While Apple has long dominated the tablet market, numerous affordable alternatives exist. The Redmi Pad SE, a budget Android tablet, launched in China in August 2023 and arrived in the Indian market in April 2024. It’s a solid option for those seeking a simple, compact, and wallet-friendly tablet, featuring an 11-inch display, a large battery, and a metal build.
Redmi Pad SE Price in India
The Redmi Pad SE is available in India in three configurations:
- 4GB RAM + 128GB storage: Rs. 12,999
- 6GB RAM + 128GB storage: Rs. 13,999 (recommended)
- 8GB RAM + 128GB storage: Rs. 14,999 (best option)
It comes in three colors: Graphite Grey, Lavender Purple, and Mint Green. Our review unit was the Graphite Grey variant with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage.
Design
The Redmi Pad SE boasts a minimalist design with chamfered edges and an aluminum unibody construction, measuring just 7.36mm thick. Despite its budget price, it feels premium and is comfortable to hold, weighing only 478 grams. The 11-inch display is protected by glass (not Gorilla Glass) and surrounded by evenly sized bezels, ensuring you can hold the tablet without accidentally touching the screen.
In portrait mode, the power button and two speakers are on top, while the bottom houses the USB Type-C port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and two more speakers. Volume buttons and a microphone are on the right side. The tablet lacks an IP rating and rubber seals on the microSD card slot, so avoid using it in wet conditions.
Specifications and Software
The Redmi Pad SE is powered by a 6nm Snapdragon 680 processor, paired with up to 8GB RAM and 128GB storage. It features 4 Kryo 265 Gold cores at 2.4GHz, 4 Kryo Silver cores at 1.9GHz, and an Adreno 610 GPU. Connectivity options include dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0, but there’s no cellular option or fingerprint scanner, relying on pin or pattern locks instead.
The tablet comes with a large 8,000mAh battery but lacks fast charging, with only a 10W charger included. Initially running MIUI Pad 14 based on Android 13, it has since been updated to Xiaomi’s HyperOS based on Android 14. HyperOS offers features like Split Screen, Floating Windows, and stylus support, optimized for the larger screen.
Performance
The Snapdragon 680 SoC is adequate for content consumption and light multitasking but struggles with more demanding tasks. Benchmark results were modest, with Geekbench scores of 407 (single-core) and 1,351 (multi-core). Gaming performance is limited, handling only basic settings on titles like BGMI. The 11-inch IPS display with a 90Hz refresh rate and full-HD+ resolution provides good indoor viewing but struggles in direct sunlight.
Cameras
The Redmi Pad SE features an 8MP rear camera and a 5MP front camera. The rear camera performs adequately in daylight, while the front camera, equipped with an ultrawide lens, is suitable for video calls in good lighting. Both cameras can shoot 1080p videos.
Battery Life
In our HD video loop test, the Redmi Pad SE lasted 14 hours and 55 minutes. With regular use, it can last nearly two days. However, charging the 8,000mAh battery is slow, taking over 2 hours with a 30W charger and at least 4 hours with the included 10W charger.
Verdict
At Rs. 12,999, the Redmi Pad SE stands out for its build quality, good display, excellent sound, and long battery life. While the Snapdragon 680 chipset isn’t the fastest, and charging is slow, it’s a great choice for streaming and light gaming. For those needing more power, alternatives like the Honor Pad X9, Oppo Pad Air, and Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 offer competitive options at slightly higher prices.
