Tablets today are no longer just oversized phones — they’re productivity machines, entertainment hubs, and in many cases, viable laptop replacements. OnePlus made a strong entry into this space with the Pad 2, offering flagship-level specs at a compelling price. Now, in 2025, the OnePlus Pad 3 arrives — not as a revolutionary upgrade, but as a meaningful refinement.
It retains the DNA of the Pad 2 but stretches the screen size, boosts the internals, and fine-tunes the software experience to become more ecosystem-aware than ever. From the moment you unbox it, the Pad 3 feels premium and thoughtfully designed. While OLEDs still dominate discussions around display quality, OnePlus sticks with an IPS LCD — albeit one of the most color-accurate we’ve tested.
Whether you’re a student juggling notes and entertainment, or a creator seeking a fast, vibrant panel with a stylus, the Pad 3 aims to meet your needs. The use of Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (Elite Edition) positions this tablet as a raw powerhouse. But it’s not just brute force at play. With improved thermals, clever multitasking via Open Canvas, AI integration, and seamless pairing with OnePlus phones and even Macs — the Pad 3 wants to be your central tech device.
That said, it’s not perfect. The lack of a fingerprint scanner and 5G variant might be a dealbreaker for some. Still, when priced under ₹50,000, few can offer this combination of speed, size, and software sophistication.
Let’s take a deep dive into everything the OnePlus Pad 3 has to offer.
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Design And Build Quality:
The OnePlus Pad 3 continues the company’s sleek design tradition but refines it with smarter ergonomics and modern flair. Crafted from a single piece of aluminum, the chassis feels strong yet lightweight, with a soft matte finish that resists fingerprints and adds grip. At 5.97mm thick, it’s just a hair bulkier than the Pad 2, yet still slimmer than many laptops and competing tablets in its class.
Despite the larger display, the Pad 3 doesn’t feel unwieldy thanks to well-balanced weight distribution. It weighs around 670g — up from the Pad 2 — but the mass is evenly spread, making it comfortable to hold for long reading or browsing sessions. OnePlus has also flattened the side rails this time, improving the in-hand feel without making it boxy or sharp.
Another notable shift is the camera’s new location — now in the top-left corner (landscape mode), following the standard tablet layout. It’s a subtle move, but it improves both aesthetics and usability, especially during video calls.
A standout addition is the upgraded USB Type-C Gen 3.2 port, capable of higher data speeds and better accessory compatibility. It’s a small but meaningful upgrade, especially for creators and professionals. While the design isn’t radically different from last year’s model, it’s cleaner, more refined, and more functional in every way — a case of thoughtful evolution rather than reinvention.
Display Specs And Features:
The OnePlus Pad 3 brings a substantial upgrade in screen real estate with its 13.2-inch display, maintaining the unique 7:5 aspect ratio that OnePlus introduced with its predecessor. This ratio strikes an excellent balance between vertical and horizontal space, making it ideal for reading books, browsing documents, or multitasking in split-screen view. Unlike more stretched-out 16:10 or 16:9 tablets, this one feels closer to a digital notebook — a clever nod to productivity users.
The panel remains IPS LCD, but OnePlus continues to push the boundaries of LCD quality. With a 144Hz refresh rate and a resolution of 2800×1960 pixels, everything from scrolling to animations looks ultra-smooth and crisp. Color accuracy is also outstanding here, with a Delta E value of just 0.7 — which places it among the most color-accurate LCDs on any Android tablet today. Artists, designers, or anyone needing reliable visuals will appreciate the fidelity.
Brightness levels, however, haven’t changed from the Pad 2. You still get a typical brightness that’s more than adequate indoors and a peak that holds up well outdoors, though not OLED-bright. Content consumption remains a treat, especially since the screen is Dolby Vision-certified. That said, Netflix HDR playback is missing due to LCD panel certification limitations, which OnePlus says is out of their control. You can still watch HDR content via YouTube or locally downloaded videos without issue.
Touch response is top-tier with a 540Hz touch sampling rate, making it responsive enough for fast-paced gaming and stylus input. Viewing angles are mostly good, though slight color shifting is noticeable at extreme angles — a trade-off inherent to LCD tech.
Bezels are slightly thicker than rivals like Xiaomi, but that’s actually a usability advantage here, preventing accidental touches while holding the tablet. Overall, the display on the Pad 3 hits a sweet spot for both work and play — big, bold, fast, and accurate.
Speakers & Audio:
The Pad 3’s audio game is seriously strong. With four woofers and four tweeters working in harmony, you get a quad-speaker setup that’s not just loud but spatially rich and immersive. The stereo separation is especially notable during landscape media playback.
Volume levels are room-filling, and there’s no distortion at max volume. Bass is punchy without overpowering mids or highs, and vocals are crisp during video calls.
This setup makes the Pad 3 a great choice for YouTube bingeing, Netflix marathons, or even casual music listening without headphones.
LDAC and LHDC codec support means if you’re using wireless earbuds, you’ll get high-quality Bluetooth audio too.
Biometrics:
Unfortunately, there’s no fingerprint scanner here — not under the display or embedded in the power button. You’re left with face unlock via the 8MP front camera, which is reasonably fast but not foolproof in dim lighting.
It’s a strange omission for a productivity-focused tablet. Many competitors at this price point offer some form of biometric hardware for security, and OnePlus really missed an opportunity here.
Performance:
At the heart of the OnePlus Pad 3 lies the powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Elite Edition chipset — making it the first Android tablet to launch with this top-tier SoC. It’s paired with up to 16GB of RAM (LPDDR5T) and UFS 4.0 storage, offering blazing-fast data speeds and exceptional multitasking ability. Whether you’re juggling heavy apps, editing large files, or gaming at high refresh rates, the Pad 3 handles it all effortlessly.
OnePlus has fine-tuned thermal performance this year, taking advantage of the tablet’s large surface area to spread and dissipate heat effectively. In stress tests like 3DMark Wildlife, it maintained over 99% GPU stability with minimal warmth on the surface — something even premium smartphones struggle with.
Real-world usage reflects these numbers. The Pad 3 launches apps instantly, switches between tasks without lag, and keeps everything fluid even with background processes running. You’ll rarely need to clear RAM or close apps to keep things moving.
From productivity apps like Google Docs and Lightroom to creative tools like drawing and video editing apps, everything performs with desktop-level consistency. It’s also worth noting that the tablet remains cool and quiet during extended workloads. The OnePlus Pad 3 is easily one of the fastest Android tablets available right now, and it delivers performance that feels just as premium as its flagship specs suggest.
Battery & Charging:
A beefy 9,510mAh battery ensures full-day usage. We managed about 7 hours of intense screen-on time with gaming, streaming, and multitasking. With moderate use, expect 9 to 10 hours easily.
Charging is impressive — the bundled 80W charger juices the device from 1% to full in just 90 minutes. That’s faster than many smartphones!
However, reverse charging and wireless charging aren’t supported — understandable, but still worth noting.
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Cameras:
A Functional, Not Flashy, Camera Setup
Let’s be honest — no one buys a tablet for its cameras. But that doesn’t mean they should be ignored entirely, especially when they’re expected to handle video calls, document scans, or even the occasional content snap. The OnePlus Pad 3 includes a 13MP rear camera and an 8MP front-facing shooter — a modest setup on paper, but one that performs well enough in real-world situations.
Rear Camera: 13MP Main Sensor
The main sensor offers good clarity in daylight conditions. It captures colors accurately and keeps noise under control as long as lighting is sufficient. Focus speed is decent, and shutter lag is minimal, making it convenient for quick shots. However, in low light, the limitations are evident. Dynamic range suffers, and image noise starts to creep in. There’s no OIS, and no dedicated night mode either, so it’s best used for casual or work-based scenarios, not low-light photography.
That said, it excels at one specific use case: document scanning. Edges are sharp, contrast is handled well, and OnePlus’s built-in document enhancement tools help clean up glare or shadows from papers. Students and professionals will likely find it handy for submitting work, capturing notes, or saving receipts.
Front Camera: 8MP Selfie Shooter
The front camera has been repositioned to the center of the top bezel when held in landscape orientation — a small but crucial change that greatly improves video calling. You now appear to be looking into the camera, not off to the side. Quality-wise, it’s solid. It captures good skin tones and detail in most lighting conditions, although it can wash out under overhead LED lighting.
Face Unlock works via this camera and is reasonably fast in daylight, though it lacks depth sensing — so security is more about convenience than true protection. Don’t rely on it for banking apps.
Video Recording
The Pad 3 supports video recording up to 4K at 30fps from the rear and 1080p at 30fps from the front. The results are average but stable. There’s no optical or electronic stabilization, so handheld footage can be shaky unless you’re careful. Audio quality from the onboard mics is quite good — clear enough for vlogs, video notes, or remote meetings.
Camera App & Features
The camera app itself is straightforward, with all the essentials like Pro Mode, Timers, Filters, Panorama, and Document Scan mode. There’s also basic HDR support, but it’s automatic and inconsistent. No gimmicky AI modes or portrait lighting effects here — just simple toggles for things that actually work.
Use Case Verdict
The camera system on the OnePlus Pad 3 is built with purpose: to enable video calls, digitize paper, and support occasional content sharing. If you need reliable, consistent results for casual use, it does the job well. But don’t expect ultra-wide shots, telephoto zoom, or flagship image quality.
In other words: these cameras won’t impress your inner photographer — but your boss or professor won’t complain during your next call or submission.
Software & Ecosystem:
OxygenOS 15 Tablet Edition
The OnePlus Pad 3 ships with OxygenOS 15 tailored for tablets, built on top of Android 15. This isn’t just a stretched phone UI — it’s a proper tablet interface with features that prioritize multitasking, fluid navigation, and smart app behavior. The interface is clean, snappy, and free from bloatware, staying true to OnePlus’s legacy. Performance-wise, everything feels tightly integrated with the hardware, and animations glide effortlessly across the 144Hz panel.
Multitasking & Productivity Tools
OnePlus has refined its multitasking game with features like the persistent dock for quick app launching and Open Canvas — a clever horizontal multitasking interface that allows up to three split-screen apps and one floating window. You can swipe between workspaces or pin app pairs for quicker access. The system also intelligently suggests layout combinations based on your usage, a small AI touch that boosts convenience.
Accessory Integration & Input Support
The official keyboard accessory connects seamlessly and brings a laptop-like typing experience. It includes an AI shortcut key that launches Gemini instantly, allowing you to generate summaries, translate content, or interact with your screen through voice. Stylus support is equally solid — the Stylo 2 offers 16,000 levels of pressure sensitivity, great for note-taking or sketching, and works without lag.
OnePlus Ecosystem Features
If you own a OnePlus smartphone, ecosystem perks really kick in. Tap your phone on the keyboard’s NFC tag and it instantly connects — enabling features like shared clipboard, app sync, call forwarding, and screen mirroring. You can even browse files from one device on the other in real-time.
Mac Compatibility with OPlus Connect
Surprisingly, OnePlus has extended its reach into Apple’s ecosystem. Using OPlus Connect, you can link the Pad 3 with a MacBook, access shared files, and even remotely control your Mac’s screen via the tablet’s keyboard and touch input. It’s an impressive and rare cross-platform feature that genuinely adds value for hybrid users.
AI Features & Enhancements
OxygenOS now supports a range of AI-powered tools: AI Summary for condensing content, AI Eraser and Reflection Removal in photos, AI Writing Tools for text generation, and AI Speak for reading on-screen content aloud. These features are still evolving but feel polished and genuinely helpful for productivity and accessibility.
Update Promise
OnePlus is promising 3 years of major OS updates and 6 years of security patches for the Pad 3 — a strong long-term commitment that places it just behind Samsung and ahead of most Android tablet makers.
Conclusion:
The OnePlus Pad 3 isn’t a revolutionary jump from its predecessor, but it is a confident step forward. With a better display, faster internals, and improved software integration, it becomes one of the most well-rounded Android tablets available today.
If priced under $600, this tablet is an absolute steal. Even at $700, it stands its ground against competitors from Samsung, Lenovo, or Xiaomi. The absence of 5G and fingerprint unlock are unfortunate, but not deal-breaking.
For media consumption, school, work, or even light creative use, the Pad 3 is more than capable. It’s not just a big phone or a half-baked laptop replacement — it’s its own thing, and that’s what makes it worth recommending. Buy OnePlus Pad 3 on Amazon now!!
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Stunning 13.2” 144Hz display with excellent color accuracy
- Excellent speaker setup with rich audio
- Flagship-level performance and thermal efficiency
- Solid accessories with stylus and AI-integrated keyboard
- Highly polished software with long update support
- Seamless ecosystem features, including Mac integration
Cons:
- No fingerprint scanner
- No 5G or eSIM option
- LCD panel (not OLED) limits Netflix HDR support
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
Does the OnePlus Pad 3 support HDR on Netflix?
- No, it supports Dolby Vision but lacks Netflix HDR certification due to LCD limitations.
Can I play Genshin Impact at 60fps on the OnePlus Pad 3?
- Yes, Genshin runs at 60fps with stable performance on high settings.
Is there a 5G model of the OnePlus Pad 3?
- Unfortunately, no. The Pad 3 is Wi-Fi-only with no eSIM or cellular variant.
What accessories work with the Pad 3?
- It supports the Stylo 2 stylus and comes with a two-piece keyboard + stand combo. Both are sold separately.
How long does the OnePlus Pad 3 battery last?
- Around 7–10 hours depending on use. Full charge in 90 minutes with the 80W charger.
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