The sub‑₹15,000 tablet market in India is packed with options, and Redmi got there first with the Pad 2, setting a strong benchmark for budget slates. OPPO followed up with the Pad SE at ₹13,999, entering the same crowded arena now joined by the OnePlus Pad Lite.
On paper, OPPO’s pitch is clear: an 11‑inch 90Hz display, a huge battery, and a sleek, lightweight design that feels more premium than its price.
But specs are only half the story. In a segment where even small compromises can make or break a device, can the Pad SE really stand out against tried‑and‑tested rivals like Redmi and the newly arrived OnePlus, or will it get lost in the shuffle of budget tablets?
OPPO Pad SE Design: Sturdy build with practical touches
The OPPO Pad SE takes a clean, minimalist approach that feels more premium than its budget price suggests. The back panel is made of aluminum alloy with a subtle dual-tone finish, paired with a plastic frame to keep the weight in check. A single circular camera module sits neatly on the rear, maintaining a simple and understated look. The Starlight Silver variant looks elegant, while the Twilight Blue option adds a bit more personality.
At 530g and 7.39mm thick, the Pad SE is lightweight and easy to handle for long sessions. Up front, the bezels aren’t the thinnest, but they’re practical, giving you room to hold the tablet without triggering accidental touches.
OPPO Pad SE Display: Clear and smooth, with a few compromises
The OPPO Pad SE comes with an 11‑inch 16:10 LCD panel at 1920x1200 resolution, which is sharp enough for casual streaming, browsing, and reading. It supports a 90Hz refresh rate with adaptive adjustment, so scrolling feels smooth and snappy. Colors are reasonably vivid, covering 98% of the color gamut, which gives videos and games a nice pop.
Brightness peaks at 500 nits, which is fine indoors but noticeably struggles under direct sunlight. In darker scenes, you can spot some ghosting and slightly off color reproduction — a reminder that this is a budget display. Still, for day‑to‑day use, it delivers a satisfying balance of sharpness, smoothness, and vibrancy.
OPPO Pad SE Performance: Solid for the basics, with some headroom
The OPPO Pad SE runs on MediaTek’s Helio G100, which is plenty for everyday stuff — web browsing, streaming videos, and light multitasking all feel smooth. The base model I tested comes with 4GB of RAM, plus the option to expand with another 4GB virtually, and 128GB of storage. If you can stretch your budget by around two thousand rupees, there’s an 8GB RAM variant with the same storage, but honestly, the base version holds up surprisingly well for casual use.
Benchmarks paint a realistic picture of its capabilities. The tablet hits 433,599 on AnTuTu, while Geekbench 6 scores land at 709 for single‑core and 1872 for multi‑core CPU performance. The GPU manages 1366, which is fine for light to moderate gaming. You can play casual titles without much trouble, but expect some stutter if you push into the heavier, graphics‑intensive games.
OPPO Pad SE Battery life: Easily lasts the day
The OPPO Pad SE comes with a 9,340mAh battery, and it holds up really well. In my testing, it sailed through a full day of browsing, streaming, and some light gaming without breaking a sweat. For a budget tablet, that kind of all‑day endurance is exactly what you want.
Charging, on the other hand, is on the slower side. The included 33W charger takes close to two hours for a full top‑up. It’s not a dealbreaker, but you’ll need to plan ahead if the battery runs low. Once charged, though, the Pad SE reliably powers through an entire day of use.
OPPO Pad SE Cameras: Functional, and that’s enough
The OPPO Pad SE keeps things simple with a 5MP rear camera and a 5MP front camera, both capable of recording 1080p video at 30fps. They’re not here to win any photography awards, but they get the basics right. Video calls are clear, scanning documents works fine, and casual snapshots are perfectly serviceable.
Image quality is about what you’d expect at this price — decent in good light, soft in low light, and nothing you’ll want to frame. For most budget tablet users, though, that’s all you really need.
OPPO Pad SE Software: Clean, practical, and a little clever
ColorOS 15 powers the OPPO Pad SE Lite, and the experience is refreshingly straightforward. Navigation feels smooth, and OPPO hasn’t overloaded the interface with unnecessary extras. Instead, the software leans on a handful of smart, practical features that make sense for a budget tablet.
Families will appreciate the built‑in Kids Mode, which creates a safe, controlled space for younger users — an important addition for tablets in this price range. Google Gemini AI Assistant is integrated as well, offering quick voice interactions and on‑device help. For photos, OPPO includes some lightweight AI tools like AI Eraser, Enhance Clarity, Unblur, and Remove Reflections. They’re simple but handy for cleaning up casual shots without opening a separate editing app.
OPPO Pad SE Review: A budget tablet that gets the basics right
At ₹13,999, the OPPO Pad SE hits that sweet spot for an affordable, all‑rounder tablet. It delivers a sturdy, premium‑feeling design, a smooth 11‑inch display, dependable battery life, and enough performance for streaming, note‑taking, and light multitasking.
It’s not built for heavy gaming or serious creative work, but that’s not what this tablet is trying to be. For students, casual media consumption, or anyone looking for a simple, reliable tablet experience without overspending, the OPPO Pad SE nails the essentials.
