The Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro Max makes an immediate impression with its 13.3-inch display and 3:2 aspect ratio. The larger screen provides noticeably more workspace, yet the tablet remains surprisingly portable at just 5.67mm thick and 653g. Despite its size, it does not feel like a device that needs to stay on a desk.

The model tested here is the Soft Light Edition. Unlike a standard display designed to deliver higher brightness and more vivid colors, the soft light panel is better suited to extended viewing. This gives the 13.3-inch tablet a clearer focus on productivity, reading, and long sessions.

However, the large display is not necessarily the most interesting part of the Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro Max. The bigger question is how Xiaomi intends users to take advantage of such a large tablet.

Flagship Performance in a Slim Body

The Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro Max is the first tablet to feature the Xiaomi Xring O3 chip, bringing the company’s flagship-level processor to a tablet form factor. Fitting such a powerful chip into a body measuring only 5.67mm thick makes the device particularly interesting from a hardware perspective.

However, the Xring O3 is not simply about achieving higher benchmark scores or faster gaming performance. Its real value becomes more apparent when combined with the tablet’s large display and software features.

The HyperOS 4 experience introduces large-screen features such as improved multitasking and multi-window functionality. When paired with the floating keyboard and touchpad, the Pad 9 Pro Max starts to feel less like a traditional tablet and more like a flexible productivity device.

Apps such as WPS Office and CapCut also benefit from the additional screen space, giving users more room to work with documents, timelines, and multiple applications. The inclusion of DP-in video input further expands the tablet’s potential use cases, allowing the large display to serve purposes beyond conventional tablet tasks.

This is what makes the Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro Max particularly interesting. Its appeal is not simply based on having a 13.3-inch screen or a powerful processor. Instead, Xiaomi appears to be exploring how hardware, software, and accessories can work together to make a large tablet genuinely useful.

During my experience with the Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro Max, the main question was not how powerful the Xring O3 could be. Instead, I wanted to see whether the combination of the Xiaomi Xring O3, 13.3-inch display, HyperOS 4, keyboard, touchpad, and other accessories could unlock the full potential of a large-screen tablet.

That approach makes the Pad 9 Pro Max more than simply a bigger tablet. It is an attempt to create a device that can adapt to productivity, entertainment, creative work, and other everyday scenarios. The rest of the review will explore whether Xiaomi has successfully achieved that goal.

Design and Screen

The Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro Max features a large 13.3-inch LCD display with a 3408 × 2272 resolution, delivering a sharp 3.4K viewing experience at 308 PPI. It also supports a 144Hz refresh rate, making scrolling, animations, and everyday navigation feel noticeably smoother.

One of the display’s standout features is its 3:2 aspect ratio. Compared with the more common 16:10 format, the taller screen provides additional vertical space, which is particularly useful for browsing websites, reading documents, and working with productivity apps. The panel also supports the P3 wide color gamut, HDR10, and Dolby Vision, while its peak brightness reaches 1,000 nits. As a result, the display is well suited to both office tasks and multimedia consumption.

The model featured in this review comes in a deep wine-red finish inspired by the Burgundy wine region of France. Its color sits between bright and dark red, giving the tablet a distinctive appearance without looking overly flashy. The overall finish feels refined and premium.

At just 653g, the tablet made an immediate impression with its relatively light weight. Considering its 13.3-inch display, it feels considerably easier to carry than a typical laptop of a similar screen size.

Flip the tablet over and you’ll find an all-metal unibody construction that gives it a sturdy and premium feel. The Xiaomi logo sits in the center, while the camera module is positioned toward the upper-right corner. Three metal contact points can be found near the opposite side for connecting the optional floating keyboard.

These three circular contacts allow the keyboard to attach directly to the tablet. Once the magnetic connection is made, the keyboard is ready to use without requiring additional pairing or complicated setup. It’s a simple but practical design for users who frequently switch between tablet and laptop-style workflows.

The rear camera module uses a rounded rectangular design and houses a 50MP main camera. The upper portion of the module also carries the “XRING” branding, highlighting Xiaomi’s in-house Xuanjie chip platform and giving the rear design a distinctive touch.

Along one side of the tablet, you’ll find the speakers and a USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2 port. The port supports DP-in video input and can handle output of up to 3.4K at 120Hz. This expands the tablet’s versatility, allowing it to work as a secondary display when connected to a laptop or as a larger gaming screen when paired with devices such as a Nintendo Switch.

The opposite edge houses the power button, another speaker, and microphone openings. Xiaomi has also added a “Dolby Vision · Atmos” marking to the chassis, reflecting support for Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos technologies.

Floating Keyboard

The accompanying Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro Max floating keyboard attaches magnetically and holds the tablet securely in place. Once connected, it is immediately ready for use, allowing the tablet to transition quickly from a traditional touchscreen device into a laptop-style workstation.

With the 13.3-inch display paired with a physical keyboard, tasks such as writing documents, responding to messages, and handling other productivity work become much more comfortable. The setup gives the tablet a laptop-like experience while retaining the flexibility of a detachable design.

The keyboard uses large 16mm keycaps with approximately 1mm of key travel. During typing, the keys provide clear feedback and a relatively crisp response, making the layout more familiar to users accustomed to conventional laptop or desktop keyboards.

The integrated touchpad uses a linear motor to provide tactile feedback and supports multiple gesture shortcuts. This makes navigation more convenient when the tablet is being used in laptop mode without relying heavily on the touchscreen.

The rear of the keyboard cover follows the tablet’s overall material and color scheme, creating a cohesive look when the two are attached. When closed, the cover sits firmly against the tablet and maintains a clean, integrated appearance.

Slim Design and Battery

At only 5.67mm thick, the Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro Max has an exceptionally slim profile for a device of this size. From the side, its thin body gives it an almost plate-like appearance. More impressively, Xiaomi has managed to fit a large 12,000mAh battery and its flagship Xring O3 chip into this slim chassis.

The tablet also comes with a 120W fast-charging adapter. According to Xiaomi’s official figures, the 12,000mAh battery can reach a full 100% charge in approximately 53 minutes. We will put that claim to the test later in the review to see how the real-world charging performance compares with the manufacturer’s specifications.

Hardware and Performance

The Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro Max is the first Xiaomi tablet to feature the company’s third-generation self-developed Xring O3 chipset. The processor uses a 10-core all-big-core CPU architecture and a 16-core Mali G2-Ultra NX GPU, giving it hardware specifications that are closer to desktop-class performance.

As Xiaomi’s most powerful tablet chipset to date, the Xring O3 achieved more than 5.22 million points in AnTuTu V11 under low-temperature laboratory conditions. In our own testing, we used the latest version of AnTuTu in a 25°C environment, where the Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro Max reached 5.53 million points. This puts the tablet firmly among the highest-performing Android tablets.

Thermal Performance and Cooling

To maintain sustained performance, Xiaomi has equipped the Pad 9 Pro Max with a 3,038 mm² vapor chamber (VC) cooling plate and a massive 10,112 mm² graphite heat-spreading layer. The tablet’s 13.3-inch chassis also provides additional internal space for its cooling hardware.

The key question is whether this thermal design can prevent performance from dropping during extended gaming sessions. To find out, we tested three demanding mainstream games under high-performance settings.

1. Honor of Kings

For Honor of Kings, we enabled Performance Mode and selected the highest available graphics quality and frame-rate settings.

During a standard 5v5 match, the Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro Max delivered an average frame rate of 144.22 fps, while the 1% Low frame rate reached 134.3 fps. The frame-rate curve remained remarkably stable throughout the test.

The large 13.3-inch display provides a clear advantage for MOBA games. The wider screen gives players more room to view the battlefield, while the larger interface makes controls and on-screen information easier to see. However, the tablet’s size also makes it less comfortable to hold for extended gaming sessions.

For longer gaming sessions, placing the tablet on a stand is a more practical solution. This is one of the main compromises of using a large-screen tablet for gaming.

Average power consumption during the test was 4.6W, with power consumption per frame measured at 31.9mW.

The highest surface temperature reached 31.9°C on the front and 31.5°C on the rear, showing that the cooling system kept temperatures under control.

2. Genshin Impact

For Genshin Impact, we enabled Performance Mode and frame interpolation. We then ran through Sumeru City for 10 minutes using the highest graphics settings.

Sumeru City is a demanding area because of its dense combination of NPCs, buildings, vegetation, and other environmental elements. This makes it a useful scenario for evaluating sustained GPU performance.

After 10 minutes of gameplay, the Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro Max achieved an average frame rate of 119.7 fps, while the 1% Low figure reached 94.9 fps. Overall, the tablet maintained performance close to a consistent 120 fps.

Average power consumption was 5.98W, while power consumption per frame was 49.98mW.

The highest temperature recorded on the front was 35°C, while the rear reached 33.6°C.

One of the more interesting features of the Xring O3 is its integrated AI rendering capability. The GPU includes eight AI rendering acceleration units that support 3.2K super-resolution and 120fps frame interpolation at the same time.

In practical terms, this allows the tablet to improve image sharpness and frame-rate smoothness without relying on a separate discrete graphics processor.

We also tested the feature directly in Genshin Impact. After opening the game toolbox, enabling Display Enhancement, and turning on super resolution, the visual quality became noticeably sharper. Fine details such as Keqing’s hair, clothing patterns, and textures on the stone walls appeared clearer, while distant building edges looked less blurred.

3. Honkai: Star Rail

For Honkai: Star Rail, we again enabled Performance Mode and frame interpolation. The game was tested for 10 minutes at the highest graphics settings while exploring the Golden Hour area.

After the 10-minute test, the average frame rate reached 119.27 fps, while the 1% Low frame rate was 74.1 fps. Performance remained generally stable, although frame-rate fluctuations became more noticeable during the second half of the test. Even so, the overall result remained within a reasonable range for demanding gameplay.

Average power consumption was 7.92W, with power consumption per frame reaching 66.37mW.

The highest temperature measured on the front was 34.9°C, while the rear reached 33.6°C.

The Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro Max demonstrates strong sustained gaming performance across all three tests. Its Xring O3 chipset, large cooling system, and spacious 13.3-inch chassis work together to maintain high frame rates without excessive surface temperatures.

The tablet is particularly well suited to players who prefer a large display and high refresh-rate gaming. Its main limitation is physical size: while the 13.3-inch panel improves visibility and immersion, holding such a large tablet for long gaming sessions can become uncomfortable.

For users who primarily game with the tablet supported on a desk or stand, however, the Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro Max offers a compelling combination of large-screen immersion, high frame rates, and strong thermal performance.

Productivity Experience

The Xring O3 showed impressive results in gaming, but raw performance is only part of what makes a premium tablet useful. For a device positioned as a large-screen productivity flagship, the more important question is whether its processor, 13.3-inch display, and Surge OS 4 can make everyday work faster and more convenient.

After spending time with the Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro Max, its productivity features make a stronger impression than benchmark numbers alone.

A 13.3-Inch Display Designed for Productivity

The Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro Max features a 13.3-inch display with a 3408 × 2272 resolution and a 3:2 aspect ratio. While the specifications are impressive, the real advantage becomes clear during office work.

When using WPS to write documents, the taller 3:2 screen shows more vertical content than a typical 16:10 tablet display. This means less scrolling when reading or editing long documents.

The Soft Light Edition is particularly useful outdoors. Its anti-glare treatment noticeably reduces reflections under strong lighting, making the display more comfortable to view during extended work sessions.

1. Six Apps Can Run at the Same Time

The Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro Max supports up to six application windows simultaneously. A four-finger pinch gesture opens the panoramic view, allowing all active windows to be displayed together and resized or repositioned as needed.

I tested this feature while planning a weekend trip to Shanghai Disneyland. I used Xiaohongshu to browse travel recommendations, Gaode Maps to check the route from Zhengzhou to Shanghai, Flightradar24 to compare flight information, QQ to communicate with my friend, the Disney store to check ticket prices, and the calculator to work out the overall budget.

With all six applications open, switching between them remained responsive, with no obvious stuttering. This is where the multi-core capability of the Xring O3 becomes useful in everyday productivity rather than simply in benchmarks.

For normal work, four windows feel more comfortable. Six windows are better when you need to compare several sources at once, such as when researching, shopping, planning a trip, or managing multiple work tasks.

2. Full-Featured WPS Brings a Desktop-Like Office Experience

Android tablets have traditionally offered a more limited WPS experience compared with desktop computers. Large spreadsheets could become sluggish when scrolling, while long documents sometimes suffered from delays when zooming or navigating.

The Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro Max takes a different approach with a full-featured version of WPS designed for the tablet. Xiaomi states that its performance is more than 20% higher than the previous container-based version, while scrolling through large spreadsheets, scaling lengthy documents, and rendering complex presentations have also been optimized.

In practical use, large Excel spreadsheets containing tens of thousands of rows remained smooth while scrolling. The brief delays that can occur on less powerful tablets were much less noticeable.

Adding the floating keyboard and touchpad makes the experience even closer to using a traditional computer. Document editing, navigation, and text input feel familiar enough for extended office sessions.

The built-in Lingxi AI features add another layer of convenience. Users can generate presentations, analyze Excel data, and create text content with AI-assisted commands, reducing the amount of repetitive work required for common office tasks.

3. CapCut Pro Makes Large-Screen Video Editing More Practical

The Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro Max comes with CapCut Pro pre-installed. Its interface provides a familiar editing environment, while the 13.3-inch display gives the timeline, media library, preview window, and editing controls more room than a smartphone.

The larger canvas makes dragging clips, adjusting effects, and managing multiple layers considerably easier.

Even with several video tracks, filters, transitions, and effects active, playback remained smooth during testing. This highlights one of the biggest advantages of combining a powerful processor with a large display: the goal is not simply achieving a high benchmark score, but maintaining a responsive experience during real work.

I also tested video export performance. A 30-second 4K video file measuring 113MB took less than 15 seconds to export from the moment the process was started. That makes the tablet particularly useful for creators who need to edit and share footage quickly while traveling or working away from a desk.

4. AI Features: Super Xiao Ai and Cross-Device File Management

Surge OS 4 introduces an expert mode for Super Xiao Ai that goes beyond basic question-and-answer functions. It can understand more complicated instructions, divide them into multiple tasks, and perform operations across different applications.

4.1 Cross-Device AI File Management

One of the more useful AI features is the ability to access files across tablets, smartphones, and computers using natural-language commands.

Instead of manually opening a file manager and transferring documents, users can simply tell Xiao Ai what they need. During testing, a request to send an order-data spreadsheet from a computer to the tablet prompted the system to locate the relevant file and transfer it to the Pad.

The process took only a few seconds and removed several manual steps from the workflow.

4.2 Super Xiao Ai Expert Mode

Expert Mode becomes more interesting when handling multi-step tasks. For testing, a six-minute meeting recording was used with a simple instruction: organize the latest recording, create notes, and prepare a PowerPoint presentation.

Super Xiao Ai automatically processed the recording, created structured meeting minutes, identified the main ideas, and summarized the advantages and risks of the five startup plans discussed during the meeting.

It then generated an 11-page business-style presentation containing a cover page, meeting overview, plan details, comparison information, and an action flow. After reviewing the generated content, the presentation could be created with a confirmation. The system can also generate interactive web pages, data dashboards, and other structured office content from basic instructions.

4.3 AI Notes Turn Recordings Into Structured Summaries

The AI Notes feature can automatically transcribe meeting recordings and turn them into organized summaries.

In one test, a six-minute recording was converted into approximately 660 words of structured notes. The result included the key discussion points, the five solutions mentioned during the meeting, and the final conclusion.

Different processing modes, including key-point summaries, meeting minutes, proofreading, and simplified content, provide additional flexibility.

AI can also answer questions about previously recorded meetings, making it easier to find information without manually searching through every note.

5. DP-In Could Be One of the Tablet’s Most Useful Features

DP-In is arguably one of the most interesting features of the Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro Max. Using a full-featured USB-C cable, the tablet can function as an external display and portable second monitor, supporting input of up to 3.4K at 120Hz.

Because the connection does not depend on Wi-Fi, it can also be useful in environments where wireless connectivity is unreliable.

5.1 Use the Pad as a Portable Second Monitor

I connected the Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro Max to a laptop and used it as a secondary display. Text remained sharp, and moving application windows between the two screens felt responsive.

A dual-screen setup is particularly useful for office work. For example, the laptop can display the main document while the Pad shows reference materials, communication apps, or meeting information.

The tablet also works with Mac devices and supports multiple HiDPI display modes, making it more flexible for different desktop setups.

5.2 Turn a Handheld Console Into a Larger Gaming Setup

DP-In can also expand the display of a handheld gaming device.

After connecting a handheld console, the 13.3-inch screen provided a much larger viewing area than the console’s built-in display. During testing with the SFC version of Chrono Trigger, the larger panel made the pixel graphics easier to appreciate and the dialogue easier to read.

This setup offers a portable alternative to carrying a separate desktop monitor when you want a larger gaming screen.

5.3 Use the Pad as a Portable Drawing Display

When connected to a PC and paired with the Xiaomi Focus Stylus Pro, the Pad can also function as a digital drawing display.

The stylus supports up to 16,384 levels of pressure sensitivity. Its gesture controls can be used to access the color palette, adjust brush settings, and change brush thickness, making common drawing operations easier to access.

I tested the setup with Drawing World Pro. The pen response was responsive, while the 13.3-inch canvas provided enough space for drawing and annotation work. For users who regularly create illustrations or annotate documents while traveling, this setup can be more convenient than carrying a dedicated graphics tablet.

The Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro Max can also connect directly to mainstream cameras. With compatible photo-editing software, photos can be transferred to the tablet for quick editing and output without first moving them to another computer.

Beyond traditional productivity, the tablet can also serve as a rear entertainment and control screen in supported Xiaomi vehicles, including the SU7 and YU7. Depending on the vehicle configuration, users can access functions such as air conditioning, seat controls, music, and navigation. Child-space and anti-motion-sickness features further expand its potential for passengers.

Battery Life and Charging

Battery life is an important consideration for any large-screen tablet, especially a 13.3-inch flagship model. A bigger display and powerful hardware can consume more power, making battery capacity and charging speed key factors in the overall user experience.

The Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro Max addresses this with a large 12,000mAh battery and support for 120W fast charging. While these specifications look impressive, real-world battery performance is a better measure of how well the tablet handles demanding tasks.

Battery Life Test

To evaluate the Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro Max’s endurance, we used BatteryDog, a battery testing tool developed by Fast Technology. The test combines several demanding scenarios to simulate typical daily use, including CPU-intensive workloads, multi-threaded processing, AI recognition, image browsing, video playback, and web browsing.

For consistency, the display brightness was set to 50%, automatic brightness was disabled, and the volume was fixed at 30% throughout the test. These settings help reduce external variables and provide more reliable results.

The test results provide a clearer picture of how the 12,000mAh battery performs under a mixed workload. For a tablet with a 13.3-inch display and flagship-level hardware, endurance under sustained use is particularly important, as it determines how long users can work, stream videos, browse the web, or handle demanding applications before needing to recharge.

Battery Life and Charging

Battery life is an important consideration for a large-screen tablet, especially when it combines a high-resolution display with flagship-level performance. The larger display and more powerful hardware can naturally lead to higher power consumption.

The Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro Max addresses this with a 12,000mAh battery and 120W fast charging. While these specifications are impressive, real-world performance is more important. Here is how the tablet performed in our battery and charging tests.

1. Battery Life Test

We used BatteryDog, a testing tool from Fast Technology, to evaluate the Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro Max under a range of simulated everyday workloads. The test included CPU-intensive tasks, multi-threaded processing, AI recognition, image browsing, video playback, and web browsing.

To maintain consistent testing conditions, the display brightness was fixed at 50%, automatic brightness was disabled, and the volume was set to 30%.

The Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro Max lasted 11 hours and 2 minutes, dropping from 100% to 20% battery capacity during the test. Based on this result, the tablet’s estimated full battery endurance is approximately 13 hours and 47 minutes.

The tablet also maintained a relatively low peak temperature of 35.3°C throughout the test, indicating good control over both heat and power consumption.

For a device featuring the Xring O3 flagship chipset and a 13.3-inch 3.4K high-refresh-rate display, this is a strong result. The combination of a large 12,000mAh battery and the chipset’s power-efficiency optimizations allows the Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro Max to provide enough endurance for a full day of typical use.

2. Charging Test

The Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro Max was also tested with its included 120W fast charger. We performed the test with the screen turned off to measure the charging performance under controlled conditions.

The results were impressive. The tablet charged from 1% to 25% in just 10 minutes, reached 63% after 30 minutes, and completed a full charge in approximately 57 minutes.

Considering the tablet’s large 12,000mAh battery, reaching a full charge in under an hour is particularly useful for users who need to quickly prepare the device before heading out.

The Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro Max also supports 27W wired reverse charging, allowing it to provide emergency power to a smartphone or other compatible device. Although 27W is considerably lower than the tablet’s own 120W charging speed, the feature can still be useful when another device needs a quick power boost.

Overall, the combination of a 12,000mAh battery, nearly 14 hours of estimated endurance, and 120W fast charging makes the Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro Max well suited to users who want both long battery life and fast recharge times from a large-screen flagship tablet.

Verdict

The Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro Max shows that a larger tablet display can offer more than simply extra screen space. After using the device, it becomes clear that the real advantage of its 13.3-inch panel comes from how Xiaomi integrates the display with the hardware and software.

A bigger screen alone does not necessarily make a tablet more useful. However, when the additional space is combined with productivity features, multitasking, creative tools, and support for external devices, the experience becomes significantly more practical.

This is where the Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro Max stands out.

The Xring O3 chip provides a strong performance foundation, but Xiaomi has designed the tablet around more than gaming and everyday performance. The 13.3-inch display works alongside Surge OS 4, a keyboard, and a range of software features to create a more desktop-like experience.

Features such as multi-window support, full-featured WPS, CapCut, AI tools, and DP-in make better use of the large display. Instead of simply showing larger versions of the same content, the screen provides additional room for office tasks, creative projects, and multitasking.

DP-In Adds Another Dimension

One of the most useful features is DP-in, which expands how the tablet can be used. The Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro Max can connect to a computer and serve as a secondary display. It can also work with gaming devices or be used as a digital display when paired with a stylus.

This makes the 13.3-inch screen more than a tablet display. It can become a portable workspace, secondary monitor, or entertainment screen depending on the situation.

For users who frequently switch between a laptop, desktop, gaming device, and tablet, this flexibility could be one of the tablet’s biggest advantages.

Is the Large Size a Problem?

The 13.3-inch form factor does have one obvious drawback: portability in the traditional tablet sense. Its larger body makes it less comfortable to hold for extended periods, particularly when using it without a stand.

For gaming, reading, or watching videos for a long time, placing the tablet on a desk or stand is likely to be more comfortable. However, this limitation matters less for users who primarily want a large workspace for office tasks, creative work, or multitasking.

In other words, the Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro Max is not designed to compete with smaller tablets purely on portability. Its strength lies in providing a much larger working area while retaining the flexibility of a tablet.

The Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro Max is not aimed at users who simply want the biggest tablet possible. Instead, it makes more sense for people who can take advantage of a large display and want one device that can combine tablet functionality, productivity features, creative tools, and secondary-screen capabilities.

Its 13.3-inch display is therefore more than a size upgrade. Combined with the Xring O3 chip, Surge OS 4, multitasking features, and DP-in, it gives the tablet a broader range of practical uses.

That is what makes the Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro Max interesting: it is not just a tablet with enough power to handle work. It is a tablet designed to become a more capable part of a user’s everyday workspace.

Read Also: Xiaomi 18 Pro Max Appears on Geekbench With Snapdragon 8 Super Gen 6

The post Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro Max Review: 13.3-Inch Display Explained appeared first on IGeeKphone China Phone, Tablet PC, VR, RC Drone News, Reviews.

Keep AI-driven PPC accountable with transparent reporting, brand-safe creative guardrails, and campaign structures that preserve performance without surrendering control.

The post How Do I Keep Control As Platforms Automate My Account? – Ask A PPC appeared first on Search Engine Journal.

Google launches Meridian GeoX globally, giving marketers new ways to run geo experiments and bring incrementality results into marketing mix modeling.

The post Google Launches Meridian GeoX Globally appeared first on Search Engine Journal.

Google expands Data Manager across GA and DV360 and introduces a Data Strength Uplift Metric to measure the impact of first-party data.

The post Google Expands Data Manager And Adds Uplift Measurement appeared first on Search Engine Journal.

Nickel disulfide, NiS₂, is an unusual material. Its interior behaves as an electrical insulator, blocking the flow of current, while certain parts of its surface conduct electricity freely. This contradiction has puzzled physicists for decades, and a recent study offers a detailed explanation. The conduction, it turns out, is confined to tiny one-dimensional steps on the surface, and these narrow conducting channels are a direct consequence of how electrons are arranged inside the crystal.

Mott insulator

NiS₂ shares its crystal structure with pyrite, the mineral sometimes called fool’s gold. At ordinary conditions, its electrons do not move freely through the lattice: the strong electrical repulsion between them opens an energy gap that keeps the bulk of the material insulating. This behaviour defines what physicists call a Mott, or charge-transfer, insulator, a category of materials that simple band theory cannot explain. Band theory predicts that any material with a partially filled outer electron shell should conduct electricity, yet compounds like nickel oxide obstinately insulate instead. In 1949, the physicist Nevill Mott showed why: if two electrons crowding the same atomic site cost more energy than is available, the electrons stay locked in place and no current flows, regardless of what band theory predicts. NiS₂ behaves in much the same way.

Yet electrical-transport measurements had repeatedly found that crystals of NiS₂ conduct through their surfaces. Earlier scanning-tunnelling experiments helped explain part of the puzzle: the broad, flat surface remains insulating, but the electronic gap narrows sharply near atomic-scale steps, tiny cliffs just one or two atoms high where the surface abruptly changes level. A new study ¹ confirms this picture and examines the steps with much higher spatial resolution than before.

A not that smooth surface

A scanning tunnelling microscope (STM) works by bringing an extremely sharp needle close enough to a surface that electrons can leak across the gap between tip and sample. Measuring that leakage at different energies reveals both the surface’s shape and how easily electrons can enter or leave it. In NiS₂, these measurements uncovered electronic states concentrated tightly along the step edges: the states extend for a long distance parallel to a step but stay confined to roughly one to two nanometres across it. In other words, the electrons are effectively free to move in one direction while remaining trapped in the other two, forming genuine one-dimensional conduction channels.

Two distinct kinds of surface step were observed, depending on whether the outermost atomic layer exposes nickel or sulfur atoms. Both carry electronic states associated with their steps, but they are not equally important. The nickel-terminated steps host states that sit right at the energy where electrical conduction happens, making them the most likely explanation for the surface conductivity that transport experiments had measured for years. The sulfur-terminated steps also host states inside the insulating gap, but their energy is positioned further away, making them less directly responsible for carrying current.

The study also tested what happens when a magnetic field is applied perpendicular to the surface. The step-edge states survived fields as strong as 10 tesla, a field far stronger than any produced by a laboratory magnet used for everyday purposes. Their intensity weakened somewhat, particularly on the sulfur-terminated steps, but the states were never destroyed. This robustness matters because NiS₂ already displays complicated magnetic behaviour of its own, which might easily have disrupted a more fragile conducting state.

The deeper explanation lies in how electrons are distributed inside the crystal. In an ordinary insulator, the occupied electronic states can usually be pictured as clouds centred on the atoms themselves. NiS₂ is different: calculations show that part of its electron density is naturally centred at special positions between atoms, specifically near the midpoints of pairs of sulfur atoms, where no atom actually sits. Physicists call these obstructed charge centres, and materials built around them belong to a class known as obstructed atomic insulators, a concept that grew out of a broader effort over the past decade to classify materials by the geometry, and not just the energy, of their electron states.

Not ordinary metallic defects

This arrangement is not a chemical accident; it is protected by the symmetry of the crystal. When the crystal is cut to form a surface, though, the special positions that hosted this electron density can no longer fit together the way they did in the bulk. At a step edge, this mismatch creates what is known as a filling anomaly: an imbalance in how the available electronic states can be occupied, which leaves behind a state inside the insulating gap, localized right at the edge. Calculations of artificial step structures reproduce the main features seen under the microscope, including this localization, supporting the idea that the conducting channels are not ordinary metallic defects caused by broken chemical bonds, but a direct consequence of the crystal’s underlying electronic geometry.

The study also settles a long-standing question about NiS₂’s magnetism at low temperature. Below about 39 kelvin, the nickel magnetic moments arrange themselves into a non-collinear antiferromagnetic pattern, with neighbouring moments pointing in different directions that largely cancel out. Below about 30 kelvin, they rearrange again into a state that produces a small but measurable net magnetization. New neutron-diffraction measurements support a revised model of this low-temperature arrangement, resolving a debate about the material’s magnetic ground state that had lasted for roughly fifty years.

Taken together, the results give NiS₂ a significance well beyond its peculiar conducting surface. The material shows that strong repulsion between electrons, magnetism, and the geometry of electronic states can coexist within a single crystal. Such geometric protection is normally associated with topological materials, in which certain electronic states are shielded from disorder or defects by the crystal’s symmetry. The new results suggest that this protection can survive even when strong interactions push a material into being an insulator, making NiS₂ a rare setting for studying how the quantum-mechanical arrangement of electrons decides where electricity is allowed to flow within an otherwise insulating crystal.

Author: César Tomé López is a science writer and the editor of Mapping Ignorance

Disclaimer: Parts of this article may have been copied verbatim or almost verbatim from the referenced research paper/s.

The post Why an insulator can conduct electricity along its edges appeared first on Mapping Ignorance.

Gaming mice have changed significantly in recent years. Instead of simply adding more buttons or aggressive designs, many modern players are looking for a better balance between speed, precision, comfort and wireless flexibility.

The AULA V1 gaming mouse follows this trend with a lightweight 55g body, a PAW3311 optical sensor, dual 1000Hz polling support and three connection modes. Designed for PC and laptop gamers, the mouse aims to deliver a responsive experience while remaining comfortable during long gaming sessions.

Rather than targeting only professional esports players, the AULA V1 focuses on a broader group of users who want a fast and reliable gaming mouse without dealing with excessive weight or unnecessary complexity.

Lightweight 55g Design Focuses on Faster Movement

Weight has become one of the most important factors in gaming mouse design.

The AULA V1 weighs approximately 55g, placing it in the lightweight gaming mouse category. A lower weight can make quick movements easier, especially in fast-paced FPS games where players frequently perform rapid aiming adjustments.

A lighter mouse also reduces the amount of physical effort needed during extended sessions. For gamers who use low sensitivity settings and rely on larger arm movements, reducing unnecessary weight can improve overall control and comfort.

However, lightweight design is not only about reducing numbers. The shape, balance and grip style also determine whether a mouse feels comfortable.

The AULA V1 uses a versatile ergonomic shape designed for different grip methods, including palm grip, claw grip and fingertip grip. It is recommended for small to medium-sized hands, making it more suitable for users who prefer a compact gaming mouse design.

PAW3311 Sensor Delivers Accurate Tracking

At the center of the AULA V1 is the PixArt PAW3311 optical sensor.

The sensor supports up to 12,000 DPI, with tracking performance reaching up to 300 IPS and acceleration up to 35G. These specifications provide enough adjustment range for different gaming styles, from precise aiming in competitive shooters to faster cursor movement in everyday applications.

DPI flexibility is especially useful because different games require different sensitivity settings.

A competitive FPS player may prefer a lower DPI setting for accuracy, while strategy games, productivity tasks or large-resolution displays may benefit from higher sensitivity.

Instead of forcing users into one performance profile, the AULA V1 gives players more freedom to customize the mouse according to their preferences.

Dual 1000Hz Polling Rate Keeps Wireless Performance Competitive

Wireless gaming accessories have improved significantly, and many players no longer want to sacrifice performance for convenience.

The AULA V1 supports a 1000Hz polling rate in both wired and 2.4GHz wireless modes. This means the mouse can report its position frequently, helping maintain a responsive connection during gameplay.

For competitive gaming, consistency is often more important than simply chasing the highest specification number.

A stable 1000Hz polling rate combined with a lightweight body and accurate sensor creates a balanced setup for players who want a fast response without being restricted by a cable.

Tri-Mode Connectivity Makes It More Versatile

One of the biggest advantages of the AULA V1 is its tri-mode connection system.

The mouse supports:

• USB-C wired connection
• 2.4GHz wireless connection
• Bluetooth connection

This allows users to switch between different scenarios more easily.

For gaming desktops, the 2.4GHz wireless mode provides a cleaner setup without the limitations of a cable. When battery charging is needed or maximum stability is preferred, users can switch to wired mode.

Bluetooth connectivity expands compatibility with laptops and other devices, making the AULA V1 more practical than a mouse designed only for gaming PCs.

Built for Long Gaming Sessions

A gaming mouse is not only judged by performance numbers. Comfort becomes increasingly important when users spend several hours playing or working.

The AULA V1 combines its lightweight construction with an ergonomic body design to reduce fatigue during extended use.

Its compact dimensions of approximately 94mm × 62.7mm × 38.5mm make it easier to control for users who prefer smaller mice.

The design is especially suitable for players who prefer quick movements rather than the heavier, larger shapes often found on traditional gaming mice.

Reliable Switches and Custom Control Software

The AULA V1 uses AULA’s custom MCU system and gaming switches rated for approximately 10 million clicks.

While click lifespan does not directly determine gaming performance, durability is important for users who frequently play competitive games where thousands of clicks can accumulate over time.

The mouse also supports AULA’s proprietary HUB driver software, allowing users to adjust settings and customize the experience according to their needs.

Battery and Everyday Wireless Convenience

The AULA V1 includes a built-in 300mAh battery, allowing it to operate as a wireless gaming mouse without requiring constant cable connection.

Battery capacity is only one part of wireless mouse performance. Actual usage time depends on factors such as connection mode, polling rate and lighting settings.

For users who switch between gaming and everyday computer use, the combination of wireless freedom and USB-C charging provides a more flexible experience.

AULA V1 Specifications

Feature	Details
Model	AULA V1
Sensor	PAW3311 Optical Sensor
Maximum DPI	12,000 DPI
Tracking Speed	300 IPS
Acceleration	35G
Polling Rate	1000Hz wired / 1000Hz wireless
Weight	About 55g
Battery	300mAh
Connection	USB-C wired / 2.4GHz wireless / Bluetooth
Switch Lifespan	10 million clicks
Driver	AULA HUB Driver
Size	94 × 62.7 × 38.5mm
Recommended Hand Size	Small to medium

Specifications are based on the current product listing and may vary depending on regional versions.

Who Should Buy the AULA V1 Gaming Mouse?

The AULA V1 is a good match for users who want:

• A lightweight mouse for FPS and competitive gaming
• Wireless freedom without giving up 1000Hz polling
• A compact ergonomic design
• Multiple connection options for PC and laptop use
• A balance between gaming performance and daily productivity

It may not be the ideal choice for users who prefer large ergonomic mice designed for bigger hands or those looking for advanced features such as adjustable weights, many programmable buttons or premium flagship sensors.

Final Thoughts

AULA V1 gaming mouse focuses on the areas that matter most for modern gaming: low weight, accurate tracking and flexible connectivity.

Its 55g design makes fast movements easier, while the PAW3311 sensor and dual 1000Hz polling rate provide the responsiveness expected from a modern gaming peripheral. The addition of wired, 2.4GHz wireless and Bluetooth modes also makes it practical beyond a single gaming setup.

For gamers looking for a lightweight, versatile and affordable gaming mouse, the AULA V1 offers a balanced combination of performance and everyday convenience.

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