Fantastic battery life: The Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 8.7 is just right for those who dislike constant charging
Smaller tablets have been back in fashion since the iPad Mini, and now Xiaomi is finally launching a even more compact tablet in the form of the Redmi Pad SE 8.7. The device is very affordable, costing just under $100 as a direct import and only $22 more at Amazon for the base model (WiFi only). Potential buyers have several configuration options. Storage comes in either 64 GB or 128 GB. In terms of connectivity, you can choose between WiFi only or 4G, dual SIM and satellite positioning.
We reviewed the WiFi version, which still offers a solid price-performance ratio. The screen can get quite bright at up to 600 cd/m² and thus can be used outdoors, as long as the sun is not too strong. The refresh rate is 90 Hz, which makes for smooth scrolling, provided the somewhat slow SoC plays along. The fact that the screen functions without PWM is also a nice touch. There is also a 3-year update promise and new operating system versions up to Android 16. This is quite meager compared to high-end smartphones, but still very reasonable in view of the low price tag.
Our detailed review also uncovered a few flaws: charging times are quite long due to the large battery and the maximum charging power of 18 watts, but this is compensated for by very long runtimes. For example, we measured 20 hours and 22 minutes in our WiFi test with fixed screen brightness. The speakers and cameras, unfortunately, are more of a gimmick for the price range, as the speakers sound quite treble-heavy and the cameras take low-quality pictures.
Xiaomi also needs to put more effort into sustainability in the future, as almost all manufacturers now pack their devices in plastic-free packaging; only the Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 8.7 is still wrapped in foam. The general information policy also shows little consideration for the environment, as there is no information about the materials used or the CO2 footprint of the product.
Find more information, pictures, comparison tables and benchmarks in our detailed review of the Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 8.7.
