Xiaomi Pad 7: Once Again Democratising Technology with The Nano-texture Display

A premium feature on a device that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg? We’ve heard that all before, haven’t we? Frankly, I haven’t had to use that phrase in a while. But Xiaomi, the one with whom I’ve used that phrase over a hundred times, has done it again. Honestly, I don’t know their secret sauce, but I’m glad they exist and thrive as a company in India.

I reviewed the Xiaomi Pad 7 a month ago and called it “a good balance of price to performance.” Back then, I had the regular variant of this budget Android tablet. Today, I’m here to tell you about the souped-up version, which is criminally underpriced.

For days, weeks, months, and years, Apple's iPad line of tablets has been the king of the industry. Apple has constantly found ways to innovate, make products easy to use, and provide an overall experience that works and is pleasurable. The only downside is that they are expensive products.

Apple’s iPad Pro 11-inch with the nano-texture display comes at a starting price of Rs 1,69,000. The 13-inch variant will cost you at least Rs 1,99,000. These products are undoubtedly top of their class and exceptional in every way. But they cost an arm and a leg. And most people here cannot afford them.

Also Read: OnePlus 13 review: An all-round Android flagship with cameras one can easily recommend

At just Rs 32,999, what Xiaomi has done with the Pad 7 is nothing short of a game-changer. By paying Rs 32,999, you get a fantastic tablet and one with the Nano-texture display. Somehow, Xiaomi has managed to change the game once again. They’ve democratized technology once again and are bringing it to the masses. Nano-texture technology was an expensive affair until now.

For those unaware, the Xiaomi Pad 7 has an 11.6-inch IPS display (3.2K resolution) with 800 nits of peak brightness and a 144Hz refresh rate in a 3:2 aspect ratio. There’s a Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 chipset and an 8,850mAh battery under the hood. The metal tablet comes in three - Graphite Grey, Sage Green and Mirage Purple - colours, 45W TurboCharge, and the fast and fluid Xiaomi HyperOS 2. The Nano-texture display is only available in the 12GB RAM and 256GB storage variant. The tablet is lightweight, weighing 500g and just 6.1mm thick. There are quad speakers to complete your experience.

We’re not here to wax eloquently about the Pad 7, which, alongside the OnePlus 2, is the best Android tablet available today. We’re here to discuss the nano-texture coating.

Also Read: iPhone 16 Pro Long-Term Review: Still Undisputed King of Video Recording

What exactly is the nano-texture coating?

The M4 iPad Pro was the first tablet in the world to receive a dose of the nano-texture coating. This coating is essentially an extra layer of treatment on the display, creating a textured appearance. In layman's terms, it is anti-glare glass.

Its purpose is to reduce the glare on the display without compromising its accuracy and quality. The company claims to eliminate interfering light 99% of the time. It does that with aplomb. I’ve had the regular variant and the nano-texture display model with me for a few weeks now. Put them side-by-side, and it will be immediately noticeable.

Two immediate use cases exist for the Xiaomi Pad 7 with the nano-texture display. First, consuming content is much better since the implementation is outstandingly good. This is true both indoors (if your room is brightly lit) and outdoors (under the harsh rays of sunlight). Just take a torch (use your smartphone’s torch) and flash it at both displays. If that isn’t enough to convince you, then I don’t know what will be.

Also Read: Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 Review: The Excellent Fit & Sound Quality Makes These the Best Wireless Earbuds of 2024

Second, the perceived contrast is vastly improved. Consuming content has never been better. The blacks are deeper, the colours are more vibrant, and clarity is enhanced. Even the text on documents and PDFs is sharper.

Take a window seat on a train or plane; the advantages come to the fore. Another example is when you’re reading in the evening with your bedside lamp on. The Xiaomi

Focus Pen is better because the stylus can grip better.

Now, there are a few downsides here. The display loses some of its colour accuracy. For those editing images and/or videos will notice less colour accuracy and also might see some colour shift. What I mean by the latter is that you’ll lose some of the original colour hues if you look at the display from an angle. It’s not noticeable to most people, but this might become a headache for those who consume precise colours daily.

The extra coating makes the display just a tad more delicate than one would like. It’s a fingerprint magnet, as was the case with the regular variant, so when cleaning, one needs to be extra careful. If you’re even a bit rough when cleaning, the display may get damaged and scratches may appear.

If you’re buying the Xiaomi Pad 7, do yourself a favour and get the Xiaomi Pad 7 Focus Keyboard. This keyboard makes the tablet a versatile option for most people and serves as a case for protection and durability.

Xiaomi has democratized technology repeatedly but has never done something as drastic as this. Bringing a key piece of technology, previously only available in tablets costing over Rs 1,50,000, to the masses is no mean feat. The Xiaomi Pad 7, with a nano-texture coating, is now the default option for 99 percent of tablet consumers in the under Rs 50,000 segment.

Two of my five favourite products I’ve reviewed over the last six months have been from Xiaomi. One is the Xiaomi Pad 7 Nano Texture Display Edition, which you read about above, and the Xiaomi Sound Outdoor Speaker