Design, Display and First Impressions
OnePlus sticks to a familiar but premium formula with the OnePlus Pad 4. The metal unibody feels sturdy yet surprisingly manageable given its 13,380 mAh battery, and the slim 5.94 mm profile keeps it from feeling bulky on a desk or couch. Button placement is cleverly tuned for both landscape and portrait use, while slim, even bezels strike a balance between immersion and grip. The 13.2-inch 3.4K LCD is one of the highlights: sharp at 315 PPI, with a productivity-friendly 7:5 aspect ratio that gives documents and split-screen apps more vertical room than typical 16:9 panels. Brightness peaks at 1000 nits in high brightness mode, making outdoor use mostly comfortable. Colors look vivid thanks to 12-bit support, though blacks and contrast still trail OLED rivals slightly. With up to 144 Hz in supported apps, the Pad 4 immediately feels like one of the slickest Android tablet displays around.
Performance Upgrade: Snapdragon Power in a Mid-Range Tablet
The headline change in this OnePlus Pad 4 review is performance. OnePlus swaps in the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, and the result is one of the smoothest Android tablet performance experiences available in the mid-range tablets 2024 segment. Paired with LPDDR5X RAM and fast UFS 4.1 storage, app launches are near-instant, multitasking is effortless, and heavier workloads like gaming or creative apps stay fluid. OxygenOS 16’s polished animations and 120 Hz system UI complement the hardware, with certain games tapping into the 144 Hz refresh ceiling for ultra-smooth motion. Open Canvas multitasking lets you juggle up to three apps plus floating windows without the stutter that plagues many Android tablets. Compared with previous OnePlus Pads and similarly priced Android options, the Pad 4 feels consistently faster and more responsive, finally delivering the kind of snappy performance users expect as an iPad and Galaxy Tab alternative.
Battery Life and Charging: Built for Long Hauls
Tablet battery life has often lagged behind expectations, but the OnePlus Pad 4 takes a different approach with its massive 13,380 mAh battery. In practical use, that capacity translates into multiple days of mixed work, streaming, browsing, and note-taking before you even think about a charger. The combination of an efficient Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, adaptive refresh rate, and OxygenOS optimizations helps the tablet sip power rather than gulp it. Even when you push the display and speakers hard with long video sessions or gaming marathons, endurance remains a clear strong suit. When it’s finally time to top up, 80W SUPERVOOC fast charging means you spend far less time tethered to the wall than on many competing mid-range tablets 2024. For users who prioritize tablet battery life above all, the Pad 4 sets a new bar for Android tablet performance in this class.
Software, AI Features and Everyday Experience
OxygenOS 16 on the OnePlus Pad 4 is more than a skin; it’s a rethink of tablet productivity. Running on Android 16 with a promised long update window, the interface is fluid and visually cohesive, from the frosted-glass dock to refined app drawer search. Live Space replaces static notifications with dynamic, expandable cards that can grow into full-screen views, while the redesigned media player integrates seamlessly into this system. Open Canvas remains a standout multitasking tool, letting you split apps, drag windows, and manage floating panels with minimal friction. AI features such as AI Summary, AI Writer, AI Reply and AI Speak power smarter note-taking, reading, and communication workflows, while the upgraded Notes app can convert handwriting, solve equations, and auto-structure content. Orientation-specific home screens, improved sidebars, and ecosystem integration with OnePlus phones and PCs all help the Pad 4 feel polished and capable as a daily driver.
How the OnePlus Pad 4 Compares to iPad and Galaxy Tab Rivals
In the crowded mid-range tablets 2024 landscape, the OnePlus Pad 4 positions itself as a credible alternative to both iPad and Samsung Galaxy Tab lines. Its strengths are clear: class-leading Android tablet performance thanks to Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, best-in-class tablet battery life with a 13,380 mAh cell, and a large, sharp 13.2-inch panel that favors productivity. Eight-speaker audio and an excellent stylus experience with the Stylo Pro make it particularly appealing for media consumption and note-taking. However, there are compromises. The LCD lacks the inky blacks and HDR punch of OLED-equipped rivals, the cameras are only average, and the absence of a fingerprint scanner or cellular variant may be dealbreakers for some. If your priorities are speed, endurance, and refined multitasking software, the Pad 4 offers one of the most compelling Android-centric alternatives to Apple and Samsung in its price class.
