Realme Pad 2 Review: A Stylish Upgrade With All the Essentials

Realme has only released two tablet devices since its inception in 2018. The Realme Pad 2 is the brand’s second tablet, and it improves on the prior model in terms of performance and design. It also includes cellular connectivity, making it a one-of-a-kind product in the sub-Rs. 20,000 tablet sector, which is dominated by low-cost tablets that lack this functionality. There’s also faster charging and a display with a 120 Hz refresh rate. More crucially, the base edition includes 6GB of RAM and software that has been optimized for a wide-screen experience. But has Realme cut any corners to achieve a tablet at this low price, and can it genuinely compete with the recently announced Redmi Pad in terms of performance? Let’s find out.

Price of Realme Pad 2 in India

The Realme Pad 2’s base edition costs Rs. 19,999 in India and comes with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The most expensive option has 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage and costs Rs. 22,999. Both variations come equipped with LTE connectivity, so the extra premium over the older model is warranted, especially when you consider the additional changes it provides.

Design of the Realme Pad 2

The tablet comes in two colors: Imagination Grey and Inspiration Green. As one can tell, Realme is targeting both of these products towards the youth market, and the brilliant green unit we received for review looks invigorating, even if the build and materials used are comparable

The Realme Pad 2 has a metal frame with flat sides and a chassis with a polycarbonate insert that occupies roughly a fourth of the back surface. When held horizontally, the plastic band lies on the top half of the gadget and runs from edge to edge (including the frame), with the huge camera module at one end. All of the antennas required for radio transmission are conveniently hidden beneath the insert. The camera hump, while noticeable, does not protrude significantly and does not cause the tablet to wobble when placed on a level surface.

Because there are no joints or antenna gaps as a result of this basic design approach, it feels fairly premium and is quite compact (7.2mm). I really appreciated the perforations on the four speaker grilles, which are simple and unobtrusive. A huge 11.5-inch LCD panel with a slim bezel all around and rounded corner cuts complements Realme’s software interface.

The Realme Pad 2, like the previous generation, does not include any supplementary attachments. It’s unclear why the Pad doesn’t even come with a basic kickstand folio cover, but it does suggest that the company doesn’t anticipate its tablet being used for anything other than video consumption. Because there is no available case or stand, I had to always hold the tablet up or at an angle when watching content or navigating its interface. With a weight of 518g, it was difficult to hold this tablet at the required angle, especially while watching movies or shows.

Specifications and software for the Realme Pad 2

The Realme Pad 2 is powered by a 6nm MediaTek Helio G99 SoC and has previously been offered in a number of low-cost smartphones. This list also contains the Redmi Pad, which is the key competitor to this gadget. Wi-Fi AC, Bluetooth 5.2, support for several LTE bands, and the normal satellite global positioning systems are among the communication technologies.

There is no headphone jack for individuals who want to plug in their headphones. However, you do get a SIM card tray with enough room for one SIM card and one microSD card, as well as compatibility for up to 1TB of storage. The tablet features an 8,360mAh battery that can be charged with the included 33W charger.

I was also startled to see no type of secure biometric authentication for a tablet priced less than Rs. 20,000. The Realme Pad 2, like the previous generation, lacks a fingerprint scanner, and the only option to unlock the tablet without entering a passcode is to utilize the 2D face unlock. While this is not a secure method of unlocking any personal device, it did function effectively in most lighting settings, with the exception of complete darkness.

The software interface would be an enhancement over the earlier Realme Pad. It is not a ‘light’ or pared-down version of the conventional Realme UI interface featured on some of the company’s entry-level devices, which include the prior generation. The new Realme Pad 2 receives the full treatment, including all of the personalization tools that one would expect from its smartphones, as well as some extras. This includes a bottom dock that displays pinned and recently launched apps that are now running in the background. However, the dock’s utility is confined to the home screen because it is not available anywhere else in the UI or can be summoned using third-party programs.

Unlike most other Realme smartphones and tablets at this price point, the Realme Pad 2 came with no bloatware and only one preinstalled third-party software (Facebook), which can be deleted.

Despite the lack of officially approved accessories, this tablet-optimized version of Realme UI has complete touchpad support (under Additional Settings) as well as full support for gestures similar to those found on a standard trackpad. There are also the standard features, such as the ability to run two apps in split-screen with one additional app that may be launched in a pop-up window, allowing one to have three apps on display at the same time.

Realme Pad 2 performance

This tablet allows for good multitasking. I was able to maintain five Chrome tabs open at the same time as the YouTube app displayed reels side by side in split-screen mode. It is also possible to open a floating window while performing all of this, and the system appears to handle it well, with some lag when drawing big web pages.

Regardless of the tablet’s superb software performance for a cheap tablet, I liked the aspect ratio of this broad panel. It is perfect for content consumption and has enough space to run split-screen programs side by side. Thankfully, Realme has added Widevine L1 support, allowing me to stream and watch full-HD video material on this tablet. The display has good outdoor visibility, although When viewed at an angle, the contrast decreases. At the same time, the display isn’t the sharpest (considering its resolution and size), and its MEMC high-refresh rate system can be jerky while scrolling or switching between videos and apps.

In terms of benchmarks, the tablet performed as predicted, managing scores comparable to those of inexpensive smartphones at this price point. The Realme Pad 2 received 4,29,907 points in AnTuTu and 726 and 1,975 points in Geekbench’s single and multi-core tests, respectively. In GFXBench’s Manhattan 3.1, T-Rex, and Car Chase test suites, the tablet achieved 25 fps, 55 fps, and 15 fps, respectively.

The MediaTek Helio G99 isn’t a performance monster, but it’s adequate for day-to-day tasks. Despite boasting a 120Hz refresh display rate, this tablet is better suited for casual games than graphics-heavy titles. I tried Asphalt 9: Legends, and it performed quite fine with the normal settings, but with a few skipped frames and moderate stuttering.

What I enjoyed about the gaming and video viewing experience was the sound, which has improved over the previous model’s basic dual speaker system. When compared to the previous generation, the sound is noticeably stronger and more immersive. Dolby Atmos compatibility is also included with the tablet.

For a low-cost tablet, the battery life is adequate. The Realme Pad 2 performed admirably in our normal battery loop video test, lasting 26 hours and 13 minutes. With or without a SIM card, it can easily last 2 days with heavy use and 3 days with light use, which is adequate for a thin tablet. With the addition of LTE connectivity, it becomes a dependable road warrior capable of providing uninterrupted entertainment (for OTT apps) or communication (video calls, etc.) while on the move. Its larger battery also means that it will survive significantly longer than any smartphone in your pocket.

In terms of charging, the 33W charger charged the tablet to 33% in 30 minutes,That’s not terrible for a tablet.

Verdict

In general, the Realme Pad 2 retains the same form and functionality as the prior model. It is best used as a media consumption device only. Realme squandered an opportunity to use the tablet as a light productivity gadget by failing to launch a keyboard accessory alongside it. It also cannot be used to scribble on because it lacks stylus capabilities.

The Realme Pad 2, on the other hand, improves on the shortcomings of its predecessor by adding a high-refresh rate display, an upgraded processor, and cellular connectivity to its feature list. It’s difficult to find something comparable on the market at Rs. 19,999. Its main competitors are the Redmi Pad (Review) and the Oppo Pad Air (Review), which are slightly cheaper but lack cellular connectivity and have smaller displays and batteries.