OnePlus Pad review: A Compelling Option

In India, OnePlus Pad comes with a starting price of ₹37,999. We reviewed the device and here’s the lowdown.

Design

On the design front, OnePlus Pad boasts a sleek and premium design that reflects OnePlus’ commitment to aesthetics. The bezels on the side are uniform giving it a modern and sophisticated look. The edges are curved on the corners.

On the rear, OnePlus Pad flaunts the OnePlus logo in the centre. The rear camera module is circular- which is also placed at the top-centre unlike other tablets where it is placed on either side. The power button is placed on the left edge where one can also see speaker ports. On the bottom edge are three contact plates that attach to the pogo pins on the keyboard. Charging port (Type-C) and two other speaker ports are placed on the right.

Volume rockerz are on the top edge along with a microphone for video calls. The tablet comes with a OnePlus Stylo digital pen that magnetically attaches itself to the top panel for pairing and charging.

The tablet has a metal finish and is offered in single colour – Halo Green that looks premium.

Display

OnePlus Pad comes with a large, bright display that is ideal for watching movies, playing games and reading online. The tablet comes with a 11.61-inch screen with 2800 x 2000 pixels resolution and 144Hz refresh rate. The display is not OLED, but LCD. While it could be a bummer for some, impressive contrast and punchy colours ensure that the viewing experience is as good as OLED.

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Now, the aspect ratio of the OnePlus Pad is 7:5, which means that the tablet works well in both landscape as well as portrait orientations. Also, viewing angles are good too. The display can refresh up to 144Hz along with a touch sampling rate of 144Hz. The scrolling and navigation experience of the tablet is smooth and lag-free.

OnePlus Pad comes with support for multiple HDR formats – HDR10, HDR10+, HLG, and Dolby Vision. With 500 nits of brightness, using the tablet outdoors is satisfactory, though a little more brightness will not hurt.

Performance

The OnePlus Pad comes powered by MediaTek Dimensity 9000 processor coupled with 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and up to 256GB UFS 3.1 storage capacity. The tablet runs smoothly and can easily handle multitasking. We did not face any hiccups while switching between the apps running in the background. There were no heating issues that we faced on the tablet during the review period.

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For gaming, OnePlus Pad is equipped with Mali-G710 MC10 GPU graphics to ensure a smooth experience while playing games on it. While the tablet is not ideal for heavy gaming, average levels games are taken care of really well. Along with a password, users can opt for the face recognition feature to unlock the tablet. Both the features work smoothly.

Operating system

The tablet runs on Android 13-based OxygenOS 13.1. The software optimization ensures smooth navigation and fluid transitions on the device. The UI is neat and easy to navigate through. Users of OnePlus Pad can connect their Android phone with the tablet. With the cross-screen transmission feature, users can mirror their phone’s screen on the OnePlus Pad. The feature comes handy while editing photos stored or clicked using the phone. It enables users to stay connected with their phone and not miss important notifications.

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Then there is a flexible window feature allowing users to keep any app open in a floating window for faster access. Another feature worth mentioning is the split screen. It can be enabled with a two-finger downward swipe gesture.

One of the standout features of the OnePlus Pad is its focus on productivity. The inclusion of a detachable keyboard (sold separately) enables users to transform the tablet into a laptop-like setup, enhancing efficiency for work-related tasks. The device also offers multiple connectivity options, including USB-C, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi, ensuring seamless integration with other devices and peripherals.

Having said that, what is amiss in OnePlus Pad is the absence of cellular connectivity. You can not use SIM with the device and have to rely on WiFi and what OnePlus called the Cellular Data Sharing to use internet connection.

Battery Life and Audio

The OnePlus Pad boasts impressive battery life, allowing users to enjoy extended usage without worrying about frequent recharging. The tablet is backed by a 9.510mAh battery with support for 67watt SuperVOOC fast charging. Inside the box, OnePlus has a 100watt adapter which could charge up the device in about 1 hour and 25 minutes.

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Whether streaming videos, browsing the web, or working on documents, the tablet can easily last through a full day of moderate usage.

Coming to the audio performance of the OnePlus Pad, the quad speakers will leave you impressed, not just in terms of the audio levels but also the quality. The tablet boasts of Omni bearing sound technology that ensures optimum sound deliverance in any orientation. There is Dolby Atmos as well that further elevates the audio experience on OnePlus Pad.

Camera

While tablets are not typically renowned for their camera capabilities, the OnePlus Pad offers decent camera performance. The 13MP rear camera captures satisfactory photos in well-lit conditions, although low-light photography could be improved. While the 8MP front-facing camera is adequate for video calls and casual selfies. The camera UI of the tablet is simple with different camera modes and features available right on the screen.

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Accessories

Accessories for OnePlus Pad include the OnePlus Magnetic Keyboard and OnePlus Stylo digital pen. Buyers will have to buy each of the accessories separately.

Talking about the OnePlus Magnetic Keyboard, it attaches to the tablet magnetically using pogo pins. It is an all-in-one folio case that has a soft, leather-like texture for better grip. It has a chiclet-style keyboard with good tactile response. Having said that, it may take a while to get used to the keyboard. The trackpad, on the other hand, is smaller but does support multi-touch gestures.

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The Stylo, on the other hand, magnetically attaches to the top of the tablet for pairing and charging. The digital pen is easy to use.

Conclusion

Overall, the OnePlus Pad presents itself as a compelling option in the tablet market. With its sleek design, powerful performance, and focus on productivity, it caters to both entertainment enthusiasts and professionals seeking a versatile device. While the camera performance could be enhanced and there is no LTE support, the tablet excels in most other areas, providing a smooth user experience and a range of features that make it a worthy competitor in its price range.