It’s a good day for educational tablets, provided you don’t mind them only being available overseas. Xiaomi’s Redmi Pad 2 Pro has gained a new Learning Edition version, which, like Samsung’s new announcement, adds a few extras.
These extras are similar to, but not quite, the kind of thing you’d get from a kiddies tablet. There’s a special case, but it’s less worried about impacts. There’s also special software, but it’s aimed at the sort of person with more prefrontal cortex development.
Pad 2 Pro: Beijing Drift
You don’t have to wait for Xiaomi to launch this version of the Redmi Pad 2 Pro here in South Africa, however. It’s already on sale locally (for R4,800), minus the educational extras that give this new version its title. The included folio case adds a slot for a stylus and a heavier clasp than is usual for these designs. The other addition is three years’ access to the Xiaomi Education Center VIP software suite, which includes an AI teacher of sorts.
It’s this inclusion that means we’ll probably never see the Learning Edition on sale in South Africa. The software looks to be tailored for the Chinese market. Until a compatible version for South Africa (or any other country, really) is made, this R6,600 bundle will remain out of reach.
But the standard Pad 2 Pro isn’t hard to get, and the hardware specs are the same. That means a 12.1in 1,600 x 2,560 IPS screen, a Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 chipset, 6GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage can be yours for around R2,000 less than the school-focused version. Sure, you don’t have a snazzy spot to stash your stylus, but you’ll also have a few extra bucks in your account.
But you’re also losing out on the China-exclusive Harry Potter version of the same tablet, with a Hogwarts-branded chassis and case and a magic wand-like sheath for the stylus. Not to mention the Marauder’s Map-themed tri-fold protective cover. That… might sting a little more.
