OnePlus Pad 3: Great Hardware and Software, But Premium Tablets Are Still Niche
I've been testing OnePlus' new Android tablet, the OnePlus Pad 3, which is now available for preorder. There aren't many premium tablet options in the U.S.; Apple has the iPad Pro, Samsung has the Galaxy Tab S10+/Ultra, and ...that's it.* Outside the U.S., there are more options, but only a few.**
This is the third iteration of OnePlus' Pad line, and the experience shows. I haven't found anything on Android that stresses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite (which features an advanced Oryon CPU core from the company's laptop silicon line), the Pad 3's 3:2 aspect ratio display is great for productivity, build quality is excellent, and OnePlus' software has arguably the best multitasking interface on any tablet. OnePlus' iteration of Android is fast, includes loads of keyboard shortcuts, and notably does not have any preloaded bloatware at all.
On the accessories front, the Stylo 2 carries over from the last generation, but the cases are new. The Pad 3 Smart Keyboard cover can connect and charge directly via pogo pins or be moved away from the display via Bluetooth. File sharing with phones can be initialized with an NFC tap to the bottom right of the keyboard (this isn't new, but it's still a clever idea). The Pad 3 Folio is also worth considering if you plan to use the tablet for content consumption; the front cover can be flipped and folded into numerous postures. Pre-orders get to choose any two of these accessories free, and getting both cases is the way to go for those who don't plan on drawing, drafting, or taking notes with the pen.
OnePlus does not offer a cellular version.
That accessories deal brings the value proposition into sharper focus. At $700, the OnePlus Pad 3 is fair, and it undercuts both Apple and Samsung on price, but it's still expensive for an Android tablet. Most buyers will want the keyboard because the 3:2 display is ideal for productivity as opposed to widescreen content. Add the $200 Keyboard and the combination is pricey. However, if you get the keyboard free with a pre-order -- along with either the Folio or the Stylo 2 -- and now you have a bargain in keeping with the OnePlus brand.
Google still has work to do getting more premium tablet apps to match the hardware. Apple does, too! The hardware capabilities across both platforms outstrip the use cases at the moment. However, if Android apps do meet your workflow needs, or you are looking for a handheld productivity / content / browsing combination, the OnePlus Pad 3 certainly delivers.
For Techsponential clients, a report is a springboard to personalized discussions and strategic advice. To discuss the implications of this report on your business, product, or investment strategies, contact Techsponential at avi@techsponential.com.
This report was written, researched, and photos were edited on the OnePlus Pad 3. I didn't take pictures of the tablet with the tablet, that would be tablet Inception.
*I don't include Windows tablets in this category, although some enterprises use them this way, and content consumption is often a consumer use case for Windows convertibles. Even the best Windows tablets like Microsoft's Surface Pro are primarily convertible laptops without a finger-first tablet interface.
**I keep a Huawei MatePad Pro in my rotation to track how HarmonyOS is evolving, but that's never ever coming to the U.S.