OnePlus Pad review

Camera

The OnePlus Pad has a single 13-megapixel camera on the back with autofocus and LED flash. You can also record video in 720p, 1080p, and 4K at 30fps, but digital image stabilization is not available in 4K.

On the front is an 8-megapixel ultrawide camera with a fixed focus that can record up to 1080p video in 30fps.

The camera software has a similar design to other OnePlus devices but is extremely basic here. You can change your camera mode from the bottom, and there are a few toggles on the left for flash, timer, AI enhancement, aspect ratio, and HDR. A simple toggle for 2x digital zoom is also present.

You can choose to enable the Selfie mode, which blurs the background of your subject, and there is also a night mode. Aside from those, there are also panorama, slow motion, and time-lapse modes available.

The image quality from the camera on the back is decent for a tablet. Color reproduction and dynamic range are good, and the level of detail is fine. For a casual picture or for photographing documents, the image quality on offer here should be more than adequate.

OnePlus Pad camera samples

Similarly, the front camera takes decent-looking images and videos, and the quality was satisfactory for video calls.

The ultrawide selfies are admittedly a nice touch, though sharpness isn't great at arm's length distances.

That ultrawide selfie camera should have extra functionality in video calls, called Limelight. It's supposed to recognize faces in the frame and keep the view centered on them by cropping.

Conclusion

The OnePlus Pad is a decent first shot at the tablet market. First impressions are mostly positive, with a thin body and premium construction, along with a large, high-resolution display. The presence of a keyboard case and stylus at launch also indicates greater ambitions than just being a basic media playback device.

Upon closer inspection, we were suitably impressed by the super fast charging speed and the reasonable quality speakers and cameras. Performance, for the most part, is also more than adequate. The optional keyboard and stylus accessories have their flaws, but they get the job done.

Where the OnePlus Pad disappoints is in the display. The LCD panel isn't the worst thing in the world, but it is let down by the inherent disadvantages of the technology. Worst still is OnePlus' baffling software decisions that limit the refresh rate in most instances, leaving the 144Hz number as little more than a marketing buzzword. The software in general needs more polish to remove the random stuttering while scrolling, as well as the random bugs that crop up every now and then. The lack of a fingerprint scanner and built-in cellular data can also be deal breakers.

But the biggest Achilles heel of an Android tablet is the OS itself, or more specifically, its software ecosystem. Despite over a decade into existence, there are barely any tablet-optimized apps to speak of. Most of the popular apps that normally run fine on a phone will make a fool of themselves when launched on a tablet. While it's no secret that Android is a second-class citizen when it comes to tablet app development, you do not realize how wide the gulf is compared to the iPadOS until you live with one of these devices. If you want to have a high-quality tablet productivity experience, Android is not an option.

In the end, we found the OnePlus Pad to be good for reading, web browsing, casual drawing, office work and video calling. If you want something more tailored towards watching HDR video, then consider the 2nd generation Lenovo Tab P11 Pro, or the iPad if you're after a more polished tablet experience.

Pros

• Attractive design that is thin and well-built.
• Spacious, high-resolution display.
• Super fast 67W charging.
• Speakers offer great spatial audio with Dolby Atmos content.
• Decent camera quality for a tablet.
• Large battery.

Cons

• Lack of a fingerprint scanner is frustrating.
• No built-in cellular support.
• Few apps reach 144Hz, no high framerate gaming.