reproduction is another area where this Pad shines. With 100% DCI-P3 color gamut coverage, the display delivers a vibrant and accurate spectrum of colors. This makes it ideal for creative professionals who rely on color fidelity for tasks like photo editing and digital art.

Flagship-level performance and charging

The Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro 12.4’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset feels perfect for its price point and intended use. The 4nm chip was a flagship-grade silicon when it came out a year and a half ago. However, it’s still comparable to modern high-end offerings when it comes to performance and efficiency. Plus, the larger thermal area inside this 12.4-inch tablet allows it to play graphics-intensive games like Honkai: Star Rail at high settings for extended periods without throttling.

Xiaomi complements this capable hardware with a software trick up its sleeve: Game Turbo. Accessible with a swipe during gameplay, Game Turbo is pretty much a one-stop shop for optimizing your gaming experience. Among other things, it lets you quickly enable Performance mode, which can increase performance and reduce stuttering especially in heavy games by aggressively closing background apps and processes to free up some of the phone’s resources. It can also improve a game’s visuals by enhancing contrast and sharpening details.

Another software feature we like is called Workstation mode, which gives the Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro 12.4 a desktop-like interface, complete with a floating center dock, windowed apps you can resize and move around, and keyboard shortcuts. Multitasking likewise gets a major boost by allowing up to four floating apps at once as well as the ability to drag and drop files between them.

The Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro 12.4’s battery life is solid, and more importantly for a tablet of this size, it boasts super-fast charging. Our tests provide a glimpse into real-world usage scenarios:

• Video streaming: Streaming an NBA game at 1080p with the brightness maxed out drained the battery from 100% to 90%.
• Netflix playback: An episode (one hour and 24 minutes) of breakout K-drama series Queen of Tears brought the battery down from 90% to 72%.
• Gaming: An hour and 50 minutes of playing Honkai: Star Rail on High graphics settings at 60fps dropped the battery level from 72% to 54%.

While these are specific use cases, they offer a general idea of the tablet’s real-world stamina. The real highlight, however, is its 120-watt fast-charging standard. Xiaomi hasn’t skimped here, ensuring you can quickly top up the 10,000mAh battery in just 45 minutes when needed.

Serious accessories

The Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro 12.4 is a compelling tablet on its own, but paired with the right accessories, you can unlock its full potential as a laptop replacement for light use.

The Xiaomi Focus Pen is a great tool for artistic expression and meticulous note-taking. This pressure-sensitive, Bluetooth-enabled stylus lets you draw, doodle, and jot down ideas with unmatched precision and low latency. Alternatively, you can use it as a pointer, highlighter, or remote shutter for group pictures.

For those who prioritize both protection and practicality, the magnetic smart cover offers the best of both worlds. It safeguards the front and back of the Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro 12.4 while transforming into a convenient kickstand — perfect for catching up on shows, video calls, presentations, or gaming with a physical controller.

If you plan on typing often with your tablet, you’ll probably want the Xiaomi Touchpad Keyboard case, which offers a full-size layout with arrow keys, function buttons, and even a touchpad. It’s undeniably convenient, but the trade-off is real: shallow keys with minimal travel distance. We also would have wanted to see the option to detach the keyboard while retaining a protective case and gaining a reliable, adjustable kickstand.

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Final thoughts

Priced from P33,999 ($591) in the Philippines, the Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro 12.4 takes everything that made its predecessor great and cranks it up a notch. It boasts a stunning 12.4-inch display, perfect for media and gaming, crushing productivity tasks with the Touchpad Keyboard, or unleashing your inner artist with the optional stylus. While the switch to a 3:2 aspect ratio might leave some movie buffs wanting more, the benefits for everyday use are undeniable.

Ultimately, the Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro 12.4 offers a compelling combination of flagship-level specs and features at a competitive price point. It’s a clear evolution over last year’s Pad 6 series, making it a strong contender in the ever-growing tablet market.

Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro 12.4 specs

• 12.4-inch 3K LCD, 144Hz refresh rate, Dolby Vision support
• 4nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor
• Adreno 740 GPU
• 8GB/12GB LPDDR5X RAM
• 256GB/512GB UFS 4.0 storage
• Dual 50-megapixel, 2-megapixel depth rear cameras
• 32-megapixel front camera
• Six speakers, Dolby Atmos support
• 10,000mAh battery
• 120-watt wired charging
• HyperOS based on Android 14
• Color option: Graphite Gray

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