30 Days with the POCO Pad X1: Is "Powerfully Slim" the New Standard for the Manila Grind?

In the world of tablets, "slim" is often a double-edged sword. Usually, when a device measures a mere 6.18mm, we expect compromises—a smaller battery, a flexible chassis, or a processor that throttles the moment you open more than two apps.

POCO recently launched the POCO Pad X1 in the Philippines with the tagline "Powerfully Slim." I decided to put that claim to the ultimate test. I lived with this tablet as my primary work and entertainment hub for 30 days—no keyboard, no pen—just the raw device navigating the chaos of the Manila hustle.

Week 1: The "Hustle" Reality Check

The first thing you notice isn't the weight (though at 500g, it’s impressively light), but the build. The POCO Pad X1 features a high-strength aluminum alloy unibody. There is no plastic creak here. It feels like a solid slab of premium tech that can actually survive being shoved into a crowded laptop bag during an MRT rush.

Performance-wise, the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 is the silent hero. During my first week, I focused on productivity. Using Xiaomi HyperOS 2, I ran split-screen setups constantly—Zoom meetings on the left, and research tabs on the right. With 8GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage, the tablet didn't just keep up; it felt like it was waiting for me to catch up.

Week 2: The Cinephile Test

By week two, I transitioned into "couch potato" mode. The 11.2-inch 3.2K display is, quite frankly, a masterpiece for this price point.

The Clarity: At 345 ppi, text looks printed on, and 4K streaming is breathtaking.

The Brightness: I took a meeting at a coffee shop in BGC, sitting right by the window at 2:00 PM. Usually, screens turn into expensive mirrors under that sun, but the 800 nits peak brightness kept everything perfectly visible.

The Sound: The quad-speaker system comes with a 200% volume boost. It’s loud enough that I actually had to turn it down so as not to annoy my neighbors while binging action movies.

Week 3: The "Brainy" AI Experience

Since I was testing this without the POCO Focus Pen, I relied heavily on the Xiaomi HyperAI suite to pick up the slack.

AI Writing: This tool is a godsend for fast typists. It took my messy, bulleted "brain dumps" and polished them into professional-sounding emails and script drafts.

AI Erase Pro: As someone who takes a lot of photos for the blog, I loved this. I caught a great shot of my lunch at the park, but a stray cat was eyeing my food in the background. Two taps with AI Erase, and the "photobomber" was gone without a trace.

Week 4: Battery Endurance 

The biggest anxiety with slim tablets is the battery. However, the 8,850mAh battery in the Pad X1 is legit. I averaged about 3 days of moderate use before reaching for the charger. When I did need a boost, the 45W turbo charging got me from 0% to "ready to go" in the time it took to get dressed for a meeting.

The Final Verdict

At a retail price of ₱24,999 (and often seen at ₱19,999 during early bird promos), the POCO Pad X1 is a disruptor. It offers a 3.2K 144Hz screen and a flagship-tier chipset in a body that’s thinner than most smartphones.

If you are a student, a mobile professional, or just someone who wants a premium media machine that doesn't feel like a brick in your bag, the POCO Pad X1 is the "Powerfully Slim" powerhouse you’ve been waiting for.

Pros:

• Incredibly sharp 3.2K display with 144Hz smoothness.
• Premium all-metal build (6.18mm thin).
• Flagship-level Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 performance.
• Genuinely useful AI productivity tools.

Cons:

• No fingerprint sensor (relies on Face Unlock/PIN).
• Screen is slightly reflective in direct harsh light.