We all love a comeback story. Xiaomi’s return to the global tablet scene with the Pad 6 is nothing short of cinematic. It’s sleek, powerful, refreshingly affordable—and in a category increasingly dominated by oversized price tags, this one makes you look twice. Then buy once. Probably from Kogan.

Because let’s be honest: when you find a platform that offers competitive pricing, fast shipping, and zero nonsense, you stick with it. And Kogan does just that. That’s where I picked up the Pad 6, and spoiler alert—it made the whole experience smoother than MIUI’s 144Hz scroll.

But let’s rewind a bit. This tablet isn’t just here to surf social feeds or play background music while you cook. It’s here to challenge what you think a sub-$500 tablet can do. And for the first time in a long time, I believe it.

UNBOXING: WHEN MINIMALISM MEETS MUSCLE

Out of the box, the Xiaomi Pad 6 feels like it means business. The unibody aluminum chassis screams refinement, borrowing cues from much pricier competitors—cough, iPad Air, cough—but with a character of its own. At 6.5mm thin and just over 490 grams, it’s light enough to hold for hours, yet sturdy enough to feel like a tool, not a toy.

The build? Premium. The vibe? All killer, no filler.

Even the box contents impress: Type-C charger, cable, and that satisfying snap-on keyboard (sold separately, but again—Kogan had a solid bundle deal when I checked). Every detail feels thought-through, from the matte finish to the precision-milled speaker grills. Nothing feels leftover or rushed.

DISPLAY: 11 INCHES OF BUTTERY SMOOTH BRILLIANCE

The Pad 6’s 11-inch WQHD+ LCD display is an absolute treat. With a resolution of 2880×1800 and a 144Hz refresh rate, everything from YouTube deep dives to Procreate doodles looks alive. Colors pop, text is razor-sharp, and scrolling? Silky.

It doesn’t use OLED, true—but Xiaomi clearly optimized the panel with flagship-level calibration. For the average user (and even many creators), this screen punches well above its price tier.

Outdoor visibility? Decent, though not mind-blowing. Still, indoors, especially when bingeing your favorite series or editing photos in Lightroom, it’s hard to complain. And paired with quad stereo speakers tuned with Dolby Atmos, the Pad 6 turns into a portable cinema. Exactly what I wanted—and got—when I ordered it through Kogan.

PERFORMANCE: SNAPDRAGON 870, STILL A BEAST

Under the hood is the tried-and-tested Snapdragon 870—a chipset that doesn’t scream for attention, but quietly handles everything you throw at it. Multitasking with split-screen apps? Easy. Casual gaming? Flawless. Genshin Impact? Playable at high settings. And with up to 8GB RAM and 256GB storage, it has room to breathe.

MIUI Pad OS runs surprisingly well—minimal bloat, fluid transitions, and good keyboard/pen support (yes, it works with Xiaomi’s Smart Pen 2). I didn’t expect to enjoy using a stylus on this, but drawing and note-taking were snappy and accurate.

And if you’re wondering—yes, I tried both productivity and creative workflows on it. Lightroom, Canva, Microsoft 365, and even a few hours of LumaFusion video edits. This thing held up like a champ.

Need to know where to grab one with solid warranty coverage and fast shipping in Australia or NZ? Kogan. I’m not exaggerating—it’s consistently one of the most reliable places to score Xiaomi gear without marketplace drama.

BATTERY LIFE: A MARATHONER IN A SPRINTING WORLD

The 8840mAh battery is impressive on paper, but in real life? Even better.

I clocked about 10 to 12 hours of mixed use—streaming, browsing, Slack, drawing, editing photos—without breaking a sweat. Standby time is equally excellent, lasting days if left idle. 33W fast charging gets you back up and running within an hour and a half. And yes, the charger is included—no nickel-and-diming here.

If you’re buying this as a work companion, travel buddy, or even a student machine, it won’t let you down halfway through your day. Just like Kogan never lets me down when I’m hunting for last-minute tech before a trip.

CAMERA: FORGETTABLE BUT FUNCTIONAL

Look—we don’t buy tablets for their cameras. And the Pad 6’s 13MP rear and 8MP front cams are nothing to write home about. But for Zoom calls, scanning documents, or even casual selfies, they get the job done. The front camera’s centered position when held horizontally is a smart touch for video conferencing.

Not a standout, but not a letdown either.

WHO IS THIS TABLET FOR?

If you’re:

A student looking for a note-taking, video-watching, assignment-crushing device…

A creative hobbyist needing a portable canvas and sketchpad…

A light business user craving split-screen productivity on the go…

A casual gamer who wants a responsive screen and loudspeakers…

The Xiaomi Pad 6 is a yes.

Even if you’re just someone who wants a second screen while traveling, something to read or stream with that doesn’t feel like a compromise—the Pad 6 is that too.

And where do you get it? I’ll say it again: Kogan. I’ve ordered everything from earbuds to monitors there, and the Pad 6 deal they had? Let’s just say I paid less than retail and got it within a few days. That’s the kind of retailer you bookmark.

XIAOMI PAD 6 HITS THE SWEET SPOT

It’s not trying to be an iPad Pro. It’s not trying to be a Surface clone. It’s just trying to be excellent at what it does—and it succeeds.

With a crisp display, reliable performance, loud speakers, and premium design, the Xiaomi Pad 6 punches far above its price. Whether you’re buying your first tablet or upgrading from a sluggish model, this one deserves a spot on your shortlist.

And as always, if you want to make sure you’re getting the best deal from a seller that actually delivers—head over to Kogan. In a world full of gimmicks, it’s the rare platform that just works. Clean interface, local stock, and real customer service.

So yes, tablets are back. And this one? This one’s leading the charge.