OnePlus Pad 3 Review: The Most Powerful Android Tablet Yet

OnePlus Pad 3 Review: The Flagship Android Tablet That’s Redefining the Game

A Snapdragon 8 Gen 3-class processor tucked inside a slim metal frame, paired with a massive battery and a sharp, high-refresh-rate display – that’s what the OnePlus Pad 3 brings to the table. But if you’re scratching your head wondering why it sometimes says “OPPO” on the back, you’re not alone.

Here’s the deal: OPPO and OnePlus released identical tablets in China — the OPPO Pad 4 Pro and the OnePlus Pad 2 Pro — with the only real difference being the branding. Same build, same internals, and nearly identical software. The OPPO version is positioned for offline sales, while the OnePlus variant is aimed at online markets. To make things even more interesting, the same tablet is now being launched globally under the name OnePlus Pad 3.

What’s in the Box?

Unboxing the tablet reveals a sleek device alongside the essentials: a USB-A to USB-C charging cable, a 67W fast charger, and some paperwork. That’s it — clean, minimal, and functional.

Build Quality & Design: Big, Premium, and Practical

This is not a small tablet. It’s roughly the size of an A4 sheet, and heavier than its predecessor, the OnePlus Pad 2 — around 100g more to be exact. That’s thanks to the larger 13.2-inch display and a significantly bigger 12,140mAh battery.

The camera has been moved from the center (as seen on the Pad 2) to the corner. While this design choice aligns it with most tablets on the market, it also means the Pad 3 loses a bit of its unique visual identity. The metal unibody design still feels solid, and now features pogo pins on the back for keyboard connectivity. The new keyboard accessory — especially the generously sized trackpad — is surprisingly well-done, arguably better than Apple’s offering in terms of usability.

The USB-C port at the bottom is USB 3.2 and supports video output, although only in mirroring mode. Due to the non-standard aspect ratio (7:5), you’ll get black bars on most external monitors.

Display: Gorgeous, Bright, and Built for Productivity

The 13.2-inch IPS LCD panel delivers crisp visuals with its 3.2K resolution and 144Hz refresh rate. Brightness peaks at 900 nits in auto mode, which is impressive by tablet standards. The bezels are even, the colors punchy (thanks to full DCI-P3 coverage), and Widevine L1 support ensures crisp HD streaming.

Its 7:5 aspect ratio makes it ideal for multitasking and productivity, although media consumption will have some letterboxing. Still, movie watching is enjoyable, especially with the quad-speaker and quad-tweeter setup that delivers rich and loud audio. While it doesn’t quite beat the iPad Pro’s speaker quality, it comes surprisingly close and definitely outperforms the iPad Air M3.

Performance: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Power Unleashed

Here’s where the OnePlus Pad 3 really shines — under the hood, it packs Qualcomm’s top-tier Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip (a.k.a. Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 “Elite Edition”). This is the first Android tablet to feature this flagship SoC, usually reserved for premium smartphones.

Unlike Samsung’s Tab S10 series, which opts for MediaTek Dimensity chips, the Pad 3 delivers better driver support — especially important for demanding tasks like Windows emulation or high-end gaming. And the performance isn’t just on paper: in stress tests, the tablet peaked at a cool 36°C, with heat isolated away from the area where you’d typically hold the device.

Even more impressive? A sustained performance score of over 75%. That’s gaming phone territory — not something you’d expect from a large productivity-focused tablet.

It’s also equipped with LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 storage, ensuring fast app loading and smooth multitasking.

Software: Optimized ColorOS for the Big Screen

ColorOS on the Pad 3 is surprisingly well-optimized for large displays. It supports split-screen multitasking, letting you juggle up to three apps at once without any noticeable lag. Animations and transitions are fluid, and ColorOS even includes features like Super Resolution and Frame Generation for enhanced gaming performance.

Stylus support is another highlight. The included stylus connects via Bluetooth and charges magnetically when docked on the top edge of the tablet. You can instantly launch the Notes app just by tapping the screen, and depending on the pen mode, the writing feel changes — mimicking the experience of using a pencil or a ballpoint pen.

Final Thoughts: Should You Buy the OnePlus Pad 3?

If you’re looking for the most powerful Android tablet available today, the OnePlus Pad 3 is it. It’s got the fastest chip, a massive battery, a stellar display, and speakers that nearly rival Apple’s best. While it’s marketed under different brand names in China, the experience remains consistent — and exceptional — regardless of which version you pick.

From productivity to entertainment to gaming, the OnePlus Pad 3 handles everything with ease. It’s not just another Android tablet — it’s the one that finally gets everything right.