Tablets fill up a space between phones and laptops that is becoming increasingly confusing. On the one hand, phones are becoming more powerful, gaining larger displays, then on the other laptops are getting lighter. Tablets bridge the gap in terms of performance. It’s a device that finds plenty of takers among those wanting a gadget for entertainment as well as for videoconferencing, which, by the way, is not going away. The iPad is a better tablet in general but the current crop of Android tablets have a lot to offer, especially something as inexpensive as the Redmi Pad SE, which we have been using for a few days.

Respectable video performance

The aluminum alloy unibody design gives the tablet a good feel and finish

There is plenty to like about the device. For example, despite being inexpensive, it comes with an 11-inch FHD+ display, plenty of storage and RAM, and an aluminum alloy unibody design. Powering the tablet is Snapdragon 680 Mobile Platform, based on 6nm process technology and has eight cores. RAM is not an issue as it comes with options like 4GB+128GB, 6GB+128GB and 8GB+128GB. Looking at benchmark performance, the CPU does a good job on the Geekbench 5 and goes toe to toe with a few options from Samsung. There is support for expandable storage of up to 1TB.

Most games run smoothly because of the large memory and 90Hz display refresh rate. In some titles, you have to stick to medium-level graphic settings but that’s fair enough for the price you are paying for the tablet. Don’t look at this as a gaming tablet, however it turns in a decent performance.

Where it excels is when you browse on Chrome or watch films. The resolution here is 1920 x 1200 with pixel density of 207ppi. It’s sufficient for watching content on the move. The display is definitely the highlight of the tablet as competitors stick to 60Hz refresh rate. Animations are particularly smooth because of the 90Hz tech. It helps to have a relatively bright tablet with 400 nits of brightness. Colour reproduction is good and so are viewing angles. On top of that, it’s a quad speaker setup, meaning you can fire up the tablet with your entertainment needs. The audio is loud enough and there is enough bass. What you don’t get is stylus support.

The tablet is slim as well as light

Camera and software

The other highlights of the device are the 5MP front camera and 8MP rear snapper. These may not seem like big numbers but on a tablet this is quite good. You can easily have a video conference and helping the cause is the quality of the microphone.

Where Redmi could have done better is software support. Out of the box, it comes loaded with Android 13 and MIUI version 14. I would have liked this to come with the latest Android version because that would have enhanced the software life.

Surprisingly, there is almost zero unnecessary preloaded apps

Should you buy it?

The interface is customisable and there is a dock that allows easy access to recent apps. Surprisingly, the UI is mostly free of bloatware and the experience is memorable.

In the connectivity department, you get Bluetooth 5.0, which is not the latest, and there is AI face unlock. The 8,000mAh battery is large enough to give you over eight hours of on-screen time even after watching videos in HD and doing a fair amount of browsing with brightness turned up.

Overall, it’s a decent offering with a large amount of RAM and a solid display. In case you are looking for options, there is Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ as well as Lenovo Tab M11. Redmi Pad SE is a safe bet if you’re searching for a budget-friendly tablet. It’s a do-almost-everything slate.

At a glance

Device: Redmi Pad SE

Price: Upwards of Rs 12,999

High notes

Several memory options

Good display and build

Being light, it’s a good travel companion

Clean UI

Muffled notes

No support for stylus

Comes with Android 13