Review: OnePlus Pad Lite

Just in time for the back-to-school season, OnePlus has released the OnePlus Pad Lite, a more affordable tablet option. Shortly after our review of its premium counterpart, the OnePlus Pad 3, we now examine this cost-effective alternative, the OnePlus Pad Lite. Its specifications bear a strong resemblance to the Xiaomi Redmi Pad 2 4G that we recently evaluated.

So, what can users expect from the OnePlus Pad Lite? Does it effectively compete with Xiaomi’s budget offering? Let’s delve into the details.

Design and Build Quality

The OnePlus Pad Lite is available in a single color option: “Aero Blue,” a light blue metallic finish. While it’s common to find build quality exceeding expectations in reviews, it’s genuinely the case here. The tablet features a unibody aluminum chassis that imparts a solid and well-constructed feel. The matte finish contributes to both its stylish appearance and its resistance to fingerprints.

The device features an IP42 rating, offering limited protection against dust and light splashes of water. Similar to the Xiaomi Redmi Pad 2, the absence of a fingerprint reader necessitates the use of facial recognition or a PIN for authentication.

Screen

The tablet incorporates an 11-inch IPS display with a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels and a 90 Hz refresh rate. The resulting pixel density is 207 PPI, which is relatively low and means the screen may not appear exceptionally sharp. While adequate for video playback and gaming, the reduced sharpness becomes noticeable when reading smaller text on web pages or in documents. However, the display remains suitable for reading longer texts.

The screen is surrounded by fairly substantial bezels, a common characteristic in this price segment.

The screen’s primary limitation is its maximum brightness of 500 nits. While sufficient for indoor use, optimal viewing in brighter outdoor environments, such as when using it in direct sunlight, requires maximizing the brightness and seeking shaded areas. The screen is also prone to reflections.

Sound

Regarding audio performance, the OnePlus Pad Lite, much like the Redmi Pad 2, truly shines. Equipped with four speakers, the sound quality is remarkable for its price range. It achieves a high volume output while maintaining clarity and delivering an impressive soundstage with ample detail. Throughout the testing period, we frequently opted to use the Pad Lite as a dedicated speaker for Spotify, foregoing external audio solutions due to its impressive sound reproduction.

Performance and Software

The OnePlus Pad Lite comes in two configurations: a model with 4G connectivity and 8 GB of RAM, and a Wi-Fi-only version with 6 GB of RAM. Our evaluation focuses on the 8 GB model. Like the Redmi Pad 2, this tablet is powered by the MediaTek Helio G100 processor, which offers ample performance for most tasks, with the exception of graphically demanding games. Our review of the Redmi Pad 2 highlighted the limitations of its 4 GB of RAM. The additional 4 GB in this model significantly improves performance. Switching between applications is swift and fluid, and the tablet maintains responsiveness even with multiple applications running concurrently. This represents a substantial improvement and addresses a key drawback identified in its competitor.

Furthermore, the tablet runs OxygenOS 15, a streamlined and user-friendly Android distribution free from excessive bloatware. A feature called “Open Canvas” facilitates running two applications side-by-side.

Activating Open Canvas involves dragging two fingers down on the screen, enabling the selection of a second application. This function integrates smoothly with the majority of applications, and users can readily adjust the width of the windows to accommodate specific needs, such as running Spotify while browsing a blog.

OnePlus is committing to four major OS updates and six years of security patches.

Battery and Charging

One of the primary benefits of utilizing a less power-hungry processor and a display with moderate resolution is the efficient battery consumption. The OnePlus Pad Lite also incorporates a substantial 9340 mAh battery. Consequently, the battery life is impressive, typically delivering 10 to 11 hours of usage for web browsing and video playback.

Another notable aspect is its exceptional standby time. OnePlus claims up to 54 days, a figure that we were unable to validate during our testing period of several weeks. However, the tablet maintains its charge exceptionally well when not actively in use. This makes it a convenient “couch tablet” that can be left unattended for extended periods and readily used without requiring immediate charging.

For charging, the device supports 33 W “fast” charging, which is adequate and significantly faster than that of the Redmi Pad 2. However, replenishing such a large battery requires a considerable amount of time, even with 33 W charging, so expect a full charge to take over two hours. Charging from 10–75% takes approximately one hour.

Camera

Cameras on tablets, particularly in the budget category, are rarely a highlight, and the OnePlus Pad Lite is no exception. OnePlus has adopted a minimalist approach, equipping the tablet with a single 5 MP rear camera and a similar 5 MP front-facing camera.

Image quality is adequate under favorable lighting conditions but lacks detail and exhibits the expected degradation as the lighting deteriorates. However, the cameras are suitable for video calls, scanning QR codes, and similar applications, but not much beyond that.

Conclusion

As previously mentioned, the tablet is available in two configurations: the version we tested with 4G and 8 GB of RAM, and a more basic model with Wi-Fi and 6 GB of RAM. The suggested retail prices are SEK 2990 and SEK 2690, respectively, making the addition of 4G and more RAM a compelling choice given the relatively small price difference.

At the time of this review, OnePlus is running an introductory promotion, reducing the prices to SEK 2690 and SEK 2490, further incentivizing the selection of the higher-end model due to the minimal SEK 200 price difference.

The comparable Redmi Pad 2 4G is priced at SEK 2990. While it offers a slightly superior screen and support for microSD card storage expansion, the OnePlus Pad Lite surpasses it in other key areas: a more competitive price, twice the RAM, faster charging, and a commitment to six years of software updates.

In conclusion, for consumers seeking an affordable tablet, the OnePlus Pad Lite stands out as a recommended purchase.

OnePlus provided review samples for this evaluation. The provision of materials does not influence our editorial independence. Our reviews are conducted objectively with the interests of our readers and consumers as our primary focus.