Mi Pad 4 vs Mi Pad 3: Design, Display
Similar to its predecessor, the Mi Pad 4 comes with a metal unibody design. When it comes to dimensions, the Mi Pad 4 is more compact than the Mi Pad 3. While the two tablets have a similar length, the Mi Pad 4 is slightly narrower and also happens to be lighter. The Mi Pad 4 comes in two colors – Black and Gold. Its predecessor came in just a single color – Gold.
Now let’s move on to the displays. While the Mi Pad 3 sports a 7.9-inch 2048 x 1536 resolution display with a 4:3 aspect ratio and 326 PPI pixel density, the new Mi Pad 4 features a slightly larger 8-inch display with 16:10 aspect ratio and 1920 x 1200 WUXGA Full HD+ resolution.
Mi Pad 4 vs Mi Pad 3: Hardware Specifications, Performance
The new Mi Pad 4 is powered by an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 AIE processor clocked at 2.2 GHz with an Adreno 512 GPU. Its predecessor, on the other hand, is powered by a MediaTek MT8176 hexa-core chipset with an IMG GX6250 GPU clocked at 650 MHz. Moving on to the memory department, Mi Pad 4 is available in two configurations – 3GB RAM + 32GB storage and 4GB RAM + 64GB storage. In comparison, the Mi Pad 3 only comes in a single memory configuration with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. Another key difference is the presence of a microSD card slot for further expansion on the Mi Pad 4. When it comes to connectivity, the Mi Pad 4 supports Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac dual-band, Bluetooth 5.0 Low Energy, GPS with A-GPS, GLONASS, 4G LTE, and a USB Type-C port. The Mi Pad 3 supports Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac dual-band, Bluetooth 4.1 Low Energy, and a USB Type-C port.
Mi Pad 4 vs Mi Pad 3: OS, Battery Life
In terms of software, the Mi Pad 4 runs on the Android 8.1 Oreo-based MIUI 9 out of the box. The Mi Pad 3 was launched with the Android Marshmallow-based MIUI 8 out of the box last year. However, Xiaomi recently started rolling out the MIUI 9.5 update for the tablet in China.
The Mi Pad 4 packs a 6000mAh capacity battery, which is actually slightly smaller when compared to its predecessor. Mi Pad 3 actually comes with a 6600mAh capacity battery, so battery life should be more or less comparable on both models. While the Mi Pad 4 features a smaller battery, it is powered by a significantly more efficient 14nm Snapdragon 660 AIE processor as opposed to the 28nm MediaTek MT8176 chipset powering the Mi Pad 3. Unfortunately, neither device offers fast charging support.
Mi Pad 4 vs Mi Pad 3: Camera Features
The Mi Pad 3 features a 13MP rear camera with an f/2.0 aperture lens and Full HD video recording. On the front is an 8MP snapper with an f/2.2 aperture that you can use for video calls and the occasional selfie. Xiaomi’s new Mi Pad 4 isn’t exactly an upgrade over its predecessor when it comes to imaging. The tablet comes with a 13MP OV13855 sensor on the back with an f/2.0 aperture, while on the front is a 5MP resolution Samsung S5K5E8 sensor with an f/2.0 aperture. However, the new Mi Pad 4 does come with AI Face Unlock, which makes it easy for users to unlock the tablet in no time.
Mi Pad 4 vs Mi Pad 3: Conclusion
Quite clearly, the Mi Pad 4 is a significant upgrade over its predecessor when it comes to the core hardware specs. Xiaomi’s latest tablet also offers 4G LTE connectivity, something that is missing on the Mi Pad 3. While there are no significant improvements in the camera departments, the Mi Pad 4 is still an impressive improvement over the Mi Pad 3 as an overall package. More importantly, Xiaomi hasn’t raised the price either. In fact, the new Mi Pad 4 starts at a lower price than its predecessor in China.
