Oppo Pad SE Review: The absolute VFM budget tablet to get?

India’s tablet market is turning into a tight race, especially in the sub-₹15,000 segment. It all began with Redmi setting a high bar with its Pad 2, reshaping expectations around affordable tabs. Oppo then threw its hat in the ring with the Pad SE priced at ₹13,999, quickly followed by OnePlus introducing its own budget contender, the OnePlus Pad Lite.

At ₹13,999, Oppo’s Pad SE looks impressive with its smooth 11-inch 90Hz display, strong battery, and stylish build. Yet, great hardware alone might not secure a win. In this tightly contested price range, the small stuff often matters the most. With Redmi’s strong start and OnePlus stepping up, Oppo needs to nail every detail to truly stand out.

Oppo Pad SE Display: Smooth visuals with minor trade-offs

The Oppo Pad SE features an 11-inch LCD panel with a 16:10 aspect ratio and a 1920x1200 resolution, making it crisp enough for everyday tasks like streaming, browsing, or reading. The 90Hz refresh rate keeps things feeling fluid, and since it’s adaptive, it helps save power when needed. Colours look lively, covering 98% of the colour gamut, so videos and games have a good bit of punch.

Peak brightness hits 500 nits, which works well indoors but isn’t great under bright sunlight. You may also notice a bit of ghosting or slightly off colours in darker scenes, which is expected at this price point. Still, the display holds up well for casual use and nails the basics with a nice mix of clarity, colour, and smooth motion.

Oppo Pad SE Design: Premium vibes, practical design

The Oppo Pad SE keeps things simple, but in a good way. Its aluminium alloy back with a subtle dual-tone finish gives it a premium feel, while the plastic frame helps keep the weight manageable. There’s a single circular camera on the back that blends in without trying too hard. You get two colour options: a classy Starlight Silver and a more playful Twilight Blue.

At just 530g and 7.39mm thick, the tablet feels light and easy to carry around, even during long usage sessions. The bezels on the front are a bit chunky, but that’s not a bad thing. They actually make it easier to hold without accidentally touching the screen. For a budget tablet, it really gets the balance between looks and practicality right.

Oppo Pad SE performance: Handles the basics without breaking a sweat

Powered by the MediaTek Helio G100, the Oppo Pad SE is built for everyday tasks. Whether you're browsing the web, streaming content, or juggling a few light apps, it stays smooth and responsive. The version I tested had 4GB of RAM with an additional 4GB available via virtual memory, plus 128GB of onboard storage. There’s also an 8GB RAM variant if you’re willing to spend a bit more, but honestly, the base model gets the job done for casual users.

Performance benchmarks give a clear idea of where it stands. On AnTuTu, it scored 433,599. Geekbench 6 results were 709 for single-core and 1872 for multi-core. The GPU pulled 1366, which means light and mid-level games run fine, though heavier titles might struggle. It’s not a gaming powerhouse, but that’s expected at this price.

For a budget tablet, it’s reliable, efficient, and more capable than it looks. If your needs are basic, the SE offers a surprisingly smooth ride.

Oppo Pad SE software: Clean, helpful, and easy to use

Running on ColorOS 15, the Oppo Pad SE offers a no-fuss software experience that feels smooth and well thought out. There’s no bloat or clutter, which is a win in the budget segment. Instead, you get a clean interface with a few clever tools that actually come in handy.

Parents will find the built-in Kids Mode useful, letting them create a safe space for younger users. Google’s Gemini AI Assistant is also baked in, making it easy to get things done using voice commands or quick prompts. For casual photography, Oppo adds basic but handy AI features like Eraser, Enhance Clarity, Unblur, and Remove Reflections. They work well enough for quick edits without needing extra apps.

Oppo Pad SE cameras: Just enough to get by

The Oppo Pad SE features a 5MP rear and a 5MP front camera, both shooting 1080p video at 30fps. They aren’t designed for serious photography, but they cover the basics well. This is an issue even with the more premium offerings, like the iPad Video calls are clear, scanning documents is hassle-free, and casual photos look fine in good lighting.

Low-light shots tend to be soft and lack detail, which isn’t surprising in this price range. But for most users, especially those buying a tablet for media and productivity, this level of camera performance is more than enough. It’s functional, and that’s really all it needs to be.

Oppo Pad SE battery life: All-day power with slow charging

With a 9,340mAh battery, the Oppo Pad SE comfortably gets through a full day of casual use. Whether you’re browsing, streaming shows, or squeezing in a bit of gaming, it doesn’t drain quickly. That kind of endurance is exactly what you want from a budget tablet, and the Pad SE delivers without fuss.

The only downside is the charging speed. It comes with a 33W charger, but a full charge still takes nearly two hours. It’s not the fastest, so you might want to plug it in overnight or during downtime. That said, once it’s juiced up, the tablet can easily last the day without making you reach for the charger again.

Oppo Pad SE verdict: Budget-friendly and well-balanced

Priced at ₹13,999, the Oppo Pad SE offers great value for anyone seeking a no-fuss tablet. It combines a sleek design, smooth 11-inch display, solid battery life, and reliable everyday performance.

It’s not aimed at gamers or creative pros, but that’s fine. For students, casual users, or anyone who just wants a dependable tablet for streaming, browsing, and note-taking, this one gets the basics right without stretching your budget. Simple, practical, and easy to recommend.