Xiaomi Pad 5, Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE, More: 5 Challengers To OnePlus Pad

OnePlus Pad price in India starts at Rs 37,999.

OnePlus Pad sports a centrally located rear camera module. ( Image Source :OnePlus )

It started with smartphones, but OnePlus has grown over the years, not only vertically but horizontally as well, expanding into different segments such as TVs and audio. The brand has now branched into a new territory and has released its first-ever tablet, the OnePlus Pad. While most brands tend to start their Android tablet journey from relatively affordable beginnings, price-wise, OnePlus decided to take a slightly more expensive route and released the OnePlus Pad with a starting price of Rs. 37,999. 

OnePlus Pad: Specifications, Features

OnePlus has stuck to its 'throw a powerful spec punch’ ideology and has packed the OnePlus Pad with high-end hardware and features. The tablet is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9000 chipset, which sits quite high in the power hierarchy and is capable of handling even heavy-duty tasks. This is paired with RAM options of 8GB and 12GB and storage of 128GB and 256GB, which seems ample. The tablet also comes with a big 11.61-inch display with a high 144Hz refresh rate and also has a rather distinct 7:5 aspect ratio which OnePlus calls ReadFit. As per the brand, this aspect ratio offers a more squared view of content which makes it easier for users to consume it on the tablet. 

On the multimedia front, the tablet comes with four speakers and support for Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. A 13-megapixel camera on the back and an 8-megapixel selfie shooter at the front make its sensor-y board while the mitochondria of this tablet is a 9,510mAh battery, which comes with support for 67W SuperVOOC fast charging. The tablet is powered by Android 13 out-of-the-box and comes with stylus support. 

And of course, this being a OnePlus device, you get a premium design with a CNC aluminium unibody and 2.5D curved glass, which is relatively lightweight at 552 grams and a mere 6.5mm thin, although some might find the centrally placed rear camera unit a little odd. 

All of this makes the OnePlus Pad quite a heavyweight contender in the tablet market but this Achilles has some heels too. Given it is an Android tablet and one that is powered by a MediaTek processor (albeit a powerful one), many might find its starting price of Rs. 37,999 quite steep. 

And while it can support a stylus and keyboard, which turn it into a productivity powerhouse, one would have to pay extra to get those, which means more expense. To top this, the tablet does not have support for 5G or even 4G which is a big negative in this day and age and that price point.  

The OnePlus Pad comes with both potential and power, but its premium-ish price tag puts it up against some very formidable competition. 

Here are five challengers that are likely to pose a threat to the OnePlus Pad in the industry: 

iPad (10th Gen): Not So Basic 

Price (approx.): Rs 41,700

This was perhaps the biggest makeover that a suffix-less iPad has received in a very long time and the biggest price bump too. Which is why this basic iPad made not-so-basic headlines. 

The new iPad follows the new-age design blueprint and brings a sleek, sharp, metallic, flat design to the table. This combined with a 10.9-inch multi-touch True Tone LED display, a 12-megapixel camera on the back and another one at the front, Wi-Fi and cellular options (5G support) along with the ever-reliable iPadOS 16, topped with assured updates make the iPad a promising option. 

Yes, it has a slightly older processor but it is still quite capable. And there is support for Apple’s Magic Keyboard Folio and Apple Pencil first generation although you would have to buy a separate adapter to use it, thanks to the new Type-C port on the iPad. 

While it was launched at a starting price of Rs 44,990, one can easily spot the 10th generation iPad’s price hovering around Rs 40,000 quite often, which brings it in an awfully close vicinity to the newly launched OnePlus Pad.

Xiaomi Pad 5: Value For Money

Price (approx.): Rs 26,999

If your budget is tight, yet tablet demands are running wild, then the Xiaomi Pad 5 might just be the tablet you are looking for. It is the most affordable tablet on this list but in the best Xiaomi tradition, its price tag does not mean a compromised spec sheet. 

The Xiaomi Pad 5 comes with a 10.95-inch display with WQHD+ resolution, topped with 120Hz refresh rate. This is one of the best displays in the market, especially for the price. 

Bundle that with a high-end Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 processor, 6GB RAM with 128GB/256GB storage options and you get a tablet which can help you sail through basic and advanced tasks quite effortlessly. 

The tablet also comes with a 13-megapixel camera at the front and an 8-megapixel camera on the back, both of which are very handy. 

There are four speakers on the Xiaomi Pad 5 and there's support for Dolby Atmos as well. The flat-side design is very contemporary and the 8,720mAh battery can see you through a while. 

That said, those who do not like elaborate UIs might not like the MIUI for Pad, which is very extensive (although it comes with a number of features), plus the old Android it runs on could be a big turn-off for some. 

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE: S Pen Magic

Price (approx): Rs 41,999 

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE may be the most expensive Android tablet in the list but it offers something that other tabs can’t — the S Pen experience. Yes, most tablets come with stylus support but the S Pen is perhaps the best Android stylus, if not the best overall, present in the market. 

It is not only precise but also very intelligent and comes with a number of features of its own, and it comes with the Galaxy Tab S7 FE, right in the box. 

In the best Samsung tradition, the Galaxy Tab S7 FE also comes with a stunning 12.4-inch display. The sound on the tab is by AKG Harman with support for Dolby Atmos. The slightly-older-but-quite-able processor, Qualcomm Snapdragon 778, can get you through all basic and even some bit intense tasks without too much trouble. 

The tablet comes with 4GB/6GB RAM options and 64GB/128GB storage (expandable up to 1TB). It has an 8-megapixel camera on the back and a 5-megapixel selfie snapper. 

Some of these specs of the Galaxy Tab S7 FE may sound a bit underwhelming for the price but the tablet comes with S Pen bundled in the box, a terrific display, and a trustworthy Samsung track record to back it.

Lenovo Ideapad Duet Chromebook: ChromeOS Joker In The Pack

Price (approx): Rs 25,000

An oldie but goldie, the Lenovo Ideapad Duet Chromebook is not a tablet outright but actually brings more to the table than basic tablets in terms in terms of features and functionality. 

The Lenovo Ideapad Duet comes with a stylus and keyboard, both of which are a part of the Chromebook package. So, you will not have to shell out extra bucks to turn your tablet into a makeshift notebook. 

It has a 10.1-inch full-HD display which is quite vibrant and punchy. It is not meant for heavy-duty work as it comes with a very middling MediaTek Helio P60T processor paired with 4GB RAM and 128GB memory, but it will be able to get through everyday chores quite effortlessly and can be used for content consumption as well, thanks to the great sound it offers. 

Yes, it is not truly an Android tablet but ChromeOS is incredibly smooth to use and can run most Android apps just the way Android does.  

The keyboard, along with the stylus, is a big plus in our (chrome)book, as is the incredibly light form factor and almost 11-hour battery life.

iPad (9th gen): Still A Contender

Price (approx): Rs 32,000  

It may look like a very retro device but the 9th generation iPad is actually a valid competitor to the OnePlus pad. 

The 10.2-inch Retina Display remains a super USP, and the support for first-gen Apple Pencil (no dongle required as this iPad has a lightning port) and an inbuilt 3.5mm audio jack make it quite a master of tasks. 

Yes, the processor remains A13 Bionic, which seems quite dated by today’s standards, but it will still sail through most task waves impressively (for example, you can still play Call of Duty Mobile easily on it).  

There is an 8-megapixel camera on the back and a 12-megapixel one at the front, and great stereo speakers add to its multimedia prowess. 

iPadOS is packed on board, which means you will not only get a smooth, feature-packed experience but also get regular updates for quite a while. 

This is one iPad which is not getting dated any time soon, and of course, those who love the classic curved sides and circular fingerprint scanner in the home button below the display will surely get a kick out of it. 

Its price tag is likely to make it one of the biggest headaches for the OnePlus Pad.

Note: The prices mentioned in the article are representative of those available at different online and offline outlets at the time of writing. They may vary from the official ones and could also change with the passage of time.