By Himank Tripathi
After testing several tablets over the past few years, one thing has become clear: the gap between a capable tablet and a conventional laptop is shrinking fast. While tablets still lack some of the raw power and specialised features of high-end laptops, for everyday work they are becoming increasingly practical. I enjoyed using the OnePlus Pad 2—and after spending more than two months with the new OnePlus Pad 3 as my primary work device, here’s what I found.
Display & Design
The Pad 3 features a large 13.2-inch LCD panel with a sharp 3.4K resolution and a 144Hz adaptive refresh rate. Even though I usually prefer a slightly smaller screen for portability, this display is hard to resist—bright, crisp, and perfect for binge-watching or multitasking with split-screen apps. At just 5.97mm thick and 675g, it feels premium and remarkably light.
Performance & Battery
Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite and Adreno 830 GPU, the Pad 3 breezes through daily tasks with zero lag. Running OxygenOS 15 (Android 15), it handles up to three apps simultaneously, making multitasking genuinely useful. OnePlus device pairing is seamless, allowing app relay and data sharing without hotspots. However, the lack of a dedicated desktop mode keeps it from fully replacing a laptop.
Battery life is impressive: the 12,140mAh cell easily lasts a full day of work and media use, delivering about nine hours of screen time.
Gaming & Accessories
Gaming performance is excellent, with stable frame rates and improved heat control thanks to an upgraded vapor chamber. But to truly use it as a laptop alternative, the Smart Keyboard is essential. It’s comfortable but lacks backlighting, and the magnetic stand isn’t sturdy enough. The Stylo 2 stylus works well but is sold separately.
Conclusion
I wrote this review entirely on the OnePlus Pad 3—and didn’t miss my laptop. For basic to medium workloads, it’s one of the best tablets in its price range, offering strong display quality, speakers, battery life and performance. It won’t replace a laptop for heavy users, but as a daily companion, it excels.
Rating: 4/5
The author is an expert in the fields of consumer technology, auto and lifestyle (ANI)
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