New Android "pad mini"

[FPK1]

The Xiaomi Pad Mini is the first tablet that can compete with an iPad - Fast Company

https://share.google/SjPsFsCK7hwEgHZLO

Cliff notes:

The Xiaomi Pad Mini feels like an exercise in picking low-hanging fruit: in this case, the iPad mini. Apple’s smallest tablet is often neglected and rarely updated, leaving several open goals for competitors. In this case, Xiaomi has turned in a better design with better performance, and critically in a form factor where Apple’s software advantages are less relevant.

This tablet isn’t going to stun anyone with its originality—it pretty much looks like an iPad mini. It does have one neat trick, though, by placing USB-C ports along both the bottom edge and one of the sides you can easily charge it in a dock or while using it for video. (Apple apparently considered the same idea for the original iPad before deciding against it.)

The Xiaomi Pad Mini runs on a MediaTek Dimensity 9400 processor, the chipmaker’s current top-end mobile system on a chip (SoC) and one that’s at least in the same ballpark as the two-year-old A17 Pro in the iPad mini, if not faster. Performance is excellent, and Xiaomi also offers up to 12GB of RAM while the iPad mini is stuck on 8GB.

The screen is where Xiaomi really pulls away from Apple. This is an 8.8-inch 3008-by-1880-pixel LCD with a 16:10 aspect ratio; the difference in size to the 8.3-inch iPad mini is mostly that the Xiaomi has thinner bezels and is slightly wider in landscape. Critically, it refreshes at up to 165Hz while the iPad mini is still stuck on 60Hz, which is very jarring for anyone who’s gotten used to the much smoother frame rates on the iPhone and almost every Android phone in recent years. That was the main reason I sold my own iPad mini a while back.

Sent from my Pixel 10 Pro XL using Tapatalk

 

[asicer]

The Xiaomi Pad Mini is the first tablet that can compete with an iPad

I think the Lenovo Legion Tab and Redmagic Astra might have something to say regarding the part about being first.

But of interest to pilots, none of those have GPS.

 

[Cap'n Jack]

The Xiaomi Pad Mini is the first tablet that can compete with an iPad - Fast Company

https://share.google/SjPsFsCK7hwEgHZLO

Cliff notes:

The Xiaomi Pad Mini feels like an exercise in picking low-hanging fruit: in this case, the iPad mini. Apple’s smallest tablet is often neglected and rarely updated, leaving several open goals for competitors. In this case, Xiaomi has turned in a better design with better performance, and critically in a form factor where Apple’s software advantages are less relevant.

This tablet isn’t going to stun anyone with its originality—it pretty much looks like an iPad mini. It does have one neat trick, though, by placing USB-C ports along both the bottom edge and one of the sides you can easily charge it in a dock or while using it for video. (Apple apparently considered the same idea for the original iPad before deciding against it.)

The Xiaomi Pad Mini runs on a MediaTek Dimensity 9400 processor, the chipmaker’s current top-end mobile system on a chip (SoC) and one that’s at least in the same ballpark as the two-year-old A17 Pro in the iPad mini, if not faster. Performance is excellent, and Xiaomi also offers up to 12GB of RAM while the iPad mini is stuck on 8GB.

The screen is where Xiaomi really pulls away from Apple. This is an 8.8-inch 3008-by-1880-pixel LCD with a 16:10 aspect ratio; the difference in size to the 8.3-inch iPad mini is mostly that the Xiaomi has thinner bezels and is slightly wider in landscape. Critically, it refreshes at up to 165Hz while the iPad mini is still stuck on 60Hz, which is very jarring for anyone who’s gotten used to the much smoother frame rates on the iPhone and almost every Android phone in recent years. That was the main reason I sold my own iPad mini a while back.

Sent from my Pixel 10 Pro XL using Tapatalk

Can you get it in the USA? I know Huawei pretty well banned. Xiaomi has a decent reputation, but a lower price point than Samsung, which also has a better reputation for quality. Huawei's cameras in the phone are very innovative.

 

[pfarber]

Can you get it in the USA? I know Huawei pretty well banned. Xiaomi has a decent reputation, but a lower price point than Samsung, which also has a better reputation for quality. Huawei's cameras in the phone are very innovative.

I didn't see GPS in the spec sheet... usually GPS is part of the cellular chipset, but can be an add on... none of the reviews give a definite answer. The CCP really spent a lot of money to buy some good reviews. They keep calling it an ipad mini killer... um, the iPad mini is the red headed step child of the larger iPad series... very very few people care about the iPad mini... also the Xiaomi doesn't run IOS, so no sure how you can 'kill' a device when you can't run the same apps or even integrate into the same ecosystem. Like I said, the CCP is paying a lot to throw out buzz words.

Its a plain jane 8in tablet. Not sure what the excitement is about.

 

[Cap'n Jack]

I didn't see GPS in the spec sheet... usually GPS is part of the cellular chipset, but can be an add on... none of the reviews give a definite answer.

If you really need GPS in the tablet, move on. It isn't for you. The only time I use a tablet GPS is for aviation. For any ground-based application or geotagging, a phone is much more convenient

The CCP really spent a lot of money to buy some good reviews.

Any evidence for this? Or just the usual BS? The reviewer is based in Japan, where this device is actually marketed. It is also marketed in Europe and most (all?) of Asia. A review from someone outside the USA is useful, if you don't live in the USA.

also the Xiaomi doesn't run IOS, so no sure how you can 'kill' a device when you can't run the same apps or even integrate into the same ecosystem

Xiomi runs an variant of the Android OS and it's news to me that it can't run the same apps. Waze, WeChat, Google Maps, WhatsApp, GMail, iHeartRadio, Yelp, Avare, FlightAware, Kindle, and many others run in both "ecosystems". There are apps that work sufficiently similar to their counterpoints in the other operating system that it doesn't matter, such as spreadsheets, calculators, or camera apps. The only thing I used that is unique to iOS was ForeFlight.

Like I said, the CCP is paying a lot to throw out buzz words

Like I said, any evidence for this?

Its a plain jane 8in tablet. Not sure what the excitement is about.

That's about right, although less expensive. It works sufficiently well as a tablet.

 

[Ed Haywood]

If you really need GPS in the tablet, move on. It isn't for you. The only time I use a tablet GPS is for aviation.

This is an aviation forum, so not unreasonable for GPS capability to be a key point.

 

[Albany Tom]

I don't understand the first line, competing with an ipad. Do they mean they made an 8" android tablet that overheats and is too expensive? Because there have been quite a few 8" android tablets that work just fine, as others have pointed out.

 

[midlifeflyer]

I don't understand the first line, competing with an ipad. Do they mean they made an 8" android tablet that overheats and is too expensive? Because there have been quite a few 8" android tablets that work just fine, as others have pointed out.

I didn’t understand it for a different reason. If it can’t run iOS-only apps, how can it compete with an iPad of any type? There are probably only a handful that are OS-specific either way, but those, rather than some silly OS zealotry, are hopefully a driving force of people’s choices.

 

[kyleb]

Why would I buy a knock-off for basically the same money as the gold standard?

 

[GeorgeC]

Can you get it in the USA?

Maybe after a suitable donation, a value-added reseller can bring it to US markets? Of course, a name like Xiaomi won't do; it would need a patriotic private label brand like Lightspeed or Chevrolet.

 

[sarangan]

My 8-year-old Samsung Galaxy A has GPS. I recently upgraded to the Galaxy A9, which also includes GPS. The A9 only cost $110 brand new, which makes it perfect to dedicate exclusively for cockpit use. I’ve never understood the point of aviation tablets without built-in GPS that depend on external devices, Bluetooth or cellular subscriptions - just more things that can fail. The first thing I do with these tablets is strip out all the irrelevant apps that come with it, like games, YouTube, Netflix, and store apps, then install my preferred navigation app.

 

[Cap'n Jack]

Why would I buy a knock-off for basically the same money as the gold standard?

Knock-off of what? Xiaomi is less expensive than most tablets or phones while giving reasonable performance.

My 8-year-old Samsung Galaxy A has GPS. I recently upgraded to the Galaxy A9, which also includes GPS. The A9 only cost $110 brand new, which makes it perfect to dedicate exclusively for cockpit use. I’ve never understood the point of aviation tablets without built-in GPS that depend on external devices, Bluetooth or cellular subscriptions - just more things that can fail. The first thing I do with these tablets is strip out all the irrelevant apps that come with it, like games, YouTube, Netflix, and store apps, then install my preferred navigation app.

This is an aviation forum, so not unreasonable for GPS capability to be a key point.

I don't think the lack of GPS is a deal-breaker. I used an iPad without cellular connectivity (means no GPS) for many years, I used a Bad-Elf GPS. The external GPS also stored my tracks, and I used it for geotagging my pictures. A Garmin Glo GPS works instead of the Bad Elf, and many ADSB receivers such at Stratux, Stratus, Garmin GSL 52 and others can provide the GPS data. I've never had an issue with a failure.
Having said that, my current iPad does have a GPS because the price difference to get the cellular-ready tablet was small when I bought this new one and I have a cell phone app for storing tracks. The external device works well in that I can place it where it gets a good signal and the tablet where I can read it.

 

[kyleb]

Knock-off of what? Xiaomi is less expensive than most tablets or phones while giving reasonable performance.

It is $70 less than the lowest cost iPad mini, which was the comparison offered. I'd rather pay $499 for the iPad than $429 for the knock-off. If I'm looking for a cheap tablet, I can walk over to the Microcenter by my house and get a functional tablet for <$200.

I tend to be either "Buy the good one" when quality matters or "Buy the cheap one" when it doesn't matter so much, won't be a long term play, or is likely to be lost/stolen/broken. This tablet seems to drop into the big space between "The good one" and "the cheap one".

 

[midlifeflyer]

I'd rather pay $499 for the iPad than $429 for the knock-off

I guess I don't understand the definition of "knock off." I don't see how an Android device can be a knock-off off of an iOS device. Especially in a aviation community. Do we suddenly have an Android Foreflight tablet? Maybe it morphs the crippled Garmin Pilot Android version into something full-featured?

 

[kyleb]

I guess I don't understand the definition of "knock off." I don't see how an Android device can be a knock-off off of an iOS device. Especially in a aviation community. Does we suddenly have an Android Foreflight tablet? Maybe it morphs the crippled Garmin Pilot Android version into something full-featured?

The iPad defined the category, so (arguably) every succeeding tablet is a knock-off. It is up to the buyer to figure out which operating system(s) support the necessary applications.

 

[midlifeflyer]

The iPad defined the category, so (arguably) every succeeding tablet is a knock-off. It is up to the buyer to figure out which operating system(s) support the necessary applications.

That's the way I look at OS choice, but I don't think of different OSes as knockoffs of each other. A Mac runs a slew of applications that Linux or Windows doesn't (and vice versa) but I don't think of them as knockoffs of each other. To me, a knockoff is my choice of an SJCam as opposed to a GoPro to record videos.

I can almost see the term knockoff used to compare an Android tablet to an iPad if we're talking about email, browsers, text messaging, reading Kindle books - basic consumer apps. But this is, after all, an aviation group where I thought the main focus is the app not the OS.

Maybe it's just that I can't get into techno-tribalism, so the whole argument seems silly to me.

 

[kyleb]

Maybe it's just that I can't get into techno-tribalism, so the whole argument seems silly to me.

I agree. Which is why I question buying a product that doesn't seen to offer the same functionality. Yeah, its cheaper, but...

 

[Cap'n Jack]

I agree. Which is why I question buying a product that doesn't seen to offer the same functionality. Yeah, its cheaper, but...

For my purposes and apps I now use, it actually does offer the same functionality. I don't use Foreflight anymore. Your use case will, of course, be different.

 

[sarangan]

Knock-off of what? Xiaomi is less expensive than most tablets or phones while giving reasonable performance.


I don't think the lack of GPS is a deal-breaker. I used an iPad without cellular connectivity (means no GPS) for many years, I used a Bad-Elf GPS. The external GPS also stored my tracks, and I used it for geotagging my pictures. A Garmin Glo GPS works instead of the Bad Elf, and many ADSB receivers such at Stratux, Stratus, Garmin GSL 52 and others can provide the GPS data. I've never had an issue with a failure.
Having said that, my current iPad does have a GPS because the price difference to get the cellular-ready tablet was small when I bought this new one and I have a cell phone app for storing tracks. The external device works well in that I can place it where it gets a good signal and the tablet where I can read it.

May be not a deal breaker, but having two units instead of one does introduce added complexities (two batteries to monitor, bluetooth/wifi connection status, two cables if you want to keep them charging etc..).

I currently use the Stratus for ADSB-in (not for GPS), and I wish my tablet had a built-in ADS-B receiver. That would make it even better.

You can store GPS tracks with internal GPS. All photos can be automatically tagged with the location data. That's a camera app function, not a device issue.

 

[Dana]

I don't think the lack of GPS is a deal-breaker. I used an iPad without cellular connectivity (means no GPS) for many years, I used a Bad-Elf GPS. The external GPS also stored my tracks, and I used it for geotagging my pictures. A Garmin Glo GPS works instead of the Bad Elf, and many ADSB receivers such at Stratux, Stratus, Garmin GSL 52 and others can provide the GPS data. I've never had an issue with a failure.

I'd just as soon not rely on another external device if I don't need it. I owned one plane where despite being open cockpit, my tablet couldn't get a reliable GPS signal for reason, so I used an external GPS on the glareshield. It sometimes lost the connection to my tablet, once just as I was picking my way around some airspace in marginal weather. It reconnected after awhile, but it made for some anxious moments.

 

[Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe]

I don't think the lack of GPS is a deal-breaker.

I turned the GPS off on my tablet. I get the GPS position along with the rest of the ADS-B in stuff and if the "official" ADS-B GPS receiver were to go belly up - or if I lose communication with the ADS-B, it is obvious.

 

[Lindberg]

Any evidence for this? Or just the usual BS? The reviewer is based in Japan, where this device is actually marketed. It is also marketed in Europe and most (all?) of Asia. A review from someone outside the USA is useful, if you don't live in the USA.

Well, we know that all large Chinese companies have ties to the CCP. We also know that xiaomi is required to share user data with Chinese government. And researchers demonstrated that half of the apps in their app store have intentionally weak encryption. It's not remotely a a stretch to suggest that the CCP has an interest in this device being widely used.

Xiomi runs an variant of the Android OS and it's news to me that it can't run the same apps. Waze, WeChat, Google Maps, WhatsApp, GMail, iHeartRadio, Yelp, Avare, FlightAware, Kindle, and many others run in both "ecosystems".

That is an interesting list of apps you chose. But since this is a pilot forum, I assume the app that folks would most care about that differs between the ecosystems, is foreflight.

 

[Cap'n Jack]

May be not a deal breaker, but having two units instead of one does introduce added complexities (two batteries to monitor, bluetooth/wifi connection status, two cables if you want to keep them charging etc..).

I never charged them while airborne. The batteries had more than enough charge for my flights (5 hours maximum, not counting refueling). I never had an issue with connectivity, either. I do note @Dana 's comment.

You can store GPS tracks with internal GPS. All photos can be automatically tagged with the location data. That's a camera app function, not a device issue.

Please read my post again. As I posted (and you chose not to quote), I do use a phone for GPS tracks now. It is almost as convenient as the Bad Elf.
Please tell me how to access the GPS in a Canon XSi, Canon R5, or most interchangeable lens cameras for that matter. A Canon 7D2 does have a GPS, but it works poorly inside vehicles. The phone or Bad Elf works well in those situations.

 

[Cap'n Jack]

That is an interesting list of apps you chose. But since this is a pilot forum, I assume the app that folks would most care about that differs between the ecosystems, is foreflight.

Or Avare (mentioned in my list), or Garmin pilot, both of which do run on the android OS.

And researchers demonstrated that half of the apps in their app store have intentionally the encryption.

There's no single app store in China for Android, as there is in the USA. Tencent is probably the largest app store there, although Huawei and Xiaomi have them too. Outside of China, people would likely use the local Google Play store as we do here. Apple has an app store in China, but we are discussing an android device.

Within China, everything is monitored and spied upon. They try to suck as much information as they can outside of China. Telling us that China spies? That's like saying water is wet.

 

[Lindberg]

What encryption? That's used to prevent data from being seen by unwanted people. Encryption by itself isn't bad. WhatsApp is supposed to have end-to-end encryption.

Sorry, typo. That should say intentionally weak encryption.

 

[Cap'n Jack]

Sorry, typo. That should say intentionally weak encryption.

And I changed my post to reflect that.

 

[sarangan]

I never charged them while airborne. The batteries had more than enough charge for my flights (5 hours maximum, not counting refueling). I never had an issue with connectivity, either. I do note @Dana 's comment.

Please read my post again. As I posted (and you chose not to quote), I do use a phone for GPS tracks now. It is almost as convenient as the Bad Elf.
Please tell me how to access the GPS in a Canon XSi, Canon R5, or most interchangeable lens cameras for that matter. A Canon 7D2 does have a GPS, but it works poorly inside vehicles. The phone or Bad Elf works well in those situations.

Understood.

BTW, your whole posted was quoted. You have to click on "Click to Expand" to see it. But I get your point.

I have no familiarity with GPS functions in Canon cameras. I was referring to Android tablets.

 

[Cap'n Jack]

I have no familiarity with GPS functions in Canon cameras. I was referring to Android tablets.

Most interchangeable lens cameras (DSLR and mirrorless, Canon, Nikon, Olympus, etc), or "point and shoot" for that matter, cameras have no GPS capability. Hence the utility of something to storing tracks. Adobe Lightroom lets us place the image on the correct part of the track and geotag the images.

 

[Jim_R]

usually GPS is part of the cellular chipset, but can be an add on

For Apple products, yes. Most Android devices have GPS even if they don't have cellular capability.

 

[asicer]

Most Android devices used to have GPS even if they don't have cellular capability.

FTFY

 

[FORANE]

Problem with the onboard GPS on tablets is refresh rate. The specs on tablet GPS refresh rates are hard to find but in my experience they are lacking. I've read that 1 hz is standard on most tablets GPS. At the speed I fly an approach, that puts my position too far off for my liking. Because of that I use a Garmin GLO 2 external GPS with the tablet; it has a 10 hz refresh rate.

 

[Dana]

Problem with the onboard GPS on tablets is refresh rate. The specs on tablet GPS refresh rates are hard to find but in my experience they are lacking. I've read that 1 hz is standard on most tablets GPS. At the speed I fly an approach, that puts my position too far off for my liking. Because of that I use a Garmin GLO 2 external GPS with the tablet; it has a 10 hz refresh rate.

Who uses an uncertified tablet to fly an approach? Once I have the airport in sight I'm not looking at the tablet any more.

 

[FORANE]

Who uses an uncertified tablet to fly an approach? Once I have the airport in sight I'm not looking at the tablet any more.

Of course not but when I'm looking at different positions between the tablet and panel mount it just is a distraction.

 

[sarangan]

Problem with the onboard GPS on tablets is refresh rate. The specs on tablet GPS refresh rates are hard to find but in my experience they are lacking. I've read that 1 hz is standard on most tablets GPS. At the speed I fly an approach, that puts my position too far off for my liking. Because of that I use a Garmin GLO 2 external GPS with the tablet; it has a 10 hz refresh rate.

On my Motorola Android phone, I used to get pretty good refresh rate, but lately it is signiicantly lagging behind the airplane. It is the same phone, so I suspect this has more to do with the app and the background computing load than the GPS refresh rate itself.

 

[Albany Tom]

Why would I buy a knock-off for basically the same money as the gold standard?

That's absolutely how they market themselves. But I don't believe it makes sense to call any particular model of phone by any manufacturer a "gold standard", because they have a design life of maybe 2-3 years. Gold has been a currency standard, in one place or another, for maybe two thousand years. Phones are disposable.

Now that doesn't mean they're not important and valuable to us. But none of them, no brand yet, for their longevity. So maybe we should call the top models in the Android and iPhone market the "Charmin standard"?