Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro

Pluses include a high-res screen, powerful processor and fast charging, but AI features remain iffy

- TOM BEDFORD

PRICE 256GB, £416 (£449 inc VAT) from mi.​com

Chinese brand Xiaomi has a knack for offering top-end specs at competitive prices, and that’s exactly what you get with the Pad 7 Pro. For two-thirds of the price of an iPad Air (see issue 368, p56), it combines one of the most powerful Android chipsets with a bright, sharp screen and ultra-fast charging.

The £449 model comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, but moving up to 12GB RAM and 512GB of storage only costs an extra £50 - a great-value upgrade. A further £50 buys a version with matte glass, for a tasteful, professional look with minimal reflections. The standard models come in blue, green and grey, while the matte version is only available in grey.

The design isn’t exactly distinctive, with the same flat-edge unibody chassis that most tablets have followed since the iPad Pro introduced it seven years ago. It’s popular for a reason, though: the design looks svelte (6.2mm) and feels solid. My only gripe about the construction is that Xiaomi doesn’t cite an IP rating for the Pad 7 Pro, which implies it lacks significant protection against dust or water.