Out in Singapore recently, the Oppo Pad 3 Pro is the latest tablet offering from the Chinese tech company that aims to do more than stream your favourite shows.
With a connected keyboard and seamless integration with Oppo smartphones, the tablet may just be a nice replacement for a laptop, depending on the use case.
First impressions help. When you pick up the Pad 3 Pro, it feels solid and sturdy. The back is made of durable plastic, and the design of concentric circles emanating around the rear camera seems like a subtle nod to Asus’s earlier ZenBook laptops.
The Oppo tablet’s display sports a 12.1-inch screen with a sharp 3,000 x 2,120 resolution and a 3:2 aspect ratio. That means more display real estate, which is useful for reading, browsing, editing, and shopping online. Pair it with Oppo’s Pencil 2 Pro stylus, and you have a capable setup for photo and video editing on the go.
Can you take photos with the tablet? Sure, the good news is that it has similar photo tools you will find in the Oppo Find X8 Pro phone though the list is not as comprehensive. The Pad 3 Pro has Night, Photo, Video, Selfie, Panorama, Time Lapse and Document Scanner but having only a single camera means you will enjoy ultrawide and zoom shots.
The tablet’s 8MP selfie camera is also good enough for your Zoom sessions with a capable microphone. However, if you want better audio capture, pair the tablet with a clip-on mic, like the DJI Mic or a wired headset.
That said, it’s not the lightest tablet out there. At 586 grams, it feels hefty during long sessions, especially if you’re holding it by one corner. A built-in hand strap or a more ergonomic case would’ve been a welcome addition.
The leatherette magnetic back cover with the kickstand that comes with the tablet looks nice and practical when propped up, but it can be too eager to detach when you’re sliding the tablet into a bag. It would be better to integrate the kickstand into the back cover instead.
Under the hood, the Oppo Pad 3 Pro runs on a slightly old Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor though it is still more than powerful enough for everyday multitasking. With 12GB of RAM, the tablet handles video editing, YouTube streaming, and even presentation work without a hiccup.
However, the 256GB of internal storage might be a limitation for some. It’s enough for casual use, but if you plan to store large video files or many apps, you will need external storage or cloud support to avoid running out of space.
Typing on the keyboard cover feels surprisingly satisfying. The keys are well-spaced with good feedback, and the generously sized 5-inch trackpad is smooth and responsive, giving you a laptop-like experience when you need to get some work done.
The speakers are loud and clear, especially in the mid and treble ranges, which make them great for video calls and basic media playback. However, if you are hoping for rich bass for movies or music, keep your Bluetooth headphones or speakers handy for a fuller sound experience.
Battery life is another strong point. During my test run, the massive 9,510mAh battery easily got through an eight-hour flight with streaming and casual use, so you won’t need to worry about charging every few hours while traveling.
The most impressive part is how well the tablet works with an Oppo smartphone. I paired it with the Oppo Find X8 Pro, and the integration was seamless.
I could control my phone directly from the tablet’s screen, drag and drop files between the two, and even piggyback on the phone’s 5G connection when Wi-Fi wasn’t available. It’s one of those features that really adds value if you’re already in the Oppo ecosystem.
At S$999, the Oppo Pad 3 Pro delivers a polished, capable experience that easily covers both entertainment and light productivity needs. It’s great for watching videos, browsing the Web, and even replacing your laptop for basic tasks.
The added connectivity makes it even more compelling if you’re already using an Oppo phone. Just be aware of the limited storage and the occasionally finicky magnetic back if you are looking for a tablet.
