The Redmi Pad 2 is Xiaomi’s new attempt to revitalise the stagnant budget tablet market with features it has never seen before. It offers a 2.5K display, includes cellular support, and boasts arguably the largest battery of its segment. Most importantly, this tablet democratises the genuine smart pen, which was once limited to much more expensive offerings.
Redmi Pad 2 (Wifi + Cellular)
Rs 15,999
What Is Good?
- A long-lasting battery
- Consistent overall performance for regular usage
- Smooth display, 90Hz refresh rate
- Nifty software features
- Cellular option available
- Reliable and value for money
What Is Bad?
- Sluggy user interface
- Chassis preserves fingerprint smudges
While this brand-new tablet appears to be an ambitious product, Xiaomi isn’t the first to disguise an underperformer as a masterpiece on paper. But will it be the first to deliver what it promises and set a new benchmark for upcoming tablets? Let’s see how it fares in my review.
Pricing and Availability in India
The Redmi Pad 2 (Wifi + Cellular) is available in two storage variants on Flipkart and major retail chains. Here’s a look at pricing:
| Variant | Price |
| 6GB+128GB | Rs 15,999 |
| 8GB+256GB | Rs 17,999 |
Design and Build Quality
Xiaomi has opted for a minimalist design for the Redmi Pad 2, which is not particularly noteworthy, yet it is much appreciated. The rear is sliced into two parts, with one being very lean and lighter in colour, lending it a stylish appearance.
| Design | Specifications |
| Colour Options | Sky Blue (reviewed) and Graphite Grey |
| Weight | 519g |
| Thickness | 7.36 mm |
| IP Rating | IP52 |
| Port and Button Placements | Bottom: Primary microphone, Headphone jack, USB port, and two speaker grilles
Top: Two speaker grilles and power button Right side: Secondary mic, SIM card tray and volume button |
The Graphite Grey colour variant looks nice at first glance. But using it regularly sullies it with fingerprint smudges to the point that even a microfiber cloth can’t wipe them away. Liquid alcohol is the only hope left.
What’s remarkable about this machine is its thickness. It effortlessly slipped into my laptop carry pouch and occupied hardly any space. But it is hefty, requiring you to hold it with two hands.
Accessories
Xiaomi has released a range of accessories for the Redmi Pad 2, including the Redmi Stylus and a Cover. The latter is a typical case that can also be found with other tablets. An inclusion of any mechanism to keep its lid attached to the tablet’s display would’ve been a game-changer.
That said, the Redmi Stylus is phenomenal for what it offers. It has pressure sensitivity, so any twist, turn, or hard-press against the screen provides different strokes. Furthermore, the tablet supports palm rejection, preventing the act of resting a hand on the screen from ruining your art. They are truly praiseworthy.
Display and Audio
The 11-inch display of the Redmi Pad 2 entertained me in places like a dinner table, where keeping my 13-inch laptop was difficult. Its large size was sufficient to watch comfortably from far without squinting my eyes.
But its vivid colour profile and rich detail were its real highlights, making watching YouTube videos and episodes of the One Piece series a delightful experience. Indoors, the screen was bright enough to complete an entire series, even at 40 per cent brightness.
| Display | Specifications |
| Size | 11-inch |
| Type | LCD |
| Resolution | 1600×2560 pixels |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz |
| Peak Brightness | Claimed: 600 nits |
The audio quality is decent, as the stereo speakers can emit loud music effortlessly. However, it leaves you desiring more bass, and the music experience doesn’t feel fuller.
Performance and Software
The MediaTek Dimensity Helio G100 Ultra is the Redmi Pad 2’s head of operation. Considering the tablet’s price, its performance was satisfactory in my usage. While I randomly encountered stutters in my tasks, the software was responsible for this, which I will discuss in greater detail later.
| Hardware | Specifications |
| Processor | MediaTek Dimensity Helio G100 Ultra |
| RAM | Up to 8GB LPDDR4X |
| Storage | Up to 256GB UFS 2.2 |
| Storage Test | 67245 |
| CPU Throttling Test | 85 per cent of its max performance |
| Software Version | Xiaomi HyperOS 2 based on Android 15 |
| Connectivity Details | Bluetooth 5.3, Wifi 5, and 4G Cellular support |
The Redmi Pad 2 supports 40fps at the lowest graphics quality in BGMI, which I consistently received during my entire gameplay. For what it’s worth, the gaming experience is great, if you ever want to opt for an 11-inch screen for a game like BGMI
However, I want to emphasise that streaming a 1440p or higher video at 60fps on YouTube puts enough pressure on its chipset to cause it to stutter constantly, which was a bit disappointing.
While the performance was mostly satisfying, the software leaves room for improvement. Before critiquing its flaws, its ‘Wireless display extension’ should be declared a killer feature. I could comfortably cast my MacBook’s screen on the Redmi Pad 2 without any effort, using it as a second screen.
But it wasn’t enough to make me overlook the Hyper OS 2’s drawbacks. The entire UI runs on 60Hz, despite setting the refresh rate at 90Hz. Moreover, scrolling the home page or similar tasks always met with erratic stutters. At least, bloatware doesn’t exist to bring the experience down.
Camera
The single camera on the Redmi Pad 2 performs like that of an average tablet.
The regular photos taken with it often lack intricate details on human faces and can sometimes be blurry due to sudden movement.
A slight change in light intensity is all it takes to affect this quality. However, it captures nearly true-to-life colours in photographs. It is actually suitable for document scanning.
| Cameras | Specifications |
| Primary camera | 8-megapixel, f/2.0 |
| Selfie camera | 5-megapixel, f/2.2 |
| Video capabilities | Up to 1080p at 30fps for the rear and front cameras |
The front camera fulfils its duty as a webcam for meetings or a normal video chat with friends. It can also take appealing selfies, minus facial details, in ample lighting.
Battery
The 9,000mAh battery within the Redmi Pad 2 is optimised well, as it ran for almost 17 hours on our PCMark Battery test. This score is better than that of the Redmi Pad Pro, launched last year with a 10,000mAh battery.
| Battery | Specifications |
| Capacity | 9,000mAh |
| PCMark Battery Test | 16 Hours 26 Minutes |
| Charger Support | 18W |
| Charging Speed | 2 Hours 56 Minutes |
My moderate usage in the real world took more than two days to deplete its capacity, leaving a great impression on me. It comes bundled with a 15W charger that takes nearly three hours to charge the battery fully. So, it’s best to plan ahead.
Verdict
The Redmi Pad 2 is a compelling budget tablet with fewer compromises.
Its display is great for watching content comfortably with vivid colours and rich details, as much as an LCD panel could provide. It delivers an adequate performance to complete any assignment without any delay. Its compatibility with its stylus is spectacular due to its pressure sensitivity and palm rejection technology. If you ever need its camera, it fulfils its duty as a document scanner well. Lastly, it is a long marathoner with its large battery.
However, this tablet isn’t perfect. Its chassis preserves fingerprint smudges. While its software is packed with extraordinary features, it needs extra care from Xiaomi for a more polished experience. It constantly makes you feel that this tablet operates with lag. This could also be attributed to the choice of the chipset.
Ultimately, Xiaomi has once again nailed the budget tablet scene with the Redmi Pad 2, and if you are on a tight budget and in need of a reliable tablet, then this might turn out to be an excellent choice.
