The tablet market offers a wide range of options, from budget-friendly devices to high-end powerhouses. Today, we're pitting two tablets against each other: the Ulefone Tab A7, a budget-conscious choice, and the Xiaomi Pad 5 Pro 12.4, a premium offering packed with features. Let's see how they stack up.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xiaomi Pad 5 Pro 12.4 is the clear winner, boasting significantly superior performance, a stunning display, and incredibly fast charging. While the Ulefone Tab A7 offers affordability, it can't compete with the Pro's overall capabilities and premium experience. It's a budget pick, the Pro is a flagship.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | N/A |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | N/A |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20 | N/A |
| EDGE | - | No |
| GPRS | - | No |
| Speed | HSPA 21.1/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | - |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | No cellular connectivity |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, May 27 | 2022, August 11 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, May 27 | Available. Released 2022, August 24 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, aluminum back |
| Dimensions | 243.6 x 162.4 x 7.9 mm (9.59 x 6.39 x 0.31 in) | 285 x 185.2 x 6.7 mm (11.22 x 7.29 x 0.26 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | No |
| Weight | 566 g (1.25 lb) | 620 g (1.37 lb) |
| | - | Stylus support (magnetic) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1200 x 1920 pixels, 16:10 ratio (~224 ppi density) | 1600 x 2560 pixels, 16:10 ratio (~243 ppi density) |
| Size | 10.1 inches, 295.8 cm2 (~74.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 12.4 inches, 445.8 cm2 (~84.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 500 nits |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x1.6 GHz Cortex-A55 & 4x1.2 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Kryo 585 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 585) |
| Chipset | Unisoc SC9863A (28 nm) | Qualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm) |
| GPU | IMG8322 | Adreno 650 |
| OS | Android 11 | Android 12, MIUI Pad 13 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | No |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | UFS 3.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | - | 50 MP, f/1.8, 1/2.76", 0.64µm, PDAF
Auxiliary lens |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 13 MP | - |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 5 MP | 20 MP, f/2.2, 1/3.4", 0.8µm |
| Video | - | 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers (4 speakers) |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | No |
| Radio | FM radio, RDS, recording | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.2 video output |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired | 67W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 60% in 36 min, 100% in 68 min |
| Type | Li-Po 7680 mAh | Li-Po 10000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Space Gray | Black, Silver, Green |
| Price | About 130 EUR | About 400 EUR |
Ulefone Tab A7
- Affordable
- Decent battery life for basic use
- Lightweight
- Weak performance
- Low-resolution display
- Slow charging
- Basic camera
Xiaomi Pad 5 Pro 12.4
- Flagship performance
- Stunning 120Hz display
- Fast charging (67W)
- Excellent camera
- Premium design
- Expensive
- Larger size may not be ideal for everyone
Display Comparison
The Xiaomi Pad 5 Pro 12.4 features a massive 12.4-inch 2560x1600 LCD display with a 120Hz refresh rate, offering vibrant colors and smooth scrolling. The Ulefone Tab A7 has a smaller 10.1-inch 1920x1200 IPS display. The Xiaomi's larger size, higher resolution, and faster refresh rate provide a significantly better viewing experience.
Camera Comparison
The Xiaomi Pad 5 Pro 12.4 generally has better camera hardware and image processing. While neither tablet is a photography powerhouse, the Xiaomi's cameras are noticeably better in terms of detail, color accuracy, and low-light performance. The Ulefone Tab A7's cameras are adequate for basic video calls and casual snapshots.
Performance
Here's where the gap is most noticeable. The Xiaomi Pad 5 Pro 12.4's Snapdragon 870 chipset delivers flagship-level performance, easily handling demanding games and multitasking. The Ulefone Tab A7's Unisoc SC9863A struggles with more intensive tasks and exhibits noticeable lag. The Snapdragon 870 is in a different league.
Battery Life
The Xiaomi Pad 5 Pro 12.4 has a larger battery capacity and significantly faster charging (67W) compared to the Ulefone Tab A7's 10W charging. The Xiaomi can charge from 0% to 60% in just 36 minutes, a huge advantage. Both tablets offer decent battery life for typical usage, but the Xiaomi's faster charging makes it more convenient.
Buying Guide
The Ulefone Tab A7 is ideal for users on a tight budget who primarily need a tablet for basic tasks like browsing, email, and light media consumption. The Xiaomi Pad 5 Pro 12.4 is perfect for power users, creatives, and anyone who wants a premium tablet experience with excellent performance, a vibrant display, and fast charging.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Ulefone Tab A7 good for gaming?
The Ulefone Tab A7 is not ideal for demanding games. Its chipset struggles with high graphics settings and can experience lag.
❓ How long does the Xiaomi Pad 5 Pro 12.4 take to fully charge?
The Xiaomi Pad 5 Pro 12.4 takes approximately 68 minutes to fully charge from 0% using the included 67W charger.
