When I first got my hands on the Poco Pad 5G, I was curious to see how Poco, a brand known for its affordable yet powerful smartphones, would fare in the competitive tablet market. Given Poco’s reputation for offering great specifications at an affordable price, my expectations for the device were high. I was eager to see what the Poco Pad 5G would bring to the table. Right from the moment I took it out of the box, the tablet’s design and build quality caught my eye. But, as with any device, the real test is how well it performs in day-to-day use. After spending a fair bit of time with it, I began to understand what the device does well, what it could improve, and whether it’s worth the Rs 23,999 price tag. Let’s find out in this review by India Today Tech.
Big, sleek and beautiful
The Poco Pad comes with a 12-inch display, giving it a large, portable screen. It’s portable, lightweight, and fits easily in your handbag. It’s the perfect in-between size – not too small and not too big – perfect for streaming, gaming, and work. It’s roughly the same size as a 13-inch MacBook and close to the size of an iPad Pro. At the lower end of the price range, the Poco Pad’s display size is the same as the recently launched Redmi Pad Pro 5G and OnePlus Pad 2.
The device I received was the blue version, which looks sleek and has a soft matte finish on the back panel. There are two large camera sensors on the top left of the back, and the accents around them add a bit of flair to the otherwise simple design. However, the matte finish is prone to smudges and fingerprints, so I would recommend using a case on it.
As for the buttons, they’re a bit awkwardly positioned. When you hold the device vertically, you instinctively look for the power button on the side of the tablet, only to discover that it’s actually on the top right. As for the volume controls, there are no separate buttons, but rather press the top and bottom of a single button, which is located on the side of the tablet and is on the top left when used in landscape orientation. I think the button placement would be much more intuitive if the volume and power buttons were swapped.
What I appreciate most is the inclusion of a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is becoming a rarity on most smartphones and tablets these days. While many have switched to wireless headphones, it’s nice to have the option to use wired headphones. During my time with the Poco Pad, I made the most of this feature and used wired earphones, and it was nice to not be tied to just one option.
The overall construction is solid and feels sturdy enough to withstand daily use.
Like a portable TV
Tablets are all about the display, especially as they’re most often used for entertainment purposes. The Poco Pad’s 12.1-inch LCD panel offers a crisp and vibrant viewing experience with a resolution of 2560 x 1600. With a 120Hz refresh rate, everything felt incredibly smooth, whether I was scrolling through social media or playing games.
Brightness levels are on point, with 500nits normal brightness and a peak of 600nits in high brightness mode. I watched all of season 4 of Emily in Paris on the Poco Pad and it was a great experience, thanks to Dolby Vision support. The 83.6% screen-to-body ratio makes everything feel immersive, although I wish the bezels were a little thinner.
I call this tablet a “movable TV.” It’s big enough to enjoy shows and movies, and portable enough to take with you. That said, while the LCD panel is good, it doesn’t come close to the deep blacks and vibrant colors of an OLED screen. But for most people, this won’t be a deal-breaker, especially given the tablet’s price point.
The four-speaker setup with Dolby Atmos delivers loud, powerful sound with an emphasis on bass. The audio is immersive and seems to come from all directions, making it perfect for movies and music. The sound quality is clear and powerful enough to fill the entire room.
It works like magic
The Poco Pad is equipped with a very capable chipset (Snapdragon 7s Gen 2) that is found in smartphones like the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion, Realme 13 Pro, etc. The tablet runs a variety of tasks smoothly. Be it multitasking, gaming, or streaming content, the Poco Pad 5G handles it all with ease.
With 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of UFS 2.2 storage, there’s plenty of space for apps, games, and media. The ability to expand storage up to 1.5TB using a microSD card is a big plus, especially for heavy users.
When it comes to gaming, the tablet handles most tasks well, but you will encounter some issues with more demanding games, especially when you crank it up to the highest settings. It’s not specifically made for gaming, so it’s more suited to casual play and everyday tasks. I tried out Asphalt 9 and it ran pretty smoothly with no heating issues even after a 20-minute session. However, the graphics were nothing to write home about, and fast-moving footage was a bit unpleasant to watch on the screen.
One thing that really bothered me during the setup process was that the device requires an internet connection. It’s a bit frustrating because without it the device won’t move forward. So, before you start, make sure you have an internet connection. This is a must. But there’s a silver lining. It doesn’t have to be a Wi-Fi connection, you can insert a SIM card and use mobile data.
Moving on to the software experience, the Poco Pad 5G runs on Xiaomi’s HyperOS based on Android 14. The software experience is overall smooth and offers good customization options.
The Poco tablet also supports a keyboard and smart pen, making it more than just an entertainment device. However, we did not receive a keyboard and pen for review, so we cannot fully comment on the overall experience. However, for a tablet of this size, at least having a keyboard would dramatically improve the productivity of the tablet, even if the accessories would increase the price.
The best camera for a tablet
Cameras on tablets are often an afterthought, and the Poco Pad 5G doesn’t buck this trend, but it’s good enough for basic needs. The 8MP rear camera and 8MP front camera are good enough for video calls and the occasional snapshot. There’s a 5x zoom option, but don’t expect it to take super detailed images; it’s a useful addition. The camera quality isn’t amazing, but it’s good enough for its intended purpose.
Battery is king
The battery life of the Poco Pad 5G is one of its greatest strengths. The 10,000mAh battery will easily last a day of heavy use, and even longer with moderate usage. Whether you’re streaming videos, browsing the web, or taking part in virtual meetings, you won’t need to reach for the charger often. When you do use the charger, the 33W fast charging support means you can top it up in no time. However, charging speeds could be faster given the size of the battery.
Should I buy the Poco Pad 5G?
After using the Poco Pad 5G for quite some time, I can say that it’s a solid tablet with features that are well worth the price. It’s not perfect – the LCD screen isn’t as sharp as OLED and it’s not the best for high-end gaming – but it handles everyday tasks very well. The large 12-inch display is great for watching videos. The sound quality is also great, making it feel like you’re watching on a mini TV.
The tablet runs smoothly for most activities and has great battery life, so it will easily last a day with heavy use. Plus, with support for a keyboard and smart pen, you can do a lot with this device, from everyday work tasks to browsing the web.
Overall, the Poco Pad 5G is a good buy, especially for those looking for a feature-rich tablet that won’t break the budget. It’s a great gift for family members who want a reliable and easy-to-use device for entertainment.
