There’s a growing shift toward larger displays in the Android tablet landscape, with 12-inch, 13-inch, and even 14-inch tablets becoming increasingly common. However, compact high-performance tablets remain few and far between. Redmi’s newly launched K Pad stands out by breaking this trend. It features an 8.8-inch high-refresh-rate LCD screen combined with MediaTek’s top-tier Dimensity 9400+ processor. This blend of compact size, powerful performance, and smooth display makes it a compelling option in a market saturated with large devices. The Redmi K Pad strikes a sweet spot with its 8.8-inch form factor. It’s slightly larger than the iPad Mini, yet the device remains just 132.03mm wide—slim enough to slip into men’s pockets or women’s smaller handbags with ease, making it highly portable without sacrificing screen real estate.
Interestingly, its display size is roughly equivalent to a traditional 32-page book. According to Redmi, this hits the ideal balance between portability and immersive viewing. Whether binge-watching on the go, reading during a commute, or gaming at home, the K Pad offers a large-screen experience in a compact shell.
The display also includes Xiaomi’s proprietary Qingshan eye-care technology. It supports full-brightness DC dimming, eliminates flickering by design, and automatically adjusts color temperature based on the time of day, surrounding lighting, and app activity, making it easier on the eyes compared to many OLED alternatives.
At the heart of the device is the MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ flagship chipset. Built on a next-gen “four super cores + four performance cores” CPU architecture, it can reach clock speeds of up to 3.73GHz and features the Rage Engine 4.0. This places the K Pad’s performance firmly in the top tier of the current tablet market.
Powering it all is a robust 7500mAh battery, which has been certified to retain at least 80% of its capacity even after 1,800 charge cycles—translating to around four years of consistent use. Fast charging is also onboard, with support for 67W charging speeds.
Redmi also introduces a practical innovation with the K Pad: a dual USB-C port layout. This makes charging seamless regardless of device orientation—portrait or landscape—and opens up multiple use cases. Whether it’s simultaneous charging and headphone use, connecting gaming controllers, or plugging in dual peripherals, this setup adds welcome flexibility.
Up next, we’ll dive deeper into how the K Pad leverages its hardware and software tuning to deliver a flagship-level experience in a small form factor—and whether it might just be the perfect solution for those seeking compact power in the Android tablet space.
Design
The REDMI K Pad features a matte-finish rear panel that offers a refined tactile feel while resisting fingerprint smudges effectively. We reviewed the Smoky Purple variant, which exudes a calm, elegant aesthetic. Its seamless all-metal unibody design enhances both the visual and tactile experience. Minimalistic and stylish, it reflects craftsmanship and attention to detail.
The rear camera setup is understated, lacking any elaborate Deco elements. A subtle racetrack-style ring beneath it hints at the device’s performance potential. At the back, the tablet houses a 13MP primary camera, accompanied by an LED flash to the right and a microphone placed at the bottom.
The device boasts an 8.8-inch LCD, which strikes a balance between portability and functionality, making it comfortable to use with one hand. With a 16:10 aspect ratio—ideal for media consumption—the display offers an immersive viewing experience. It supports a 165Hz refresh rate for fluid visuals, particularly in gaming scenarios. In gaming mode, the touch sampling rate can peak at 372Hz, ensuring responsive input and smooth interactions, whether for streaming or gaming.
On the front, the tablet includes an 8MP selfie camera. Along the frame, the tablet is equipped with dual 2016*2 speakers featuring the industry’s first dual voice coil system. This setup expands the vibrating surface of both the coil and diaphragm, resulting in a 15% reduction in thickness and a 78% boost in vibration amplitude. This elevates the audio output among compact tablets, delivering rich, full-bodied sound that enhances both video and gaming experiences.
A dedicated USB port for charging is located on the side, supporting Bypass Charging Plus. Though this port doesn’t allow for data transfer, Bypass Charging Plus enables simultaneous power delivery to the motherboard and battery, maintaining optimal thermal performance. It also adjusts the charging current dynamically based on temperature, ensuring efficient and heat-controlled charging.
With dual USB ports, users—especially gamers—can enjoy greater flexibility without the interference of data cables. Additionally, the K Pad incorporates two large 0815 X-axis linear motors arranged symmetrically. This dual-motor system provides consistent and powerful haptic feedback, increasing steady-state vibration by 150% compared to single-motor configurations.
When it comes to display, audio, haptics, and overall user experience, the REDMI K Pad stands out among performance tablets in its size category. Packed with an 8.8-inch high refresh rate screen and powered by the Dimensity 9400+ processor, the REDMI K Pad is a dream device for fans of compact yet powerful tablets. It also includes a 67W fast charger right in the box.
Hardware and Performance
As REDMI’s debut high-performance compact tablet, the REDMI K Pad comes fully equipped with flagship-level hardware, featuring the powerful Dimensity 9400+ chipset, paired with 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.1 storage.
What sets it apart is its innovative central SoC layout, similar to that used in Apple’s iPad. This central positioning not only ensures a balanced and symmetrical thermal structure but also smartly shifts the heat source away from where users typically hold the device. It’s the first Android tablet to adopt this architecture, addressing long-standing issues of thermal discomfort and performance throttling in smaller tablets.
Thanks to this design, the REDMI K Pad delivers sustained performance under heavy workloads while keeping the device comfortable to hold, solving the common dual challenge of overheating and performance dips.
To further enhance thermal management, it integrates a massive 12,050mm² liquid-cooled vapor chamber (VC) made from aluminum alloy — the largest of its kind in the segment — along with REDMI’s own Rage Engine 4.0. Together, these components enable a consistent 10W power output, ensuring smooth and prolonged gaming sessions.
Performance Benchmark
AnTuTu V10 Results:
In synthetic testing, the K Pad achieved an impressive total score of 2.868 million. This includes a CPU score of 589,400 and a GPU score of 1.1979 million — putting it among the top-performing Android tablets available today.
Gaming Performance
Three popular games were selected to evaluate real-world gaming: Honor of Kings, Genshin Impact, and Honkai Impact 3. These games represent low, medium, and high processing loads, respectively. All games were tested under identical conditions: 25°C indoor temperature, maximum graphics settings, and frame rate priority enabled. Metrics such as frame rate, power draw, efficiency, and surface temperature were closely monitored.
1. Honor of Kings
This lighter MOBA title was run at 120 FPS with ultra graphics during a 5v5 battle scenario. The K Pad maintained an average of 119.9 FPS with negligible fluctuation (0.1 FPS), consuming just 4.29W on average. The energy efficiency was outstanding at 27.95 FPS/W. Post-game, the back of the device peaked at just 34.1°C.
2. Genshin Impact
For a medium-load test, Genshin Impact was played with the highest graphics settings and motion blur disabled. A 15-minute run through the Sumeru City map at 1200×1920 resolution delivered a steady 59.9 FPS, with only 0.2 FPS of variation. Power consumption was around 6.16W. Despite the high demands, surface temperatures reached only 38.1°C, mainly concentrated at the center, away from hand placement zones.
3. Honkai Impact 3
Pushing the device further, Honkai Impact 3 was tested at peak graphical settings for 15 minutes. The K Pad averaged 59.3 FPS, with some fluctuations that didn’t noticeably impact gameplay fluidity. Power usage rose to 7.93W. Maximum temperature hit 42.3°C — considerably cooler than many flagship smartphones, with heat centered and not affecting grip areas too much.
This effective thermal control is attributed to the central SoC layout, which disperses heat outward from the middle. Combined with the expansive VC cooling module and Rage Engine 4.0, the K Pad maintains both thermal comfort and high performance, even during demanding gameplay on hot summer days. Players can enjoy top-tier gaming without the discomfort of overheating.
Battery Performance
The REDMI K Pad is powered by a high-capacity 7500mAh battery built for longevity. Even after 1,800 full charge cycles, it retains over 80% of its original capacity, promising up to four years of consistent use. It also features support for 67W fast charging for quick top-ups.
A standout feature of the K Pad is the introduction of Xiaomi’s first dual USB-C port configuration. This innovative layout allows users to charge the tablet without needing to adjust its position during landscape usage, such as while gaming, enhancing overall convenience.
Another highlight is the Bypass Charging Plus system. This function powers both the device and the battery simultaneously, while intelligently adjusting current flow based on temperature. When activated during gaming, it keeps the battery topped up discreetly, ensuring an uninterrupted and smooth user experience.
Charging Test Results
In practical testing, the REDMI K Pad was charged from 1% to 19% in just 10 minutes with the screen off. It reached 49% in 30 minutes and achieved a full charge in approximately 65 minutes. Thanks to the 67W fast charging support, the large battery charges rapidly and efficiently.
To assess battery endurance, the K Pad underwent rigorous testing using Battery Dog, a professional tool developed by Fast Technology. The test included high-load scenarios such as CPU stress, multitasking, AI recognition, image and video viewing, and internet browsing—closely replicating real-world usage.
To maintain consistency across tests, Battery Dog standardizes conditions by setting the screen brightness to 50%, disabling auto-brightness, and fixing the volume at 30%.
Under these settings, the REDMI K Pad operated continuously for 6 hours and 6 minutes before dropping from a full charge to 20%. This data suggests an overall battery life of over 7.5 hours under mixed-use conditions.
Conclusion
For years, the iPad mini has dominated the compact tablet market, leveraging Apple’s ecosystem and brand recognition to remain the top choice for many users.
However, it’s not without limitations. One key drawback is the 60Hz refresh rate, which Apple has maintained to distinguish product tiers. This restriction means that, despite the iPad mini’s powerful A-series processor, users can’t fully enjoy high frame rate gaming—a major letdown for performance enthusiasts.
Enter the Redmi K Pad, offering a notable leap forward with its 165Hz refresh rate. This upgrade ensures smooth visuals across daily tasks, multimedia consumption, and gaming. The device features an 8.8-inch LCD panel with 3K resolution and supports full-brightness DC dimming, effectively addressing flicker at the hardware level. It also intelligently adjusts color temperature based on time, surroundings, and app usage to reduce blue light and enhance eye comfort.
Performance-wise, the K Pad is equipped with the MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ processor. Its new central SoC architecture places the heat source away from hand contact zones, improving both user comfort and thermal management.
Gamers will appreciate the inclusion of Rage Engine 4.0, which optimizes task allocation to high-efficiency cores, minimizing power usage and enhancing frame rate stability. In real-world testing, the tablet delivers nearly full-frame performance in titles like Honor of Kings, Genshin Impact, and Honkai Impact 3. Complemented by dual symmetrical four-coil speakers and large X-axis linear motors, the audio-visual experience is fully immersive.
The K Pad is powered by a substantial 7500mAh battery, supports 67W fast charging, and uniquely offers dual USB-C ports, ensuring comfort in both vertical and horizontal use. It also introduces Bypass Charging Plus, which charges both the battery and motherboard simultaneously, intelligently adjusting current based on temperature to maintain optimal performance and safety.
Another standout feature is its compatibility with Apple devices, allowing seamless transfer of photos and files from an iPad mini. It also supports Keynote, Pages, Numbers, and PC-grade apps like CAJ, CAD, and WPS Office, making it practical for occasional work tasks.
For users looking for a compact tablet outside the Apple ecosystem, the Redmi K Pad stands out as the strongest iPad mini alternative. It matches flagship-level performance while delivering more display fluidity and battery endurance, making it a top-tier choice in the small tablet category.
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