OnePlus Pad vs. Apple iPad Air (2022): Which Tablet Should You Buy?
| Phones Images | |||||
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The iPad Air (2022) wins on overall performance and ecosystem integration thanks to the M1 chip. However, the OnePlus Pad offers a more competitive price and a vibrant display, making it a strong contender for Android users seeking a large-screen experience.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | OnePlus Pad | Apple iPad Air (2022) |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | N/A | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | N/A | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | N/A | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - A2589 |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2589, A2591 |
| EDGE | No | - |
| GPRS | No | - |
| Speed | - | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | No cellular connectivity | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| - | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - A2591 | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2023, February 07 | 2022, March 08 |
| Status | Available. Released 2023, April 28 | Available. Released 2022, March 18 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame | Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 258 x 189.4 x 6.5 mm (10.16 x 7.46 x 0.26 in) | 247.6 x 178.5 x 6.1 mm (9.75 x 7.03 x 0.24 in) |
| SIM | No | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 552 g (1.22 lb) | 461 g (Wi-Fi) / 462 g (5G) (1.02 lb) |
| Stylus support | Stylus support (2nd gen) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Scratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coating |
| Resolution | 2000 x 2800 pixels (~296 ppi density) | 1640 x 2360 pixels (~264 ppi density) |
| Size | 11.61 inches, 411.3 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 10.9 inches, 359.2 cm2 (~81.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 1B colors, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 144Hz, 500 nits (typ) | Liquid Retina IPS LCD, 500 nits (typ) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.05 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.85 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) | Octa-core (4x3.2 GHz & 4xX.X GHz) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 9000 (4 nm) | Apple M1 |
| GPU | Mali-G710 MC10 | Apple GPU (8-core graphics) |
| OS | Android 13, upgradable to Android 15, OxygenOS 15 | iPadOS 15.4, upgradable to iPadOS 26.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 64GB, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | - | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash | HDR |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide) | 12 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/3.0", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30ps, gyro-EIS | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.3, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 12 MP, f/2.4, 122˚ (ultrawide) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers (4 speakers) | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.0, A2DP, EDR |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS (B1+B1c) | GPS, GLONASS (5G model only) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG, accessory connector | USB Type-C 3.1 Gen2, DisplayPort, magnetic connector |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, compass | Fingerprint (top-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 67W wired | - |
| Type | Li-Po 9510 mAh | Li-Ion 7600 mAh (28.6 Wh) |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Halo Green | Space Gray, Starlight, Pink, Purple, Blue |
| Models | - | A2588, A2589, A2591, iPad13,16, iPad13,17 |
| Price | About 500 EUR | About 550 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Display | Contrast ratio: 1664:1 | - |
| Loudspeaker | -22.5 LUFS (Excellent) | - |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 859019 (v9) GeekBench: 3158 (v5.1) GFXBench: 28fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | - |
OnePlus Pad
- Competitive price
- Vibrant 144Hz display
- Fast 67W charging
- Good audio quality
- Performance lags behind iPad Air
- Android tablet ecosystem limitations
- Camera quality not top-tier
Apple iPad Air (2022)
- Blazing-fast M1 chip
- Excellent app ecosystem
- Strong camera performance
- Long-term software support
- Higher price
- Lightning port (slower data transfer)
- Less customizable than Android
Display Comparison
The OnePlus Pad boasts a vibrant display with a 144Hz refresh rate and a 1664:1 contrast ratio, offering excellent color accuracy and smooth visuals. The iPad Air (2022) has a slightly lower contrast ratio (1664:1) but still delivers a crisp and accurate picture. Both tablets offer excellent viewing experiences, but the OnePlus Pad's higher refresh rate gives it a slight edge for smoother scrolling and gaming.
Camera Comparison
The iPad Air (2022) generally offers better camera performance, with improved image quality and video recording capabilities. While both tablets have decent front-facing cameras for video calls, the iPad Air's rear camera is noticeably better. Specific megapixel counts are not provided for the OnePlus Pad, but the iPad Air's image processing is superior.
Performance
Here's where the iPad Air (2022) truly shines. The Apple M1 chip provides significantly faster performance than the Mediatek Dimensity 9000. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and superior performance in demanding tasks like video editing and gaming. The Dimensity 9000 is still a capable chip, but it can't match the M1's power.
Battery Life
Both tablets offer all-day battery life under typical usage. The iPad Air (2022) likely has a slight edge due to the efficiency of the M1 chip. However, the OnePlus Pad's 67W wired charging provides significantly faster charging speeds, potentially offsetting the slight battery life difference.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the OnePlus Pad? Android enthusiasts, students on a budget, and those seeking a large, vibrant display for media consumption. Who should buy the Apple iPad Air (2022)? Users deeply invested in the Apple ecosystem, creative professionals needing raw power, and those prioritizing long-term software support.