CheckMag | Xiaomi’s Redmi Pad SE 4G is a misnomer

The Redmi Pad SE 4G is Xiaomi’s latest budget tablet and the newest member of the Redmi line of budget tablets which began with the Redmi Pad released in 2022. The line of tablets includes the Redmi Pad SE (available on Amazon for $157) announced in 2023 and the Redmi Pad Pro and Redmi Pad Pro 5G, both released in 2024.

Anyone who assumes the Redmi Pad SE 4G is simply the Redmi Pad SE with a 4G modem can’t be faulted. This is because, for most tablets, the difference between a Wi-Fi version and a 4G or 5G version usually boils down to a modem and SIM support in the cellular model. For example, the Redmi Pad Pro 5G is simply a 5G version of the Redmi Pad Pro (curr. €223 on Amazon.de) with dual SIM support. The same can’t be said about the Redmi Pad SE 4G.

The Redmi Pad SE 4G shares very little in common with the Redmi Pad SE, and this raises the question, why is it called the Redmi Pad SE 4G? The Redmi Pad SE 4G does have a processor with a 4G modem, MediaTek's Helio G85 to be specific, but the stark difference between it and the Redmi Pad SE should have earned it a new name, and a more fitting one would be the Redmi Pad Lite (4G).

Compared to the Redmi Pad SE which has an 11-inch 90Hz display with a 1920 x 1200 resolution, the Redmi Pad SE 4G has a smaller 8.7-inch 90Hz display with a lower 1340 x 800 resolution. Its smaller screen translates into a compact form factor and a smaller battery capacity. It is a 6,650mAh battery that charges at a measly 10W. In contrast, the Redmi Pad SE has an 8,000mAh battery that supports 18W (Quick Charge 3.0) wired charging. The Redmi Pad SE 4G also has fewer speakers and is only available with 4GB of RAM whereas the Redmi Pad SE has up to 8GB of RAM. The cameras have remained unchanged but the camera island has a different design.

The Redmi Pad SE 4G isn’t a downgrade in all areas. Its display has a higher peak brightness and Gorilla Glass 3 protection; it is rated IP53 for dust and water resistance; and along with dual SIM support, it has a dedicated MicroSD card slot that supports up 2TB cards. The Redmi Pad SE doesn't have Gorilla Glass, lacks an IP rating, and can only take up to 1TB cards. It also misses out on the infrared blaster present on the Redmi Pad SE 4G.

The point isn't that the Redmi Pad SE is a bad tablet but that it was given a misnomer. Xiaomi could have simply announced the original Redmi Pad SE with a 4G modem as the true Redmi Pad SE 4G while this new tablet should go by an entirely different name such as the Redmi Pad Lite 4G. It could even launch it with a colorful rugged case and call it the Redmi Pad Kids Edition. Since it has an IP53 rating, it should survive drools and the accidental spills.

Xiaomi isn't new to launching the same product under different names in different markets, so it can still correct this error in other markets where it is yet to be announced.