Xiaomi MiPad 2 Release Date, Review & Price: Looks Like the iPad Mini 4 but Runs Like a Surface Pro
Xiaomi just introduced its flagship device MiPad 2 and it extremely looked like an iPad Mini 4. There's a big possibility that the new gadget of the Chinese brand will be mistakenly identified as the Apple's iconic tablet running in Windows 10.
According to Tech Times, the latest crown jewel is quite thicker and heavier compared to iPad Mini 4. Its metal body weighs 322 grams with 6.95 mm thickness while the Apple device is about 298-gram light and 6.1 mm thin.
Xiaomi's forerunner is 38 grams lighter and 18 percent slimmer than its plastic-bodied predecessor, the MiPad. Moreover, Tech Radar reported that both iPad Mini 4 and MiPad 2 have 7.9-inch screen size with 2,048 x 1,536-pixel resolution, which Apple calls Retina display.
The China-based company is also equipped with a reversible USB Type-C connector that can provide power and "expansion capabilities" to the unit. However, just like the iPad Mini 4, MiPad 2 doesn't have the expandable mircroSD card slot.
The frontrunner is powered by 64-bit 2.2GHz Atom X5-Z8500 processor that's been part of Intel's Cherry Trail family. Also, MiPad 2 boasts that it can run in two different operating systems, either Android or Windows 10.
The Android version has 16 GB or 64 GB storage while the Windows 10 comes with only 64 GB. As per the memory, it has 2 GB with dual-channel LPDDR3 RAM. MiPad 2 has 8 MP rear camera and 5 MP front cam.
Tech Radar added that the Microsoft's canceled Surface Mini has almost the same 8-inch display like MiPad 2. The aborted tablet from the computer software company felt like a digital Moleskin notebook as said by the Microsoft Corporate Vice President for Surface Computing Panos Panay.
The Surface Mini was rumored to have an ARM processor and Windows RT, which meant that it can't run full desktop programs before it was terminated. Hence, Xiaomi's MiPad 2 is more powerful than the discontinued Microsoft device for it has x86 processor that can be run to a Windows 10 operating system and capable of powering full Windows program. However, the MiPad 2 doesn't have the active digitizer, unlike the Surface Mini.
Meanwhile, Xiaomi is widely known for its impressive specs but affordable prices. Consumers get their hands on this device for just $156(£103, AU$215), the Android goes for $203 (£134, AU$280) while the Windows 10 is for $400 (£256, AU$551), which about half the price of Apple's iPad Mini 4.
Watch this MiPad review by Gadgets To Use: