We have already reviewed a large mid-range tablet Redmi Pad Pro. And now we’ve come to the budget compact Redmi Pad SE 8.7. It’s a tablet for schoolchildren, and not only does it have some problems because of its category, but the price tag is nice, which creates a certain balance between the former and the latter.
Pluses:
compact size and modern design; adequate 90 Hz IPS screen; loud stereo sound; 3.5 mm audio jack; IR port; large battery, good battery life and standby mode; adequate price/quality/capabilities ratio
Minuses:
the screen resolution will not be enough for some people; neither will the memory; weak chip; minimal package; someone will not like the proprietary shell with ads and many applications
Content
Specifications of Redmi Pad SE 8.7
| Display | 8.7-inch, 1340 by 800 pixels, IPS, 90 Hz, 179 ppi, Gorilla Glass 3 protection |
| Chipset | 8-core MediaTek Helio G85 up to 2.0 GHz |
| Graphics | ARM Mali-G52 MP2 1000 MHz |
| RAM | 4/6 GB LPDDR4X |
| Built-in memory | 64 / 128 GB eMMC 5.1 |
| Support for memory cards | Yes, Up to 2 TB |
| Ports | USB-C, 3.5 mm audio jack |
| Additionally | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Bluetooth 5.3, GPS/AGPS, Beidou, GLONASS and Galilleo |
| Main camera | 8 megapixels + LED flash |
| Front camera | 5 megapixels |
| Sound | Stereo speakers, Dolby Atmos support |
| SIM support | Available depending on the model, two SIM cards simultaneously + MicroSD card |
| Battery | 6650 mAh with fast charging up to 18W |
| Operating system | Android 14 + HyperOS |
| Body | Plastic |
| Protection against moisture | YES, IP53 |
| Dimensions | 211.6 × 125.5 × 8.8 mm |
| Weight | 373 grams |
Packaging and equipment
Redmi Pad SE 8.7 is sold in the company’s standard white box with a pattern of the tablet itself.
Inside we see the device, documentation, a paper clip to open the microSD slot, and a USB-C cable. There is no film, no case, no power supply in the package, and this is typical for our region. I’ve seen some Western reviews and they had a power supply. Why it is limited by region is not clear.
Design and ergonomics
Redmi Pad SE 8.7 — is a compact tablet with a slightly corrugated plastic body. The dimensions of the model are 211.6 × 125.5 × 8.8 mm, and it weighs 373 grams. The front panel has wide bezels and a built-in front camera.
Behind it, you can see the matte corrugated plastic surface, a slightly protruding round module with the main camera and flash, and the Redmi inscription.
If you hold the tablet vertically like a phone, you’ll see the screen lock button and volume keys on the right side, and a micro SD card slot on the left (we reviewed the version without LTE). The bottom edge has a USB-C port, a speaker, a microphone, and a 3.5 mm audio jack. On the top — an infrared port, a second speaker and the Dolby Atmos inscription.
The dimensions of the Redmi Pad SE 8.7 make it easy to hold with one hand, but this is relevant for an adult. A child or teenager will still have to take the tablet with both hands.
We reviewed a gray tablet, and there is also a blue one. In our case, the tablet collects fingerprints well, but due to the aforementioned corrugated structure and color, traces of use on the body are almost invisible. Perhaps the situation is different in another color.
Redmi Pad SE 8.7 displays
Redmi Pad SE 8.7 has an 8.7-inch IPS (10 bit) screen with a resolution of 1340 by 800 pixels. The screen refresh rate is 90 Hz and the pixel density is 179 ppi. The maximum display brightness is 600 nits. The top is protected by Gorilla Glass 3.
The screen is not the strongest point of the tablet, but it’s not its downside either. It’s what you’d expect from a budget model in 2024. It has 90 Hz and that’s good, not the best resolution, but it’s enough for a diagonal of this size. Moreover, we have adequate brightness, which allows you to use it without problems in direct sunlight, but at maximum brightness, and, unexpectedly, 10-bit colors. Also, the image fades a bit at an angle, but not critically.
In games, Redmi Pad SE 8.7 performs just fine. It will run many popular projects such as Call of Duty Mobile or Wild Rift on minimum-medium graphics settings with an adequate number of frames. Simpler projects can be run on high settings. That is, children can play without any problems, but don’t expect a cool picture.
Redmi Pad SE 8.7 runs on Android 14 with the proprietary HyperOS shell. This is a standard Chinese add-on that has a lot of user settings, including visual changes to the interface. However, there are many built-in applications and ads.
The system and memory speed is average. That is, the tablet can open some applications or games for several seconds and this is normal. The lion’s share of the slowdowns is caused by the processor, and the system, in my opinion, does everything to make it work faster with the available hardware. However, some people will find it too slow and annoying, which can cause a negative experience. But again, let’s keep in mind the category and price of the tablet.
Sound and camera
Redmi Pad SE 8.7 has full stereo sound. True, these are not four speakers from top to bottom, but only two. However, their volume is adequate, as is the sound. Of course, the sound is flat, but you don’t expect anything more from something like this.
There is Dolby Atmos support, a built-in equalizer, and a dozen different sound presets. I liked Pop, Rock, and Electro the most, which are suitable for different usage scenarios. But it’s better to see for yourself and choose to your liking. The main thing is that the presets really work, which is rare, and make the sound not so flat. As for codecs, we have AAC, SBC, and LDAC, which is great for this price category.
The device is equipped with an 8-megapixel main camera with f/2.0 aperture and a 5-megapixel front camera with f/2.2 aperture. There is no stabilization, but there is autofocus, and the main camera even has a flash.
As for the image quality, it is adequate for a budget tablet. It’s more than enough for taking pictures of documents or some things that need to be saved, as well as for video calls or online lessons.
Autonomy of Redmi Pad SE 8.7
Redmi Pad SE 8.7 is equipped with a 6650 mAh battery. This is enough to work for two days in standard mode with video viewing, social networks, and some games. The tablet can also hold a charge for a long time in standby mode, which is very convenient when you don’t use it every day. If you leave it on for a week, you’ll know for sure that it will work when you need it, and the charge will only go down to a few percent. Unfortunately, the battery life test in PC Mark kept giving an error, so it was not possible to measure it in this application.
The tablet also has support for 18W fast charging, but remember that there is no power supply included. The tablet takes up to two hours to charge.
Experience of use
Redmi Pad SE 8.7 turned out to be exactly what I expected. This is a modern budget tablet in a compact form factor. It doesn’t grab stars from the sky because it can’t actually do so due to its segmental and technical limitations. But in terms of its capabilities, the tablet shows adequate results, and most importantly, it is simply convenient to use.
However, before you buy, you should know that it has a mediocre speed, so sometimes it takes a few seconds to open some programs. Yes, it’s not much, but a modern, demanding user will be annoyed by this right away.
The screen has a low resolution and is also IPS, so some people won’t like it, while others will definitely like it. As for me, this is enough for a diagonal like this, although, of course, I would like to see more and even AMOLED, but for the money, this is unrealistic.
It’s not very pleasant that the Redmi Pad SE 8.7 tablet comes with only a cable. There’s not even a screen protector, let alone a case. Yes, it doesn’t always have to be, but the Chinese have taught us to do this themselves, and Xiaomi and Redmi gadgets were among the first to provide it. Now they have taken it away and it is logical that people are surprised.
I have already mentioned that the compact size is very convenient for literally everything, and if you have a medium or large hand, you can easily hold it with one hand and use it at the same time. It also has an optimal shape for any task, from watching a TV show in the kitchen while cooking to studying online or reading books. I’m also sure that many people will use it as their primary or second phone.
Speaking of books. I like the local reading mode. When it is activated, the screen becomes very similar to real paper and is covered with specks that imitate the structure of paper. You can also adjust the temperature, which is convenient. I don’t think this mode significantly reduces the harmful effects on the eyes, but it definitely adds maximum realism and authenticity when reading books from a tablet, which, I think, is also important.
If you’re not going to put on a case, which I still recommend, you don’t have to worry about the condition of the case. Because the corrugated structure plus the color masks traces of use and even dust.
Price and competitors
Redmi Pad SE 8.7 is sold at a price of 4,800 hryvnias for the 64 GB version. However, in large networks such as «Allo», its price tag is always UAH 4999. Of course, there are versions with more memory and LTE that cost more. For example, the 128 GB LTE version costs from UAH 7299.
In my opinion, the price of the tablet is adequate, and the tablet itself is worth every penny, but no more. It has plenty of competitors, but it’s probably better to talk about diagonal competitors from different price categories in this section.
Probably the biggest competitor in terms of price and quality will be Samsung Galaxy Tab A9. If you need something just as small, but much more protected for working outdoors, then there are Samsung Galaxy Tab Active5.
Among the available options, we also highlight Realme Pad Mini, but it has 32 GB of memory. There are also Blackview Tab 60 and Blackview Tab 60 Kids, if you need a tablet for children in a case right away. And where without Apple iPad mini 2021 if you have the money, but you also need something compact.
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