u/Major-Ad-5662

I genuinely can’t decide between the iPad A16 (256GB) and the Xiaomi Pad 8.

This will be my MAIN device for around 4–5 years. My current phone is just a Samsung A12 and I’ll probably keep a cheap phone only for hotspot/calls, so the tablet will handle most of my daily use.

My usage:

studying / PDFs / notes

anime / YouTube / media

MLBB on high settings

Terraria / Stardew Valley

casual multitasking

What keeps pulling me toward the Xiaomi:

144Hz looks AMAZING to me

stronger hardware/value for the money

feels more modern

cheaper than the iPad in my area

What keeps pulling me toward the iPad:

iPadOS looks cleaner and more reliable

better app optimization

feels safer long-term

I want something dependable for years

I’m NOT a professional creator/editor, just a student who wants a good long-term main device.

For people who actually owned either of these: Which one would you honestly choose in 2026 and why?

I genuinely can’t decide between the iPad A16 (256GB) and the Xiaomi Pad 8.

This will be my MAIN device for around 4–5 years. My current phone is just a Samsung A12 and I’ll probably keep a cheap phone only for hotspot/calls, so the tablet will handle most of my daily use.

My usage:

studying / PDFs / notes

anime / YouTube / media

MLBB on high settings

Terraria / Stardew Valley

casual multitasking

What keeps pulling me toward the Xiaomi:

144Hz looks AMAZING to me

stronger hardware/value for the money

feels more modern

cheaper than the iPad in my area

What keeps pulling me toward the iPad:

iPadOS looks cleaner and more reliable

better app optimization

feels safer long-term

I want something dependable for years

I’m NOT a professional creator/editor, just a student who wants a good long-term main device.

For people who actually owned either of these: Which one would you honestly choose in 2026 and why?

I genuinely can’t decide between the iPad A16 (256GB) and the Xiaomi Pad 8.

This will be my MAIN device for around 4–5 years. My current phone is just a Samsung A12 and I’ll probably keep a cheap phone only for hotspot/calls, so the tablet will handle most of my daily use.

My usage:

studying / PDFs / notes

anime / YouTube / media

MLBB on high settings

Terraria / Stardew Valley

casual multitasking

What keeps pulling me toward the Xiaomi:

144Hz looks AMAZING to me

stronger hardware/value for the money

feels more modern

cheaper than the iPad in my area

What keeps pulling me toward the iPad:

iPadOS looks cleaner and more reliable

better app optimization

feels safer long-term

I want something dependable for years

I’m NOT a professional creator/editor, just a student who wants a good long-term main device.

For people who actually owned either of these: Which one would you honestly choose in 2026 and why?

I genuinely can’t decide between the iPad A16 (256GB) and the Xiaomi Pad 8.

This will be my MAIN device for around 4–5 years. My current phone is just a Samsung A12 and I’ll probably keep a cheap phone only for hotspot/calls, so the tablet will handle most of my daily use.

My usage:

- studying / PDFs / notes

- anime / YouTube / media

- MLBB on high settings

- Terraria / Stardew Valley

- casual multitasking

What keeps pulling me toward the Xiaomi:

- 144Hz looks AMAZING to me

- stronger hardware/value for the money

- feels more modern

- cheaper than the iPad in my area

What keeps pulling me toward the iPad:

- iPadOS looks cleaner and more reliable

- better app optimization

- feels safer long-term

- I want something dependable for years

I’m NOT a professional creator/editor, just a student who wants a good long-term main device.

For people who actually owned either of these:

Which one would you honestly choose in 2026 and why?