OnePlus Pad 3 Review: A Mini Android Laptop (Almost)

Tablets have never been my go-to option, and the sole reason is that most of them lack core productivity. Almost all the brands take the formula of just big screens meant for Netflix and YouTube binges, decent speakers, and maybe a stylus or keyboard support to tick the ‘work’ box, with productivity keeping as secondary. But with the new OnePlus Pad 3, it feels like the brand is trying to keep it for all sorts of purpose, not just to binge-watchers, but also to users who might want to get some serious work done.  Also Read: OnePlus Pad 3 Goes On Sale In India: Check Its Price, Offers, Specifications, More

Whether it’s the big 13.2-inch display, the new Snapdragon 8 Elite chip under the hood, or the optional Smart Keyboard and case, the Pad 3 is clearly aiming to be more than just a media slate, just like its predecessor OnePlus Pad 2. But with that ambition comes a question: can it really do it all? After using it for two weeks, here is what I feel. Also Read: OnePlus Pad 3 India Sale Date Confirmed For September 5: Check Specs, Features, Where To Buy

Design

It is simple yet elegant-kind of look! The OnePlus Pad 3 hasn’t changed much if we compare it with its predecessor, but it still feels premium. The aluminium body with a matte look keeps it minimalistic. The 7:5 aspect ratio is also great for browsing, reading, and split-screen tasks. Also, the centrally placed rear camera from the previous generation has now been moved to the corner, and honestly, it just looks better that way.  Also Read: OnePlus Pad 3 Set To Launch In India On September 5: Check Expected Specs, Features, Expected Price, More

However, it is the weight that concerns. At 675g, it might not sound heavy considering that it carries a huge 12,140mAh battery, but after a longer usage, your palms get tired holding it. Ultimately, using it with its case is what makes it a wiser choice most of the time. If you pair it with the Smart Keyboard, the Pad 3 starts looking like a mini laptop to add some serious productivity. 

Display And Audio

Productivity or no productivity, we can’t deny that tablets have always been an entertainment device for most of the users (including me!) That’s where the OnePlus Pad 3 wins brownie points. The screen is one of the highlights with a 13.2-inch LCD panel with a sharp 3392 x 2400 resolution and support for Dolby Vision. I found the colours vivid, text is crisp during my casual usage in office hours. I watched Panchayat Season 4 on Amazon Prime in full HD, and everything looked detailed. The colours are subtly punchy, which adds to the binge-watching experience. 

Plus, its 144Hz refresh rate makes animations and movement from one app to another smooth. The impact has been visible during gaming sessions. While the outdoor usage is fine too, with up to 900 nits brightness but at a premium price, an OLED panel is what I expect. 

What really elevates the media experience is the eight-speaker setup. During my usage, the audio sounds clear with strong mids, especially while watching movies or video calling. The bass-heavy fans like me have to settle with a subtle Bass. Still, it gets the job done without any major issues. 

Performance, Software, and Cameras

Just like its predecessor, which came with the top flagship chipset of its time, the OnePlus Pad 3 is also powered by the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite chip coupled with Adreno 830 GPU. With the top-notch chipset, multitasking has been easier as I could run a YouTube video, edit a doc, and browse the web with multiple tabs open without any tantrums. I even replaced the Pad 3 with my laptop for almost a day to handle my office work. 

While raw performance hasn’t been an issue, it’s the Smart Keyboard that ended up slowing things down. Two of the keys were a bit unresponsive during my testing, and the often accidental clicks on the touchpad make it frustrating to get work done quickly. So while it looks like an important part of productivity along with Pad 3, but the experience still needs some improvement. That said, it’s a handy backup if you’re away from your main laptop and just need to tackle quick tasks or emails on the go.

Gaming is not an issue too. I tried Asphalt Legends on high settings, and it handled it smoothly without any stutters and hiccups. The tablet stayed cool, thanks to the large vapour chamber cooling system, and didn’t heat up uncomfortably during longer sessions. But if you have smaller hands like I do, holding a 13-inch tablet for long gaming sessions gets uncomfortable pretty fast!

Talking about the software, it runs on OxygenOS 15 based on Android 15. Multitasking has been smooth as you can open up to three apps side by side or even float windows around, which is useful while checking important messages or emails and watching YouTube together. It also brings AI features such as Circle to Search and Google’s Gemini AI assistant.

When it comes to cameras, I feel like it is the front camera which I use the most. Of course, for video calling. Here, the Pad 3 comes with a 13MP rear camera and an 8MP front shooter. For a tablet, they’re just okay. Video calls were fine in good lighting, but the image gets soft and noisy in low-light settings. The same is the case with the rear camera, as the photos look decent in daylight but lack detail when zooming in. While the rear camera is something which I rarely use with a tablet unless I want to capture some documents to share with my colleagues, but I wish the front camera could be better to make the video calling better.

Battery And Charging

This is one area where the Pad 3 impresses without any complaints. The 12,140mAh battery consistently lasted me more than a full workday, with 15–16 hours of screen time easily. Even if I am casually using it with a couple of hours of YouTube and some web browsing, it lasts easily for over 2 days. When it comes to charging, the 80W wired charging is fast. I managed to go from 10% to 100% in about 90 minutes, which is good for a tablet. 

Verdict

If you’re looking for a tablet that can handle both entertainment and productivity, the OnePlus Pad 3 makes a strong case. It’s got a 13.2-inch display, powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, long battery life, and surprisingly good speakers—all of which make it a great streaming, gaming, and multitasking device. It also supports fast 80W charging and runs Android 15 with useful features like multi-window and Gemini AI.

But it’s not perfect. At 675g, it can feel heavy during long sessions, and the Smart Keyboard—while promising—has some limitations too. The lack of an OLED display is noticeable at this premium level, and the front camera could’ve been better for video calls. Having said that, the price for the Indian variant is still unknown. If OnePlus sticks to last year’s Rs 40,000 pricing, it’s a great all-rounder. But if it lands above Rs 50,000, well, maybe you would like to consider what else the tablet world has to offer!