Where did Xiaomi tablets go: analysis of disappearance and triumphant return

Many users who watched with interest the release of the first models of Xiaomi tablets, such as the Mi Pad 4, at some point simply lost sight of them. The line of devices for a long time seemed to disappear into the information noise, giving way to smartphones, smart watches and other gadgets of the ecosystem.

In fact, it was much more complicated than just stopping production, because Xiaomi was not abandoning tablet development, but was in a period of deep transformation and resource accumulation, and the brand’s global strategy was changing to focus on creating a single ecosystem where the tablet was to become not just a media center, but a full-fledged working tool, which is why the intergenerational pause was so protracted and generated a lot of rumors.

Today, it’s safe to say that the tablet famine is over. The return of the Pad 6 series and the launch of new flagships based on HyperOS herald a new era. In this article, we’ll take a look at what happened in the company’s labs during the years of silence, why old models stopped being produced, and what to expect from modern devices that are now available again on store shelves.

⚠️ Warning: Older tablet models released before 2023 are no longer officially manufactured.Buying a used device from that period could lead to a security issue and a lack of Android updates.

The period of calm: why Xiaomi stopped producing tablets

To understand where Xiaomi’s tablets went, we need to look at the market situation of the late 2010s. At that time, the tablet market was in a serious slump. Consumers increasingly preferred to buy smartphones with large screen sizes that completely covered the need for watching video and reading on the go. Xiaomi, as a company responsive to demand, made a strategic decision to freeze the development of new models, so as not to invest in the unprofitable segment.

And internal competition and resource redistribution also played a role. Engineers were thrown into development. 5G-The tablet didn't fit into the smart home concept as seamlessly as speakers or cameras at the time, and the company was waiting for the device to offer more than just a bigger phone.

Software was also a big factor: the tablet MIUI shell was a long-running stretched version for smartphones, which was criticized. Optimizing the interface took time and creating new standards of interaction. While competitors experimented with form factors, Xiaomi accumulated experience to come back with a finished product that was free of childhood diseases of previous generations.

Technological breakthrough: what has changed in the absence

While new models were not coming to market, the company’s engineers were actively working on a hardware platform. The return of the Xiaomi Pad 6 series showed that downtime was well worth it, the devices received top-end processors, screens with high refresh rates and support for modern communication standards.

While older models were often criticized for aspect ratio, new tablets were given a format ideal for document and multitasking, screen resolution rose to 2K and higher, and Dolby Vision’s support made them among the best content consumers on the market, responding to users looking for alternatives to Apple’s expensive solutions.

And the periphery, too, has evolved over the years, a whole ecosystem of accessories, keyboards with touchpads, low latency styluses with magnetic mounts, and the functionality of the device has expanded to the point where the tablet has become a complete replacement for a laptop for many tasks, a fundamental difference from the ones that were released more than five years ago.

Generation comparison: old models vs. new products

The difference between the latest Mi Pads and the current Xiaomi Pads is huge, and when you compare them head-on, it feels like they are from different manufacturers. Below is a chart showing the evolution of key characteristics during the brand’s silence.

As you can see from the comparison, performance has increased significantly: old models were based on mid-range chips that today are difficult to pull heavy applications; new devices are equipped with flagship solutions that can handle graphics in games and video editing; the speed of the interface has become the benchmark, which is critical for the user experience.

The battery and charging speed have also changed dramatically, with the tablet having to charge all night, but the current models are recovering power at a high rate thanks to the support of fast charging protocols, and the battery is not only capacious, but also more efficient in terms of power consumption thanks to the more subtle process technology of the processors.

The impact of HyperOS on the development of the tablet line

The key to the tablet's return was the launch of the HyperOS operating system, which is not just a shell upgrade, but a fundamental redesign of the entire architecture of device interaction, which is no longer an isolated gadget, and has become a central node in the connection with the smartphone and the smart home, and integration has become so deep that it allows you to broadcast the screen of the phone to the tablet without delay.

One of the big things that's been done is Interconnectivity, where you can start writing a message on your smartphone and continue on your tablet, or you can use your tablet as a second monitor for your laptop, and that ecosystem was not possible on older versions of MIUI, where each device existed on its own, and now the tablet is part of a single digital organism.

Big screen optimization has also taken a new level, with developers getting new tools to create responsive interfaces, multitasking through convenient windows and split screens, making document and table work more comfortable, and turning the device from a toy into a serious tool for productivity.

⚠️ Note: HyperOS ecosystem functions only work in full force if you have a compatible Xiaomi or Redmi smartphone. When connected to other brands, some of the features may not be available.

Current model range: what to choose in 2026-2026

Today, store shelves are once again filled with Xiaomi devices, and there are plenty to choose from.The flagship Pad 6S Pro series offers maximum performance for gaming and professional work. It's a device for those who are not used to compromise and need desktop-level power in mobile format.

For those looking for a balance between price and quality, the Xiaomi Pad 6 base model is ideal. It retains all the key advantages of the lineup: a great screen, metal body and good autonomy. The budget segment is also not left without attention - the Redmi Pad SE series offers an affordable entrance ticket to the world of large screens for study and entertainment.

The Lite series, which is updated frequently and offers modern standards at a reduced price, should be considered not only for the diagonal, but also for the second generation stylus, which has a low input latency, which is critical for those who plan to take notes or draw.

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When buying a tablet for a child, pay attention to the presence of the Kids Space mode in the settings - it limits the time of use and access to unwanted content, and also protects the eyes from the blue spectrum.

Development prospects and future of the series

Market analysts agree that Xiaomi is not going to stop there. The future of the lineup is connected with the introduction of artificial intelligence directly into the operating system. The new models are expected to receive improved algorithms for processing photos, voice input and translation of text in real time.

There is also talk of expanding the lineup to foldable devices or tablets with flexible screens, and innovation in form factors is the next logical step for a company that has always sought to surprise, and we may see hybrid solutions that combine the functionality of a laptop and tablet without having to buy a separate keyboard.

Global expansion remains an important focus, with new models coming first in China and then reaching the international market, but Xiaomi is now looking to bridge the gap, meaning that Russian users will receive up-to-date devices and software updates almost simultaneously with the rest of the world.

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Xiaomi has completely restored the tablet business, turning it from a forgotten segment into one of the company’s priorities along with smartphones and electric cars.