Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 4G Review: iPad Mini On A Budget!

- Updated: 20th Aug 2024, 01:39 IST
  • 1
    Review Summary
  • 2
    Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 4G Price In India And Variants
  • 3
    Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 4G Box Contents
  • 4
    Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 4G Specs At A Glance
  • 5
    Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 4G Design And Build
  • 6
    Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 4G Camera
  • 7
    Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 4G Battery And Charging
  • 8
    Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 4G Display, Audio & Connectivity
  • 9
    Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 4G Performance
  • 10
    Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 4G Software And UI
  • 11
    Verdict
Review Summary

Xiaomi has been on a launch spree recently, introducing new tablets across various price points. The company unveiled the Redmi Pad SE 4G earlier this month, a compact tablet with 4G connectivity and calling capabilities. The tablet has a 90Hz refresh rate and offers a clean software experience.

I have been using the Redmi Pad SE 4G for a while, and here’s a detailed review of the budget tablet. Being a Xiaomi Pad 5 user, I wanted to try using a smaller tablet and how it performs in its price range.

The tablet has a textured body and an 8.7-inch display with a 90Hz refresh rate. But how does the MediaTek Helio G85 perform, and is it the new iPad mini of Android tablets? Read my detailed review of the Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 4G to find out.

PROS

  • Compact size
  • 90Hz display
  • 4G Connectivity
  • Decent performance
  • Calling Support
  • Loud Speakers with Dolby Atmos

CONS

  • 10W Charging
  • Only 4GB of RAM
  • 720p display
  • Mediocre cameras
Key Specs
Battery Capacity6650 mAh
Highlights:
  • 6650 mAh

Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 4G Price In India And Variants

The Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 4G is available in India for a starting price of Rs.10,999 for the base variant with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage.

Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 4 Price In India

Furthermore, the 4GB+128GB variant retails for Rs.11,999. It is available for purchase on Flipkart and Xiaomi India website in Forest Green, Ocean Blue and Urban Grey.

Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 4G Box Contents

The Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 4G packs the following items inside the box:

Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 4G Box Contents

  • Tablet
  • Cable
  • Charger
  • Manual

Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 4G Specs At A Glance

Before we talk in detail about the device, let’s see what the on-paper specs look like:

Xiaomi Redmi Pad 4G Specifications

  • Display: 8.7-inch IPS LCD with 90Hz refresh rate
  • Chipset: MediaTek Helio G85
  • RAM & ROM: 4GB 64GB,4GB 128GB
  • Software: HyperOS based on Android 14
  • Rear camera: 8MP
  • Selfie camera: 5MP
  • Battery: 6,650mAh
  • Weight: 370 grams
  • Dimensions: 211.6 x 125.5 x 8.8 mm

Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 4G Design And Build

The Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 4G has a plastic body with a textured matte finish on the back. Unlike its elder sibling, the Redmi Pad SE, Xiaomi has opted for a plastic build to save costs, which is understandable.

Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 4G Design 1

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On the back, in the top left corner, is a circular camera island. It houses a single 8-megapixel sensor and an LED flash.

Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE Design 2

The rest of the tablet is clean except for the Redmi logo in the bottom left corner of the device. I have the Ocean Blue colour of the Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 4G for review, which looks fantastic. You can also buy the tablet in Urban Grey and Forest Green for a more minimalist look.

Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE Cover 1

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Xiaomi offers a cover for the Redmi Pad SE 4G with a premium textured leather finish and a strap to put the hand and hold your tablet.

Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 4G Cover

Unlike other tablet cases by the company, this is not a flip cover but a snap-on case that fits in tightly. You can purchase this case directly from the Xiaomi India website for a price of Rs.999.

Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 4G Cover 2

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Thanks to its compact form factor, the tablet is easy to hold. It measures 8.8mm thick and weighs around 375 grams. I liked holding the tablet in my hand, especially with the case, which has a dedicated strap. I think that alone makes it worth the cost.

Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 4G Right

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Coming to ports and placements, the Redmi Pad SE 4G has a volume rocker and power button on the right.

Left Side

Similarly, on the left, it has the SIM tray.

Top of the tablet

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On top, you get the IR Blaster and speaker grille.

Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 4G Bottom

At the bottom, you get the 3.5mm headphone jack, speaker grille, and USB-C port. The Redmi Pad SE 4G is one of the few tablets I used during my review that boasts an IP53 rating.

Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 4G Camera

The Redmi Pad SE features an 8-megapixel primary camera and a 5-megapixel front-facing camera. You also get an LED flash on the back especially when scanning documents, which most people will use it for.

Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 4G Camera

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Most budget tablets don’t usually have a good camera, and the Redmi Pad SE 4G continues this tradition. It takes average photos with washed-out colours and barely any details. It is best suited when you need to scan a document or don’t have your phone.

Daylight Sample 1 Daylight Sample 2 Daylight Sample 3 Daylight Sample 4 Daylight Sample 5 Daylight Sample 6

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You also get an AI camera feature, but it does not explain what it does or if it affects image processing. Similarly, there is HDR support, but it doesn’t impact the image quality.

Selfie Sample

The same story continues with the 5-megapixel front-facing camera, which I don’t recommend using. The photos are overexposed and have plenty of noise. Using the selfie camera reminded me of those days when phones had a VGA camera sensor, which was barely usable.

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Both cameras can shoot videos at 1080p at 30 FPS. I was disappointed with the camera experience of the Redmi Pad SE 4G, and I seriously hope Xiaomi will offer better camera sensors on its budget tablets.

Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 4G Battery And Charging

The Redmi Pad SE 4G packs a 6,650mAh battery that can easily last a day. During my two weeks of usage, I could use the tablet for two days with casual usage, including playing games, watching TV shows, taking photos and more.

Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 4G Battery Life

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The tablet supports 10W wired charging, and you do get the charger inside the box.

Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 4G Charger

However, charging the tablet can take awfully long, and Xiaomi should at least provide 20-30W charging, as it is standard these days.

Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 4G Display, Audio & Connectivity

The Redmi Pad SE 4G features a compact 8.7-inch HD+ IPS LCD screen with a 90Hz refresh rate. Its peak brightness is 600 nits, and the touch sampling rate is 180Hz. The screen is bright enough to use outdoors and indoors, although I wouldn’t recommend using it under direct sunlight, as you will face legibility issues.

Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 4G Display 1

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You also get TUV Rheinland low-light certification and flicker-free certification. Xiaomi claims the display has scratch-resistant glass, although the exact protection type isn’t mentioned.

Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 4G Display 2

The tablet has an 8.7-inch screen, compact enough to hold in one hand. Sizeable bezels are on all four sides, although not uniform, as you get thicker ones on the top and the button.

Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 4G Display 3

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The tablet is set to the Vivid colour tone by default, which has a relatively warm tone instead of a saturated one, so the whites look yellow. I changed it to Saturated for a more “balanced” look with better whites. There are three options to choose from: Vivid, Saturated and Standard.

Content Consumption

During my review of the Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 4G, I enjoyed watching the recently released movie Kill. The colours are bright and punchy, although the 720p resolution leaves much to be desired.

Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 4G  Refresh Rate

Navigating through the user interface feels smooth, thanks to a 90Hz refresh rate. You can switch between 60Hz and 90Hz in the settings.

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Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 4G Face Unlock

Coming to the speakers, you get a stereo speaker setup with two speakers flanking on either side of the tablet. They support Dolby Atmos and are loud enough to fill a room if you watch alone.

There is also a 3.5mm headphone jack, a dying breed in 2024. Furthermore, the tablet has a dual SIM with 4G connectivity.

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You can make calls using it, which is good for those who want a compact tablet to replace their phones. The Redmi Pad SE 4G also has haptics support, which makes it one of the few tablets with a vibration motor. There is an IR blaster and GPS for connectivity, which is rare on tablets.

Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 4G Performance

The Redmi Pad SE 4G is powered by the MediaTek Helio G85 chipset paired with 4GB of RAM. This 12nm processor is best suited for day-to-day tasks, and I didn’t face any significant lags or stutters. Yes, the G85 isn’t blazing fast, given that it’s a 4-year-old chip found in entry-level phones, but that’s not a huge surprise, considering the Redmi Pad SE 4G is a budget tablet.

Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 4G  About Tablet

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It’s a decent performer whether you are performing casual tasks like watching videos on YouTube or playing games like Subway Surfer. The 4GB RAM certainly isn’t adequate by today’s standards, but it does keep some of the apps in memory. Xiaomi should have offered a 6GB+256GB variant, given that the 128GB isn’t adequate these days, although you do get a microSD card slot for expansion.

Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 4G Gaming

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Regarding gaming, the Redmi Pad SE 4G can handle games like BGMI and CODM, although at the lowest possible settings. You can play BGMI at Smooth and Ultra (40 FPS) and CODM at Medium and

Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 4G Benchmarks

When it comes to benchmarks, the tablet scores 411 in the single-core and 1403 in the multi-core Geekbench 5 test. Furthermore, it has a stability score of 98.9 per cent in the 3D Mark Wildlife Extreme Stress Test and throttles to 76 per cent in the 15-minute CPU throttling test. Overall, the Redmi Pad SE 4G is a decent performer if you want a tablet for day-to-day tasks and not intense gaming.

Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 4G Software And UI

The Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE runs on the HyperOS based on Android 14 out of the box. Like its elder sibling, the Redmi Pad SE, you get the same experience with no bloatware or advertisements. This is surprising given that even the Xiaomi 14, the company’s flagship, has plenty of preinstalled apps.

Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 4G Android Version

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Apart from a couple of Google and Xiaomi system apps, there are no unnecessary apps here. However, you don’t get any app opening or closing animations, which is understandable given that it is a budget phone.

Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 4G  Features

Other HyperOS features include Conference Tools and Parallel Windows. Sadly, there is no floating window here, unlike the Redmi Pad SE 11-inch, which does have one. This is most likely due to the 4GB of RAM present on the 8.7-inch model. But you can still run apps in split screen mode similar to iPads and Samsung tablets using the Parallel Windows feature.

Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 4G Other Features

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You get a floating dock similar to other Xiaomi tablets, which is handy for quickly switching between different apps. Some other HyperOS features are Gesture shortcuts, a Screen Recorder, a Video Toolbox, and Game Turbo.

Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 4G User Interface

Overall, I like the user experience on the Redmi Pad SE 4G as it is clean and feature-packed. It is the same HyperOS experience as some of Xiaomi’s more expensive tablets, albeit with some missing features.

Verdict

The Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 4G is perfect for those who want a compact tablet with calling functionality without breaking the bank. It has a smooth 90Hz refresh rate, a decent processor and dual-SIM 4G connectivity. The small display makes it easy to carry anywhere, whether on your daily commute or a work trip.

However, just like any other budget tablet, you need to make some compromises. The 720p display isn’t sharp enough; there is only 4GB of RAM, the cameras are barely usable, and the 10W charging is too slow.

Given its unique proposition and attractive price tag, the Redmi Pad SE 4G has few competitors. You can also consider the Realme Pad mini, which has a similar 8.7-inch display, more storage and RAM, and faster charging. However, it runs on outdated Android 11 and has a 60Hz display. If you want an 11-inch screen, you can take a look at the Redmi Pad SE and the Realme Pad 2.



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