Realme Pad – the brand’s first ever tablet – arrives in Europe
Realme launched its first tablet in India back in September, and now the device is finally coming to Europe. The Realme Pad is a budget slate with basic specs, although it’s clear the company is focusing on entertainment rather than productivity. That’s reflected in the price – starting at €239, it’s one of the cheapest Android tablets you can buy.
All models are powered by MediaTek’s Helio G80, a chipset designed with casual gaming in mind. However, that entry-level configuration is combined with a Mali-G52 GPU and just 3GB of RAM – anything more than basic titles is likely to be a struggle. Stepping up to 4GB (€259) or 6GB (€289) makes more sense if you’re serious about gaming on the go, although only the top-spec model has the option for 4G support (€309). Storage ranges from 32GB to 128GB, although the device supports microSD expansion up to 1TB.
The design of the Realme Pad has clearly been inspired by the iPad, although none of Apple’s slates feature a 10.4in display. This LCD panel has a resolution of 1200×2000, giving it an unusual 5:3 aspect ratio. Relatively slim bezels make for an 80.02% screen-to-body ratio, although there’s room for an 8Mp selfie camera with a wide 105° field of view. The rear sensor is a more standard 8Mp lens, although there’s no ultrawide or telephoto here.
However, you do still get quad stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos support, alongside a 3.5mm headphone jack for wired audio. There’s also a generous 7100mAh battery, which Realme says will last for 12 hours of video playback. There’s also 18W fast charging via the USB-C port, but the size of the battery means a full charge will still take a while.
Then there’s the issue of software, an area in which Android tablets often struggle. The Realme Pad runs Realme UI for Pad over Android 11, creating a user experience that the company says was “designed specifically for entertainment”. However, it’s not clear just how different this is to the software experience on Realme phones. The status surrounding a potential future update toAndroid 12is also unknown.
The Realme Pad arrives in Europe alongside themid-range GT Neo 2 smartphone, a device which was also previously exclusive to Asia. Its affordability could make it a good alternative to the iPad or Galaxy Tab lines, provided performance is up to scratch. However, UK pricing and specific release date information is still to be confirmed.
Related articles for further reading
Author: Anyron Copeman, Mobile Editor, Tech Advisor
Anyron is Mobile Editor at Tech Advisor, where he’s been a mainstay of the editorial team since 2019. In his current role, Anyron is responsible for all smartphone, tablet and mobile network coverage on the site. A BA Journalism graduate, he has experience with a wide range of consumer tech products and services, including smartphones, tablets, foldables, wearables and more.
