OnePlus Pad review: feature-packed tablet with a sleek design

• The OnePlus Pad is the first tablet from the Chinese smartphone maker in India.
• It comes with support for the OnePlus Magnetic Keyboard and the Stylo.
• Here is my review of the OnePlus Pad that will help you decide whether to buy the device.

OnePlus recently launched its first tablet, the OnePlus Pad, in India. The tablet is based on the Oppo Pad that was launched in China in 2022. With this, the company has entered the tablet segment in India, which is currently led by Lenovo, Apple, and Samsung.

The OnePlus Pad has been placed in the mid-range segment but offers premium features, including a flagship chipset, a large battery, and a sleek design.

I have been using the OnePlus Pad for a few days now, and here is my detailed review of the first tablet from the Chinese smartphone maker.

OnePlus Pad price in India

The OnePlus Pad has been priced at ₹37,999 for the 8GB RAM + 128GB storage variant and ₹39,999 for the 12GB RAM + 256GB storage variant. The OnePlus Pad is available from Amazon, Flipkart, OnePlus online store, Reliance Digital, Croma, and OnePlus authorised stores across the country.

The OnePlus Pad comes in a single Halo Green colour option.

OnePlus Pad accessories

The OnePlus Pad is available with three accessories, including a regular case, a keyboard and a stylus.

• OnePlus Magnetic Keyboard – ₹7,999
• OnePlus Stylo – ₹4,999
• OnePlus Folio Case – ₹1,499

I tested the OnePlus Magnetic Keyboard and the OnePlus Stylo. The Magnetic Keyboard and the Stylo offer excellent build quality and look good. The Stylus connects instantly and is very responsive.

The keyboard feels good to type on and is very similar to the keyboard of a traditional laptop. If you are someone who often has to type a lot but do not wish to carry a laptop, the OnePlus Pad, along with the Magnetic Keyboard, which is lightweight, is a good option.

The Stylo also has impressive pressure sensitivity and precision, so it's a worthy investment if you are a designer or someone who has to take notes regularly.

OnePlus Pad specifications

OnePlus Pad pros and cons

Pros

• Sleek design with stylish accessories
• Long battery life with fast charge support

Cons

• Lack of 4G or 5G variant
• Average cameras

Design and display

OnePlus has always been good with designs, especially for its premium devices. The OnePlus Pad is no exception and comes with a sleek design. It comes with an aluminium alloy body and is built using brushed metal.

The device comes in a single Halo Green colour option. While it would have been better if OnePlus offered more colour choices, I liked the Halo Green colour.

Its minimalistic design has a circular camera module at the back, an LED, and the OnePlus branding in the middle. Apart from this, there’s nothing at the back. Thanks to its metallic body, you don’t have to worry about fingerprint smudges.

The volume rockers have been placed considering that the tablet will be used vertically and horizontally. The volume rockers are on the right when held vertically and on the top when used horizontally. The power button is on the top when held vertically and on the left side when held horizontally. I had no issues using the volume rockers and the power button.

OnePlus fans will be disappointed that the device does not have an alert slider. While this may have been done as the device does not support 4G or 5G, it still would have been good to have the alert slider.

The tablet is equipped with quad speakers, on the top and bottom when held vertically and on the left and right sides when placed horizontally. The device comes with a USB Type-C port for charging.

Coming to the display, it features an 11.6-inch 2.8K 2.5D LCD panel with a unique 7:5 aspect ratio and a 144Hz refresh rate. It offers up to 500 nits brightness.

While an AMOLED display would have been better, the OnePlus Pad’s display is bright and vibrant. The 144Hz refresh rate sets it apart from other tablets, as most tablets offer 90Hz or 120Hz displays.

The tablet’s resolution and aspect ratio make it an excellent option for watching your favourite movies and shows.

Software and performance

The OnePlus Pad runs on Android 13 out of the box with the company’s OxygenOS 13.1 skin on top. OnePlus fans will immediately recognise the user interface as it looks like a OnePlus smartphone.

The device comes with all the features you would expect from a tablet, including split-screen support and stylus support. The device offers a smooth user interface. It comes with features such as auto-connect, which allows you to easily connect the tablet with your smartphone and also allows you to view OTPs on the tablet.

The OnePlus Pad is equipped with the powerful MediaTek Dimensity 9000 chipset. The device has two variants – 8GB RAM + 128GB internal storage and 12GB RAM + 256GB internal storage. I tested the 12GB RAM + 256GB internal storage variant.

The Dimensity 9000 is a powerful chipset and this was evident in the tablet’s performance. It easily handles everything you throw at it and is excellent at multitasking.

I tried popular titles such as Call of Duty: Mobile and Asphalt 9 on the device, and as expected, the device easily handled them. I did not notice any stuttering or lags while playing. The device gets slightly warm after an extended gaming session.

The tablet has a large 9,510mAh battery with 67W fast charging support. The company has claimed that the battery offers 12.4 hours of video playback and offers a standby time of up to 30 days. The battery lasted over two days, with some gaming and a few hours of streaming. The device can be fully charged in around 80 to 90 minutes.

Camera

Coming to the camera department, the OnePlus Pad has a 13MP rear camera. The cameras are not the strongest points of the device and offer an average photography experience.

The device performs decently in normal and daylight conditions but struggles in low light conditions.

On the front, the device comes with an 8MP selfie camera, which is placed in such a way that it is on the top when the tablet is used horizontally. The selfie camera is decent for video calls and the occasional selfies.

Verdict

Overall, the OnePlus Pad is a good device and is an excellent option for someone looking for a tablet. It competes with the Galaxy Tab S8, while being priced much lower than the device.

The device’s powerful chipset, long battery life, vibrant display, and sleek design make it a good option. On the other hand, the lack of cellular connectivity and the average cameras are disappointing.

The accessories help get the best out of the tablet, but you will have to spend more to get them. If you are looking for a tablet for just entertainment and browsing social media, you do not need to invest in accessories. However, if you are a professional who types a lot of designs, the keyboard and stylus are worth the price.

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