Xiaomi Redmi Pad review

Two 8MP cameras

The Redmi Pad has a couple of 8MP cameras, one on the back and another on the display side. The rear one uses the GalaxyCore GC08A3 sensor (1/4" optical format, 1.12µm pixels) paired with a 26mm-equivalent lens with an f/2.0 aperture and AF.

The front camera employs the SK Hynix Hi-846 sensor (same size - 8MP, 1/4", 1.12µm) behind an unusually wide lens - Xiaomi specs say it has a 105-degree field of view which translates to around 17mm equivalent, though some hardware apps report 100 degrees and 18mm. In any case, it's wider than the bulk of selfie cams, on phones or tablets alike.

Both cameras support 1080p video recording at 30fps; there's no video stabilization on either one.

The camera app bears the standard MIUI marks, only adapted to the large screen. The shutter release button is always within easy reach of your right thumb, whether in portrait or landscape orientation, and modes are easily switched with side swipes in the viewfinder.

Photos out of the rear camera are very good for the class. We're getting sharp images with about as much detail as you can expect from an 8MP shot. Contrast is good, dynamic range is decent, and the color rendition is likeable, too.

Rear camera samples

Video quality is decent when viewed from afar thanks to the pleasing colors, high contrast and decent dynamic range. Close examination reveals that pixel-level detail isn't great, however.

The ultrawide selfies are admittedly a nice touch, though sharpness isn't great at arm's length distances.

That ultrawide camera should supposedly have extra functionality in video calls over Messenger or Whatsapp called FocusFrame. It's supposed to recognize faces in the frame and keep the view centered on them by cropping. We dug up the toggle in settings and tried it in Facebook Messenger, but it didn't really work at the time of reviewing. Some sources claim it's coming later via a software update.

Selfie samples: Photo • Video framegrab

Verdict

Save for a somewhat limited multi-window implementation in software (and let's face it, not everyone even cares about multi-window), we can hardly think of any glaring issue with the Redmi Pad. Well, the rather low-spec 64GB/3GB version is to be avoided (this one doesn't support multi-window at all, mind you), but other than that, we see no reason not to recommend the higher tiers (128GB/4GB or 128GB/6GB).

It's got one of the best displays you can get for the money - it's as bright as the rest of them at this price point but has no pesky contrast shifts, and it's 90Hz amongst 60Hz competitors. Battery life is towards the top of the class, and the speakers are very good too. On the outside, the metal unibody lends it an air of premiumness. Overall, the Redmi Pad is one of the nicest all-around packages if you're looking for a midrange tablet.

Pros

• High refresh rate display, very good overall performance for the class.
• Premium-level look and feel.
• Long battery life.
• Loud and high-quality speaker system.
• microSD slot

Cons

• Basic multi-window functionality, the entry-level 3GB RAM version doesn't have it at all.