As the holiday season approaches, the team at Tech Advisor reflects on the top tech products of the year. In the realm of budget tablets, various brands vied for the title of the best value slate, with Google notably absent from the competition. Samsung, Xiaomi, Lenovo, OnePlus, and others stepped up to the plate, each offering compelling options.
After careful consideration, Tech Advisor is pleased to announce the winner of the Best New Budget Tablet of 2025 award: the Xiaomi Redmi Pad 2. This sleek and affordable tablet has managed to outshine its competitors, offering a compelling alternative to the entry-level iPad.
Xiaomi’s Redmi Pad 2 boasts a large 11-inch screen with a crisp display and a smooth 90Hz refresh rate. The tablet delivers impressive performance, solid battery life, and quad speakers, making it a versatile device for various tasks. While it may have some minor drawbacks like slow charging and basic cameras, these shortcomings do not detract from its overall appeal.
a great tablet for just about any task
In the runner-up position is the Samsung Galaxy Tab A11, a worthy successor to the Tab A9. This compact tablet features a 90Hz screen, improved camera, and extended software support, all at a more affordable price point compared to its predecessor.
Rounding out the top three is the Apple iPad (A16), slightly exceeding the budget threshold but still a strong contender for its design, performance, and battery life. The A16 model now offers double the storage capacity, enhancing its value proposition.
Explore all our top picks for 2025.
