When you think “budget tablet,” chances are you imagine bulky plastic builds, laggy performance, and a screen that’s just… fine. But Oppo seems determined to flip that image on its head with the Oppo Pad SE. With a sleek design that mimics premium devices and a lightweight frame, this slate could easily pass for something that costs double.
At a glance, the Pad SE delivers a clean ColorOS experience, a decent Full HD+ display, and even a quad-speaker setup—all for under $200. But with budget pricing comes inevitable compromise. So what are they? And more importantly, do they matter?
We’ve spent a good amount of time with the Oppo Pad SE, and in this review, we’ll unpack every corner of its design, performance, software, and daily usability. Whether you’re into casual gaming, video binging, or note-taking on the go, this might just be your next affordable pick.
Let’s dive into it.
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Design:
The Oppo Pad SE doesn’t play around when it comes to aesthetics. It’s minimalist, clean, and impressively polished. The version we reviewed comes in the “Starlight Silver” colorway, featuring a sleek dual-tone matte finish that feels smooth and smudge-resistant. It looks like aluminum and feels like a tablet that could pass for twice its price.
Despite its large 11-inch display, the Pad SE weighs only 530g and is just 7.39mm thin. This makes it incredibly portable and easy to hold for extended sessions, whether you’re watching content or scrolling through e-books. The frame is flat with ever-so-slight curves near the corners, which aids grip and comfort.
The tablet’s construction leans heavily toward a metallic build, offering that “premium in hand” feel. But, it’s worth noting that there’s no official IP rating, no reinforced corners, and no Gorilla Glass—so durability is purely on you. A good case is a must.
It’s minimal, refined, and deceptively classy. For a budget tablet, that’s a rare flex.
Ports and I/O:
In landscape orientation, the top side houses two volume buttons—separated rather than unified—a tiny design oddity, plus a small microphone slit. On the left edge, you’ll find the power button along with two speaker grilles. Meanwhile, the right side mirrors that with another pair of speakers and the lone USB-C port.
No headphone jack. No microSD card slot. No SIM tray. That’s right—expandability and LTE support are missing in action.
This configuration means you’ll rely entirely on the 128GB internal storage and Bluetooth for audio. While some tablets in this budget range do offer SD card support or LTE models, Oppo appears to be targeting a media-centric, Wi-Fi-only audience with this design.
Still, with symmetrical speaker placement and a decently tucked-in USB-C port, there’s a sense of balance that’s aesthetically satisfying.
Display:
The Oppo Pad SE sports an 11-inch Full HD+ IPS LCD with a 90Hz refresh rate, 207 ppi, and a resolution of 2000×1200. For a budget tablet, this is quite generous. The bezels are slim—thin enough for immersion but thick enough to avoid accidental touches.
Brightness peaks at 500 nits, which is decent indoors and borderline usable in brighter daylight. The lack of an OLED panel is expected, but the IPS screen still produces clean visuals with good clarity. Colors are accurate but not particularly punchy, and blacks, while not deep, don’t come off as washed out.
Where it surprises is in streaming quality: the tablet supports Widevine L1, so HD content on Netflix is not an issue. YouTube playback also goes up to 4K resolution.
There’s even a matte screen variant—but it’s region-locked to Singapore, which is unfortunate. Matte displays reduce glare and improve writing/drawing feedback, so it would’ve been nice to see that globally.
Still, for most users, this screen is solid for media, reading, and multitasking.
Audio:
The quad-speaker setup here truly shines for its class. The Pad SE pumps out loud, room-filling sound with decent stereo separation thanks to its symmetrical design.
Mids and highs come through clearly, though the bass is understandably shallow. For casual media consumption, it’s great. Just don’t expect rich, thumping audio or audiophile-grade tuning.
Bluetooth headphones will give you a better experience, but these built-in speakers do impress considering the price.
Biometric Security:
Oppo keeps it basic here—face unlock is your only biometric option. It’s quick, reliable in good lighting, and integrates smoothly with the OS.
However, there’s no fingerprint reader onboard. That’s a bit of a letdown, as many users prefer that added security layer.
In darker environments, face unlock may struggle or prompt a PIN, so be ready to input manually at times. For a tablet focused on convenience and media use, it’s fine. But for privacy-focused users, it might feel lacking.
Camera:
The camera setup is… modest. A 5MP shooter sits on both the front and back. Don’t expect miracles—these sensors are here more for utility than creativity.
Under bright lighting, rear shots are usable. Colors are relatively natural, but dynamic range is limited, and sharpness is only passable. Low light is a no-go: images get blurry fast, and noise creeps in heavily.
The front camera works well for video calls and online classes but not much more. Skin tones lack detail, and the sensor often blows out highlights or darkens shadows awkwardly.
Both cameras shoot up to 1080p at 30fps with no stabilization. But as far as tablets go—especially budget ones—this isn’t a surprise. The best use here is document scanning or video chatting, not photography.
Performance:
Performance-wise, the Pad SE uses the MediaTek Helio G100 chip paired with 4GB RAM. App launching and basic multitasking are fine, but performance dips happen when too many apps are active.
Gaming is hit or miss. Lightweight titles like Mobile Legends run okay at low settings, but demanding games like Genshin or Withering Waves are a struggle, averaging under 10 FPS.
Great for Netflix, not for NFS.
Software:
ColorOS 15 atop Android 15 feels light and snappy here. Oppo didn’t overburden the tablet with bloatware, and multitasking features like split-screen and floating windows work well.
However, the UI lacks blur effects seen in premium ColorOS skins—an intentional cut to save system resources. Functionally, it’s fine. Visually, it looks a bit flat.
There’s no word on Android version upgrades. Oppo only promises 3 years of security updates. That’s not terrible, but longevity might be a concern for software-focused users.
Still, with little bloat, quick animations, and fluid transitions, the experience is smooth overall.
Battery Life:
This is where the Pad SE earns its stripes. With a large 9,340mAh battery, the tablet comfortably delivers two full days of moderate use, including streaming, reading, and light productivity.
In testing, it hit nearly 18 hours on PCMark’s battery endurance test. That’s excellent.
Charging is rated at 33W, which is fast—but no charger is included in the box. Using a basic third-party charger, a full top-up took just over 2 hours.
With a SuperVOOC charger, charging time drops significantly. Battery longevity is also a focus here—Oppo claims 800 days of optimal use with their smart charging mode.
It’s a media binge machine.
Connectivity:
Only Wi-Fi is available on this unit. There’s no LTE or 5G variant in the Philippines right now.
It supports Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.4, both of which offer stable performance. Wireless headphones pair quickly, and streaming rarely hiccups even with multiple devices connected to the same network.
Still, some may miss the convenience of cellular connectivity, especially in a travel or work setting.
Price & Verdict:
Priced at ₱9,999 (~$170), the Oppo Pad SE sits comfortably in the “budget but not cheap-feeling” category.
You’re getting a crisp 90Hz screen, loud quad speakers, modern Android software, and epic battery life—wrapped in a surprisingly classy design. That’s a strong value proposition.
The trade-offs? No microSD card, no SIM slot, no charger in the box, and cameras that exist only to tick a checkbox. If you can live with those caveats, this tablet delivers in spades for the money.
For students, readers, casual streamers, or kids, the Oppo Pad SE is a fantastic pick. It’s not trying to compete with the iPad Air—and it doesn’t need to.
Conclusion:
The Oppo Pad SE hits that sweet spot where value meets design. It’s a budget tablet that looks far more premium than expected and performs well for the basics.
It won’t blow you away with power or cameras, but for Netflix, YouTube, TikTok, and document reading, it excels.
As long as you manage expectations, especially on gaming and expandability, this is a reliable everyday slate. Oppo did well to create something clean, competent, and very easy to recommend.
Pros
- Sleek, premium-looking design
- Crisp 90Hz IPS LCD
- Long battery life
- Loud quad speakers
- Clean ColorOS experience
- Widevine L1 + 4K YouTube playback
Cons
- No microSD or SIM support
- Weak camera setup
- No charger in the box
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
Does the Oppo Pad SE support Netflix HD?
- Yes, it supports Widevine L1, allowing HD playback on Netflix.
Can you expand the storage on the Oppo Pad SE?
- No, it has no microSD slot. You’re limited to internal storage.
Is Oppo Pad SE good for gaming?
- Only for light games. It struggles with graphics-heavy titles like Genshin Impact.
How long does the battery last on the Oppo Pad SE?
- Easily over 2 days on moderate use and nearly 18 hours in benchmark tests.
What charger should I use for fast charging the Oppo Pad SE?
- A 33W SuperVOOC charger is ideal, though not included in the box.
🔄 Alternative #1: Realme Pad 2
Why consider it:
The Realme Pad 2 offers a larger 11.5″ 2K display with a buttery smooth 120Hz refresh rate, plus LTE support out of the box. It also comes with a bigger 8GB RAM option and a more powerful Helio G99 processor, making it better suited for multitasking and casual gaming than the Pad SE.
🛒 Check Realme Pad 2 Price on Amazon
🔄 Alternative #2: Xiaomi Pad 6
Why consider it:
If your budget can stretch a bit more, the Xiaomi Pad 6 brings a flagship-like experience with a Snapdragon 870 chip, 2.8K 144Hz display, quad speakers with Dolby Atmos, and excellent build quality. It’s perfect for productivity and multimedia, though priced around twice the Oppo Pad SE.
🔄 Alternative #3: Lenovo Tab M10 Plus Gen 3
Why consider it:
For a slightly more educational and family-oriented experience, the Lenovo Tab M10 Plus Gen 3 offers stylus support, a crisp Full HD screen, and comes with a dedicated Kids Mode. It also features Android 12 out of the box with long-term security patches.
