Realme Pad X Review: A Solid Tablet Undermined by Costly Accessories

Realme Pad X Review: A Solid Tablet Undermined by Costly Accessories

The Realme Pad X positions itself as a versatile tablet for both work and entertainment, featuring a compatible keyboard and stylus. While the tablet itself performs well, the high cost and limited utility of its accessories raise questions about overall value.

Design and Build

The tablet measures 7.1mm thick and weighs 499 grams, offering a balanced and comfortable feel. Its polycarbonate construction keeps the weight manageable, though the glossy back tends to show fingerprints. The lack of a headphone jack is a notable omission.

Display and Audio

The 11-inch 2K IPS LCD delivers vibrant colors and solid brightness at 450 nits, though the 60Hz refresh rate feels sluggish compared to modern standards. The tablet boasts Widevine L1 certification for HD streaming and a quad-speaker Dolby Atmos setup that produces rich, loud audio with clear separation between vocals and instruments.

Battery Life

With an 8340mAh battery, the Pad X manages approximately 7-7.5 hours of active use daily, including streaming, gaming, and browsing. However, charging takes around 3 hours using the included 33W adapter.

Performance

Powered by the Snapdragon 695 5G chipset, the tablet handles everyday tasks like web browsing and social media smoothly. However, multitasking can reveal occasional stutters, and the device exhibits some memory management issues despite 6GB of RAM and 5GB of virtual RAM.

Software

Running Android 12 with Realme UI 3.0, the tablet features an improved interface with customized icons, an app drawer, and enhanced settings. New utilities include split-screen multitasking via a two-finger swipe and a floating window sidebar, similar to features found in Realme smartphones.

Camera

The 8MP front camera includes a “Limelight” feature that keeps users centered during video calls, comparable to Apple's Center Stage. However, this functionality is currently limited to Google Duo, Meet, and Zoom. The 13MP rear camera is adequate for basic tasks like note-taking but does not excel in photography.

Accessories

The official Realme Smart Keyboard retails for Rs. 5,000 and offers decent key travel and a folio case design, but its utility is limited by the lack of multi-angle support and the tablet’s interface constraints. The Realme Pencil stylus, priced at Rs. 5,499, suffered from inconsistent performance in our testing, producing uneven lines and dots. Third-party alternatives proved more reliable, undermining the value of the official accessory.

Verdict

As a standalone device, the Realme Pad X is a solid choice with a strong display, impressive battery, and rich audio. However, when paired with its pricey and underwhelming accessories, the overall value proposition weakens. For users seeking a more powerful experience, alternatives like the Xiaomi Pad 5 or the 9th Gen iPad offer superior performance and features at a comparable price point. We recommend the Wi-Fi-only variant for those interested, as the 5G model’s added cost further diminishes its value compared to competitors.