With its first tablet for the global market, Oppo signs a discreet but determined arrival on the old continent.
Oppo continues its presence in Europe with its very first touchscreen tablet. Now well established in the smartphone market, the brand has chosen the mid-range for its first Western model. Light and versatile, the Pad Air signs a careful but determined arrival on the tablet sector.
Discover the Oppo Pad Air in 128 GB version
Design and ergonomics
On the design side, the Oppo Pad Air succeeds despite its technical concessions to play the good students. With its 6.9mm aluminum frame and weighing 440g, the brand’s first European tablet is thin and compact. Its screen edges are relatively discreet, and its 10.36 inches occupies 81% of the total facade. For a mid-range model, we must admit that the result is beautiful to see. The composite polymer textured tape which adorns its back will remain a matter of taste, but it brings a discreet originality to the tablet, a point point in a market already saturated by competition.
On the flat edges of the device, we find a microSD port, but no 3.5 mini jack. Even in the mid-range, the time has come for Bluetooth 5.1 terminals, and Oppo seems to have decided to ignore wired accessories. Note that it is still possible to connect conventional headphones via the USB-C charging socket of the device, which is undoubtedly not the most practical option.
Technical sheet: a timid comeback
Let’s be honest, the technical sheet of the Oppo Pad Air will not make the most ambitious dream. With his screen 10.38 inch LCD and its 4 GB of RAM, the tablet is intended for family and occasional use. The brand is not mistaken, and puts everything on multimedia entertainment on both sides of the tablet, there are four speakers for correct sound reproduction even without headphones. A 7100 mAh battery, a Snapdragon 680 processor and an 8 Mpx camera (5 Mpx on the front) complete the picture.
© Journal du Geek
© Journal du Geek
| Oppo Pad Air | |
|---|---|
| Screen | – 10.38 inch LCD – 81% d’occupation façade – 60 Hz – Certification TÜV Rheinland |
| SoC | – Snapdragon 680 |
| Memory | – 4 Go to RAM – 64 or 128 GB of expandable storage |
| Colors | – Charcoal with textured polymer composite band |
| Camera | – Avant : 5 Mpx – Rear: 8 MP (f/2) |
| Audio | – 4 Dolby Atmos speakers |
| Battery | – 7100 mAh – 2h30 charge (18W) |
| Connectivities | – Port microSD – no jack – Bluetooth 5.1 – Wi-Fi |
| Software | – Color OS 12.1 sous Android 12 |
| Height and weight | – 6.9mm thick – 440g |
| Starting price | – 299€ pour 64 Go – 349€ pour 128 Go |
| Availability date | July 2022 |
Without shining by its originality, the Oppo Pad Air therefore stands out as a well-finished tablet, especially for a mid-range model. Its textured band makes the device particularly pleasant to hold on a daily basis, and its 60Hz screen ensures a very correct fluidity for a classic multimedia use. Obviously, for its price it ignores the fingerprint reader, and is satisfied with a simple facial recognition. We also regret the awkward placement of the buttons, which fall with difficulty under the fingers and prove to be downright unpleasant to handle for a screenshot. We will also have to forget the 4G and 5G versions, the Oppo Pad Air focuses on Wi-Fi connectivity with a Snapdragon 680 processor, and that is more than enough for the uses it offers.
Screen and multimedia: perfect for a first tablet
We repeat, Oppo is not original with this first European tablet, and relies on sure values to offer a compact, versatile and efficient terminal. The LCD panel sometimes lacks brightness and contrast, but it’s more than enough for everyday use, especially when taking notes. The format is generous enough to be able to enjoy the device without having to squint. With his certificate TÜV Rheinland against blue lightit also limits eye fatigue, a good point for students who would spend several hours in a row revising on a tablet.
On the audio side, the tablet’s four Dolby Atmos speakers confirm its ambitions to impose itself on multimedia. The tablet is mainly made for reading, browsing social networks and enjoying a series on Netflix. In terms of photography, the device is just fine, but not disappointing. This type of product is obviously not designed to satisfy photography enthusiasts. On the back of the device, there is a single 8 Mpx module opening at f / 2. At the front, you have to settle for 5 Mpx, which will allow you to best ensure a videoconference in a sufficiently lit office.
The tablet does not have the ambitions of a photophone, and will just be used to troubleshoot. Even in good light conditions, the shots lack contrast and finesse. Indoors or in the dark, the grain appears very quickly. Nothing surprising for a tablet of this category therefore, even if we note the presence of a very practical (although imprecise) scanning tool on a daily basis.
Performance: just right
With its Snapdragon 680, the Oppo Pad Air still remains on the marked trail. The mid-range processor was launched just under a year ago, and is aimed primarily at entry-level and mid-range smartphones. It is therefore logical that the manufacturer has chosen this chipset for its tablet. Flanked by 4 GB of RAM, the Pad Air will be able to benefit from an energy boost via its virtual RAM extension. In practice, this is not really significant in terms of performance gain. Do not panic however, on a mid-range model, the latter remain rather satisfactory, provided you are satisfied with basic tasks: answering emails, taking notes or surfing the Internet.
Rather effective in multitasking, the Oppo Pad Air even benefits from some interesting features, such as some gesture controls dedicated to the display of several applications simultaneously. Obviously, we are very far from the gaming terminal. As soon as the device is a little too busy, its framerate is in free fall. When you launch a 3D game, the display latency is palpable. Logical, since it was not really designed for this use: on more classic multimedia content such as watching a series or an infinite scroll on TikTok, the refresh at 60 Hz is more than sufficient.
Designed for a hybrid use between studies and entertainment, the tablet is intended to be light, but above all nomadic. It comes with an optional elegant smart cover. equipped with Color OS 12.1 sous Android 12, the Pad Air thus benefits from the latest version of the manufacturer’s operating system. The overlay is discreet and effective. It also offers some interesting features, such as Oppo Share to communicate with a PC, or the possibility of making video captures, and enjoying a nice split screen. Daily, the tablet is pleasant, fluid and responsive. A real pleasure for daily tasks, even if it will be necessary to pair it with a Bluetooth keyboard to be really effective in taking notes.
With its 7100 mAh battery, the Oppo tablet allows more than adequate autonomy: count a good full day of use, two for occasional use. The device thus offers a battery life in the average of its colleagues, with a charging time at 2h30inevitably limited by its 18W charger.
Price and availability
Proposed to 299€ without version 64 Go, and €349 for its 128 GB version, the Oppo Pad Air is part of the same price logic as its competitors. It is available at most official retailers, and on the brand’s website. Count an additional €50 to offer you the matching smart cover.
Discover the Oppo Pad Air in 128 GB version
Discover the Oppo Pad Air in 64 GB version