Redmi Pad 2 Review: Can this Budget Tablet Become Your Everyday Companion?

If you find yourself frustrated with the small screen of your smartphone and require a larger display for your child’s online classes, streaming Netflix in your bedroom, or reviewing office documents, a budget tablet could be the solution to your needs. For these tasks and beyond, the Redmi Pad 2 has proven to be a cost-effective and capable choice.

The OnePlus Pad Go and Lenovo M10/M11 provide satisfactory features, yet they are priced a bit higher than the Redmi Pad 2. In contrast, the newly released Redmi Pad 2 is not only more affordable but also comes with a larger battery, which is advantageous for numerous users.

The Redmi Pad 2 features an 11-inch display, a 9000mAh battery, and additional specifications, all for a price of Rs. 13,999. It also supports stylus functionality. After using this tablet for some time, we will explore its performance in daily use and assess whether it can serve as your reliable companion in our review of the Redmi Pad 2.

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Redmi Pad 2 Review: Unboxing

Upon unboxing the Redmi Pad 2, the initial aspect that catches your eye is its straightforward and minimalist packaging. It is housed in a white cardboard box that displays an image of the pad on the front, with key specifications listed on the back. The box design is exceptionally simple.

Upon opening the box, the first item you will encounter is a tablet encased in a white cover. At first glance, it appears sleek and presentable. Beneath the tablet, you will find several useful accessories, including a 15W charger, a USB-A to USB-C cable, and a SIM ejector tool. The packaging is tidy and secure. We have received the Graphite Grey model of the pad, which has an appealing design that can attract individuals of all ages. This version features WiFi and Cellular connectivity, along with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage

Redmi Pad 2 Review: Design and Build

The Redmi Pad 2 made a positive initial impression regarding its design, particularly within this budget category. The tablet is enclosed in aluminum, offering a metallic premium appearance. As for its hue, we have the Graphite Grey option. It is a simple color that appeals to people of all ages. For those seeking a vibrant new shade, the Sky Blue variant is available.

The Redmi Pad 2 has thick bezels surrounding the display, measuring approximately 1cm in thickness. In contrast, other budget options such as the OnePlus Pad Go offer slightly slimmer bezels and a more contemporary appearance, making the Redmi Pad 2 appear rather basic.

The back panel of the pad displays a dual grey shade. The lower section is a lighter grey that showcases the Redmi branding, which extends upward, bisecting the camera module at the center. On the top left, there is a rear camera sensor housed within a protruding capsule-shaped module. Although it appears to be protruding, it does not interfere with the user experience during operation. Additionally, there is no LED flash present.                                                   

The tablet is equipped with four speakers, with two located on the top edge and two on the bottom edge. These speakers are compatible with Dolby Atmos. Additionally, the bottom edge features a USB-C charging port and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The power button is situated on the top edge, while the volume rockers are found on the right edge. For the WiFi + Cellular model, there is also a slot for two Nano SIM cards on the right edge.

Overall, the design of the Redmi Pad 2 is quite straightforward yet respectable. Redmi has not made significant changes or introduced any excitement in the design aspect, but it still appears appealing when held. For those seeking a basic tablet, this option is suitable; however, if a more premium experience is desired, it would be advisable to consider OnePlus or Lenovo tablets, albeit at a slightly higher cost.

Redmi Pad 2 Review: Display

The Redmi Pad 2 features an 11-inch IPS LCD screen boasting a resolution of 2560×1600 pixels and a color density of 276 PPI. In comparison to the original Redmi Pad, it offers improved sharpness and visual quality, with satisfactory color performance. Additionally, it supports 10-bit color, enhancing the video streaming experience.

The pad offers a brightness of 600 nits, making it suitable for use in homes and offices, as well as in cloudy outdoor conditions. However, it falls short in direct sunlight. Nevertheless, its brightness level is comparable to that of the OnePlus Pad Go. Additionally, the display features Wet Touch Technology, allowing for use with wet hands. That said, the Pad 2 comes with an IP52 rating so it can take a few minor water splashes. We tested the wet touch technology and found it to be somewhat ineffective; at times, it did not respond at all when typing with wet hands.

The display is acceptable, but due to its low-quality LCD, there is noticeable darkness around the edges. However, this effect is only apparent upon close inspection. The contrast varies when viewed from different angles, and there is no automatic brightness adjustment available, meaning you cannot modify it according to indoor or outdoor lighting conditions or the type of content being displayed.

Redmi provides support for a 90Hz refresh rate, allowing users to select from 90Hz, 60Hz, and Auto modes. Overall, the display is adequate for daily use, but the brightness could be improved. Redmi has room for improvement in this area.

Redmi Pad 2 Review: Speakers

The tablet features four speakers—two located at the top and two at the bottom—each supporting Dolby Atmos audio. With all four speakers, the sound quality was both loud and clear. We used it with Dolby Atmos, but you also have the option to select Xiaomi Sound from the Dolby Effects menu. Additionally, the pad offers graphic equalizer settings such as Custom, Hip Hop, Jazz, and others. Our favorite was the blend of Dolby Atmos with Custom sound.

The experience of consuming content and streaming music on the Redmi Pad 2 is satisfactory, given its price range. I have no issues with its audio performance.

Redmi Pad 2 Review: Software

The Redmi Pad 2 stands out as one of the rare budget tablets operating on HyperOS 2.0, which is built on Android 15. Our experience with this user interface has been positive, as it is both clean and fluid. The transitions are swift, and applications such as YouTube, Google Chrome, WhatsApp, and others function effectively on the larger display, having been optimized for tablet use. The manufacturer has committed to providing 2 operating system updates and 2 security updates through to 2032.

You will also receive several pre-installed applications, which are not overly intrusive and can be removed if they are unnecessary. With the split-screen mode, multitasking becomes effortless. In general, the overall interface is more improved and modern compared to previous versions. Additionally, this device includes Circle to Search with Google and features powered by Gemini AI.

Redmi Pad 2 Review: Performance

The Redmi Pad 2 is equipped with MediaTek’s latest Helio G100 Ultra chipset, which is a decent upgrade compared to the Helio G99 found in the original Redmi Pad. However, both chipsets are manufactured using a 6nm process, and their CPU/GPU core configurations are quite similar. The new chipset features 2x Cortex A76 cores running at 2.2GHz and 6x Cortex-A55 cores at 2.0GHz, along with a Mali-G57 MC2 GPU. Overall, while it may not be a significant upgrade, you would not encounter any difficulties when carrying out daily tasks on the tablet.

The tablet is equipped with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage in its base model; however, I received the upgraded version with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, which performs better and runs more smoothly. My usage includes watching videos, making video calls, browsing the web, and handling various office tasks, all of which the tablet managed efficiently.

Applications operate smoothly, and the user interface is seamless, free from any lags or stutters. You can play basic 3D or casual games on this tablet without any problems, although it is not designed for high-end gaming titles. To be honest, we did not anticipate more than this level of performance at this price point.

When discussing benchmarking tests, the Redmi Pad 2 achieves a score of 430,659 points in the AnTuTu test, which positions it slightly ahead of the OnePlus Pad Go (Dimensity G99 – 379,887) and the Galaxy Tab A9+ (Snapdragon 695 – 413,000). Additionally, it is important to note that both of these competing tablets are priced higher than the Redmi Pad 2.

In the Geekbench test, the Redmi Pad 2 achieved a score of 721 points in single-core performance and 1951 points in multi-core performance, surpassing the OnePlus Pad Go but falling short of the Galaxy Tab A9+. We can conclude that while this chipset may not be the top performer, it offers a balanced and satisfactory experience given its budget.

In summary, the Redmi Pad 2 does not feature significant enhancements in performance; however, it remains competitive within its market segment. It fulfills all the promises it makes.

Redmi Pad 2 Review: Cameras

• Rear: 8MP f/2.0, 1.12 μm 
• Front: 5MP f/2.2, Teleprompter/HDR

The Redmi Pad 2 features a single camera on the rear and another on the front, indicating that it is not designed for photography. The camera is intended for occasional use only. On the back, there is an 8MP sensor without an LED flash, which can be utilized for scanning documents or taking pictures in daylight. However, the image quality produced by this sensor is quite average.

The front camera is quite disappointing because, rather than receiving an upgrade, it has been reduced to 5MP, in contrast to the 8MP available on the Redmi Pad. This selfie camera operates in landscape mode, allowing you to participate in video calls with this sensor, though the quality is merely acceptable.

The camera setup of the Redmi Pad 2 is very basic and is just for casual usage.

Redmi Pad 2 Review: Battery Life and Charging

A standout feature of the Redmi Pad is its robust battery. It is equipped with a substantial 9000mAh battery, representing a significant improvement over the previous 8000mAh battery of the Redmi Pad.

Xiaomi claims that this battery will provide 234 hours of music playback and 17 hours of video playback on the tablet. In our experience, we streamed Netflix for approximately 3 hours, in addition to browsing social media, conducting benchmark tests, and more. Despite this, there was still 65% battery life left. I believe the battery could comfortably last for 3-4 days with light usage.

Regarding charging, the box includes a 15W adapter, while the pad is capable of supporting an 18W charging speed. The included adapter requires over 2.5 hours to fully charge the pad. Although the large battery provides a good backup, the charging speed is relatively slow.

The battery performance of the Redmi Pad 2 surpasses that of its competitors in this price range, although the fast charging feature falls short of expectations. Nonetheless, this drawback can be forgiven given the pad’s competitive pricing.

Redmi Pad 2 Review: Smart Pen

Another notable feature of the Redmi Pad 2 is its compatibility with the Redmi Smart Pen. Typically, tablets in this price range do not offer stylus support, making this a rather unexpected addition. Although the stylus is not included with the tablet and must be bought separately for Rs. 3,999, the experience it provides is quite satisfactory for the price. The latency is impressive, and for users who engage in digital note-taking, the pen proves to be a useful accessory.

We utilized it for some time, and our initial impression was that the pen operates smoothly for daily note-taking, annotating screenshots, or simple sketching for children. However, do not anticipate it to achieve the same level of precision as the Samsung’s S-Pen or the Apple Pencil.

Review Verdict: Should You Buy the Redmi Pad 2?

If you are in search of an affordable and straightforward tablet that can handle video streaming, children’s online classes, office tasks, and casual gaming, the Redmi Pad 2 is an excellent choice. It boasts features such as a 9000mAh battery, a 90Hz display, HyperOS software, and stylus support, setting it apart from competitors in its category.

While it does have some drawbacks, like display brightness and slow charging, these issues can be overlooked given its price. Overall, the Redmi Pad 2 delivers on its promises, making it a dependable and practical tablet priced under Rs. 15,000.

Smartprix ⭐ Rating: 8.0/10

• Design and Build: 8/10
• Display: 7/10
• Speakers: 8.5/10
• Software: 8/10
• Haptics: 8.5/10
• Performance: 8/10
• Cameras: 6.5/10
• Battery Life & Charging: 7.5/10

First reviewed in June 2025.

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