OnePlus Pad Review with Pros and Cons – Smartprix

For those well-acquainted with the OnePlus brand, the following narrative will likely strike a chord. Over a decade ago, OnePlus burst onto the Android smartphone scene, offering devices with cutting-edge specifications at budget-friendly prices. Owning a OnePlus phone was synonymous with securing the most advantageous deal in the realm of smartphones. However, in recent times, OnePlus smartphones have progressively veered toward higher price points, becoming less distinct from their Samsung counterparts. Yet, with the arrival of the OnePlus Pad, there are indications of a nostalgic return to the brand’s original ethos.

Representing OnePlus’ foray into the tablet market, the inaugural Android tablet from the company remains faithful to its established tradition of delivering top-tier technology while maintaining slightly more accessible price points. The burning question remains: Can the OnePlus Pad truly rival the dominance of the market-leading iPad?

Starting at ₹37,999, the OnePlus Pad seeks to undercut formidable competitors such as Samsung’s ₹58,999 Galaxy Tab S8 and Apple’s ₹53,900 iPad, presenting consumers with an appealing alternative at a more affordable price range. The outcome of this endeavor is yet to be determined. Join us as we delve into an in-depth review of the OnePlus Pad to ascertain its potential for success.

OnePlus Pad Review: Design

When it comes to design, the OnePlus Pad opts for a modest and unassuming approach. Its rounded sides seamlessly merge with a sleek aluminum alloy metal back, adorned in an appealing green hue. The back panel features a radial pattern emanating from the circular camera module, adding a touch of visual interest. While the overall aesthetic is pleasing, there are no groundbreaking elements that set this hardware apart from its competitors.

One area that deserves recognition is the aspect ratio chosen by OnePlus. With a 7:5 ratio, the OnePlus Pad offers a slightly wider display than Apple’s iPad, striking a balance that is well-suited for consuming written content. It strikes a harmonious middle ground between the 16:9 and 16:10 ratios, making it an ideal setup for general usage.

On the left side of the device, you’ll find the power button and ports for two of the four loudspeakers, while the right side is home to the remaining two speakers and a USB port. At the bottom, three contact plates provide convenient access to the magnetic keyboard, enhancing productivity.

OnePlus has also allocated space for an optional stylus at the top side of the device. A pill-shaped pattern on the right side indicates the inductive charging area for the stylus, while the left side is adorned with volume buttons and a microphone. Positioned on the bezel below this edge is an 8MP front camera.

The rear side of the OnePlus Pad houses a camera module and features an uninterrupted line dedicated to radio antennas. The back cover boasts a seamless unibody design, although the line may occasionally become visible depending on the lighting conditions. It’s worth noting that the metal back is prone to smudges, requiring some attention. However, it’s important to mention that the device does not come with certified dust and water ingress protection.

One notable omission from the OnePlus Pad is the absence of a fingerprint scanner, as the tablet relies solely on passcodes for device security.

As for build quality, the tablet metallic build exudes a sense of durability The edges of the device are gently curved with a 2.5D design, enhancing the overall comfort and ergonomics, making it a joy to hold.

OnePlus Pad Review: Display and Audio

Featuring an IPS LCD panel and a resolution of 2800 x 2000 pixels, the OnePlus Pad presents a unique 7:5 aspect ratio. Delivering seamless visuals, the display impresses with its high refresh rate of up to 144Hz. Notably, the display achieves a remarkable 10-bit color output by intelligently utilizing an 8-bit panel combined with FRC technology.

While the OnePlus Pad may not be specifically designed for high-performance gaming experiences, it excels in facilitating productivity tasks, reading, and video consumption. The LCD’s responsiveness and rich color depth perfectly complement these activities.

Distinguishing itself from many other high-end tablets that employ OLED panels, the OnePlus Pad features a top-notch LCD display. It ensures consistent contrast and color reproduction, whether viewed head-on or from an angle, eliminating any distortion.

The OnePlus Pad stands out with its exceptional level of detail and decent brightness. Reaching a peak brightness of 500 nits, it offers satisfactory luminosity. Moreover, the tablet supports HDR formats such as Dolby Vision, enhancing the visual experience and making TV shows appear stunning.

The Vivid mode of the display exhibits vibrant and lively colors, although it may not offer optimal color accuracy. If you prefer accurate colors, switch to Natural mode which is highly color-accurate output for viewing sRGB color space and DCI-P3 colors. OnePlus has given Nature Tone Display feature which is designed to automatically adapt the screen’s color temperature based on the ambient light conditions, effectively correcting the white balance to achieve a neutral appearance.

Furthermore, the audio quality of the OnePlus Pad is equally impressive. Its quad-speaker configuration dynamically adjusts based on the tablet’s orientation, delivering a remarkable stereo effect. This immersive audio performance enhances the enjoyment of content without the need for headphones.

While the speakers may not be the loudest in comparison to other devices, they excel in terms of clarity and bass response, surpassing most competitors. This makes the OnePlus Pad an absolute pleasure for watching YouTube and Netflix content within the comfort of your home.

OnePlus Pad Review: Software and Performance

In terms of software, the OnePlus Pad operates on Android 13, complemented by OxygenOS 13.1. Although the software has been specifically optimized for tablets, it presents some differences compared to the user interface found on OnePlus smartphones. When it comes to the launcher, users have the option to either have all icons displayed on the home screen, akin to the iPad, or utilize an app drawer. The tablet version of OnePlus OS comes with some clever features. For instance, when in landscape mode, a two-finger swipe down from the center of the display enables a convenient split view mode. This functionality requires a compatible app to be already open, and as you initiate the swipe gesture, a line appears on the screen. Subsequently, you can select another app to open alongside the first one, facilitating seamless multitasking between the two.

Furthermore, the OnePlus Pad offers several integrations with OnePlus smartphones. These integrations encompass the ability to share data across devices and effortlessly transfer one-time passwords without the need for manual copying to the tablet.

Beneath the surface of the OnePlus Pad lies the MediaTek Dimensity 9000 SoC, featuring an 8-core CPU and Mali-G710 MC10 GPU. Assisted by 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, the device offers substantial performance. However, it’s important to note that there is no provision for storage expansion via a microSD slot. While the Dimensity 9000 chip may be slightly older, it remains on par with the processors found in flagship phones from 2022, such as the Vivo X80. Its CPU performance is comparable to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 870, while its GPU performance aligns with the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1. With the device’s swift refresh rate, one might assume it to be ideal for gaming.

In certain aspects, this assumption holds true. It outperforms most other Android tablets we have tested, but the combination of high-resolution gaming and the device’s capabilities does impact overall performance.

Gaming performance falls short when it comes to popular FPS titles. The available performance does not suffice to smoothly run games at the native resolution with a stable 60FPS. Notably, some games we tested, including Genshin Impact and Fortnite, struggled to run properly on the device, displaying extremely low resolution. This issue could be attributed to the display’s non-standard resolution and aspect ratio combination. Despite the reduced rendering resolution, these games still experienced frame drops.

It should not come as a significant surprise, as Android tablets rarely feature the latest and most powerful chips. However, a quick glance at the competition reveals that the OnePlus Pad maintains a commendable level of competitiveness, as most rival devices exhibit inferior performance.

OnePlus Pad Review: Camera

The OnePlus Pad features a single 13-megapixel rear camera with autofocus and LED flash. It supports video recording up to 4K at 30fps. The camera on the back captures decent image quality for a tablet, with good color reproduction, dynamic range, and satisfactory detail levels. It is suitable for casual photography and capturing documents.

On the front, there is an 8-megapixel ultrawide camera with fixed focus, capable of recording up to 1080p video at 30fps.

the front camera produces decent-looking images and videos, meeting the expectations for video calls. While the ultrawide selfie camera adds a nice touch, it may lack sharpness at longer distances. The ultrawide selfie camera offers extra functionality called Limelight during video calls. This feature recognizes faces in the frame and keeps the view centered on them by cropping.

OnePlus Pad Review: Battery Life and Charging

The OnePlus Pad boasts a substantial 9510mAh battery, which boasts exceptional longevity, claiming to provide a month of standby time or up to 12 hours of continuous video playback. Since receiving the device three weeks ago and charging it initially, we have been utilizing it for light tasks such as email checking, web browsing, and some content streaming in the evenings. Remarkably, the battery life has impressed us with its endurance. We have only recharged it only a handful of times.

When the time comes for recharging, the OnePlus Pad supports rapid 67W charging, allowing for a complete recharge in approximately 80 minutes. This charging speed is more than sufficient, considering the reduced frequency of charging compared to smartphones. It is essential to ensure the acquisition of the appropriate charger to fully leverage this fast charging capability.

OnePlus Pad Review: Accessories

The magnetic keyboard significantly enhances the OnePlus Pad, transforming it from a mere video-viewing screen into a versatile tool for content creation and online interaction. While the keyboard is an additional purchase, it greatly improves text input compared to touchscreen keyboards or voice typing add-ons.

On the other hand, the OnePlus Stylo stylus feels like an optional addition rather than an integral part of the package. While some individuals, particularly those in graphics-related fields or requiring a convenient input method, may find value in the stylus, its use case may be less universally applicable. The stylus attaches magnetically, albeit with a sense of delicacy, and benefits from wireless charging when connected to the tablet.

It’s worth noting that OnePlus has not included software that fully harnesses the potential of the stylus. Although the default Notes app is available, the OnePlus Pad lacks dedicated software that demonstrates a substantial commitment to the tablet/stylus combination. However, future software updates may address this limitation.

OnePlus Pad Review Verdict

OnePlus has entered the tablet market with a commendable debut in the form of the OnePlus Pad, despite arriving later than its competitors. This awaited device excels in the fundamental aspects of a superior slate, showcasing an impressive display, remarkable performance, and commendable battery longevity. Moreover, it boasts high-quality speakers housed within a sleek and premium design, enhancing the overall user experience.

Nevertheless, it is important to note that the OnePlus Pad offers limited choices in terms of storage, lacks cellular connectivity and fingerprint support. Hence, if these features hold significance to you, exploring alternative options might be advisable.

Considering the inherent limitations of Android on tablets, the OnePlus Pad proves to be an excellent choice for entertainment purposes; however, it may not be the optimal selection for demanding professional tasks.