OnePlus Pad Review: A New Contender in the Tablet Arena?
OnePlus, long known for its sleek smartphones, has finally ventured into the tablet market with the OnePlus Pad. This new addition seeks to disrupt the dominance of Apple’s iPad with its unique design, powerful hardware, and a software experience tailored for the larger screen. But does it live up to the hype? Let’s dive into the OnePlus Pad and find out.
OnePlus Pad Price and Availability in India
The OnePlus Pad is currently available in India in a single "Halo Green" color option. You have two configuration choices:
- 8GB RAM + 128GB Storage: Rs. 37,999
- 12GB RAM + 256GB Storage: Rs. 39,999
While the base model is tempting, the 12GB RAM + 256GB storage variant offers better value for money, especially with the absence of expandable storage.
OnePlus Pad Design and Accessories
OnePlus has maintained its signature rounded design language, evident in most of its smartphones. The OnePlus Pad continues this trend, setting it apart from the boxy designs prevalent in the tablet market.
The device boasts a premium metal unibody design, incredibly thin at just 6.5mm, making even the latest iPads feel bulky in comparison. Despite its slim profile, the OnePlus Pad is sturdy with no flex or creaking, showcasing excellent build quality.
While the metal construction makes for a premium feel, the OnePlus Pad weighs in at 552g, making it somewhat heavy for extended one-handed use. This weight is especially noticeable when using the OnePlus Magnetic Keyboard accessory, which is sold separately at Rs. 7,999. The keyboard features a grippy faux-leather texture, making it feel premium and comfortable.
The keyboard connects via magnetic pins, requiring a physical connection to the tablet for power and function. This limits its use as a wireless Bluetooth keyboard. The keys offer good travel and tactile feedback, resulting in confident and largely error-free typing. Although they might feel a bit stiff, leading to slight hand fatigue after prolonged use.
The OnePlus Pad also includes a OnePlus Stylo stylus priced at Rs. 4,999. The stylus works well and charges quickly when placed on the magnetic area at the tablet’s top edge. However, finding the perfect contact patch for docking can be tricky, and the stylus might detach easily with a gentle tap.
OnePlus Pad Specifications and Software
The OnePlus Pad packs a punch with a MediaTek Dimensity 9000 SoC, commonly found in premium smartphones. The review unit came equipped with 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage. Unfortunately, the tablet lacks a SIM card slot, eliminating mobile data functionality and expandable storage.
Connectivity options include Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, and support for common satellite navigation systems. The absence of cellular connectivity is addressed by OnePlus’ Cellular Data Sharing feature, which automatically connects the tablet to a OnePlus smartphone for internet access. This works within a range of one to five meters, making it a convenient alternative.
The tablet is powered by a 9,510mAh battery and comes bundled with a 100W charger in the box. However, the charging rate for the tablet is capped at 67W, still achieving impressive charge times.
While the OnePlus Pad offers a premium experience, some compromises have been made, including the lack of a 3.5mm headphone jack and a secure biometric unlocking method like a fingerprint sensor. The tablet can be unlocked using a PIN or by facial recognition using the front camera, which isn’t as secure but works reliably in well-lit conditions.
The OnePlus Pad runs OxygenOS 13.1, based on Android 13 with customisations designed for tablet use. The software offers a dock at the bottom for pinning apps and recently used apps, similar to iPadOS. A swipe from the bottom reveals the app drawer.
OnePlus has introduced several features to make OxygenOS more productive on a bigger display. Resizing apps into floating windows and using split-screen mode to run two apps side-by-side are now possible. However, not all apps scale well when resized, including some Google apps like Drive, Docs, and Sheets. This is likely a bug that hopefully will be resolved in future updates.
OnePlus Pad Performance
The OnePlus Pad features an 11.61-inch LCD display with a resolution of 2800 x 2000 pixels and a peak brightness of around 500 nits, making it suitable for outdoor viewing under direct sunlight. The viewing angles are good but showcase slightly saturated colors in the default Vivid color profile. Blacks are satisfactory but cannot match an AMOLED panel. The display is Dolby Vision-certified, delivering an immersive experience while watching Netflix or YouTube. The quad-speaker setup with Dolby Atmos support enhances this experience, offering loud and immersive audio.
The display’s 7:5 aspect ratio is unique in the market, providing more vertical screen space for browsing web pages or spreadsheets. However, the layout feels somewhat squished when using split view or viewing two apps side-by-side. The display lacks options for higher scaling, limiting the amount of content visible on the screen.
The OnePlus Pad boasts a 144Hz refresh variable refresh rate that seamlessly adjusts between 30Hz, 60Hz, 90Hz, 120Hz, and 144Hz as needed. However, the 144Hz refresh rate is currently limited to select apps such as Chrome, which are "whitelisted" by OnePlus. During general use, the display intelligently switches between 60Hz and 120Hz, depending on the activity.
Most games, including casual titles, are capped at 60Hz, with some exceptions like Call of Duty: Mobile, which supports 90Hz refresh rates with the ‘Ultra’ framerate setting. While the screen did not drop to 30Hz during testing, it rarely utilizes its full 144Hz potential.
The Dimensity 9000 SoC delivers impressive performance. The OnePlus Pad achieved 8,29,370 points in AnTuTu (v10) and 32fps, 55fps, and 60fps in GFXBench’s Car Chase, Manhattan 3.1, and T-Rex test suites, respectively.
Overall, gaming performance is excellent on the OnePlus Pad. The device did get warm after playing Call of Duty Mobile for 30 minutes on its highest graphics and framerate settings, but did not overheat. Asphalt 9 Legends ran smoothly, showcasing console-like graphics with a buttery smooth framerate thanks to the 60fps setting. However, the 120Hz/144Hz touch sampling rate seemed insufficient in Call of Duty Mobile, feeling sluggish even after adjusting sensitivity settings.
While the OnePlus Pad excels at handling apps designed for smartphones, the lack of tablet-optimised apps in the Google Play store is a significant drawback. Some popular apps like Instagram and Reddit still lack horizontal support, despite being available for tablets.
The ample 12GB of RAM handles multitasking with ease, allowing the simultaneous use of widgets, app pairs, and floating windows without any lag. Bloatware is kept to a minimum, including only Netflix and WPS Office apps, both of which are useful and can be uninstalled.
OnePlus Pad Cameras
The OnePlus Pad’s 13-megapixel rear camera delivers decent image quality at best. While colors appear natural, the resolved detail is low, even when capturing objects close to the camera. The 8-megapixel front-facing camera, while suitable for selfies, lacks detail and often produces images with a dream-like, HDR effect.
Still image quality in low light is subpar in auto mode, improving slightly when using Night mode, but with a noticeable watercolour-like effect and flat textures.
The rear camera can shoot 4K videos at 30fps, showcasing sharpness, good dynamic range, and detail, but suffers from shakiness. 1080p 30fps videos utilize electronic stabilization but appear slightly soft with less detail. Low-light video quality is poor with significant noise and softer textures.
OnePlus Pad Battery Life
The OnePlus Pad impresses with its exceptional battery life. It comfortably lasts over two days with casual use, including playing casual games, streaming video, browsing social media, and managing two email accounts in sync.
The OnePlus Pad achieved an impressive 18 hours and 10 minutes in our HD video loop test, demonstrating remarkable battery endurance for a tablet of its size and slim profile.
In a work-focused scenario, with the display set at 50 percent brightness and a timeout of five minutes, the OnePlus Pad surprisingly lasted two full work days (approximately nine hours each). This is truly commendable for a device that is lighter than most laptops at its price point.
Charging is also fast, thanks to the capped charging speed. The OnePlus Pad reached 47 percent in 30 minutes, 85 percent in an hour, and fully charged in just over an hour and 29 minutes.
Verdict
While Google’s Pixel Tablet remains to be seen in India, the OnePlus Pad presents a strong contender for the best Android tablet experience available currently. Its combination of a high-refresh rate display, fast charging capability, and quality accessories at reasonable prices is compelling.
The starting price of Rs. 37,999 might seem expensive, but considering the powerful hardware and impressive performance, it becomes justifiable. The OnePlus Pad is ideal for casual use and light productivity, offering a package that is lighter than most laptops in the same price range.
OnePlus has worked its magic with software, balancing sustained performance with features like split-screen mode and floating windows, all made possible by its capable hardware.
Overall, there are few reasons to complain about the OnePlus Pad. If you prioritize an AMOLED panel, the Lenovo P11 Pro Gen 2 offers a similar experience at Rs. 44,999, but lacks the same software finesse as the OnePlus Pad.
On the Apple side, the new Apple iPad (2022) starts at Rs. 44,900 for the Wi-Fi-only model. However, you will be limited to a standard refresh rate display and just 64GB of storage. Users seeking cellular connectivity or a robust tablet-centric app ecosystem will find the Apple iPad an alluring option. But be prepared to shell out for accessories, especially if work-related tasks are involved.
In conclusion, the OnePlus Pad offers a solid and tempting entry into the tablet market, showcasing a well-rounded package that makes it a strong contender against established players. Its performance, software, and design set it apart, providing a premium experience that will likely attract those seeking a more affordable alternative to the Apple iPad.
