The Redmi Pad 2 is a cracking budget tablet that delivers exactly what most people need – solid performance, excellent battery life, and a surprisingly premium feel. It won't replace your laptop anytime soon, and if you buy a more expensive tablet, you'll get a better screen, faster processor and better sound. But if you just want something that does the job, at a low price, it's hard to argue with the value here.
For
Premium aluminium design
Four speakers with Dolby Atmos
9000mAh battery life
2.5K display
Headphone jack
Expandable storage up to 2TB
Against
Processor not the most powerful
Only 4GB RAM in basic model
18W charging not the fastest
Not an OLED screen
Weird button placement
Front camera only 5MP
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I wasn't expecting much when the Redmi Pad 2 landed on my desk. Cheap tablets don't have a good reputation, and for good reason. So when I lifted this thing out of its box, I was genuinely surprised.
After a fortnight of daily use, including streaming music and films, surfing the web and some mobile gaming, I can confidently say Xiaomi has created something special. Before we start, though, I should note two things before we proclaim this better than any of the other tablets with a stylus you can find...
Firstly, it's not available in the USA. (Its maker Xiaomi does not currently sell tablets of any description in the States.) And secondly, while the base model is just £169 in the UK, that only gets you 4GB RAM and 128GB of storage. The model I'm reviewing, which has 8GB RAM and 256GB storage, costs £219.
That's still very affordable, though. So let's find out what it's capable of...
Redmi Pad 2 review: Key specifications
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Specs as tested
CPU
MediaTek Helio G100-Ultra (6nm)
RAM
4GB or 8GB
Storage
128GB or 256GB U, extendable via microSD up to 2TB
Screen size
11 inches
Screen type
IPS LCD
Resolution
2560 x 1600
Max refresh rate
90Hz
Rear camera
8MP
Front camera
5MP
OS
HyperOS 2.0 (Android 15)
Dimensions
254.6 x 166.0 x 7.4mm
Weight
510g
Spec score: 3/5
Redmi Pad 2 review: Design and screen
Slim profile with rounded edges
Aluminium build feels premium
The first thing that struck me about the Redmi Pad 2 was how solid it feels. That aluminium unibody construction isn't just for show; it genuinely makes this tablet feel like premium kit.
Admittedly at 510g (the weight of a bag of sugar), it's not the lightest around, but it's perfectly manageable for extended use. The flat-sided design with rounded corners strikes the right balance between modern aesthetics and comfortable handling. Indeed it's very similar to Honor Pad 10, though the Redmi is slightly more compact thanks to its 11-inch screen versus Honor's 12.1-inch display.
The button placement is a bit odd: power and volume are on opposite sides, which means the volume rocker works backwards when you're holding it in landscape mode. It's not a deal-breaker, but it's mildly irritating.
(Image credit: Future)
But what more than makes up for that, in my mind, is the return of the headphone jack. Yes, it's positioned a bit close to the edge, but having that 3.5mm port back is genuinely useful – something the Honor Pad 10 sadly lacks. There's expandable storage up to 2TB via microSD, another feature Honor disappointingly omitted from its otherwise excellent tablet.
In use, I found the 11-inch display sharp and vibrant enough for most things. That 2.5K resolution (2560 x 1600) delivers crisp text and detailed images, whilst the 90Hz refresh rate keeps scrolling smooth. Compared to the Honor Pad 10's 120Hz panel, the difference is noticeable but not deal-breaking. And at 600 nits peak brightness, it's perfectly usable outdoors.
Overall, the colours are decent for an LCD panel (it supports 1.07 billion colours), but don't expect the punchy vibrancy of OLED displays. I also experience some backlight bleeding in darker scenes, but nothing that ruins the experience.
Design score: 3.5/5
Redmi Pad 2 review: Features
Quad speakers with Dolby Atmos
Optional Smart Pen and case
Four speakers with Dolby Atmos support in a £169 tablet? It shouldn't work, but it absolutely does. The audio is spacious and dynamic; I've heard worse from tablets costing at least twice as much. While the Honor Pad 10's six-speaker setup has more drivers, the Redmi's implementation is surprisingly close in quality, with better bass response than I expected.
(Image credit: Future)
Xiaomi has also created a decent accessories ecosystem. The Smart Pen (£59, but often bundled for £19) is pressure-sensitive and genuinely useful for note-taking and sketching. It charges via USB-C rather than magnetically attaching, which isn't elegant, but it works.
The tablet runs HyperOS 2.0 based on Android 15, which is cleaner and more intuitive than Xiaomi's previous attempts. As you expect from Chinese tech, there's some bloatware (TikTok, Temu, WPS Office), but nothing too intrusive.
Features score: 3/5
Redmi Pad 2 review: Performance
Chip handles everyday tasks competently
You need the 8GB version for multitasking
The MediaTek Helio G100-Ultra chipset is adequate for most tasks: web browsing, video streaming, light gaming, and document editing all work fine. It's not going to set any benchmark records, but it's perfectly capable for typical tablet use.
That said, the RAM configuration you choose makes a real difference. The base 4GB model is going to restrict you quite a bit multitasking, whilst the 8GB version (the one I've been testing) provides much more breathing room. If you're planning to use this for anything beyond basic tasks, spend the extra £50 on the higher-spec model.
With the 8GB model, I found gaming performance is reasonable on casual titles. Simple games like Monument Valley and Alto's Adventure ran smoothly, while more demanding titles like Zenless Zone Zero were playable on low settings. Just don't expect console-quality performance.
(Image credit: Future)
The 9000mAh battery is genuinely impressive, easily lasting about 10 hours of mixed use. My video streaming saw roughly 10% battery drain per hour, which you can't really complain about. However, it didn't come anywhere near the Honor Pad 10's extraordinary 19-hour endurance – virtually making the case for the latter's higher price alone.
The 18W charging is also sluggish by modern standards: it takes well over two hours for a full charge. The Honor Pad 10's 35W charging was notably faster, getting to 100% in around 90 minutes. Overall, though, Redmi's battery lasts so long that it's rarely an issue: I was generally using it throughout the day and only charging it overnight.
Performance score: 3/5
Honor Pad 10 review: Who's It For?
Anyone light on funds who wants a good tablet experience.
The Redmi Pad 2 is perfect for students who need a reliable device for note-taking, research, and entertainment. It's also good for anyone wanting a cheap way to enjoy media consumption, video calls, and/or light productivity work. Note that I wouldn't recommend the basic version with 4GB RAM, though, and you will have to step up to £219 to get the 8GB version.
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Redmi Pad 2 score card
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Specs
Great for such a low price
3/5
Design & Screen
Sharp display, good speakers
3.5/5
Features
Good audio, clean software
3/5
Performance
Adequate for daily use
3/5
Buy it if…
You're short on cash
Battery life is important
You mainly want to stream entertainment
Don't buy it if…
You enjoy top-tier gaming
You want to run creative software
Fast charging is a priority
The Verdict
6.5
out of 10
Xiaomi Redmi Pad 2
The Redmi Pad 2 is a cracking budget tablet that delivers exactly what most people need – solid performance, excellent battery life, and a surprisingly premium feel. It won't replace your laptop anytime soon, and if you buy a more expensive tablet, you'll get a better screen, faster processor and better sound. But if you just want something that does the job, at a low price, it's hard to argue with the value here.
Tom May is an award-winning journalist and author specialising in design, photography and technology. His latest book, The 50th Greatest Designers, was released in June 2025. He's also author of the Amazon #1 bestseller Great TED Talks: Creativity, published by Pavilion Books, Tom was previously editor of Professional Photography magazine, associate editor at Creative Bloq, and deputy editor at net magazine.
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