Compact tablets are finding new life in 2025 smaller form factors, lighter weight, easier to carry, and ideal for media, reading or light productivity. Enter the Redmi Pad SE 8.7, a budget-friendly tablet from Xiaomi that promises a lot for the low cost segment. With an 8.7-inch display, a 90Hz refresh rate panel, and a modest hardware package, it sets out to carve a niche among affordable tablets.
In this review I’ll walk through its design, display, performance, battery, and more and help you decide if it’s the right pick for you.
Pros – Cons & Verdict
Pros
- Compact and lightweight form (8.7″ size, 370g)
- Smooth display thanks to 90Hz refresh
- Strong battery life for the price
- Good audio & 3.5mm headphone jack included
- Excellent value for entertainment/reading/light use
Cons
- HD+ resolution is less sharp than full FHD competitors
- Processor is modest won’t match premium tablets for heavy tasks
- Camera performance is basic
- Accessory/keyboard/stylus support is limited or extras cost more
Verdict
Yes if your needs align with reading, streaming, note taking and general use, this tablet makes a lot of sense. If you need premium specs or accessory ecosystem, look a tier up.
Design and Build Quality
The Redmi Pad SE 8.7 measures 211.58 × 125.48 × 8.8 mm and weighs around 370 g in some listings (others list 373g) which is quite light for a tablet.
It uses an aluminium like unibody (or metal alloy) shell in a minimalist style, and the thin bezels and compact size make it comfortable to hold one-handed or in a small bag.
In terms of ports and layout it includes a USB-C port, a 3.5 mm headphone jack, speakers (more on sound later), and physical buttons along the edge. The weight and form factor make it one of the more portable tablets at this size.
The finish is clean, Xiaomi hasn’t tried anything flashy, and that’s fine they’ve focused on portability and practicality. If you’re someone who travels or uses a tablet in cafés, the build and size are definite positives.
Display Experience
One of the highlights the 8.7-inch LCD panel with a resolution of 1340 × 800 (HD+) and a refresh rate of up to 90 Hz. The panel claims 500 nits typical brightness and up to 600 nits in outdoor mode. Colour depth is described as 10-bit with “1 billion colours” in the specs.
How that translates to real-world use: scrolling through feeds, reading e-books, watching video all feel smoother than a basic 60 Hz display. Outdoor visibility is decent thanks to the 600 nits claim, though in very bright sunlight the LCD panel still lags premium OLEDs. Colour accuracy is acceptable for everyday tasks, though if you’re doing colour critical photo editing you’ll notice the limitations.
For streaming shows or casual gaming, the 8.7″ size strikes a good balance big enough for immersive viewing, small enough to carry easily. If you’re comparing to other tablets around this price, the higher refresh rate is a plus. On the flip side: resolution remains HD+ range (not full FHD or higher) so text or UI may appear slightly less sharp compared to premium tablets.
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Performance and Hardware
Under the hood the Redmi Pad SE 8.7 is powered by a MediaTek Helio G85 (12nm process) octa-core chip (2× 2.0GHz A75 + 6× 1.8GHz A55) and Mali-G52 MC2 GPU. For memory/storage: variants include 4GB RAM + 64GB storage, 4GB +128GB, even 6GB +128GB depending on region. Storage is eMMC (not UFS) in many cases.
In daily use it handles browsing, streaming, light multitasking fairly smoothly. Apps launch quickly, switching between tabs is okay, and the 90Hz display helps with perceived smoothness.
However, this is not a powerhouse chip if you push into heavier gaming (graphically intense titles), extensive multitasking with dozens of apps, or high-end productivity workflows, you will start to hit limitations.
Thermal management: the tablet remains cool in light use. Under sustained usage (e.g., gaming plus streaming) performance may dip slightly, but nothing dramatic especially given the price point.
For media consumption, reading, social apps, the hardware is entirely adequate. For heavy workloads, you’ll need to temper expectations.
Software and User Experience
The tablet runs HyperOS on top of Android (version varies by region). Xiaomi has added a set of features designed for tablets split-screen, floating windows, reading mode, and more.
In my experience the software is fluid, the UI clean and responsive. There are some pre-installed apps (as with many budget devices) but nothing terribly intrusive. Updates can vary by region so it’s worth checking local support.
For students, casual users, travellers: the software offers a pleasant experience, especially given the price. The only caveat: if you want enterprise-level features, advanced accessory support (keyboard docks, stylus with high latency), biometrics under-screen, those may be missing or limited.
Camera System
On the rear there’s an 8 MP f/2.0 shooter; on the front a 5 MP f/2.2 sensor. For a tablet in this class, the cameras are functional and not outstanding.
Daylight shots are okay for casual snaps, document capture or social sharing. In low light, quality drops off. For video calls the front 5 MP does the job fine; you’ll look presentable on Zoom or Google Meet, though don’t expect studio-level clarity.
Audio, Connectivity & Extra Features
Audio dual speakers with support for Dolby Atmos are included. The sound is clear and reasonably loud, especially for this price range. Good for media consumption.
Other connectivity: WiFi (dual-band 802.11 ac), Bluetooth 5.3, USB-C, 3.5mm headphone jack. MicroSD-card slot is supported in some regions (up to 2 TB expandability) according to official specs.
I appreciate the inclusion of the headphone jack many budget tablets omit it. The build gives you typical features you’d want for a general-purpose tablet.
Battery Life and Charging
Battery 6,650 mAh (typical) according to Xiaomi. Charging: supports up to 18W wired charging though adapter quality may vary by region.
In practical use: you can expect a full day of use with mixed activities (streaming video, casual browsing, reading). For lighter usage you may stretch into a second day. Charging time is respectable thanks to 18W support but it’s not blazing fast compared to premium tablets with 30W+ or wireless charging.
For the category and price, battery life is a strong point here.
Price, Variants & Availability
The Redmi Pad SE 8.7 is priced very competitively. Region-specific pricing varies, but many markets list it in the sub-$200 bracket for the base variant. Storage/RAM variants include 4GB/64GB, 4GB/128GB, and 6GB/128GB depending on region. Colour options may vary (Graphite Gray, Sky Blue, Aurora Green).
In the box you typically get the tablet, USB-C cable, charger (region-dependent wattage), quick start guide, and sometimes an SD ejector tool. Accessories (keyboard, stylus) are optional and may not be official; cost adds up if you want full productivity use.
In the value segment, this tablet stands out as a very accessible option.
Final Verdict
If you’re looking for a compact, affordable tablet in 2025 for media, reading, casual browsing and light productivity, the Redmi Pad SE 8.7 is one of the best bets in its class. Its portability, smooth display, decent battery life and very friendly price make it ideal for students, casual users, travellers or anyone who doesn’t need the top-end performance of premium tablets.
However, if you plan on doing heavy gaming, high-resolution content creation, or demanding multitasking, you may want to consider spending more for stronger hardware and higher resolution. But for what it is, a value oriented tablet with strong everyday usability the Redmi Pad SE 8.7 delivers more than you’d expect for the money.