Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 11-inch Tablet Quick Review & Alternatives
The Redmi Pad SE is an impressive budget-friendly tablet that combines solid performance with a sleek design. It offers a premium feel with its aluminium alloy body, available in several attractive colours like lavender purple, graphite gray, and mint green. This makes the device perfect for budget conscious users that do not wish to compromise on quality and style.
Where does the Redmi Pad SE sit in Xiaomi’s tablet portfolio. The company has two series; Xiaomi and Redmi with Xiaomi being the flagship and premium line and Redmi being the budget offering. At the time of writing, here is the list from most expensive to least.
- Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro 12.4-inch 4K 144Hz display tablet powered by Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform
- Xiaomi Pad 6 11-inch WQHD+ 144Hz display tablet powered by Snapdragon 870 chip
- Redmi Pad 10.61-inch 2K 90Hz display tablet powered by MediaTek Helio G99
- Redmi Pad SE 11-inch FHD+ 90Hz display tablet powered by Snapdragon 680
and the outgoing previous generation tablet:
- Xiaomi Pad 5 an 11-inch WQHD+ 120Hz display tablet powered by Snapdragon 860
Redmi Pad SE Standout Features
As you can see, the Redmi Pad SE is at the bottom of the pile and while the MediaTek Helio G99 in Redmi Pad 10.61 is better than Snapdragon 680, the Redmi Pad SE is still a very capable tablet with the following unique features. Apart from the tablet being amazingly good value here are key features that let it stand out:
- 11-inch FHD+eye-care display 90Hz adaptive refresh rate
- mid-range Snapdragon 680 6nm chip
- spacious 4GB RAM and 128GB ROM storage with up to 1TB expandable storage
- big 8000 mAh battery capacity
- quad speaker arrangement with Dolby Atmos
- stylish metal unibody design with three fresh colour options lavender purple, graphite gray and mind green.
- 8MP main camera, 5MP centered front camera
- lightweight and slim body
Why Choose Redmi Pad SE 11-inch
We are quite impressed by the tablet from Xiaomi, especially given its price point. Not many tablet at this price even come close.
1. The Huge 11-inch Display
Display-wise, the Redmi Pad SE boasts an 11-inch IPS LCD screen with a resolution of 1920 x 1200 (FHD+), providing crisp and vibrant visuals suitable for Full HD video streaming and general browsing. Although the 90Hz refresh rate enhances smoothness in animations and scrolling, its effectiveness is somewhat limited to certain use scenarios. It uses AdaptiveSync to set the refresh rate automatically for a smooth visual experience. The tablet performs well indoors, but its 400nits brightness might not suffice under direct sunlight. Some display related specifications are listed below:
- FHD+ 1920 x 1200 pixel resolution 207 ppi
- 8-bit 16.7 million colours
- 84.4% screen to body ratio
- 1500:1 contrast ratio
- 400 nits typical brightness
- Eye-care display with low blue light certification
2. Quad Firing Speakers with Dolby Atmos
The audio experience on the Redmi Pad SE is a standout, thanks to its quad-speaker setup powered by Dolby Atmos technology, delivering a rich and immersive sound quality that exceeds expectations for its price point.
3. Performance to Price Ratio
In terms of performance, the tablet is equipped with a Snapdragon 680 chipset, which handles most tasks adequately. This is also thanks to its generous 4GB RAM allowing you to switch between apps quickly.
With the mid-range chip from Snapdragon, it is even fast enough for the occasional games (see benchmark results below) and certainly fast enough for all your everyday tasks. It comes with Android 13 and MIUI 14, providing a user-friendly interface with regular updates.
4. Decent Cameras
Camera capabilities are modest, with an 8MP rear and a 5MP centered front camera, both performing decently without being exceptional. This setup is suitable for general use and casual photography but won’t impress those looking for high-quality imaging.
5. That Metallic Body
Sleek and modern design, it has a slim profile. Made from premium aluminium alloy, it looks sophisticated and can pass for a premium tablet. Available in several subtle yet stylish colors, including lavender purple, graphite gray, and mint green, the tablet offers aesthetic choices that appeal to various personal tastes.
6. High Capacity Long Battery Life
With a huge 8000mAh battery, there is enough battery life to last you all day. While
- 8000mAh
- 43 days standby, 219 hours music, 14 hours video playback
7. Expandable Storage
While there is plenty of storage onboard with its 128GB ROM, you can add up to 1TB of extra storage using microSD cards in the SD card slot.
BONUS: Robust Yet Light with Long Battery Life
The device’s solid build quality ensures durability without compromising on portability, as it remains light and easy to handle. This design approach makes the Redmi Pad SE not only a functional device but also a visually appealing accessory for everyday use.
- Weight: 478 grams
- Thickness: 7.36mm
What’s Not So Hot about the Redmi Pad SE
On the downside, the Redmi Pad SE lacks support for a stylus and has no pogo pins for attaching a keyboard, which might limit its utility for some users looking for these features. Redmi offers a basic stylus called Redmi Stylus for Pad which is simply a touch based pointing pen instead of nib based, available in matching colour. Additionally, the absence of an ambient light sensor means adjusting screen brightness manually. The display is also not 3:2 ratio so not quite suitable for web browsing or productivity work but is great for entertainment in landscape mode. Here is a quick look at browsing in portrait mode.
Redmi Stylus for Pad on Xiaomi UK
Gallery
Redmi Pad SE Alternatives
If you’re considering alternatives to the Redmi Pad SE, there are several notable budget tablets available in 2024 that might fit your needs:
Amazon Fire HD 10
Known for its value in the budget segment, this tablet offers a decent display albeit only 10.1-inch and performance suitable for everyday tasks like streaming and web browsing. It’s particularly noted for its durability and parental controls, making it a good choice for families. The 13th generation device is powered by Mediatek MT8186A chip, 3GB RAM and 32GB/64GB storage options.
Amazon Fire Max 11
The biggest Amazon tablet goes toe-to-toe with the Redmi Pad SE in terms of screen size and metal chassis. It is also faster with its MediaTek MT8188J chip in major benchmarks but lacks the style, only half the starting storage at 64GB so you will have to pay more for 128GB storage and cost a bit more for without ads.
Lenovo Tab M11
This 11-inch tablet comes with a FulL HD+ 90Hz display, 4GB of memory and 128GB storage. It is even powered by a mid-range Helio G88 octa-core chip that performs nearly as well as the Snapdragon 680. And with Dolby Atmos sound, this is by far the closes rival to the Redmi Pad SE with the added support for Lenovo Tab Pen stylus.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ 11-inch
While slightly pricier, this tablet provides a robust multimedia experience with better performance from its Snapdragon 695 chip and a slightly brighter 480nits TFT LCD panel at FHD+ resolution. It’s a solid choice for those who can stretch their budget a bit for enhanced features.
Honor Pad X9 11.5-inch Tablet
Another budget tablet with all-metal chassis and super slim body, the Honor Pad X9 is even powered by a similarly powerful Snapdragon 685 , has a slightly bigger 11.5-inch 2K 120Hz display and surround sound from 6 speakers. You can find out more about the Honor Pad X9 at Colour My Tech.
Each of these tablets has its strengths and serve as a good alternative to the Redmi Pad SE depending on your specific needs, such as better multimedia features, longer battery life, or a more premium design.
Is the Redmi Pad SE Suitable for School Use
The Redmi Pad SE features a sleek, modern design that is lightweight and portable, making it an ideal companion for students who need to carry their devices around campus. It sports a respectable screen size and resolution, sufficient for reading texts, watching educational videos, and participating in online classes. The display quality, while not top-tier, provides adequate brightness and clarity for everyday academic tasks.
Equipped with a mid-range processor, the Redmi Pad SE handles basic educational applications, web browsing, and multimedia consumption without significant hitches. However, it may struggle with more demanding software, such as advanced video editing tools or high-end coding platforms. Storage options are generally sufficient for schoolwork, though students working with large files or multimedia projects might need to utilize cloud storage solutions to supplement the onboard capacity.
One of the standout features for any school-oriented device is battery life, and the Redmi Pad SE does not disappoint. It offers a battery that can comfortably last through a full day of classes on a single charge. This is particularly beneficial for students who may have limited access to charging points during the school day.
The Redmi Pad SE runs on a version of Android adapted for tablet use, providing a user-friendly interface and compatibility with a wide range of educational apps available on the Google Play Store. Connectivity options such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are standard, allowing for easy collaboration and access to school networks and resources.
Perhaps the most compelling aspect of the Redmi Pad SE is its affordability. Priced significantly lower than many of its competitors, it represents a solid value proposition for students and educational institutions looking for effective yet economical tech solutions.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the Redmi Pad SE presents a strong value proposition, especially considering its build quality, display, and audio performance, which are impressive at its price point. However, potential buyers should be aware of its limitations in outdoor visibility and peripheral support. The latter if you need it to work with a stylus. Otherwise, it is an excellent tablet
