OnePlus Pad 3 Review: The Android Tablet That Made Reviewers Ditch Their iPads

The OnePlus Pad 3 has achieved something rare in the Android tablet world: near-universal praise from reviewers who typically default to recommending iPads. TechRadar titled their review “it might be time to retire my iPad,” while Tom’s Guide said it “made me ditch my iPad,” according to TechRadar and Tom’s Guide. After weeks of testing, we agree—the OnePlus Pad 3 is the first Android tablet that can genuinely claim parity with Apple’s best at a significantly lower price.

How We Reviewed: Our assessment is based on at least two weeks of daily use before scoring and benchmark testing alongside competing models. Ratings reflect hands-on testing, benchmark data, and real-world usage. No sponsorship or affiliate relationship influenced our selections.

Design and Build Quality

At 5.97mm thin and 675g, the OnePlus Pad 3 is the thinnest and lightest tablet in its class. The industrial design has matured significantly from the original OnePlus Pad—the aluminum unibody feels premium, with tight tolerances and a subtle matte finish that resists fingerprints.

The 7:5 aspect ratio is a thoughtful choice that sets it apart from the 16:10 and 3:2 ratios used by competitors. It provides slightly more vertical space than a widescreen layout, which benefits document reading, web browsing, and note-taking, while still being wide enough for comfortable video viewing. It is a compromise that favors productivity without sacrificing entertainment.

Display

The 13.2-inch LCD panel operates at 3.4K resolution with a 144Hz refresh rate. Yes, it is an LCD rather than OLED, which means blacks are not as deep and contrast is not as dramatic as the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra. But in practice, the display is bright, color-accurate, and smooth enough that most users will not feel shortchanged.

The high refresh rate makes a noticeable difference in daily use. Scrolling through documents, swiping between apps, and navigating the interface all feel fluid and responsive. For gaming, 144Hz provides a tangible advantage in fast-paced titles where frame rate affects input responsiveness.

Performance

The Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset is the fastest processor available in any Android device, and the OnePlus Pad 3 leverages it fully, according to GSMArena’s benchmarks. Paired with up to 16GB of LPDDR5x RAM and 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage, the tablet handles everything from basic multitasking to 4K video editing without hesitation.

In our testing, app launches were near-instantaneous, multitasking with split-screen and floating windows was seamless, and even demanding games like Genshin Impact ran at maximum settings with stable frame rates. The thermal management is well-tuned—the tablet gets warm under sustained load but never uncomfortable to hold.

Compared to the original OnePlus Pad’s Dimensity 9000 chip, the performance leap is generational. If you upgraded from the first OnePlus Pad, the difference is immediately obvious.

Battery and Charging

The 12,140mAh battery delivers genuine all-day performance. In mixed use—web browsing, email, media, some gaming—expect 10 to 12 hours of screen-on time. Video playback stretches further, easily crossing the 14-hour mark.

OnePlus’s 80W SuperVOOC charging is a game-changer for tablets. A full charge from empty takes approximately 80 minutes—far faster than Samsung’s 45W charging or Apple’s standard charging speeds. Even a 20-minute charge provides enough juice for several hours of use, which is useful when you forgot to plug in overnight.

Audio

The eight-speaker array (four woofers, four tweeters) delivers surprisingly impressive sound, according to HotHardware’s hands-on review. The bass response is better than any tablet we have tested aside from the iPad Pro, and the stereo separation creates a wide soundstage that makes watching sports or movies immersive without external speakers.

Software

Android 15 runs clean on the OnePlus Pad 3, with OnePlus’s OxygenOS providing useful tablet-specific features without excessive bloat. The multitasking system supports split-screen with adjustable dividers, floating windows, and a persistent taskbar that makes switching between apps efficient.

WiFi 7 support is a forward-looking inclusion that most competitors lack. For users with WiFi 7 routers, the bandwidth and latency improvements benefit everything from video calling to cloud gaming. Bluetooth 5.4 ensures reliable connections to headphones and speakers.

Who Should Buy It

The OnePlus Pad 3 is the right tablet for anyone who wants premium performance without the premium price. At $699, it costs $500 less than the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra and $400 less than the iPad Pro while delivering comparable day-to-day performance.

It is an excellent choice for students who need a study and note-taking device, professionals who want a portable productivity tool, and media consumers who want a large, high-quality screen without overspending.

The only buyers who should look elsewhere are those who specifically need OLED (consider the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 series) or those deeply embedded in Apple’s ecosystem where cross-device features like AirDrop, Handoff, and Universal Control provide genuine workflow advantages.

The Verdict

The OnePlus Pad 3 shows that third time is the charm. OnePlus has delivered a fully featured Android tablet that competes with the best from Samsung and Apple while significantly undercutting them on price. The Snapdragon 8 Elite performance, 80W fast charging, and eight-speaker audio system make it a joy to use daily. If you have been waiting for an Android tablet that does not require compromises, this is it.

Sources

1. TechRadar — OnePlus Pad 3 Review — accessed March 26, 2026
2. Tom’s Guide — OnePlus Pad 3 Review — accessed March 26, 2026
3. GSMArena — OnePlus Pad 3 Review — accessed March 26, 2026
4. HotHardware — OnePlus Pad 3 Hands-On — accessed March 26, 2026