When I first got my hands on the Poco Pad 5G, I was curious to see how Poco, a brand known for its budget-friendly yet powerful smartphones, would fare in the competitive tablet market. Given Poco’s reputation for delivering impressive specs at an affordable price, my expectations were high from this device. I was excited to see what the Poco Pad 5G has to offer. From the moment I unboxed it, the tablet’s design and build quality caught my attention. But like any device, the real test is how well it performs in everyday use. After spending a lot of time with it, I know the areas in which it shines, where it could be improved, and whether it’s worth Rs 23,999. Let’s find out in this India Today Tech review.
Tall, slim and beautiful
The Poco Pad has a 12-inch display, offering a larger screen that is still easy to carry. It is portable, lightweight, and fits easily in a handbag. Think of it as the perfect middle ground – not too small, not too big – just right for streaming, gaming, and work. It is almost the size of a 13-inch MacBook and is close to the iPad Pro in size. In the budget segment, the Poco Pad’s display size is the same as the Redmi Pad Pro 5G and the OnePlus Pad 2, both of which were launched recently.
I received the device in the blue variant, which looks sleek and has a soft matte finish on the back. There are two large camera sensors on the top left of the back, and the accents around them add some flair to an otherwise simple design. However, I noticed that the matte finish attracts smudges and fingerprints easily, so I would recommend using it with a case.
As for the buttons, they’re a little oddly placed. When I hold the device vertically, I instinctively look around the sides of the tablet for the power button, only to find that it’s actually in the top right. As for the volume control, there are no separate buttons; instead, you press the top and bottom parts of a single button. This is located on the side of the tablet, which lands in the top left in landscape mode. I think the button layout would feel a lot more intuitive if the placement of the volume and power buttons were swapped.
What I appreciate most is the 3.5mm headphone jack, which is rare to find on most smartphones and tablets these days. Even though many of us have switched to wireless headphones, it’s nice to have the option to use wired ones. During my time with the Poco Pad, I took full advantage of this feature and used my wired earbuds, and it was great not to be limited to just one option.
The overall build quality is solid and feels sturdy, so it should stand up to daily use.
More like a moving TV
When it comes to tablets, the display is the most important thing, especially since they are most commonly used for entertainment. The Poco Pad’s 12.1-inch LCD panel with a resolution of 2560 x 1600 offers a crisp and vivid viewing experience. Thanks to the 120Hz refresh rate, everything felt incredibly smooth, whether I was scrolling through social media or gaming.
Brightness levels are decent, with a typical brightness of 500 nits and a peak of 600 nits in High Brightness mode. I watched the entire fourth season of Emily in Paris on the Poco Pad and must say the experience was great thanks to the Dolby Vision support. The 83.6 percent screen-to-body ratio of the screen made everything feel immersive, although I think the bezels could be a bit thinner.
I’ve called this tablet a “movable TV” – it’s big enough to enjoy a show or movie on, and portable enough to take anywhere. However, while the LCD panel is good, it doesn’t quite match the deep blacks and vibrant colors of an OLED screen. For most people, though, that won’t be a deal breaker, especially given the tablet’s price.
The sound, produced by a quad-speaker setup with Dolby Atmos support, is loud, punchy and bass-heavy. The audio is immersive, as if it’s coming from all directions, making it perfect for movies and music. The sound quality is clear and powerful enough to fill a room.
Works perfectly
The Poco Pad has a pretty good chipset – the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 – which powers phones like the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion, the Realme 13 Pro, and others. The tablet runs smoothly on a variety of tasks. Whether you’re multitasking, playing games, or streaming content, the Poco Pad 5G handles it all with ease.
Along with 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of UFS 2.2 storage, there’s plenty of room for your apps, games, and media. The ability to expand storage up to 1.5TB via a microSD card is a huge plus, especially if you’re a heavy user.
When it comes to gaming, this tablet handles most tasks well, but it does have a few issues with more demanding games, especially when the settings are turned up to the highest. It’s not specifically designed for gaming, so it’s more suited to casual gaming and everyday tasks. I tried Asphalt 9 on it and it ran pretty smoothly, with no heat issues even after a solid 20-minute session. The graphics were nothing special, though, and the fast-moving images made the screen a bit uncomfortable to watch.
One thing that really stuck out to me during the setup process was that the device insisted on having an active internet connection. Without it, it just wouldn’t go anywhere, which can be a little frustrating. So make sure you have an active internet connection before you start – it’s a must. But there is one consolation: it doesn’t have to be a Wi-Fi connection, you can insert a SIM card and use mobile data instead.
As for the software experience, the Poco Pad 5G runs on Xiaomi’s HyperOS, based on Android 14. The software experience is generally smooth and offers plenty of customization options.
The Poco tablet also supports a keyboard and a smart pen, making it more than just an entertainment device. However, I didn’t receive either the keyboard or the pen to test, so I can’t say everything about the overall experience. But for a tablet of this size, the keyboard can at least significantly increase productivity on the tablet, even if the accessory increases the price.
Good cameras for a tablet
Tablet cameras are often secondary, and while the Poco Pad 5G doesn’t break out of that mold, it’s fine for basic needs. The 8MP rear camera and 8MP front camera are enough for video calls and the occasional snap. There’s also a 5x zoom option, but don’t expect highly detailed images – it’s more of a useful extra feature. The camera quality isn’t spectacular, but it’s adequate for its intended purpose.
Battery is king
Battery life is one of its greatest strengths. The 10,000mAh battery easily lasts a full day with heavy use and even longer with moderate use. Whether you’re streaming videos, browsing the web, or attending virtual meetings, you won’t need to reach for the charger too often. When you do, the 33W fast charging support ensures you can top up quickly. However, the charging speed could be faster, especially considering the size of the battery.
Should you buy the Poco Pad 5G?
After spending a lot of time with the Poco Pad 5G, I can say it’s a solid tablet that offers a lot for its price. It’s not perfect – the LCD screen isn’t as vibrant as an OLED screen and it’s not the best for high-end gaming – but it handles everyday tasks really well. The large 12-inch display is great for watching videos. The sound quality is impressive too, giving the feeling of watching on a mini TV.
The tablet’s performance is smooth for most activities, and the battery life is fantastic – it’ll easily last a full day of heavy use. And with support for a keyboard and smart pen, you can do a lot more with this device, from everyday work tasks to browsing the web.
Overall, the Poco Pad 5G is a good buy, especially if you’re looking for a versatile tablet that won’t break the bank. It’s an ideal gift for family members who want a reliable and easy-to-use device for entertainment.
