Design and Build Quality
The Realme Pad adopts a minimalist aesthetic with its unibody aluminum alloy construction, available in colors like Grey and Gold. At 6.9mm thick and weighing 440g for the Wi-Fi model, it feels surprisingly premium and is comfortable for single-handed use over extended periods. The symmetrical bezels surrounding the display contribute to a modern, balanced look.
- Samsung Galaxy Tab A8: Samsung opts for a full metal back, but the overall feel is less refined than the Realme Pad. It’s slightly thicker and heavier at 6.9mm and 508g, making it more noticeable during prolonged use. The design is functional and familiar but lacks the sleek sophistication of the Realme Pad.
- Xiaomi Pad 5: This is a significant step up in design language. With a flat metal frame and a matte glass back, the Xiaomi Pad 5 feels unequivocally premium, aligning more with Apple’s iPad Air than other budget options. It’s a heavier device at 511g, signaling its intent as a more powerful, stationary content consumption and productivity tool.
- Lenovo Tab P11 Plus: Lenovo uses an aluminum alloy frame with a plastic back that has a metallic coating. It’s a clever compromise, offering a solid feel while keeping weight down to 490g. The design is practical and includes a useful microSD slot, but it doesn’t exude the same level of craftsmanship as the Realme or Xiaomi.
Value Verdict: For pure build quality and in-hand feel at this price, the Realme Pad holds a slight edge over the Samsung and Lenovo, offering a surprisingly premium chassis. The Xiaomi Pad 5, however, is in a different league altogether for those willing to pay more.
Display Showdown: Media Consumption Clarity
The Realme Pad features a 10.4-inch WUXGA+ (2000×1200) IPS LCD with a peak brightness of 360 nits. It supports Widevine L1 for HD streaming on platforms like Netflix. The display is vibrant and sharp for everyday videos and browsing, though its color calibration can lean towards the cooler side.
- Samsung Galaxy Tab A8: Also sporting a 10.5-inch TFT LCD with a 1920×1200 resolution, the Tab A8’s display is comparable. However, its TFT panel can exhibit slightly less vibrant colors and poorer viewing angles compared to the IPS panels used by its rivals. It’s perfectly serviceable but not a standout feature.
- Xiaomi Pad 5: This is the undisputed champion in the display category. Its 11-inch 2.5K (2560×1600) IPS LCD supports a 120Hz refresh rate, Dolby Vision, and HDR10. The difference in sharpness, smoothness, and color vibrancy is night and day. For anyone who prioritizes a top-tier viewing and gaming experience, the Xiaomi Pad 5 is in a class of its own.
- Lenovo Tab P11 Plus: It boasts an 11-inch 2K (2000×1200) IPS LCD, making it a direct competitor to the Realme Pad in terms of sharpness. The larger canvas and good color reproduction make it excellent for reading and media. It lacks a high refresh rate but is a solid, high-quality panel.
Value Verdict: The Xiaomi Pad 5 offers unparalleled value for its display technology. If your budget is strictly constrained, the Realme Pad and Lenovo Tab P11 Plus provide very competent, sharp LCDs for the price.
Performance and Software: The Engine Room
The Realme Pad is powered by a MediaTek Helio G80 processor, paired with up to 6GB of RAM. This chipset is capable of handling daily tasks like social media, web browsing, and HD video streaming without significant hiccups. However, it can struggle with intensive multitasking or demanding games. It runs on Realme UI for Pad, a near-stock Android experience that is clean and bloatware-free, though it can be slow to receive major Android updates.
- Samsung Galaxy Tab A8: Housing a Unisoc Tiger T618 chipset, its performance is almost identical to the Helio G80. It’s a workhorse for basic tasks but shares the same limitations with heavier applications. Samsung’s key advantage is software; One UI offers a more feature-rich, desktop-like experience with better multitasking features and a longer, more reliable update promise, including multiple Android version upgrades.
- Xiaomi Pad 5: The Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 is a flagship-level processor from a previous generation, and it demolishes the competition in this segment. It delivers buttery-smooth performance, handles high-end gaming with ease, and offers a future-proofed experience. MIUI for Pad is highly customized with productivity-focused features like a PC-like taskbar and superior windowing, though it can be polarizing for those who prefer stock Android.
- Lenovo Tab P11 Plus: It uses a MediaTek Helio G90T, a marginally more powerful chip than the G80, particularly in GPU performance. The difference is noticeable but not transformative. Lenovo’s software is relatively clean and close to stock Android. A significant value proposition is its optional keyboard cover and stylus support (though not included), positioning it as a budget-friendly productivity device.
Value Verdict: For raw power, the Xiaomi Pad 5 provides the best performance-per-dollar by a massive margin. For a balanced, feature-rich software experience, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 holds strong value. The Realme Pad sits as the baseline for acceptable performance.
Battery Life and Audio
The Realme Pad packs a 7100mAh battery, which comfortably provides 1.5 to 2 days of moderate use. It supports 18W fast charging, though the included charger is slower. A standout feature is its quad-speaker setup with Dolby Atmos, which provides a rich, immersive, and surprisingly loud audio experience that outshines many competitors.
- Samsung Galaxy Tab A8: With a 7040mAh battery, its endurance is on par with the Realme Pad. It also supports Dolby Atmos but with a dual-speaker setup. The audio is clear but lacks the spatial depth and power of the Realme Pad’s quad-speaker system.
- Xiaomi Pad 5: Its 8720mAh battery is the largest in this group, easily delivering two full days of use. It supports 33W fast charging, a significant advantage. The quad-speakers, tuned by Dolby Atmos, are exceptional, arguably matching or even slightly surpassing the Realme Pad in clarity and depth.
- Lenovo Tab P11 Plus: The 7500mAh battery offers excellent longevity. It also features a quad-speaker system with Dolby Atmos, making it a direct challenger to the Realme Pad in the audio department, providing a similarly compelling media consumption experience.
Value Verdict: The Xiaomi Pad 5 wins on battery and charging speed. For audio prowess, the Realme Pad and Lenovo Tab P11 Plus are tied for the lead, offering fantastic sound quality that enhances media value.
Accessories and Ecosystem
This is a critical differentiator for user intent. The Realme Pad has a first-party Folio Keyboard and a stylus called the Realme Pencil. While functional, the ecosystem is new and the accessories can be hard to find, with the software integration not as mature as rivals.
- Samsung Galaxy Tab A8: Its accessory ecosystem is limited. It does not officially support a stylus like the S-Pen, and keyboard options are third-party. It’s not positioned as a productivity device.
- Xiaomi Pad 5: This is a major strength. Xiaomi offers a superb magnetic keyboard cover and a responsive, low-latency Xiaomi Smart Pen. Combined with the powerful hardware and optimized software, it creates a compelling pseudo-laptop replacement.
- Lenovo Tab P11 Plus: Lenovo leans into this aspect. It has an optional keyboard cover that transforms it into a laptop-like device and supports the Lenovo Precision Pen 2 (sold separately). This makes it one of the most versatile budget tablets for students or casual creators.
Value Verdict: For productivity and creativity, the Lenovo Tab P11 Plus and Xiaomi Pad 5 offer the most tangible value through their well-integrated, readily available accessory ecosystems.
Final Value Analysis: Which Tablet is for You?
| Feature | Realme Pad | Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 | Xiaomi Pad 5 | Lenovo Tab P11 Plus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Target User | Media Consumer on a Budget | Family & First-Time Users | Power User & Enthusiast | Student & Casual Creator |
| Key Strength | Premium Build & Superb Audio | Software & Update Promise | Unbeatable Performance & Display | Versatility & Accessory Support |
| Key Weakness | Middling Performance | Average Display & Audio | Higher Price Point | Performance not for Heavy Tasks |
| Overall Value | Excellent for Entertainment | Good for Reliability & Ease of Use | Superior for Performance | Best for Productivity on a Budget |
- Choose the Realme Pad if: Your primary use is consuming media—watching videos, browsing the web, and video calls. You value a sleek design and the best possible speakers in this price bracket and do not require intensive gaming or heavy multitasking.
- Choose the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 if: You are buying for a child, an elderly family member, or as a simple household tablet. You prioritize a trusted brand, a user-friendly interface, and long-term software support over raw specs or audio fidelity.
- Choose the Xiaomi Pad 5 if: Your budget is flexible and you refuse to compromise. You want a tablet that can do it all: flawless gaming, a stunning display for movies, serious multitasking, and credible productivity with its accessories. It is the definitive value champion for performance.
- Choose the Lenovo Tab P11 Plus if: You see a tablet as a potential laptop replacement for note-taking, writing, and light creative work. You want the flexibility of a keyboard and stylus without breaking the bank, and are willing to accept a performance level that is capable but not exceptional.