Category: Gadgets

Xiaomi has launched its most affordable Android tablet in India in the form of the Redmi. The Redmi tablet aims to strike the right balance by offering a large screen for multimedia consumption along with a performance unit that is no slouch. Priced under Rs. 30,000, it packs good hardware and offers a couple of features that are not even available in the more expensive Apple Pad

Redmi Pad Design

The Redmi Pad, despite being a budget Android tablet, does not look like one. With an all-metal body, it offers a good in-hand feel. The flat frame design and good weight distribution make this Android tablet feel lighter than its actual weight of 465g. It is also fairly thin at 7.1mm. While the sides are flat, the corners curve smoothly to ensure they do not dig into your palms while holding the tablet in portrait or landscape mode.

I also like the Mint Green color of the Redmi Pad, which has a matte finish. This also means that the tablet does not attract many fingerprints or smudges. If you want something more classic looking or versatile, there are the Moonlight Silver and Graphite Grey color options.

The Redmi Pad supports storage expansion of up to 1TB via a slot on the right side (when held vertically). At the top of the right edge of the frame are the volume buttons, whereas the tiny power button is at the corner of the top edge. You also get four speaker grilles — two at the top and two at the bottom. The Redmi Pad does not get a 3.5mm headphone jack, which might be a bummer for some.

On the front, there is a 10.61-inch IPS LCD with a 2K (2000×1200 pixels) resolution. Compared to the competition, the Redmi Pad has a slight edge with its 90Hz refresh rate display and support for up to a billion colors. There is no HDR10 support, which is something I do not expect a budget tablet to have. I did expect the tablet to have some form of an oleophobic coating though, to prevent fingerprints and smudges. Unfortunately, the Redmi Pad does not have one and like me, you too might find yourself wiping the screen every time you use the tablet.

Redmi Pad specifications and software

The Redmi Pad features a MediaTek Helio G99 SoC, which is also found in budget smartphones such as the Redmi 11 prime and the Moto G72. The tablet also packs a massive 8000mAh battery with support for 18W fast charging. Xiaomi bundles a 22.5W fast charging adapter in the box. The tablet supports Wi-Fi 5, and Bluetooth 5.3, but does not come in a cellular variant.

On the software side of things, the Redmi Pad runs on the Android 12-based MIUI 13 skin out of the box. The software experience on the Redmi Pad is quite clean and smooth. There was no sign of any stutter across the user interface (UI).

Xiaomi has promised to offer at least two major Android updates, and security patches for three years for the Redmi Pad.

Redmi Pad performance and battery life

The Redmi Pad can handle basic day-to-day web browsing and scrolling in apps, fairly well. With a MediaTek Helio G99 SoC, users can also play some of the popular games on the Redmi Pad without having to worry about a poor gaming experience. I played games like Call of Duty: Mobile and Asphalt 9 Legends along with lighter titles such as Subway Surfers. Call of Duty: Mobile ran smoothly at ‘Medium’ graphics and ‘High’ frame rate settings, averaging roughly 40fps. There were very minor stutters here and there but overall, the gaming experience on the Redmi Pad was quite good.

Redmi Pad cameras

The Redmi Pad has an 8-megapixel rear camera and an 8-megapixel front camera. The rear camera is useful only for scanning documents as the dynamic range is below average and the colors are a bit washed out for anything else. If you wish to click photos for sharing on social media, then you’d be better off using your phone. The Redmi Pad might not be the right choice.

Xiaomi has launched the Redmi Pad in three RAM and storage configurations. The base variant packs 3GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. It is priced at Rs. 22,999. There is a 4GB RAM variant with 128GB of internal storage, that is priced at Rs. 26,499. Our variant of the Redmi Pad packs 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. It is priced at Rs. 29,499. These prices could vary slightly based on seasonal sales.

Nothing has recently launched the ‘Nothing Ear Stick,’ its second wireless earbuds in India. The new earphones are essentially what the AirPods are to Apple, even as the Ear 1- Nothing’s first wireless earbuds – go up against the AirPods Pro. Nothing is undercutting Apple, in both cases, when it comes to pricing and yet, offering a stand-out design with some likable specs and features that make the Ear 1 and Ear Stick worth value for money, at least on paper.

Interestingly, though, both Ear 1 and ear stick cost very nearly the same in India. This makes the Ear Stick, in particular, a tad confusing to fathom considering that all things said and done, they are still a stripped-down version of the Ear 1. With exclusive features like active noise cancellation and wireless charging, the Ear 1 remains Nothing’s higher-tier product even after the Ear Stick launch. So it is obvious to pit the two against each other to see how the Ear 1 and Ear Stick stack up, in a broader sense.

Speaking of the design, Nothing says the Ear Stick earphones have an ultra-comfortable, lightweight and ergonomic design, its marquee design trait being its unique cylindrical case. The Ear 1s have a squared-out case. The Ear Sticks are lighter than Ear 1s overall.

The Ear Stick earbuds come with custom audio technology. Moreover, the Ear Sticks boast of 12.6mm drivers, up from 11.6mm in Ear 1. Users also get some new software tweaks, like Bass Lock and a new equalizer – to ensure minimum sound leaking for a seemingly more immersive audio experience.

Nothing has swapped touch controls in Ear 1 with press controls in the Ear Stick so as to cut down on accidental triggers.

For voice calls, the Ear Stick earbuds come with three high-definition mics, the same as the Ear 1, but Nothing says it is useful for updated algorithms to ‘filter out louder background noises, amplifying users’ voice for wind-proof and crowd-proof calls.” There is no active noise cancellation or ANC though, like the Ear 1.

Features

• TWS Earbuds
• In the Ear
• Wireless Headphones
• Bluetooth 5.2
• Microphone
• 10 m Range
• 20 Hz (Min) – 20 kHz (Max) Frequency Response
• 12.6 mm Driver

In India, the Ear Stick would sell for ₹8,499 which is the same as the Ear 1 black variant. We expect the price of Nothing Ear (Stick) to be NPR 17,000 if and when it launches in Nepal.

Apple is working on a dock for the iPad that would allow the device to function as a smart display and speaker according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. The company reportedly plans to introduce the capability as soon as next year, converting the iPad into a device that resembles a smart display, that you can set atop a counter or nightstand. Meanwhile, Apple will launch a new iPad Pro model powered by the new M2 chip that is also found on the company’s latest MacBook Air models that made their debut earlier this year. Meanwhile, Google recently announced a docking accessory for its upcoming Pixel Tablet, which is supposed to serve as both a magnetic charging station and speaker. Once the tablet is in place, it will function like a smart speaker with a display, with support for Google Assistant.

Meanwhile, Apple is poised to launch the iPad Pro before the end of this month, which is rumored to come with 11-inch and 12.9-inch display options codenamed J617 and J620. The tablet will be powered by Apple’s in-house M2 chip that debuted on the new MacBook Air models, according to Gurman.