iPad 10.2 (2021) vs Xiaomi Pad 5: Which Tablet Should You Buy?

The tablet market is heating up! Apple's iPad 10.2 (2021) remains a popular choice, while the Xiaomi Pad 5 offers compelling features at a competitive price. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide which one is right for you.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xiaomi Pad 5 offers significantly more power and faster charging for a lower price. However, the iPad 10.2 benefits from Apple's ecosystem, software support, and a generally smoother user experience, especially for those already invested in Apple products. It's a close call, but the Pad 5 wins on value.

PHONES
Phone Names	Apple iPad 10.2 (2021)	Xiaomi Pad 5

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	N/A
3G bands	HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100	N/A
4G bands	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 29, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66, 71 - A2603	-
EDGE	-	N/A
GPRS	-	N/A
Speed	HSPA, LTE - cellular model only	-
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	No cellular connectivity
	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - A2604	-

Launch
Announced	2021, September 14	2021, August 10
Status	Available. Released 2021, September 24	Available. Released 2021, August 10

Body
Build	Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame	Glass front, aluminum frame, plastic back
Dimensions	250.6 x 174.1 x 7.5 mm (9.87 x 6.85 x 0.30 in)	254.7 x 166.3 x 6.9 mm (10.03 x 6.55 x 0.27 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + eSIM (cellular model only)	No
Weight	487 g (Wi-Fi) / 498 g (LTE) (1.07 lb)	511 g (1.13 lb)
	Stylus support (1st gen only)	Stylus support (magnetic)

Display
Protection	Scratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coating	-
Resolution	1620 x 2160 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~265 ppi density)	1600 x 2560 pixels, 16:10 ratio (~274 ppi density)
Size	10.2 inches, 322.2 cm2 (~73.8% screen-to-body ratio)	11.0 inches, 350.9 cm2 (~82.8% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	Retina IPS LCD, 500 nits (typ)	IPS LCD, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision

Platform
CPU	Hexa-core (2x2.65 GHz Lightning + 4x1.8 GHz Thunder)	Octa-core (1x2.96 GHz Kryo 485 Gold & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 Gold & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485 Silver)
Chipset	Apple A13 Bionic (7 nm+)	Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 (7 nm)
GPU	Apple GPU (4-core graphics)	Adreno 640
OS	iPadOS 15, upgradable to iPadOS 26.1	Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, MIUI 14

Memory
Card slot	No	No
Internal	64GB 3GB RAM, 256GB 3GB RAM	128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM
	-	UFS 3.1

Main Camera
Features	HDR, panorama	Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Single	8 MP, f/2.4, 31mm (standard), 1.12µm, AF	13 MP, f/2.0
Video	1080p@25/30fps, 720p@120fps; gyro-EIS	4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps

Selfie camera
Features	HDR	-
Single	12 MP, f/2.4, 122˚ (ultrawide)	8 MP, f/2.0
Video	1080p@25/30/60fps, gyro-EIS	1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	No
35mm jack	Yes	No
Loudspeaker	Yes, with stereo speakers	Yes, with stereo speakers (4 speakers)
	-	24-bit/192kHz audio

Comms
Bluetooth	4.2, A2DP, EDR, LE	5.0, A2DP, LE
NFC	No	No
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS - cellular model only	No
Radio	No	No
USB	Lightning, USB 2.0; magnetic connector	USB Type-C
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, hotspot	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer	Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass

Battery
Charging	-	33W wired, PD3.0
Type	Li-Ion 8557 mAh (32.4 Wh)	Li-Po 8720 mAh

Misc
Colors	Silver, Space Gray	Cosmic Gray, Pearl White, Green
Models	A2603, A2604, iPad12,1, iPad12,2	21051182G, 21051182C
Price	About 430 EUR	About 350 EUR

Tests
Camera	Photo / Video	-
Display	Contrast ratio: 1123:1 (nominal)	Contrast ratio: 1271:1 (nominal)
Loudspeaker	-29.4 LUFS (Average)	-24.4 LUFS (Very good)
Performance	AnTuTu: 617292(v9) GeekBench: 3124 (v5.1) GFXBench: 44fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)	AnTuTu: 473819 (v8), 555079 (v9) GeekBench: 2583 (v5.1) GFXBench: 24fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Apple iPad 10.2 (2021)

Excellent software support
Smooth user experience
Strong ecosystem integration
Good video recording

Older chipset
Slower charging
Higher price
60Hz display

Xiaomi Pad 5

Powerful Snapdragon 860
120Hz display
Fast charging (33W)
More affordable
Excellent value

Android ecosystem
Potentially shorter software support lifespan
Camera not exceptional

Display Comparison

The Xiaomi Pad 5 boasts a slightly better contrast ratio (1271:1 vs 1123:1) and while the iPad 10.2 has a higher measured brightness (513 nits vs 478 nits), both offer excellent viewing experiences. The Xiaomi Pad 5 also features a 120Hz refresh rate, providing smoother scrolling and animations, a significant advantage over the iPad's standard 60Hz.

Camera Comparison

Camera quality is generally not a primary concern for tablets. Both devices offer basic photo and video capabilities. The iPad's camera is generally considered slightly better for video recording, but the difference is minimal. Neither tablet excels in this area.

Performance

The Xiaomi Pad 5's Snapdragon 860 significantly outperforms the iPad 10.2's A13 Bionic in raw processing power. Expect faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance on the Xiaomi Pad 5. The iPad's A13 is still capable, but it's showing its age.

Battery Life

While both offer all-day battery life under moderate usage, the Xiaomi Pad 5's 33W fast charging provides a significant advantage, allowing for quicker top-ups compared to the iPad's slower charging speeds.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Apple iPad 10.2 (2021)? Users deeply embedded in the Apple ecosystem, those prioritizing long-term software updates, and those who value a simple, polished user experience. Who should buy the Xiaomi Pad 5? Users seeking high performance, a vibrant display, and fast charging at a more affordable price point, especially those comfortable with Android.