The Android tablet market is heating up, and two contenders stand out: the Xiaomi Pad 5 Pro 12.4 and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+. Both offer premium features and impressive performance, but which one is the better choice for your needs? We'll break down every aspect to help you decide.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xiaomi Pad 5 Pro 12.4 offers incredible value with its Snapdragon 870, faster charging, and vibrant display. However, the Galaxy Tab S7+ boasts a slightly brighter display, S Pen support, and Samsung's refined software experience, making it a strong all-arounder, especially for creative users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | N/A | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | N/A | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | N/A | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 40, 77, 78 SA/NSA |
| EDGE | No | No |
| GPRS | No | Class 10 |
| Speed | - | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (6CA) Cat20 2000/150 Mbps, 5G - cellular model only |
| Technology | No cellular connectivity | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, August 11 | 2020, August 05 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, August 24 | Available. Released 2020, August 21 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, aluminum back | Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 285 x 185.2 x 6.7 mm (11.22 x 7.29 x 0.26 in) | 285 x 185 x 5.7 mm (11.22 x 7.28 x 0.22 in) |
| SIM | No | Nano-SIM (cellular model only) |
| Weight | 620 g (1.37 lb) | 575 g (1.27 lb) |
| | Stylus support (magnetic) | Stylus support, 5.6ms latency (Bluetooth integration, accelerometer, gyro) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | - |
| Resolution | 1600 x 2560 pixels, 16:10 ratio (~243 ppi density) | 1752 x 2800 pixels, 16:10 ratio (~266 ppi density) |
| Size | 12.4 inches, 445.8 cm2 (~84.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 12.4 inches, 446.1 cm2 (~84.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 500 nits | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+ |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Kryo 585 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 585) | Octa-core (1x3.09 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G+ (7 nm+) |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Adreno 650 |
| OS | Android 12, MIUI Pad 13 | Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Call records | - | 20 dialed, 20 received, 20 missed calls |
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM |
| Phonebook | - | 500 entries |
| | UFS 3.1 | UFS 3.0 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 50 MP, f/1.8, 1/2.76", 0.64µm, PDAF
Auxiliary lens | 13 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/3.4", 1.0µm, AF
5 MP, f/2.2, 12mm (ultrawide), 1.12µm |
| Features | Color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR | HDR, panorama |
| Single | - | 1.3 MP |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps | 4K@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 20 MP, f/2.2, 1/3.4", 0.8µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30/60fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers (4 speakers) | Yes, with stereo speakers (4 speakers) |
| | - | Tuned by AKG |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | No | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO - cellular model only |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2 video output | USB Type-C 3.2, magnetic connector |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Games | - | Yes |
| Java | - | No |
| Messaging | - | SMS, MMS |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| | - | Samsung DeX |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 67W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 60% in 36 min, 100% in 68 min | 45W wired |
| Stand-by | - | Up to 200 h |
| Talk time | - | Up to 8 h |
| Type | Li-Po 10000 mAh | Li-Po 10090 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Silver, Green | Mystic Black, Mystic Bronze, Mystic Silver, Phantom Navy |
| Models | - | SM-T970, SM-T976B, SM-T975 |
| Price | About 400 EUR | About 900 EUR |
| SAR | - | 1.16 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 1.06 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-23.1 LUFS (Very good)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 566786 (v8)
GeekBench: 2690 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 24fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Xiaomi Pad 5 Pro 12.4
- Excellent performance with Snapdragon 870
- Faster 67W charging
- Smooth 120Hz display
- More affordable price
- Camera quality not as good as Tab S7+
- No included stylus
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+
- Brighter display (484 nits)
- Included S Pen stylus
- Refined Samsung software
- Slightly better camera system
- Slower 45W charging
- Higher price
- Slightly less powerful chipset than Xiaomi
Display Comparison
Both tablets feature stunning 12.4-inch displays. The Tab S7+ has a slightly higher measured brightness (484 nits) and a theoretically infinite contrast ratio, contributing to vibrant colors and deep blacks. The Xiaomi Pad 5 Pro’s display is also excellent, offering a smooth 120Hz refresh rate for fluid scrolling and animations. While the Tab S7+ edges out in brightness, the Xiaomi’s refresh rate is a significant advantage for responsiveness.
Camera Comparison
The Galaxy Tab S7+ generally has a better camera system. While both offer decent cameras for a tablet, the Tab S7+'s cameras are more consistent and produce better image quality, especially in challenging lighting conditions. The Xiaomi Pad 5 Pro's cameras are adequate for casual snapshots but don't match the Tab S7+'s capabilities.
Performance
The Xiaomi Pad 5 Pro 12.4 packs a Snapdragon 870, a powerful chipset that handles demanding tasks with ease. The Galaxy Tab S7+ uses a Snapdragon 865+, which is still very capable, but slightly less powerful. In real-world usage, both tablets offer smooth performance for everyday tasks, multitasking, and gaming. The 870 in the Xiaomi provides a slight edge in sustained performance and future-proofing.
Battery Life
The Xiaomi Pad 5 Pro 12.4 has a larger battery capacity and significantly faster charging (67W) compared to the Tab S7+'s 45W charging. This translates to quicker top-ups and potentially longer battery life, although real-world usage will vary.
Buying Guide
The Xiaomi Pad 5 Pro 12.4 is ideal for users seeking a powerful tablet for media consumption, gaming, and general productivity at a more affordable price. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ is perfect for creative professionals, students, and anyone who values a premium experience, stylus support, and a slightly brighter display, even at a higher cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Xiaomi Pad 5 Pro 12.4 support a stylus?
No, the Xiaomi Pad 5 Pro 12.4 does not include a stylus, and while it supports third-party styluses, it doesn't offer the same seamless integration as the S Pen on the Galaxy Tab S7+.
❓ Which tablet is better for gaming?
Both tablets are capable of handling most games, but the Xiaomi Pad 5 Pro 12.4's Snapdragon 870 and 120Hz display give it a slight edge for smoother gameplay and sustained performance.
