Xiaomi's new Android tablet could be an iPad killer

Three Xiaomi Redmi Pad's, showing two of the finish options and one of the screen, on a white background — (Image credit: SnoopyTech)

Make no mistake: the iPad is the gold standard when it comes to tablet technology. Apple's devices are some of the best tablets money can buy, making it a tough call for users looking for an Android tablet that can keep up.

That's changing though, with new options coming out thick and fast that can rival the premium devices in the Apple line up.

Xiaomi Redmi Pad: key features

The Redmi Pad will ship with a 10.6 inch LCD display with a resolution of 2000 x 1200. It's a tad less wide than iPad equivalents, too. The display will feature a 90Hz refresh rate with 400 nits of brightness on offer and a 1500:1 contrast ratio.

Three colour options are on offer, with the standard grey and slightly-different-grey that have become tech product 101, joined by a fetching shade of green. That won't be a make-or-break feature, but it's nice to have on a budget tablet.

Inside, the Redmi Pad features a MediaTek Helio G99 chipset. RAM will be either 3GB or 4GB and storage will come in 64GB or 128GB options. The 128GB could be the real jewel here, as Apple's chose to forego it on their own base model, offering 64GB or 256GB as the options. An 8,000mAh battery should be more than capable of powering a full day of usage, too.

8MP cameras front and back take care of your photography and videography needs, with FocusFrame technology on the front to keep people in view when using the selfie camera. That sounds eerily similar to Apple's Centre Stage functionality which the iPad 10.2-inch misses out on.

But the real star of the spec sheet is a Dolby Atmos certified four-speaker array, which will take care of all the Redmi Pad's audio requirements. That's a substantial feature for a tablet which could retail for less than a fortnight's fuel and I'd expect audiophiles on the lookout for a budget-friendly tablet to be all over this.

Can't wait for the Xiaomi Redmi Pad?

Sam Cross is an award-winning journalist, with nine years of experience in the media industry. His work can be found in publications as diverse as Oracle Time, Metro and Last Word on Sports.

Here at T3, Sam is best known as the brand’s go-to guy for all things luxurious – from exquisite watches to fine fragrances; the latest performance vehicles to intricate audio equipment, and more.

He’s often found travelling around the world to test new launches, complete with high-end backpacks and suitcases in tow. And when he’s not adding to his air miles, Sam can be found in front of a video camera, bringing his distinctive brand of storytelling to T3’s social media channels.

Sam also loves all things analogue including listening to music on vinyl or cassette, and photography on vintage film cameras.