The case for Android tablets is growing rapidly. As an entertainment center. As secondary function machines. Now even as primary work machines, although this is true if your workflow fits within the perceived boundaries of capabilities (it’s still a subjective hit or miss). The Oppo Pad 5 seems to be on the right track from the start, with an affordable price point, an ecosystem in play, and the promise that artificial intelligence (AI) will play a pretty useful role in your work. While I wouldn’t recommend buying any device based on alleged AI promises, you should base your decision on the Oppo Pad 5’s hardware base, which is mostly on point.
For starters, Oppo gained the first-mover advantage in the Android tablet battle in early 2026, with the Xiaomi Pad 8 arriving soon after. Secondly, things have been kept simple but versatile, with Wi-Fi and 5G versions available (this is something the otherwise impressive Xiaomi Pad 7 doesn’t have). I would recommend the 5G variant if budget allows, as you’ll inevitably realize the benefits of this feature as you start traveling more with the tablet. Prices start at ₹The 8GB memory and 128GB storage variant with Wi-Fi only will cost Rs 26,999, while the 5G spec that increases the storage to 256GB will be priced at ₹32,999. One may disagree with the choice of 128GB as the base storage spec (ideally it should have been 256GB), but thanks to the AI slop filling our social media feeds, memory and storage prices are through the roof.
Two key specifications really work in the Oppo Pad 5’s favor. The 12.1-inch display real estate is ideal for two windows side-by-side as you run some errands, work on spreadsheets, and finally once you’re done for the day, it’s big enough to watch a TV show or some sports highlights. It’s a bright and vivid screen with 12-bit color depth, and you’ll appreciate the 7:5 aspect ratio that’s slightly squarer than the usual 16:9, making it fit better in Windows with PDF documents or books. Brightness changes as you use the tablet are flicker-free, at least to the eyes, and this screen simply works in usage scenarios.
The second fact is that the Oppo Pad 5 has a massive 10,050mAh battery, which lasts for about 18 hours on a single charge. Keeping in mind that it can’t often be used for up to 9 hours a day as a primary laptop-replacement device, you’ll only need to deploy the 33-watt charger once every few days to get it fully operational. There are no complaints about this at all, especially considering the price of the 5G option.
The choice of the MediaTek Dimensity 7300-Ultra isn’t entirely surprising, but it is certainly curious. This chip is a few steps behind the Xiaomi Pad 7’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Plus Gen 3 in terms of raw performance, and will definitely be a step behind the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 that will power the upcoming Xiaomi Pad 8. This is not a good look in the face of direct competition, and it leads me to believe that you will soon start to see significant market price corrections to lower the estimated value. For specific workflows, this may be somewhat of a struggle if your intended use involves a lot of time on serious video editing apps, but apps like Adobe Lightroom and Express will be fine on this.
Of course, any tablet sold in this day and age will boast multiple AI inclusions within the interface and apps, the Oppo Pad 5 is no different. Some standouts include an AI writer, a translator, a voice recorder with transcription, and of course, Google’s Gemini integration. Oppo has integrated something called Circle to Note, which requires the Oppo Pencil 2R (it’s a separate accessory; ₹2,999) – Highlight or mark any text on a web page, document, or file and drag it into the Notes app. This negates the need to clutter the gallery with tons of screenshots (often, forgetting any particular relevance or context). Talking about the gallery, it also has AI based clarity enhancement, blur removal and reflection removal options, although the mileage will vary depending on the complexity of the photo.
If you are buying an Android tablet in 2026 and want a tablet that can efficiently handle documents, video calls, video streaming, reading and entertainment needs for frequent travel without making too many compromises, then the Oppo Pad 5 should top the shortlist. It doesn’t win the raw-power argument, and serious creators can move past it sooner than they’d like. But the combination of a very good 12.1-inch display, reliable battery life, and the availability of a 5G variant at this price gives it a real-world advantage that will matter to a large demographic of potential buyers. Before making a definitive decision, you might want to evaluate the Xiaomi Pad 8 and how the Xiaomi Pad 7 fares.
