OnePlus Pad 3 Design and Build Quality
- Muhammad Rehman
- Aug 7
- 3 min read
OnePlus built its name by offering flagship performance that undercut its key competitors and the OnePlus Pad 3 is no exception. As a sequel to last year's OnePlus Pad 2, it goes all out on the hardware front with an even larger display, the latest flagship Qualcomm chipset and a higher capacity battery.
Pad 3 is part of a rare breed of flagship Android tablets sporting the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. There aren't that many slates out there that can claim they offer the very best chipset, and it should be fully unleashed in this large form factor.
he front-facing 8MP camera and the back-facing 13MP camera with 4K video recording are unchanged from the previous generation. We're glad that OnePlus went with a less obtrusive look this time around and opted for a more discreet bump in the corner as opposed to the previous OnePlus Pads and their larger circular cutouts.
OnePlus did not reinvent the wheel with the Pad 3's design. It features an aluminum unibody chassis which is marginally thinner than its predecessor. The build feels solid, just like you'd expect from a flagship tablet.
Our review unit comes in Storm Blue, and it's the only color that OnePlus is selling here in Europe. Silver is also available for units that are sold in China. The dark blue color picks up fingerprints quite easily, so a case would be a good investment here.
The Pad 3 features a large 13.2-inch LTPS LCD. The bezels are symmetrical on all sides and about as slim as we've seen on a tablet in recent memory. There's an 8MP tucked inside on the horizontal side.
Stylus input is also supported by the screen. The optional OnePlus Stylo 2 features 16,000 pressure levels, a dedicated low-latency mode and attaches magnetically to the top side of the Pad 3 when not in use. It's important to note that the stylus can be detached with little effort, and the magnets aren't the strongest, making it easy to lose. OnePlus brought an updated eight-speaker setup, which promises greatly improved audio compared to the OnePlus Pad 2.
The top speakers are flanked by the power button. Strangely, OnePlus continues not to include a fingerprint reader on its tablets. The remaining speakers and a USB Type-C 3.2 connector can be found on the bottom. The back is relatively clean with an indented OnePlus logo in the middle, a horizontal camera cutout in the corner and three pins on the back which allow you to attach the optional Smart Keyboard.
Pad 3 is a two-handed device that weighs 675 grams. Although it is neither the lightest nor the heaviest tablet in its class, the optional Smart Keyboard with its built-in kickstand is an excellent addition. The chiclet-style keyboard has a dedicated function row and a 12cm-wide glass trackpad.
It is attached to the base with magnetic pogo pins. The typing experience is great - the keys are nicely spaced and have decent travel.The glass trackpad feels fantastic. The only thing that's missing is backlight functionality.
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