Redmi Pad 2 Tablet Review

The Redmi Pad 2 is a budget-friendly tablet that provides a great entry point for Android tablet users. Built as a seeming successor to the Redmi Pad or the more recent Redmi Pad SE, the Pad 2 comes equipped with a MediaTek Helio G100-Ultra Processor, up to 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and up to 356GB of UFS 2.2 Storage. Marketed as a large-screen entertainment tablet, the Redmi Pad 2 aims to provide a budget-conscious solution for consumers.

Constructed of aluminum, the unibody design provides a sleek aesthetic. Similar in look and feel to the original Redmi Pad, the Pad 2 offers a larger screen, a better processor, and improved battery life compared to its predecessor. Power and volume controls are housed in their usual location along the top and right upper corner of the tablet (in portrait mode), while the USB-C charging and data port are housed along the lower edge, along with a 3.5mm headphone jack. Finally, a single microSD port can house up to 2TB of additional storage.

Continuing the examination of the tablet, Redmi has included two sets of speakers (4 total) located on the top and bottom of the Pad 2, which provide impressively immersive sound by tablet standards. With full Dolby ATMOS Support, the entertainment-first mantra of the Redmi Pad 2 is on full display here. In fact, in audio testing, while not comparable to a good set of headphones or earbuds, the Pad 2 still produced quite a serviceable listening experience, especially for video. Vocals came through quite clearly, enhancing the overall experience. 

The front and rear cameras feature a 5M ½” sensor (front) and an 8M ¼” sensor (Rear). While they won’t provide a deep, rich photo-taking experience, both provide 1080p30FPS video, which works great for video calls to family and friends. As for the design, the front camera is practically invisible and is located along the right bezel (portrait mode), while the rear camera has the slightest bump in the top right corner of the backplane (portrait) of the Redmi Pad 2. It keeps in step with most modern tablets and works well for its intended purpose.

“With full Dolby ATMOS Support, the entertainment-first mantra of the Redmi Pad 2 is on full display here.”

While the Pad 2 can be considered a more budget-friendly entertainment tablet, this is by no means a statement about the execution of its design. It feels sturdy in the hand and provides the user with plenty of surface area to work with. Some of the standout design elements, as mentioned, are the above-average 4-speaker audio system, larger display area and sturdy construction. For a $224.00 tablet, Redmi has done a solid job providing a tablet that mirrors many of the flagship tablets in design and structure.

The display is another solid element of this entertainment-focused tablet, and rightly so. The 11-inch, 16:10 display provides a rich viewing experience specifically for video. With a 2560×1600 resolution and 90Hz refresh rate, the Pad 2 provides an excellent 2K (1440p) viewing experience. In many ways, the display hardware is comparable to the 10th Gen iPad, though at a significantly reduced price point.

When shifting to an examination of the hardware, this is where the budget-friendly aspects of the Pad 2 begin to reveal themselves. While the MediaTek Helio G100-Ultra does provide a very serviceable user experience, it is, at its core, a mid to lower-end processor. While Redmi has compensated by providing up to 8GB of RAM (this is the only model I would recommend), it is LPDDR4X RAM, which provides slower overall processing speeds.

On the bench, the Redmi Pad 2 scored relatively low, scoring 723 (single) and 1952 (multi) on Geekbench 6’s CPU tests and 1268 on the GPU tests. This translates to a functional but sometimes slower user experience. While single-app testing provided a smooth experience overall, when leveraging OS features such as dual app display, the Pad 2 struggled when initially opening apps. Once loaded, though, things levelled out and the experience was much better.

Productivity, for the most part, is a fairly smooth experience. With full support for the Redmi Smart Pen and leveraging the Pad 2 Cover, the Pad 2 becomes a great device for note-taking and word processing. The Pen provides solid feedback and can charge via the included USB-C cable.

My only critique here is that it would have been nice for the pen to have a magnetic clip to mount it to the Pad 2. While wireless charging would, of course, raise the price of the device, simply providing a magnetic attachment for storage would have been a huge quality-of-life improvement for the system. For now, I’ll continue to rummage through my bag each time I need it.

“For a $224.00 tablet, Redmi has done a solid job providing a tablet that mirrors many of the flagship tablets in design and structure.”

Video playback, meanwhile, was overall a wonderful experience. The 11-inch display and solid audio experience were a treat. Both streaming content and playing local content were easy to manage and use, with the latter being exceptionally functional thanks to the aforementioned microSD expansion slot. With the 3.5mm headphone jack as well, it’s clear to see how the Redmi Pad 2 is best used.

My only small critique with streaming and the connectivity experience in general on the Pad 2 is that, for an entertainment-focused tablet, I would have expected a more up-to-date connectivity selection. While Wi-Fi 5  is a solid offering, it would have been nice to see Redmi include Wi-Fi 6 or 7 in a tablet that is marketed for streaming content. While not a major issue, it does demonstrate the tension a manufacturer has to manage when balancing price and hardware.

Connecting devices to the Redmi Pad 2, however, works great. The Bluetooth 5.3 can handle any modern device thrown its way, so connecting a mouse and keyboard was no issue. Even a couple of the Android controls here at the office were immediately recognized and adapted into the Pad 2’s Bluetooth ecosystem. With that 11-inch display, it changes up the dynamics of gaming on the tablet. 

On that note, however, gaming was also a bit of a mixed bag. While lighter mobile titles run smoothly and without issue, resource-heavy titles, such as Diablo Immortal, require some settings adjustments to perform properly. In testing, the Pad 2 was unable to push above 30 FPS and only performed smoothly with all settings on low. So while the Pad 2 can handle gaming, be aware that the more resource-heavy titles will struggle.

Battery life has seen an improvement over previous generations of the Pad with a 9,000mAh battery (up from 8,000mAh). This translates to great longevity for the Redmi Pad 2, easily making it through a couple of days of average usage. When video playback testing, the Pad 2 performed well, easily managing more than 14 hours with auto screen brightness engaged. As for charging the Redmi Pad 2, don’t expect the blazing speeds of high-end fast charging. While the Pad 2 can manage 18W charging, it will still take a couple of hours to charge the unit.

The Redmi Pad 2 is, at its best, a great entertainment and light to medium level productivity tablet. While its build quality is excellent, its lower-end hardware holds it back. For everyday use, though, the Pad 2 provides a well-rounded and user-friendly experience that is ideal for those who want to check emails, scroll social media and stream 2K content all wrapped in a nice $224.00 package.     

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