TESTED OPPO PAD AIR
Move on Opp
Oppo’s first crack at the UK tablet market goes for the budget zone – but doesn’t skimp on screen size or build quality
£239 / go.stuff.tv/PadAir
Pump it Opp
There’s an 18W power brick in the box, but be prepared to hang around while it does its thing: a full charge takes close to 2.5hrs.
■ Opp-town funk
Don’t expect ‘home cinema’ performance from the Dolby Atmos-branded quad speakers. They don’t get loud, and the sound is overly airy. With no 3.5mm port or USB-C dongle, it’ll be Bluetooth for solo listening.
■ All shook Opp
It’s not very well endowed in the camera department, with a single 8MP snapper on the back and a 5MP webcam up front. Both are best reserved for video calls: photos lack dynamic range and recording is limited to 30fps.
■ The imaginatively named Pad Air really doesn’t feel like a budget tablet. The (mostly) aluminium construction, iPad-esque flat sides and rounded corners make a great first impression; and while the 3D ‘Sunset Dune’ strip along the back is plastic, its textured effect is neat. The only giveaways are the weedy-looking rear camera lens and chunky bezels – although these do give you somewhere to rest your thumbs.
■ The 10.36in panel is big and sharp enough for catching up on your latest streaming addiction without needing to squint. There’s no HDR support, and this isn’t the brightest screen around, with only average contrast and colours that are a little on the cool side. A 60Hz refresh rate is not surprising given the price, but you’ll notice it if you’re used to faster.
■ ASnapdragon 680 CPU and 4GB of RAM are now the baseline for a budget tablet. Stick to one task at a time and you’ll be happy with the amount of grunt on tap. Oppo’s take on Android 12 makes multitasking easy, and it can play a YouTube video and keep a few browser tabs open side by side.
■ Elsewhere ColorOS remains faithful to stock Android, with a scattering of custom icons. You get plenty of Google apps, with just a few of Oppo’s own thrown in for good measure, and little in the way of bloatware.
Tech specs
Screen 10.36in 2000x1200 60Hz LCD Processor Snapdragon 680 RAM 4GB OS Android 12 + ColorOS 12.1 Storage 64GB Cameras 8MP rear, 5MP front Battery 7100mAh (USB-C) Dimensions 245x155x6.9mm, 440g
STUFF SAYS A capable budget Android tab… but it isn’t short on competition ★★★✩✩
The price is nice, but the specs don’t add Opp to anything special
Tom Morgan-Freelander
If you’re after a sensibly priced Android tablet that’ll cover the basics, the Oppo Pad Air fits the bill. It’s well built, has respectable performance and will only set you back £239. The screen isn’t too shabby either. But big-name rivals are equally tempting, and there’s little here that you won’t also find elsewhere. With only average battery life, quiet speakers and a basic camera, it doesn’t do quite enough to stand out.