Xiaomi reveals new iPad mini rival with 165Hz display and flagship SoC
Xiaomi has announced a new compact tablet, the Redmi K Pad 2. It's positioned as a direct rival to the iPad mini, and from the back, it even looks quite similar. While the first-gen model had a two-tone-like design on the camera island, the newer tab takes a simple route.
Specifically, the back of the K Pad 2 has a simple single-camera placement, making it look very similar to the iPad mini (2024 128GB WiFi curr. $474 on Amazon). As for the specs, it's top-of-the-line, with Xiaomi confirming that the compact tablet will feature the Dimensity 9500, the current MediaTek flagship SoC.
On the front, the tablet features an 8.8-inch display, making the K Pad 2 as compact as the newly launched Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 5 but slightly larger than the iPad mini. The screen sports a 165Hz refresh rate, matching what top-end gaming tablets offer these days. Xiaomi notes that it's an esports-grade panel with gaming-focused features, such as a high touch response rate. However, it would've been good to see the tablet coming with an OLED screen instead of an LCD panel.
The company has also confirmed that this Redmi tab features a 9,100mAh battery, which is a rather large capacity for the device's size. It's expected to have 67W fast charging support, and the photos confirm that the device will have a metal unibody design. The Redmi K Pad 2 will be released alongside the K90 Max, and the launch event is set for later April 2026 in China. Xiaomi is expected to share more details soon.
Add as a preferred