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CNET
7 days ago
- CNET
OnePlus Pad 3 Tablet Is Powerful and Elegant, but Its Higher Price Has Me Thinking Twice
8.2 / 10 SCORE OnePlus Pad 3 $700 at OnePlus Pros Impressively zippy overall performance Good battery life Sharp, bright display with 144Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling and gaming Cons Fairly premium price LCD instead of OLED display No microSD card slot for expandable storage Disappointing front camera OnePlus Pad 3 8.2/10 CNET Score $700 at OnePlus Last year's OnePlus Pad 2 was considered one of the better tablet values, combining premium performance with a midrange price ($550) that would sometimes dip to $500. To a certain degree, the new-for-2025 OnePlus Pad 3 follows the same playbook. Equipped with a top-of-the-line Snapdragon 8 Elite processor and a bright, 13.2-inch, 3.4 K-resolution display with 315ppi pixel density and an adaptive refresh rate up to 144Hz, this is a high-performance Android tablet that gives off premium vibes for a lower price than Samsung's Galaxy Tab S10 Plus. At $700, though, it costs $150 more than the Pad 2, edging it into premium pricing territory and making it less of a bargain. It's available for preorder now with a choice of two "free gift" accessories as an incentive to purchase, and it ships on July 8. Simple yet sleek and slim The Pad 3, which includes 256GB of storage, 12GB of memory (RAM) and runs on Android 15 (you get three years of Android updates and six years of security patches), isn't particularly bold-looking, but I still found its svelte design impressive. Weighing 1.5 pounds (675 grams) and measuring 11.4 by 8.3 by 0.24 inches (289.6 by 209.7 by 6 millimeters), it has an aluminum-alloy unibody in an understated "storm" blue color. Like the Pad 2, the Pad 3 has a 7:5 aspect ratio that's different from the 16:10 aspect ratio found on many Android tablets. It's a little more of a square look, akin to Apple's iPad and iPad Air's 4:3 aspect ratio or the 11-inch iPad Pro's 3:2 aspect ratio. Some people prefer the squarer design, and the Pad 3's 7:5 aspect ratio is arguably a selling point. The 13-megapixel rear camera is more bland-looking than the camera that OnePlus features on its phones. But it's been moved from a central position on the back to the top-left corner -- or the right corner in portrait orientation -- which is probably a better spot for it. There's also an 8-megapixel front-facing camera that's fine, but nothing special. Enlarge Image The OnePlus Pad 3 with the new Smart Keyboard. Josh Goldman/CNET The Pad 3's 3,392x2,400-pixel LCD is sharp, but its black levels and contrast fall short of what you get with the superior OLED displays found on Samsung's high-end Galaxy Tab S10 Plus and S10 Ultra. (The Pad 3's contrast hits just 1,123:1 when displaying a checkerboard pattern.) On the bright side, literally, it shines with a whopping 600 nits for a whole-screen image and is rated to go up to 900 nits in a special high-brightness mode (I could only measure the brightness in standard mode). I also liked that the screen features a 144Hz refresh rate that makes for buttery scrolling and gaming. OnePlus Pad 3 Specifications Price as reviewed $699 + $199 keyboard case + $99 Stylo 2 Cameras 13MP rear, 8MP front Display 13.2-inch, 3.4K (315ppi), 144Hz (7-step adjustable), Dolby Vision, 12bpc, 900 nits CPU Snapdragon 8 Elite (Gen 1) Memory 12GB LPDDR5X GPU Adreno 830 Storage 256GB UFS 4.0 Networking Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 Battery 12,140 mAh, 80W charging Operating system Android 15, OxygenOS 15.0 (+3 OS updates and 6 years of security patches) While Samsung's more affordable version of the Galaxy Tab S10 Plus, the Tab S10 FE Plus, doesn't have the same aspect ratio at the Pad 3, it's got a 13.1-inch screen that uses LCD technology, is 6 millimeters thick, weighs 1.5 pounds (664 grams) and starts at $650, so it's in the same price class as the Pad 3 and probably it's most direct competitor. The Tab S10 FE Plus' screen refresh rate only hits 90Hz, so technically the Pad 3 has an edge there. And the Pad 3's Snapdragon Elite processor is significantly more powerful than the Tab S10 FE Plus' Samsung Exynos 1580 processor. Both Samsung's Galaxy Tab S10 and Tab S10 FE series have microSD expansion slots for adding more storage, while the Pad 3 has no expansion slot. You'll have to make do with the 256GB of built-in storage (which should be ample for most people). Enlarge Image The rear camera has been moved from the center of the device to the corner. Josh Goldman/CNET Incredibly zippy performance The OnePlus Pad 3 packs the best chipset for Android devices I've tested. The Snapdragon 8 Elite offers huge improvements on the already impressive Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset used in leading phones and tablets in 2024. The OnePlus Pad 3 puts up impressive performance numbers across benchmarks, with especially strong results from the GPU. The Pad 3's Geekbench 6 results saw it even beat the Windows-based Asus ProArt PZ13 ($1,300) in single-core performance, though it still lagged behind in multicore performance. When it came to graphics, though, the OnePlus Pad 3 achieved more than double the PZ13's scores in 3DMark's Steel Nomad Light and Wildlife Extreme tests. The tablet's larger footprint allowed OnePlus to pack in a sizable 34.8-square-centimeter graphene composite vapor chamber to dissipate heat, and it does its job admirably. Running the Steel Nomad Light Stress Test, which cycles the benchmark 20 times in a row, the OnePlus Pad 3 had 84.5% consistency and saw its CPU temperature rise from 28 degrees Celsius to just 31 degrees, one of the more impressive results I've seen. Enlarge Image The screen has a 7:5 aspect ratio. Josh Goldman/CNET All that speed lets the tablet run incredibly smoothly, with nary a hitch in everyday operation. It also easily handles heavy games, like Delta Force, while remaining comfortable to hold (heat-wise, not so much bulk-wise). The newer chip also gives the Pad 3 the edge over even gaming-focused devices like the Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3. We were also impressed with the Tab 3's battery life. Its 12,140-mAh battery rocks, easily lasting through the workday for everyday tasks. And in our online streaming battery test with the display set to 50% brightness (measured at 125 nits), it ran for 16 hours and 20 minutes (it ran an additional 40 minutes after the display dimmed, giving it a total battery life of 17 hours). It can also recharge at up to 80 watts with the included charger, reaching full capacity in 92 minutes. Alas, the USB-C charging port isn't high-bandwidth, as it tops out at the USB 3.2 Gen 1 spec of 5Gbps. While camera performance has been impressive on OnePlus phones of late, the same can't be said of this tablet's cameras. Both the front and rear cameras are only mediocre, failing to offer very sharp or low-noise images. The tablet packs eight speakers (four for the low end and four for high frequencies), which would seem like a recipe for excellence. But the sound quality was only decent, not great -- basically what you'd expect from a premium tablet. Not surprisingly, the midrange, where vocals live, was the strongest, with voices sounding loud and clear. However, like with most tablets and laptops, the speakers just don't output a ton of bass, and you're not getting any semblance of surround sound. OnePlus Pad 3 accessories Samsung's Galaxy Tab S10 series tablets are pricey (the Tab S10 FE models could also be included in that statement, even though they're more affordable). But Samsung is always offering big discounts in its online store if you trade in an older tablet or another device. If you play your cards right, you can get several hundred dollars for an earlier Tab S series model to put toward the latest model. OnePlus only gives up to $100 for trade-ins in its online store, but it tends to throw in an accessory for "free" as a value-added incentive to buy the device. In the Pad 3's preorder window, which ends July 7, OnePlus is going a step further, allowing buyers to pick two of three accessories as "free gifts." The accessories available are a $49 folio case, the $199 OnePlus Pad 3 Smart Keyboard and the $99 OnePlus Stylo 2 (yes, the same stylus offered with the OnePlus Pad 2, but the other two accessories are new for the Pad 3). Given the choice of two accessories, I suspect most people would take the Smart Keyboard and the Stylo 2. And if only one accessory was available as a free gift, the Smart Keyboard would likely be the first choice. Enlarge Image A closer look at the keyboard. Josh Goldman/CNET The keyboard is pretty good, with a more tactile feel to the keys than the earlier version. OnePlus says the Pad 3 Smart Keyboard "has larger, spaced-out keycaps that give a PC-style feel, as well as a range of useful command keys and a dedicated AI button -- all while retaining the same massive trackpad. It can also be adjusted to between 110- and 165-degree angles and continues to support NFC transfers and instant magnetic connection." If I had a gripe, it was that the behavior of the trackpad is a little odd. The mouse movement wasn't perfectly smooth and was sometimes a little jumpy, struggling to detect nuance. This hampers its principal utility: fine control. We struggled to select text quickly and accurately. Using two fingers to scroll webpages, we found the trackpad often accidentally registered a click, and I ended up opening plenty of advertisements this way. In some cases, the trackpad actions don't even work. Google Docs wouldn't allow it to scroll pages, and many times I'd be clicking around the web and would come across something that I couldn't click on with the trackpad, so was forced to reach up and tap the screen. Note that while you can attach the keyboard case to the tablet magnetically, you can also detach it and use it wirelessly over Bluetooth (sometimes when the case was jostled, it detached a little too easily and had to be reattached). The Smart Keyboard is decent enough if included, but it isn't worth anywhere near its $200 price. I suspect OnePlus intends to heavily discount the keyboard or continue offering it as a free gift alongside the tablet, which is what it did with the Pad 2. The Stylo 2 stylus has a magnetic anchor point along its top edge, where it also charges the pen. This arrangement could use more work, as the stylus is easy to attach in the wrong position (it's not clearly demarcated), and it's all too easy to pop the stylus loose while moving the tablet into or out of a bag, even when it's attached correctly. The stylus is accurate and helps facilitate some interesting features, including the ability to write words into text fields on the tablet and have your handwriting converted into neat text (most pen-based tablets offer this feature). It supports a whopping 16,000 levels of sensitivity and has haptic feedback that helps simulate the feel of paper. But there's no getting past how smooth the screen's glass is. It just doesn't give that right amount of resistance to feel like paper. Should you get the OnePlus Pad 3? It's hard to say what the Pad 3 would have cost without the Trump administration's tariffs coming along, but it likely would've been $50 to $100 cheaper. So it goes. All things considered, the Pad 3 is still a decent value, particularly when you compare it to the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus, which retails for about $50 less but can't come close to matching the zippy performance that this model's Snapdragon Elite processor serves up. And it matches up quite well against Apple's similarly priced iPad Air M3, offering better specs in some areas and better overall performance, though iPadOS has some advantages over Android in general. The Pad 3 isn't quite ready to be a laptop replacement, which you could argue is the case for most Android tablets and iPads. For a true laptop replacement in a tablet form factor, Windows-based machines like Asus's aforementioned ProArt PZ13 or Microsoft's Surface Pro remain your best bet. But despite its small shortcomings, the OnePlus Pad 3 is one of the best premium Android tablets and certainly makes for an excellent entertainment device, offering strong performance for gaming (it's also well-suited for Xbox Cloud Gaming) and light productivity. Geekbench 6 (Android version) Single Core OnePlus Tab 3 3,076.5 Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3 2,228 Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ 2,127 Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ 1,259 OnePlus Pad 2 958 Note: Longer bars indicate better performance. Geekbench 6 (Android version) Multicore) OnePlus Tab 3 9,021.5 Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ 7,126 Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3 6,600 OnePlus Pad 2 4,610 Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ 3,871 Note: Longer bars indicate better performance
Indian Express
08-06-2025
- Indian Express
OnePlus Pad 3 review: This powerful device further blurs the line between tablets and computers
'Don't buy a tablet, buy a real computer.' I am sure you have heard this advice from tech reviewers like us in the past. I don't entirely blame my community—there was a time when tablets were too underpowered to handle basic computing tasks, let alone compete with a laptop. And I am not talking about a decade ago; even as recently as the Covid-19 pandemic, that was still the case. But something has changed in the past two to three years. Tablets have become significantly more powerful and have started to feel much more like real computers. Not all tablets, of course—but a segment of high-performance models has emerged, packing impressive power and offering features like built-in keyboard cases, multitasking capabilities, and long battery life. On the Android side, there's noticeable momentum—a push from brands to create pro-grade tablets that can compete with Apple's iPad Air and even the highest-end iPad Pro, though the options are still limited. The latest OnePlus Pad 3, for example, takes on premium tablets with a slimmed-down design, a 13.2-inch display, faster performance, upgraded multitasking features, and it runs Google's Android operating system. I won't lie—I had low expectations for the Pad 3, and I wasn't sure if OnePlus could deliver a truly powerful tablet. To be clear, there are already solid tablets on the market that excel at entertainment, but I was looking for something closer to a laptop replacement. That meant I had even higher expectations for the Pad 3: a tablet that could outperform not only media-focused tablets, but also a fast, mid-range laptop. I spent over a week with the OnePlus Pad 3, and used the device as my laptop replacement. Here's my review. What: OnePlus Pad 3, Price: to be announced (at the time of writing, OnePlus has not released the India price, but in the US, the device costs $700 and accessories, including the keyboard case with a trackpad, cost extra.) At 5.97mm, OnePlus has managed to create one of the slimmest tablets I have seen. It's slightly thicker than the iPad Pro, which, at 5.1mm, is currently the thinnest tablet on the market. I was astonished to see how slim the Pad 3 was when I placed it on the table. I have always liked lightweight devices—they are much easier to travel with, especially for someone like me who travels frequently. That thin design is complemented by a premium build featuring a sturdy aluminium casing. There's no doubt the Pad is large, with a 13.2-inch screen measured diagonally. Larger tablets have always been a bit awkward to hold, mainly because the weight is spread over a wider surface area. But because the Pad 3 is thinner and lighter, I find myself picking it up more often. I love reading books on the Kindle app and spend a lot of time on Pinterest or Reddit. While the Pad 3 isn't exactly a one-handed device, the new lighter form factor makes it feel much more like a true tablet. It's more approachable. It's simply easier to handle, and I haven't experienced any situation where it felt like it was about to slip from my hands. I am not sure what the ideal shape of a tablet should be. Most tablets are designed to look similar, and the same goes for the Pad 3. It features a large, jumbo-sized screen framed by a rounded glass rectangle, with bezels wide enough to grip with both hands without interfering with the touch interface. The Pad 3 features a sophisticated yet clean and simple aesthetic. The tablet comes in two colour schemes: Storm Blue and Frosted Silver — both look great. OnePlus loaned me the review unit in Storm Blue, which has shades of dark grey and navy blue. The colour shifts depending on the angle you view it from. The build quality is top-notch — there's no flex at all, and absolutely no reason to say the iPad has better build quality than the Pad 3. In the past, I tried working on a small iPad mini, but it just didn't work for me. I wanted a compact device, but I also needed a larger screen — something big enough to get real work done, the kind of tasks I can normally only do on a laptop. That meant I couldn't settle for an 8-inch or even an 11-inch display; I needed at least a 13-inch screen, which the Pad 3 offers. The larger display not only helps with writing and filing stories, but also greatly improves the experience of watching movies, playing games, doing light photo and video editing, and even attending Zoom calls. Honestly, over the past week or so, I have barely used my TV to watch movies — I have been watching almost everything on the Pad 3. The advantage of a larger screen becomes clear only when you start doing substantial everyday tasks that you typically do on a computer. Multitasking actually becomes useful, and the extra screen space is especially helpful when working on Google Sheets or Slides. The Pad 3 offers a refresh rate of up to 144Hz, which is higher than the 120Hz provided by the iPad Pro. However, it uses an LCD panel rather than OLED. That said, the Pad 3's display is excellent—plenty bright at up to 900 nits, vibrant, and it supports a 12-bit colour range. I watched The Studio on Apple TV+, and the show looked great on the Pad 3's 13.2-inch display—almost like having a portable theatre. Even more impressive are the speakers on this tablet. It features eight speakers—four woofers and four tweeters—and while they don't quite beat the iPad Pro's, I must say they sound incredible. I was able to enjoy the audio clearly even while my parents were sipping tea and chatting nearby. It's that good. While an OLED display would have been a nice addition to the Pad 3, the average user likely won't notice much difference between LCD and OLED—unless you specifically care about true blacks or plan to use the device primarily for video editing. I have been using tablets as laptop replacements for years and have tried hundreds of keyboards—laptop-style, tablet-specific, and universal ones that work across devices. But no matter how good they were, I never quite achieved a true laptop-level typing experience on a tablet. That changed with the iPad Pro and Magic Keyboard. Unfortunately, I haven't come across a keyboard made for an Android tablet that matches—or even comes close to—that level of quality. With the Pad 3, however, things are looking up again. The keyboard is one of its strong points. It's sold separately and costs $200. The keyboard includes a spacious trackpad and is a pleasure to type on. What's great about it is that it's not designed to simply mimic a laptop keyboard—it's built to deliver a true laptop-like experience. It's almost full-sized, with good key travel, and typing on it is enjoyable. As a writer, I can say with confidence that not once in the past week have I felt the need to switch back to my laptop. OnePlus' approach to keyboard design is different from what Apple did with the Magic Keyboard, which essentially makes the iPad float in the air. It also feels like it weighs twice as much as the iPad, though it doesn't tip over backwards—even when the screen angle makes it feel top-heavy. What OnePlus has done is attach the keyboard to the Pad 3 via pogo pins, or it can auto-connect via Bluetooth. This means it can be detached from the tablet while still remaining functional. As someone who likes to move around within a space and doesn't enjoy being confined to a desk, I appreciate the freedom to use the tablet however I choose. But like the Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro, OnePlus' implementation isn't perfect. I've observed that while the Pad 3's keyboard works perfectly well on any flat surface (like a desk), using it on your lap is an awkward experience. The keyboard doesn't use USB-C for charging, so the only way to charge it is by reconnecting it to the tablet—which, fortunately, is automatic and seamless. It also features NFC, which is a nice addition. Just tap your OnePlus phone (I used the new OnePlus 13s) to send files. There's even a dedicated key to trigger Google's Gemini AI assistant. Apart from the keyboard, the tablet also supports the OnePlus Stylo 2, which is sold separately. It hasn't changed from the version that came with the Pad 2. I didn't try the stylus, though. I may be in the majority when I say this: I have always wanted a tablet with a terrific keyboard that gives a true laptop-like experience—something designed for the tablet and not just a third-party add-on. I couldn't be happier that it finally exists on an Android tablet. The OnePlus Pad 3 can be a laptop when I need it to be—and the rest of the time, I can detach the keyboard and use it in tablet mode. My only gripe is that the keyboard lacks backlighting. That's a letdown, especially if you are a night owl and like to work at night. Still, I understand not everyone needs a keyboard, which is why it's sold separately. That said, the OnePlus-designed keyboard is a much better choice if you want to carry around a tablet with a keyboard without feeling like you are lugging a laptop. If you only plan to use the Pad 3 occasionally as a work device, you can easily pair it with any Bluetooth keyboard of your choice—Logitech, for instance, makes some good keyboards. I recommend checking out. One of my criticisms of tablets (including iPads) in recent years is that the user experience hasn't matured to the level of what you get with Windows laptops and Macs. The entire industry is aware of this, and I'm not the only one with a critical take on it. To my surprise, I have started to appreciate how the Android operating system works on tablets more than iPadOS on iPads. There's clear progress on the Android side, both from Google and from various brands. It's not that the user interface has become exactly like a Windows PC—and I don't think that's necessary—but there are subtle changes that I find refreshing. Frankly, phones can already handle many of the tasks you do on a laptop. But you use a computer to do multiple things at the same time—browsing, watching videos, listening to music, writing, working on an assignment, and so on. You get what I am trying to say. The interface on the Pad 3 is different from what you see on a phone. For lack of a better word, let's call it a modified version of Android optimised for tablets. The version of OxygenOS running on the Pad 3 puts its own spin on the Google app bar, which can be dragged into view from the bottom of the screen when using an app, allowing for seamless switching. It shows both recent and pinned apps, along with a quick file browser for system-wide drag-and-drop functionality. Although I am still looking forward to the desktop mode on the Pad 3 (hopefully with the arrival of Android 16), the proprietary multitasking interface—Open Canvas, which first debuted on the OnePlus Open foldable phone—feels much better on the larger screen. It allows you to place three apps side by side, or arrange two side by side with a third app expanded at the top or bottom—just scroll to access it. With a single tap, you can swap the active app—no menus or gestures required. There's also a quick menu at the top of each window that lets you switch to full screen, open a different app, or turn it into a floating window. It works incredibly well and goes far beyond basic split-screen functionality. If you are serious about getting work done, no other Android tablet comes close to the Pad 3—thanks to Open Canvas multitasking. OnePlus hasn't made many changes to the user interface otherwise; it remains close to stock Android with just a handful of its own apps and barely any bloatware. There are plenty of customisation options, including the choice between a combined or split quick settings menu and multiple ways to adjust app icons. There's also an option for a floating toolbar, which you can disable if desired. Keeping up with the trend, there's a dose of AI—but it's not in your face. The voice recorder can use AI to transcribe and summarise your audio, which I used a lot when conducting interviews. Google's Circle to Search is included, and Gemini is the default voice assistant. Meanwhile, the Notes app has a generative writing assistant that can expand, shorten, or polish any text. The photo gallery also benefits from AI features. OnePlus promises three years of Android version updates and six years of security updates. It's decent, but still less than what Samsung offers for its flagship tablets. In comparison, Apple provides six years of iPadOS updates. It's not just games that I can play on the Pad 3—at this level of performance, I can do some serious work. Armed with the brand-new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite processor (the flagship chip of 2025), along with 16GB RAM and 512GB of storage, the Pad 3 is built for high performance. I opened ten Google Chrome tabs simultaneously and was able to write a story in Google Docs, upload it using our content management system, and publish it without any lag. This is exactly what I have wanted from a tablet, and the Pad 3 delivers. For 90 per cent of users, the Pad 3 will meet expectations with ease, handling all the must-have and frequently used apps without issue. You are probably wondering how the Pad 3 compares with a Windows laptop or a Mac. Well, that depends on your intended use. If you are buying the Pad 3 for casual use, such as working on Word and Excel, and making presentations, editing, or gaming, it's a fantastic choice. However, it's a different story when you compare it to a MacBook Pro or a high-end gaming laptop. While the Pad 3 may feel a bit snappier in certain tasks, there are limitations, whether due to hardware or software. That said, these limitations also apply to Windows laptops and Macs, depending on the configuration. One advantage of the Pad 3 is the simplicity of choice—unlike Windows laptops or Macs, which come in hundreds of configurations, choosing a Pad 3 is easier. Your decision really comes down to your profile and how you plan to use your device. Perhaps the biggest surprise to me was that the Pad 3's battery life lasted around 15 hours. OnePlus claims a battery life of 17 hours, and I spent the entire day using the Pad 3—not only for work, but also to catch the latest season of And Just Like That. In comparison, the iPad is still rated at just 10 hours. For those who are keen to compare the Pad 3 to the iPad Pro, I would say that Apple's highest-end tablet remains a powerful device. Its chip delivers desktop-class performance, and while the operating system has its flaws, Apple's suite of editing apps and its broader ecosystem provide a significant advantage. That said, the iPad Pro is positioned more as a professional-grade editing machine, designed primarily for video editors and content creators. For example, it can be used as an editing monitor or a colour-grading display—capabilities that put it in a different league beyond what most people typically expect from a tablet. But the OnePlus Pad 3 is no less impressive, and this tablet shows just how far high-end Android tablets have come. I was able to upload and publish stories, edit images in Lightroom, cut videos in Adobe Rush, and multitask between a web browser and file manager with no trouble. Features like Open Canvas and O+ Connect—which offer an AirDrop-like experience between the Pad 3 and a Mac—do enhance the overall experience. However, I still feel that the Android OS lacks high-quality tablet apps. Maybe the OnePlus Pad 3 is the best high-end Android tablet, although it's not an iPad Pro competitor just yet (and I don't think OnePlus is trying to undercut that device). It seems more directly aimed at the iPad Air.
India Today
07-06-2025
- India Today
OnePlus Pad 3 review in 5 points: The Android tablet to buy in India
Just a day ago OnePlus launched the Pad 3 globally as well as in India. This is a device with plenty of promise and ambitions. It is loaded to the gills with top hardware, and its large size means OnePlus wants it to be a productivity tool not just a tablet on which you want to watch movies and scroll through reels. Now, we took a closer look at the tablet in our OnePlus Pad 3 review and you can read that if you are running short on time and want a TLDR version, here is our impression of the tablet in a more snack-able format: the full review of the OnePlus Pad 3 in 5 points. Point 1- Key specs of the Pad 3 and what all they offerAs soon as you look at the Pad 3 it becomes clear that OnePlus is much more ambitious with it. From design to hardware, everything flows from it. The Pad 3 has a large 13.2-inch screen with an extremely high resolution of 3.4K. The screen also has an aspect ratio of 7:5, which is broader and similar to the screen of the iPad Pro, and this too is a choice that OnePlus has made by keeping productivity in mind. This is a good aspect ratio and one of the big reasons why I like the Pad 3 so much. The screen uses an LCD panel, which is bright and spectacularly good with colours. Having said that, it doesn't match the OLED contrast or viewing This is a sleek tablet, measuring just 5.97mm and quite light at 675 grams. The build quality is fantastic and rather minimalistic. It is easy to carry and use the Pad 3, although the large size means it is primarily meant to be used while it is attached to its Keyboard base model — and the one reviewed — comes with 256GB storage and 12GB RAM. Then there is another variant with 16GB RAM and 512GB storage. Inside there is the OxygenOS, tuned specifically for large screens and tablets. It uses Android 15 as base. The tablet is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, which is one of its key 2- Pad 3 is a performance monsterWell, let's talk about this key highlight. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite is an absolute champ and gives the Pad 3 wings with which it flies. In my use I found this to be an extremely fast tablet, handling multi-window multitasking with ease. If you want to see some benchmarks, you can do that in our full review. Another great bit about the performance of the Pad 3 is how cool it runs. Cool like a cucumber it is. The Snapdragon 8 Elite is the best one you can get in the world of Android, and I believe that the Pad 3 uses this chipset in absolutely the best way. In my use, irrespective of what I did — writing, browsing, retouching a few photos, streaming and so on — the Pad 3 performed without missing a beat. It was always smooth. Point 3- Pad 3 excels with its screen and battery lifeApart from the performance, other aspects where the Pad 3 scores well are screen and battery life. As noted, the tablet has an expansive screen with extremely high resolution. This makes streaming content on it a joy. In the same way it makes working with documents or files or photos, or just plain web browsing, absolutely engaging on the Pad 3. The screen also has ample brightness to deal with outdoor light, as well has good DCI-P3 colour coverage so everything looks vibrant and natural on it. For an LCD screen, the Pad 3 display is absolutely life too is great. In my use the tablet consistently lasted 2 days and then some more before I needed to charge it again. In the PCMark battery test too, it scored similar — around 22-24 hours in multiple tests — with 20 per cent battery remaining. When the charging is required, the Pad 3 does so with an 80W charger, which is supplied with the tablet and which can fill the battery from 0 to 100 per cent in over one Pad 3 has an 8-speaker sound system. It is very good but not excellent, which is what I expected from its specs. It is loud and is engaging enough when you play something on the Pad 3. The sound is also quite balanced, but I feel it could have had a little bit more bass and a bit more heft to its mids for more impressive performance in 4- Oh yes, it is missing a few tricksI feel the OnePlus 3 is a great Android tablet. But there are a few things it is missing. One of them is a fingerprint sensor. It would have been lovely on this tablet. Two, it lacks any IP rating. Not a deal-breaker, but would have been nice. The Pad 3 is also a Wi-Fi only tablet. The cellular support it doesn't have. Not a deal-breaker again, but something worth more part that is not missing but could have been better is the rear camera. The 8-megapixel camera is okay in good light and disappointing in low light. Overall, it is barely average quality, although the saving grace is that you are not going to use it all that much. The large size of the tablet means you will use its camera only 5- Smart Keyboard could have been betterOnePlus is pitching the Pad 3 as a laptop replacement, and I have a feeling that for a lot of people it can indeed replace their big and bulky laptop. But for that to happen they will have to pair the tablet with Smart Keyboard, which OnePlus sells separately. Now, this is a good quality keyboard but keys that are specious and don't feel mushy. Better still, the Smart Keyboard has an excellent trackpad which is smooth and responsive. advertisementHaving said that, I don't like the two-piece mechanism that the keyboard uses to attach itself to the tablet. It is not very secure and is rather finicky. It makes using the tablet a bit cumbersome because you have to babysit the keyboard attachment or else it is always at the risk of coming apart. I hope down the line there will be a better keyword accessory available for the Pad 3, either from OnePlus or from third-party accessory Android tablet to buyNow, I know that OnePlus has still not revealed the price of the Pad 3 in India. But we know the global price — Euros 599 — and that means in India it might have a rather aggressive price, undercutting most of the Galaxy Tabs or even the iPad Air. If the global price is any indication, I feel confident in saying that the OnePlus Pad 3 would be the best Android tablet to buy in India once it goes on sale in a few weeks. It is missing a few tricks but its core functionality is solid and that is what matters most.
Hindustan Times
06-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
OnePlus Pad 3 unveiled with Snapdragon 8 Elite, 12140 mAh battery
OnePlus has officially unveiled its latest premium tablet, the OnePlus Pad 3, as a surprise launch alongside the OnePlus 13s. Featuring top-tier specifications, including Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and a massive 12,140mAh battery, the Pad 3 is positioned as a high-end Android tablet. The company has also introduced new accessories such as the OnePlus Stylo 2 stylus and a tri-folding folio case, aimed at enhancing both productivity and versatility. The OnePlus Pad 3 boasts a 13.2-inch display with a crisp 3.4K resolution and 12-bit colour depth, offering an immersive visual experience. Its 7:5 aspect ratio is tailored for both entertainment and productivity. Encased in an all-metal unibody, the tablet retains a premium and durable aesthetic. Powering the Pad 3 is the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, ensuring flagship-level performance across gaming, multitasking, and demanding workflows. It comes in two configurations: 12GB RAM + 256GB storage 16GB RAM + 512GB storage The device runs OxygenOS 15, based on Android 15, delivering a clean, bloatware-free software experience. A key highlight of the Pad 3 is its 12,140mAh battery, which promises extended usage spanning days under normal conditions. It also supports 80W SUPERVOOC fast charging, capable of quickly recharging the large battery. For imaging, the Pad 3 includes a 13MP rear camera and an 8MP front camera. It integrates AI features such as AI Writer and AI Summarize, aimed at improving productivity. It also offers direct access to Google's Gemini AI tools and Circle to Search. Multitasking is enhanced with Open Canvas, allowing up to three apps to run simultaneously on the screen. To complement the tablet, OnePlus introduced the Stylo 2, a precision stylus for sketching, note-taking, and navigation. The tri-folding folio case adds both protection and adjustable viewing angles, ideal for work and media consumption. While the OnePlus Pad 3's pricing and sale dates have not yet been disclosed, the company is expected to share full availability details during its official India launch in the coming weeks.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
OnePlus Looks to Undercut Apple and Samsung With New $700 Tablet
(Bloomberg) -- OnePlus USA Corp. introduced a slimmed-down version of its premium Android tablet on Thursday, looking to beat competing devices from Samsung Electronics Co and Apple Inc. with its price and specifications. ICE Moves to DNA-Test Families Targeted for Deportation with New Contract Next Stop: Rancho Cucamonga! The Global Struggle to Build Safer Cars US Housing Agency Vulnerable to Fraud After DOGE Cuts, Documents Warn NYC Residents Want Safer Streets, Cheaper Housing, Survey Says The tablet, called the OnePlus Pad 3, will be available on July 8 for $700 in the US and $1,000 in Canada. In addition to the thin frame, the company is touting faster performance, an improved display and upgraded multitasking features. The Pad 3's price falls between Apple's 11-inch ($599) and 13-inch ($799) iPad Air tablets. Android tablets have failed to make much of a dent in the US to Apple's tablet business. Samsung, Inc. and smaller players fill out the rest of the market. The Pad 3 is less than 6 millimeters thick and features a 13.2-inch display with a higher pixel density than the iPad Air, promising crisp text and other visuals. (Apple's far more expensive 13-inch iPad Pro is just 5.1 millimeters thick.) Inside, it's powered by Qualcomm Inc.'s Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, a processor found in other recently released high-end devices such as Samsung's Galaxy S25 Edge phone. Battery life can exceed 17 hours with less demanding usage, according to the company. Alternatively, users can expect as much as six hours playing graphics-intensive video games, the company says. OnePlus also said the battery can recover 18% of capacity after a 10-minute charge. Most iPads are usually graded at 10 hours of battery life. In a hands-on test, the tablet seemed sturdy even with its thin dimensions. The LCD screen falls short of the higher-quality OLED panels used in pricier top-of-the-line tablets from Apple and Samsung, but it renders colors well and is capable of high brightness levels. Additionally, the eight speakers produced robust sound. Android continues to offer fewer tablet-optimized apps than Apple's iPadOS, but by now many popular platforms and services are available for larger-format devices like this. OnePlus' updated Open Canvas multitasking system lets users drag and drop multiple apps into different zones and adjust how much space they each take up. The tablet automatically recommends entering split-screen mode if it detects you flicking between apps. OnePlus is also releasing updated accessories for the Pad 3, including a $200 keyboard with trackpad. The company's existing $100 stylus pen is also compatible with the new hardware. The $50 folio case is a highlight, with a versatile design that lets you position the tablet in several different orientations. Like the tablet, some of OnePlus' accessories are priced lower than Apple's equivalents: The iPad Air's keyboard is $269, though the Apple Pencil starts at $79. At $700, the Pad 3 is $150 more expensive than the company's previous tablet. OnePlus attributes the higher cost to the larger display and other hardware refinements, though it acknowledged 'current market conditions' factored into the price. Electronics makers continue to grapple with uncertainty around tariffs that the Trump administration has levied against most US trading partners and critical manufacturing hubs. OnePlus was co-founded by Carl Pei, who departed the company in 2020 and now leads another consumer tech brand called Nothing. (Updates with context about OnePlus' founder in the last paragraph.A previous version corrected the formal name of OnePlus in the first paragraph.) Cavs Owner Dan Gilbert Wants to Donate His Billions—and Walk Again YouTube Is Swallowing TV Whole, and It's Coming for the Sitcom Millions of Americans Are Obsessed With This Japanese Barbecue Sauce Is Elon Musk's Political Capital Spent? Trump Considers Deporting Migrants to Rwanda After the UK Decides Not To ©2025 Bloomberg L.P. Sign in to access your portfolio
