Xiaomi Redmi Pad 2: Innovative Upgrades Meet Familiar Performance in Budget Tablet Revival

The Redmi Pad from Xiaomi is making a return! After nearly three years, the company has introduced its successor, the Redmi Pad 2. Our earlier evaluation of the 2022 Redmi Pad was quite positive, highlighting its sleek and high-quality design, a display with a fluid refresh rate, and commendable battery longevity. The solid processor also contributed to a satisfying overall experience. For the Redmi Pad 2, Xiaomi has added several enhancements, though not all of them are immediately noticeable. Since we have access to the tablet, let’s delve into the details and discover what’s new.

The Redmi Pad 2 features a revamped design, particularly with the addition of cellular capabilities. The metal unibody now includes a plastic strip at the top, taking up half of the redesigned rear camera module. This update supports 4G cellular connectivity, as the tablet now accommodates a dual hybrid SIM slot that can hold two nano SIM cards or one nano SIM and one microSD card, allowing for storage expansion up to 2TB. The larger display and battery, combined with cellular functionality, result in the Redmi Pad 2 weighing in at 510 grams for the Wi-Fi edition and 519 grams for the cellular variant, making it feel heavier than one might expect given its compact dimensions.

The Redmi Pad 2 has compatibility with two optional accessories that must be purchased separately

Xiaomi’s latest budget tablet also introduces some new accessories. While there isn’t a keyboard case available yet, Xiaomi has provided the optional Redmi Pad 2 Cover for review. Its design is quite basic, but I appreciate that the display automatically turns on when the cover is opened.

Another accessory is the Redmi Smart Pen, which connects via Bluetooth, features two function buttons, and includes a Type-C USB port for charging, along with a small LED light that displays its charging and pairing status. We will evaluate these accessories in more detail in our comprehensive review.

A significant update from the original tablet is the cellular feature. The Redmi Pad 2 starts at ₹13,999 for the 4GB RAM + 128GB storage version, which is Wi-Fi only and lacks cellular capabilities. For those wanting cellular connectivity, the 6GB RAM model with 128GB of storage is available at ₹15,999. The top-tier model offers 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, retailing for ₹17,999.

The 2.5K display of the Redmi Pad 2 stands out as its second major upgrade after the introduction of cellular connectivity

Another noteworthy enhancement is the display itself. It remains flat yet has increased in size from 10.61 inches to 11 inches. The resolution has improved significantly, jumping from 2K (1,200 x 2,000 pixels) to 2.5K, resulting in a sharper 1,600 x 2,560 pixels at 274 ppi. The IPS LCD panel retains the same adaptive refresh rate of 90Hz, switching among 30, 60, and 90Hz. Although the bezel dimensions were already minimal on the previous Redmi Pad, they remain similar on this new iteration. From my limited experience, the display is adequately bright indoors, but further testing is required to determine its outdoor performance.

The Redmi Pad 2 now includes 4G dual SIM support

Accompanying the enhanced display is a quad-speaker system that continues to support Dolby Atmos and high-resolution audio. A new feature is the addition of a 3.5mm headphone jack, which was not present in the previous model, allowing users to enjoy FM radio with wired headphones.

The newly introduced processor may sound like an upgrade, but it actually isn’t. The MediaTek Helio G99 has been upgraded to a MediaTek Helio G100 Ultra, which is basically the same chip with a new branding. It provides a maximum clock speed of 2.2GHz, with an octa-core design, and is manufactured using the same 6nm fabrication process. It also retains the same Mali-G57 MC2 graphics as before. Thus, we anticipate performance metrics to remain consistent with our previous evaluations of the Redmi Pad. With the enhanced screen resolution and the new HyperOS 2 (built on Android 15) incorporating AI tools, we are hopeful that the processor will perform well in our tests.

Although the camera module design has been changed, the underlying hardware mirrors that of the Redmi Pad

One hardware enhancement that might assist the 6nm processor in staying current is the increased capacity of the 9,000mAh battery, up from the 8,000mAh battery in the previous model. Charging speed remains at 18W, and we are pleased that the tablet comes with a charger and cable included in the box, though the charger provided is limited to 15W.

The camera specifications remain unchanged, offering an 8-megapixel rear camera with autofocus and a 5-megapixel front camera for selfies. The device does not have a secure biometric authentication option (only features 2D face unlock), which means using a passcode or pattern lock is necessary for unlocking the tablet.

Xiaomi appears to have introduced several noteworthy enhancements compared to the original Redmi Pad. However, due to the processor’s similarity, we are somewhat skeptical regarding its performance, which we will explore in our in-depth review. Xiaomi has certainly grabbed attention with the Redmi Pad 2, primarily due to its competitive pricing. With the tablet starting at ₹13,999 for the base 4GB RAM version, it presents an appealing option as an entry-level media consumption device. But how does it fare in everyday use? Are there better budget tablet alternatives in this price range? Stay tuned for our comprehensive review, which will be published shortly.