Realme Pad: Affordable Entertainment Powerhouse in a Compact Design

Purchasing an Android tablet in India can be quite challenging, as many brands are currently offering devices that either lack power or come with a hefty price tag. Google’s limited attention to tablet optimization in Android complicates matters for brands aiming to provide a great experience (particularly with apps) at a reasonable cost. Consequently, most Android tablets — whether budget-friendly or high-end — confront similar issues, including poorly optimized user interfaces and app functionality, along with considerable screen real estate going to waste. In contrast, Apple’s iPads benefit from iPadOS and superior support from app developers.

Imagine, then, if a smartphone manufacturer decided to introduce a tablet that promised greater value than current offerings in the budget market. Enter Realme with its new Realme Pad. After using it for a week, I can affirm that even with the general drawbacks associated with Android tablets, it represents good value for individuals in search of a budget-friendly device mainly for consuming media.

Realme Pad pricing and options

The Realme Pad comes in three configurations. The entry-level Wi-Fi-only model features 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, priced at Rs. 13,999 in India. Next, there’s the basic LTE variant, also with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, available for Rs. 15,999. Finally, the premium model boasts 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, coming in at Rs. 17,999. Each configuration can be found in two finishes—Real Gold and Real Grey. I reviewed the LTE model with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage in Real Grey. The LTE models will be released first, with the Wi-Fi-only version following later.

Realme Pad design

The Realme Pad feels quite compact, despite its 10.4-inch display. In fact, I can hold it vertically like a smartphone with my average-sized hand. It’s also slim, at just 6.9mm, but weighs in at 440g, which gives it a solid feel.

Visually, the Realme Pad strikes a premium and contemporary tone, featuring rounded corners and flat edges. The LTE model I tested for reviews exhibited no obvious antenna lines on its matte metal back, thanks to all antennas being cleverly concealed beneath a colored plastic cap above a thin silver strip running horizontally across the rear, through the camera.

The Realme Pad includes dual speakers on each side

 

As anticipated, most controls and perforations are located along the edges of this plastic cap, allowing for easier access during repairs. The volume rocker is situated at the top left corner, while the power button is on the left side. Centrally, there are two microphones, followed by the SIM card tray.

The USB Type-C port is positioned on the right side, yet the headphone jack is somewhat inconveniently located at the bottom right corner. Most users tend to grip a tablet in that area, and a headset plug could obstruct their hold.

The matching plastic cap conceals all antennas

 

The front-facing camera is centered along the top of the display (in horizontal orientation), and the bezels are relatively slim. I appreciate that the display features rounded corners, enhancing its cohesive design. There are two speakers on both the left and right sides. There’s no fingerprint scanner, so face recognition is the sole quick unlocking method. Thankfully, it consistently works well in both orientations.

While the matte back does a commendable job at resisting fingerprints, the display is not as fortunate. Cleaning off smudges from the Panda Glass surface can be a challenge.

The box only includes the tablet, a charger, and a cable. Unexpectedly, Realme has not released any accessories for the Realme Pad. There has been no announcement regarding optional cases or a keyboard cover. Furthermore, Realme has confirmed that the display does not accommodate stylus use.

Realme Pad specifications and software

At its core, the Realme Pad is powered by the MediaTek Helio G80 SoC, introduced in February 2020. This processor, designed with gaming in mind, features eight CPU cores with a peak clock speed of 2GHz. The tablet is available with up to 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, plus the ability to expand storage via a microSD card (up to 1TB). The pricier models support 4G/LTE for both data and voice calls. Connectivity options include dual-band Wi-Fi ac and Bluetooth 5. The Realme Pad is equipped with a 7,100mAh battery that supports 18W fast charging.

The Realme Pad introduces an ultra-wide selfie camera nestled in the bezel

 

This marks the debut of Realme UI on a tablet, and I was keen to explore it. Named Realme UI for Pad, it is based on Android 11. Unfortunately, it seems to be a simplified version of Realme UI found on the brand’s smartphones. It has a primarily stock look (which isn’t necessarily a downside) but lacks the extensive customization options available on smartphones. The interface maintains the typical Realme icons throughout, including in the Settings app, but those familiar with the latest Realme smartphones will notice many omissions. For example, long-pressing the home screen does not offer wallpaper selections like Realme UI 2.0 on smartphones. Personalization options are minimal; you cannot modify icon shapes or sizes, nor change the UI color or theme. Additionally, there’s no gesture to access the Google News Feed.

Realme Pad performance and battery life

The benefit of a minimalist UI is that it feels more lightweight; even with just 4GB of RAM, the software performed relatively smoothly on my premium review unit. However, multitasking presented some difficulties; while most apps opened and closed quickly, there were occasions when they crashed. Hopefully, future software updates will address these issues, and Realme has indicated that one is on the way to enhance overall performance.

As is the case with many Android tablets available today, there is a significant deficit of applications specifically designed for tablet use. This issue extends beyond third-party applications to include Google’s own offerings, which are often tailored exclusively for smartphones and tend to stretch across the display width instead of scaling appropriately. While some apps display adequately, they fail to utilize the available screen effectively.

The Realme Pad features a 10.4-inch WUXGA+ LCD screen with rounded corners

 

The 10.4-inch WUXGA+ (2000×1200) display is sharp and performs well in bright outdoor conditions. Colors appear natural, which is a plus. However, I was disappointed by how easily the Panda Glass attracted fingerprints, which hindered visibility in direct sunlight. There’s no HDR support, but with its Widevine L1 certification, Netflix allows full-HD playback. Additionally, a four-speaker system supports Dolby Atmos, offering ample sound to fill a small space, with Dolby Atmos adding to the overall immersion. Throughout the review process, I rarely found it necessary to use headphones. In fact, it’s challenging to find a comparable offering regarding audio quality in this price range. For those who desire a more private viewing experience, a 3.5mm headphone jack is included.

I made a few cellular calls to evaluate the performance of the two noise-canceling microphones. While background noise wasn’t entirely eliminated, it was effectively suppressed, allowing my voice to come through loud and clear to the recipient. The caller had no complaints regarding voice quality, even when the tablet was positioned at arm’s length on a table.

Powered by the MediaTek Helio G80 and equipped with 4GB of RAM, the Realme Pad offers satisfactory performance for its cost. In benchmark evaluations, the tablet performed admirably, matching the capabilities of most budget smartphones. The Realme Pad scored 2,24,755 on AnTuTu and achieved 345 and 1,305 in Geekbench’s single and multi-core tests, respectively.

Gaming performance left something to be desired. Call of Duty: Mobile managed to run decently but experienced occasional stuttering and frame drops. The tablet could handle Medium graphics settings and High frame rates, but other visual effects such as Depth of Field, Bloom, and Ragdoll were disabled. Asphalt 9: Legends also encountered some issues with texture quality, although it performed best with graphics set to Performance (Low).

The tablet features a single 8-megapixel rear camera

 

The Realme Pad includes 8-megapixel cameras on both the front and back. The camera app interface differs significantly from what we see on Realme smartphones, presenting a more straightforward layout with basic controls and settings. Nevertheless, Realme has added an expert mode with manual controls for ISO, shutter speed, white balance, autofocus, and exposure. Unfortunately, due to the basic sensor, the image quality is merely average, far surpassed by budget smartphones. Videos tend to be shaky, even with both hands supporting the tablet. Low-light photography yields poor results. A positive aspect is the ultra-wide-angle capability of the front camera, providing a 107-degree field of view. This feature performs adequately as long as lighting is sufficient.

The tablet’s 7,100mAh battery accompanies an 18W charger in the box. With regular usage, including an hour of gaming and several hours of video streaming, it managed to last a day and a half—quite impressive. Charging speeds are average, reaching 22 percent in 30 minutes and 46 percent in an hour, completing a full charge in 3 hours and 5 minutes.

Conclusion

The Realme Pad serves as a respectable first tablet from the brand, showcasing a solid hardware offering. However, with no available accessories (nor keyboard or stylus support), it seems intended purely for media consumption and casual communication applications, rather than demanding productivity tasks. Starting at Rs. 13,999 in India, the Realme Pad delivers commendable performance alongside a quality display and surprising audio for its category. General functioning is seamless, and the ultra-wide front camera is suitable for video calls. With the LTE version starting at Rs. 15,999, complaints are minimal. This makes the Realme Pad attractive, provided it’s not intended for work-related use.

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