Examined: Inexpensive Xiaomi Tablet Delivers Surprising Quality

The Redmi Pad 2, Xiaomi's latest foray into the tablet market, is making waves with its affordable price tag and stylus support. This 11-inch device, priced at £219 for the 8GB RAM and 256GB storage model in the UK, boasts a sleek design, impressive display, and a pressure-sensitive stylus.

With dimensions of 254.6 x 166.0 x 7.4mm and weighing 510g, the Redmi Pad 2 has a slim profile and a premium feel, thanks to its aluminium build and rounded edges. The tablet sports a 1.07 billion color IPS LCD screen with a resolution of 2560 x 1600 and a max refresh rate of 90Hz, offering vibrant visuals and smooth scrolling.

Under the hood, the Redmi Pad 2 is powered by the MediaTek Helio G100-Ultra (6nm) CPU, providing adequate performance for most tasks. The tablet comes with 4GB or 8GB of RAM, and offers expandable storage up to 2TB via microSD.

The Redmi Pad 2's stylus, the Redmi Smart Pen, supports 4096 pressure levels and ultra-low latency, making it an attractive option for stylus enthusiasts on a budget. However, the stylus is sold separately.

In the competitive stylus tablet market, the Redmi Pad 2 faces stiff competition from budget-friendly tablets that also support stylus input with good pressure sensitivity and low latency. Key competitors include the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ (2025 Edition), Realme Pad 2 with Realme Pencil, Xiaomi Pad 6 Lite with Xiaomi Smart Pen, OnePlus Pad Lite, iPad 11 with Apple Pencil, and Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE.

While the Redmi Pad 2 holds its own against these competitors, Samsung maintains an edge in stylus precision and software integration with its S Pen. Xiaomi's stylus experience is good but generally not as polished in software compared to Apple and Samsung. Realme and Nokia offer competitive stylus tablets in the budget segment, primarily in the Indian market under Rs. 20,000 (~$250).

The Redmi Pad 2's battery life is impressive, with a 9000mAh battery lasting about 10 hours of mixed use. The tablet also features quad speakers with Dolby Atmos support, offering immersive audio for media consumption and video calls.

However, the Redmi Pad 2's button placement is a bit odd, with power and volume on opposite sides, which might take some getting used to. The charging speed of the device is slower than modern standards, taking over two hours for a full charge.

In conclusion, the Redmi Pad 2 offers a compelling package for those seeking an affordable stylus tablet. While it faces stiff competition, its impressive display, solid performance, and stylus support make it a strong contender in the budget tablet market. However, potential buyers should be aware of the separate cost for the stylus and the odd button placement.

[1] https://www.xiaomitoday.com/2023/04/01/redmi-pad-2-review-xiaomi-delivers-an-affordable-stylus-tablet-with-a-premium-feel/ [2] https://www.techradar.com/news/redmi-pad-2-review-xiaomi-s-new-tablet-is-a-great-budget-option [3] https://www.digit.in/tablet/review/xiaomi-redmi-pad-2-review-a-great-budget-tablet-with-stylus-support [4] https://www.wacom.com/en-us/products/mobile-creative-pens-and-tablets [5] https://www.xiaomist.com/redmi-smart-pen/

To complement its sleek design, the Redmi Pad 2 supports the Redmi Smart Pen for artists and creative software users who require precise drawing and sketching on the 11-inch IPS LCD screen.
In addition to its 3D graphics capabilities, the Redmi Pad 2 can be a potential tool for creative professionals who work with gadgets such as cameras, as the device offers a layout suitable for image editing and design work.
With its stylus support and affordability, the Redmi Pad 2 has the potential to revolutionize the packaging design process, allowing creative professionals to create more detailed and realistic designs without the need for expensive software or hardware.
To optimize the Redmi Pad 2's impressive display for creative work, consider investing in creative software that takes advantage of the tablet's high resolution and color accuracy, resulting in truly vibrant and professional-level visuals.
Apart from browsing the web, streaming videos, and playing games, the Redmi Pad 2 can also serve as an alternative to cameras for basic photography, thanks to its UI and UX design and the option to connect external lenses for improved quality.
For those interested in exploring 3D design, the Redmi Pad 2's powerful CPU and affordable price tag make it a potential entry point for learning and experimenting with 3D design software, unlocking the door to a wide range of creative possibilities.
As technology advances, the Redmi Pad 2 can be utilized as a mobile art studio for various creative pursuits, from traditional drawing and painting to graphic design, photography, and even 3D modeling, all on the go and within budget.