Xiaomi Redmi Pad Review: Powerful and Affordable

• Redmi Pad Review, Price, Specifications, highlights, and rating.
• Maybe you missed it? Xiaomi 13T Review

Cheap yet powerful Xiaomi Redmi Pad tablet

Following today’s Xiaomi announcements on October 4 regarding their latest high-end Xiaomi 12T / Pro handset based on the Dimensity 8100 SoC, including their latest entry-level Xiaomi Pad series, we got the opportunity to get our hands on and review.

This new tablet belongs to the entry-level budget tablet PC category and users that don’t usually run highly consuming apps and games. We are not talking about a premium product like Apple iPad but a more affordable product with the highest build quality and decent hardware specifications that will fit most users. Xiaomi offers the product in 3GB/64GB, 4GB/128GB, and 6GB/128GB variants globally and will also sell it in India as Xiaomi’s primary market.

The Package

The Package Content (Unboxing)

• x1 Redmi Pad (Standard Edition)
• x1 22W Charger
• x1 USB Type-C Cable
• x1 SD Card Ejector Tool
• x1 Warranty template
• x1 User Guide

Unboxing Other Items

Reviewed Item Configuration

Redmi Pad Specifications

Redmi Pad 5 (Product specification)
Brand	Redmi
Model	Xiaomi 2208128G
SoC / Chipset	MediaTek Helio G99, 6nm advanced process
CPU	MT8781V Octa-Core (8 cores) 64-bit processor • 2x Cortex-A76 (500 MHz-2200 MHz) • 6x Cortex-A55 (725 MHz-2200 MHz)
GPU	Mali-G57 MC2
Storage Ram Configurations	LPDDR4X + UFS 2.2 3GB+64GB, 4GB+128GB, 6GB+128GB
MicroSD card slot
OS	MIUI PadOS 13 (MIUI 13.1.1/Android 12.0)
Display	• 10.61″ LCD • 90Hz refresh rate • Brightness: 400nits • Over 1 billion colors • 1500:1 contrast ratio • 10 Point Multi-touch • Built-in blue light reduction
Display Resolution	1200 x 2000 pixels (2K Resolution)
Main Camera	8MP main camera
Selfie Camera (Front)	8MP ultra-wide front camera 105° FOV with FocusFrame
Connectivity	Bluetooth 5.0 Dual-band 802.11a/b/g/n/ac
Audio	Quad speakers with Dolby Atmos®
Sensors	• Light • Accelerometer
Battery & Charging	• USB Type-C Interface (Power/Charging) • 8,000mAh (type) large battery • 18W fast charging (Tested: 19.4W) • 22.5W in-box charger
Materials	High-quality metal unibody design
Colors	Graphite Gray, Moonlight Silver, and Mint Green
Dimensions	250.38mm x 157.98mm x 7.05mm

Design & Appearance

Redmi Pad Design

Xiaomi designed a very thick tablet (7 mm) that is easy to carry. It’s accessible to carry (445gr), so children and adults will not have a problem holding it or taking it outdoors. Excluding the display panel, the tablet housing is made of metal alloy material.

The external appearance is spotless and looks modern, as with most Xiaomi products. Also, we noticed that Xiaomi used a glass-type glass plate cover to protect the 8MP camera sensor. The rear design appears sleek and polished. The camera sensor doesn’t protrude from the tablet’s rear surface, giving the product an attractive premium-style appearance.

Redmi Pad

Display

Our user experience was excellent, as if we were operating a high-level device. The 2K resolution LCD 10.61 Inch display was responsive, bright enough, and sharp for the eyes. According to our multitouch test, the display is capable of registering up to ten simultaneous touchpoints. Plus, you get an option to switch between 60MHz or 90MHz refresh rate, which would probably consume additional battery power, so we recommend using 90MHz only if necessary.

Speakers

The Redmi Pad comes with four speakers situated on the sides of the tablet, supported by Dolby Atmos® technology. This design includes a set of speaker grills on each side, ensuring that users enjoy a truly captivating audio experience.

The Redmi Pad Quad Speakers (Left & Right sides)

So how’s the sound quality? Based on our checks, the sound coming from the speakers was clear without noticeable distortions. Keep in mind that If you are planning on holding the tablet in a landscape position while listening to music and not placing it on a stand, you will have to grab it with both ends while holding it in the center of the tablet frame, between the speaker grills, to prevent the sound blocking.

Cameras

The 8MP front and rear camera sensors deliver impressive shots and videos. The wide-angle feature is particularly crucial for those who love taking selfies or utilizing the tablet for video conferencing calls. It allows you to capture more of the surroundings, ensuring that you don’t miss anything while keeping the subject in focus.

The Redmi Pad – Camera App Settings

Primary Camera – Photo Samples

Loading…

• Name
• Size
• Modified
• Date of creation
•  
• Ascending
• Descending

• No options…

Selfie (Front) Camera – Photo Samples

Loading…

• Name
• Size
• Modified
• Date of creation
•  
• Ascending
• Descending

• No options…

Special Camera Features

FocusFrame

This feature lets you bring a subject into Focus when taking still shots. The camera App can successfully track people’s faces while automatically adjusting the Focus inside the frame area.

Palm shutter

With a simple palm gesture, you can effortlessly capture stunning selfies without even touching a single key on your tablet. Imagine the convenience of having your tablet placed on a stand, as you effortlessly snap photos from up to 1 meter away, just by gently raising your palm. As you gracefully lift your hand in front of the camera, a convenient 3-second timer appears on the vibrant screen, guaranteeing the perfect shot. Say goodbye to clumsy buttons and hello to effortless, hands-free photography!

Hardware

Currently, the Redmi Pad series has two editions available. Redmi Pad is a low-end tablet product for everyday general usage applications powered by a MediaTek Helio G99 chipset running a 64-bit MT8781V CPU next to a Mali-G57 MC2 GP operating at the max frequency of 1100MHz. The CPU has six Cortex-A55 cores operating between frequencies of 500MHz up to 2.0GHz, plus two Cortex-A76 Cores running from 725MHz up to 2.2GHz. As a final note, remember that the standard edition we are currently reviewing doesn’t have cellular network support, and we expect the Pro model to have it.

Software

The Redmi Pad runs Android 12.0 OS under MIUI V13.1.1 customized ROM developed by Xiaomi, offering an improved user experience. According to our tests, operating the tablet was simple, user-friendly, and smooth without a noticeable slowdown. Again, Xiaomi kept it clean of unnecessary software except for the pre-installed WPS Office and Netflix apps.

Performance

CPU Throttling Test

We overloaded the CPU cores under our stress testing for 15 minutes running 20 threads. There wasn’t any decrease in performance. The CPU temperature raised from 30°C up to 35°C, and the tablet shell made from metal material didn’t heat up.

Test Results:

Benchmarking

Geekbench 5 CPU Test Results (Single-Core Comparison)

Comparing benchmark test results to other mobile devices.

Geekbench 5 CPU Test Results (Multi-Core Comparison)

Geekbench 5: Test Results

What about gaming performance?

The device Helio G99 chipset features a Mali-G57 MC2 GPU running at 850-950 MHz peak frequencies. It’s not high-level hardware like the Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset, but it does an excellent job of coping with 3D game graphics. In our limited timeframe tests, running with the Pad 4GB RAM edition, we were able to run a few graphically demanding games such as Dead Trigger 2, Last Fortress, and Blades.

3D Benchmark

In terms of graphical performance, the device positioned itself very close to the DOGGEE S98Pro handest based on Mediatek Helio G96 Chipset. For reference, the 3D graphics performance of the Redmi Pad is about %40 less than that of the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max.

Pirate Ship Benchmark: Comparing the Redmi Pad to a few popular devices.

According to our test results, the Redmi Pad is capable of 60fps, which should help run 3d games more smoothly.

FPS Test 3D Benchmark-Booster: Comparing the Redmi Pad FPS to Lenovo Tab P10.

	Fps Test 3D
Device	Redmi Pad 5	Lenovo Tab P10
OS	Android 12.0	Android 9.0
Chipset	MediaTek Helio G99	Qualcomm Snapdragon 450
CPU	Octa-Core (8 cores) 64-bit  • 2x Cortex-A76 (500 MHz-2200 MHz) • 6x Cortex-A55 (725 MHz-2200 MHz)	Octa-core CPU (8 cores) 64-bit 8x Cortex A53 (652MHz-1800 GHz)
GPU	Mali-G57 MC2	Adreno 506
RAM & Storage Configuration	4GB RAM + 128GB	3GB RAM + 32GB
Average Fps	66	36

Connectivity

There are some compromises in buying entry-level tablets. The standard edition of the Remi Pad lacks both cellular network connectivity and GPS support. WiFi 6 would be an excellent addition to this tablet, but sadly Xiaomi decided to reserve this option and implemented it in their high-end Xiaomi Pad series.

Battery Life & Charging

Battery Life

Powered by a Polymer lithium-ion 8000MhA, depending on usage type, you can expect the Redmi Pad to run for a whole day or, at a minimum, for about 8–10 hours. On a single charge, enough to get through a full day of use without a recharge. Xiaomi also included a 22W Charger or, more accurately, a 22.5W charger in their package to speed up the charging time, which is a big plus.

Power usage when charging

Xiaomi included their standard generic USB-Type C cable and a charger. We tested it and used a socket power meter to check the actual consumption of watts during charging. Although the provided Charger is 22.5W, According to Xiaomi, the real charging power is 18W. Our numbers ranged from 19.3 to 19.4W. We even checked with another original Xiaomi 33W charger, and the results remained the same. In our CPU stress test, the battery’s temperature remained steady at 27-of 30.0°C.

Charging Rate

During our test scenario, the display entered Hibernation mode. With the 22.5W Charger provided in the package, we charged %29 of the 8000MAh battery in 40Min. The results might be slightly better if tested with different brands of chargers, but with Xiaomi’s original Charger, the real charging rate was consistently stable at 19.3W.

Battery Information (Ampere Android App)

Redmi Pad Review: Verdict

The Redmi Pad has an outstanding external design and a good display panel. Naturally, some compromises were made to reduce the cost, for example, not including WiFi 6 connectivity support, and we didn’t find any flaws or problems with the product. In short, this tablet is a fantastic option for users who want to save money without compromising on quality. It offers a premium experience without the hefty price tag.

Impression after two years of use

Since its release on October 4th, 2022, the Redmi Pad we reviewed has consistently exceeded our expectations, proving itself as a highly reliable device that we confidently depend on. We encountered no technical issues whatsoever. Overall, it is a remarkable tablet with outstanding construction, demonstrating exceptional durability thus far.

Price and Availability

According to Xiaomi’s announcement, the 64GB ROM variant will sell for about 379 euros. We expect the prices to drop even lower according to market supply and demand market forces. You can find it on Xiaomi’s official company website and AliExpress stores (The links are posted below at the end of the article).

Current Prices in Xiaomi Global Store (Indian Buyers)

• 4GB+128GB: ₹14,999 ($183.37).
• 3GB+64GB: ₹12,999 ($158.92).
• 6GB+128GB: ₹16,999 ($207.82).

Pros and Cons and Where to Buy

Xiaomi Redmi Pad Best Values

Xiaomi Store Official (UK).

Buy it

Read full review

This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.