POCO Pad M1 Review: A Reliable All Rounder for Work and Entertainment

The POCO Pad M1 arrives as a practical big screen tablet designed for entertainment, productivity, and long hours of everyday use. After spending some time with it, it becomes clear that POCO built this tablet to be a reliable all-rounder for students, casual gamers, and anyone who wants a large display without paying flagship prices. It does not try to be a premium tablet. Instead, it focuses on features that matter most in daily scenarios.

Design and Build

The POCO Pad M1 uses a metal unibody that feels strong and well built. The design is simple and clean without trying too hard to stand out. At 610 g, it is not exactly lightweight. You will feel the weight during long one-handed reading sessions. Once placed on a table or paired with a stand or cover, the weight becomes a non-issue.

The size works well for watching movies and handling split screen productivity. It also includes a 3.5 mm headphone jack, which is useful for users who prefer wired headphones for lower latency audio during gaming or online classes.

Display

The 12.1 inch 2.5K display with up to 120 Hz refresh rate is the main highlight of this tablet. The screen is sharp enough for YouTube, Netflix, and social media content. At 600 nits peak brightness, outdoor use is possible as long as you avoid direct sunlight.

What I appreciate the most is the focus on eye comfort. The display has TÜV Rheinland certifications that reduce flicker and blue light exposure. This is helpful during long study sessions or when you spend hours reading articles or watching videos at night.

Another useful detail is DC dimming. Some tablets flicker at low brightness and cause discomfort over time. This display avoids that issue and feels stable during nighttime use. Dolby Vision support further improves HDR content, although you will only notice it on platforms that support the format.

Audio

POCO gives the Pad M1 a quad speaker setup with Dolby Atmos and a volume boost feature that can go up to 300 percent louder than typical levels. The speakers are surprisingly loud and clear, especially for a tablet at this price range. The audio performs well for movies, music and online meetings, even in noisy environments. The side mounted headphone jack is also handy when you need private listening or want to avoid Bluetooth latency.

Performance

Powered by the Snapdragon 7s Gen 4, which is one of the upper mid-range chips, the POCO Pad M1 performs smoothly for common tasks. Apps launch fast, scrolling feels fluid, and light to moderate gaming runs without obvious issues. The performance is strong enough for students, office workers, and casual gamers. Split screen multitasking is stable, but users who focus on heavy games with maximum graphics settings might notice limitations. The tablet is not meant to challenge flagship gaming chips, so expectations should be realistic. Regardless of that, games like "Genshin Impact" and "Honkai Star Rail" are still able to run at your desired FPS without much noticeable lag.

The tablet runs on Xiaomi HyperOS 2, and it comes with helpful cross device features. I found the shared clipboard and cross device camera the most practical. You can copy text from your phone and paste it instantly on the tablet. You can also use your phone’s camera as the video call camera for Zoom or Google Meet on a bigger screen. This is convenient for users who work across multiple Xiaomi or POCO devices.

Storage and Connectivity

The POCO Pad M1 includes 8 GB RAM and 256 GB storage which is reasonable for its class. For users who store large files or download movies, the expandable storage up to 2 TB is a big advantage. 

Connectivity is handled by WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.4. Both are fast and stable for streaming and file transfers. There is no cellular version, so users who need mobile data on the go will need to rely on hotspots. 

Battery Life

The 12000 mAh battery is one of the biggest strengths of this tablet. It can last multiple days depending on usage. I could stream videos, browse social apps, take notes, and still end the day with plenty of battery left. Standby time is excellent, making it a convenient living room tablet you can pick up anytime.

Charging is where things slow down. Even with 33W fast charging, it takes roughly three hours to go from zero to full. This may feel slow by today’s standards. The large battery and dual cell structure contribute to this, and pushing higher wattage could affect long term battery health. POCO clearly prioritises battery safety over charging speed.

That being said, it's still manageable if you just adjust your routine. You can easily charge it overnight or during long breaks. Since the battery lasts so long on a single charge, you will not need to plug it in often. The device also comes with charging protection features, where it slows charging once it reaches around 80 percent to protect the battery, which gives more reassurance for long term health.

Reverse wired charging up to 27 W is a useful bonus. You can use the tablet as a power bank for your phone or accessories when needed.

Accessories

The POCO Pad M1 supports the Smart Pen and a dedicated keyboard. The pen feels responsive with low latency and is suitable for note taking and simple sketching. It is not meant for professional drawing, but it works well for students.

If you handle documents regularly, the POCO Pad M1 Keyboard can make typing long files and emails more comfortable. In my case, the POCO Pad M1 Cover is enough, especially when I want a casual viewing angle without the keyboard attached. The integrated pen holders in both the keyboard case and cover also keep everything neatly organised.

For users who want a lightweight laptop alternative for basic productivity, these accessories complete the experience.

Cameras

Both cameras are 8 MP. They are not designed for photography, but they work fine for video calls and scanning documents. With good lighting, video calls look clear enough for work and school. The earlier mentioned cross device camera feature is handy if you want better video quality by using your phone’s camera instead.

Drawbacks to Consider

While the POCO Pad M1 is a strong all-rounder, there are a few limitations worth taking note of:

• The weight may feel heavy for some people, especially for one handed use.

• Charging is not very fast due to the size of the battery, so you need to be patient.

• Cameras are basic and are not suitable for serious photography.

• No cellular option, so mobile data users must depend on WiFi or hotspot.

• Performance is good for daily use but not ideal for high end gaming.

While none of these are major dealbreakers for its target audience, users who care about these points should take note before deciding.

Verdict

The POCO Pad M1 is a practical and capable large screen tablet that focuses on entertainment, productivity, and long battery life. It delivers strong value with its big display, loud quad speakers, smooth performance, and very long usage time. The accessory support adds flexibility for students and light work users.

If you want a reliable media tablet or a lightweight productivity device for school, office, or home use, the POCO Pad M1 fits those roles well. It is not a high-end tablet, and it does not pretend to be one. It keeps things simple, stable, and user friendly, which is exactly what many people need.