Xiaomi Pad 5 vs Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE: The Ultimate Tablet Battle

The Android tablet market is heating up, and two contenders are vying for your attention: the Xiaomi Pad 5 and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE. Both offer compelling features at different price points, but which one truly delivers the best experience? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE offers a more refined experience with its brighter display, faster charging, and generally smoother software. However, the Xiaomi Pad 5 provides excellent value with its powerful Snapdragon 860 chipset, making it a strong choice for budget-conscious users seeking performance.

PHONES
Phone Names	Xiaomi Pad 5	Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE

Network
2G bands	N/A	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	N/A	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	-	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66
5G bands	-	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6
EDGE	N/A	-
GPRS	N/A	-
Speed	-	HSPA, LTE, 5G - cellular model only
Technology	No cellular connectivity	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G

Launch
Announced	2021, August 10	2021, May 25
Status	Available. Released 2021, August 10	Available. Released 2021, June 18

Body
Build	Glass front, aluminum frame, plastic back	Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame
Dimensions	254.7 x 166.3 x 6.9 mm (10.03 x 6.55 x 0.27 in)	284.8 x 185 x 6.3 mm (11.21 x 7.28 x 0.25 in)
SIM	No	Nano-SIM (cellular model only)
Weight	511 g (1.13 lb)	608 g (1.34 lb)
	Stylus support (magnetic)	Stylus support

Display
Resolution	1600 x 2560 pixels, 16:10 ratio (~274 ppi density)	1600 x 2560 pixels, 16:10 ratio (~243 ppi density)
Size	11.0 inches, 350.9 cm2 (~82.8% screen-to-body ratio)	12.4 inches, 445.8 cm2 (~84.6% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision	TFT LCD

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (1x2.96 GHz Kryo 485 Gold & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 Gold & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485 Silver)	Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 570 & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 570) - 5G modelOcta-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55) - Wi-Fi model
Chipset	Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 (7 nm)	Qualcomm SM7225 Snapdragon 750G 5G (8 nm) - 5G modelQualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm) - Wi-Fi model
GPU	Adreno 640	Adreno 619 - 5G modelAdreno 642L - Wi-Fi model
OS	Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, MIUI 14	Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6

Memory
Card slot	No	microSDXC (dedicated slot)
Internal	128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM	64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
	UFS 3.1	-

Main Camera
Features	Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama	-
Single	13 MP, f/2.0	8 MP, AF
Video	4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Selfie camera
Single	8 MP, f/2.0	5 MP
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

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

Comms
Bluetooth	5.0, A2DP, LE	5.2, A2DP, LE (Wi-Fi), 5.2, A2DP, LE (5G)
NFC	No	No
Positioning	No	GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO - cellular model only
Radio	No	No
USB	USB Type-C	USB Type-C 3.2, magnetic connector
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6 (Wi-Fi), Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (5G)

Features
Sensors	Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass	Accelerometer, proximity, compass, gyro (5G model only)
	-	Samsung DeX

Battery
Charging	33W wired, PD3.0	45W wired, 100% in 190 min
Type	Li-Po 8720 mAh	Li-Po 10090 mAh

Misc
Colors	Cosmic Gray, Pearl White, Green	Mystic Black, Mystic Silver, Mystic Green, Mystic Pink
Models	21051182G, 21051182C	SM-T730, SM-T733, SM-T736B, SM-T735
Price	About 350 EUR	About 650 EUR
SAR EU	-	1.15 W/kg (body)

Tests
Display	Contrast ratio: 1271:1 (nominal)	Contrast ratio: 1886:1 (nominal)
Loudspeaker	-24.4 LUFS (Very good)	-27.2 LUFS (Good)
Performance	AnTuTu: 473819 (v8), 555079 (v9) GeekBench: 2583 (v5.1) GFXBench: 24fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)	AnTuTu: 292530 (v8), 355430 (v9) GeekBench: 1904 (v5.1) GFXBench: 9.7fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Xiaomi Pad 5

Excellent performance for the price
Smooth 120Hz display
Good value
Decent speakers

Lower brightness display compared to Tab S7 FE
Slower charging
Less refined software experience

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE

Brighter and more vibrant display
S Pen support
Faster charging
Premium design and build quality
Generally smoother software

Higher price
Performance not as strong as Xiaomi Pad 5
Can be slightly slower in demanding tasks

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE boasts a slightly brighter display (522 nits vs 478 nits) and a higher contrast ratio (1886:1 vs 1271:1), resulting in more vibrant colors and deeper blacks. Both tablets feature a 120Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling, but Samsung's panel edges out Xiaomi's in overall visual quality. The Tab S7 FE also includes S Pen support, a significant advantage for note-taking and creative tasks.

Camera Comparison

Camera quality is generally not a primary concern for tablets, but the Tab S7 FE typically offers slightly better image quality in both front and rear cameras. The Xiaomi Pad 5's cameras are adequate for basic use, but lack the refinement of the Samsung.

Performance

The Xiaomi Pad 5 holds a performance edge thanks to its Snapdragon 860 chipset. While the Samsung Tab S7 FE's Snapdragon 750G/778G is capable, the 860 offers noticeably faster processing speeds, particularly beneficial for demanding games and multitasking. The Wi-Fi version of the Tab S7 FE has a slight performance advantage over the 5G version.

Battery Life

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE has a larger battery capacity and faster charging (45W vs 33W), allowing it to charge significantly quicker. Both tablets offer respectable battery life for everyday use, but the Tab S7 FE's faster charging provides a noticeable convenience.

Buying Guide

The Xiaomi Pad 5 is ideal for users prioritizing performance and gaming on a budget. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE is better suited for those who value a vibrant display, S Pen support, and a more premium overall experience, even if it comes at a higher price.