There has been an increase in demand for tablets over the past few years, with consumers looking for core features – a good display, a set of great speakers, top-notch battery life, and a solid build quality. Other factors like the overall processing performance and the cameras, often take a back seat. OnePlus figured out the needs of the segment and, in a bid to cash in on the demand and take some of the share from rival brands like Xiaomi and Samsung, came up with the OnePlus Pad Lite.
In a very un-OnePlus-like fashion, this tablet focuses on the core features, all in a bid to keep the price low. Starting at Rs 15,999 for the base variant with 6GB RAM and going up to Rs 17,999 for the version with 8GB RAM, this is one of the most affordable ways to get a tablet experience. But is it worth buying?
We used it for a couple of days to find out.
Design and Build
One of the most surprising aspects of the OnePlus Pad Lite is its premium feel. The tablet features a metallic build that feels durable and far more expensive than its actual price. With its flat sides and a comfortable 16:10 aspect ratio, it’s nice to hold. The tablet is available in a single Aero Blue colourway, which, despite its good looks, is a bit of a fingerprint magnet. The device features a Corning Gorilla Glass 3-protected screen, which offers a decent level of durability, and an IP52 rating for dust and splash resistance, adding a layer of peace of mind for everyday use.
Display and speakers
The display is one of the key features on a tablet and OnePlus hasn’t exercised any shortcut here. The OnePlus Pad Lite comes with an 11-inch LCD screen with a Full HD+ resolution. For watching movies and playing casual games, the display is good, with a maximum brightness of 500 nits, which comes in handy outdoors. The average pixel resolution, however, might be occasionally noticeable while reading. The colour accuracy and contrast are average, and it lacks support for HDR content. However, the presence of a 90Hz refresh rate allows for smooth scrolling.
The quad speaker setup is impressive, however, making this one of the best budget tablets we have tested. The volume is not only loud but the audio quality renders depth and details nicely. We used it for video conferences and movie binge sessions, and never did we feel any lack of oomph from the speakers.
On the whole, the OnePlus Pad Lite offers one of the nicest combinations of a good display and great speakers in its class. Whether you want it for studies or movies, this tablet gets it right.
Performance
Under the hood, the tablet is powered by a MediaTek Helio G100 chipset, paired with 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and UFS 2.2 storage. This setup isn’t suited for processing-centric performance but offers ample grunt for everyday tasks like browsing, streaming, and light productivity. You are likely to see occasional stutters and lags when there’s a lot happening. For those seeking superior performance in video editing and gaming, the more capable OnePlus Pad 3 makes more sense. The 128GB of internal storage should be ample for students and casual users, but should you need more space, you can attach a 1TB microSD card via the dedicated slot.
Running on OxygenOS 15 (based on Android 15), the user interface is clean and free of bloatware. OnePlus has promised three years of software updates. The multitasking features, including split-screen and floating windows, are well-optimised for the large display, making it a productive tool for various tasks. The “O Plus Connect” app also provides seamless integration with other OnePlus devices.
A standout feature for a tablet in this price range is the 4G LTE SIM card slot, which allows for calls and SMS, though calls must be routed through speakers or a Bluetooth headset.
Battery stamina
Battery life is a major strength of the OnePlus Pad Lite. Its 9340 mAh battery can easily last for a day and a half of very heavy usage. When it’s time to recharge, the included 33W SUPERVOOC fast charger can boost the battery from 10% to 75% in approximately one hour. A full charge, however, takes more time (best left for overnight refills).
Camera
The camera setup is functional but not a primary selling point. With 5MP cameras on both the front and back, they are best suited for video calls, where they offer better quality than many budget laptop webcams. However, don’t expect smartphone-levels of photography and video recording prowess.
OnePlus Pad Lite review: Verdict
The OnePlus Pad Lite is a thoughtfully designed budget tablet that makes the right trade-offs. It delivers a premium build, excellent battery life, a good display for media consumption, a great set of speakers and a clean yet feature-rich software experience. While it may not be the fastest tablet on the market or have the best cameras, its competitive pricing makes it an exceptionally good value proposition.
For anyone in the market for a versatile and reliable tablet for daily use, the OnePlus Pad Lite is a strong contender that deserves serious consideration.
