OPPO Pad Neo Android Tablet – 11.4” 2.5K, 1.07 billion colour ReadFit screen (smartphone)

30/05/2024
By Ray Shaw
In Reviews

The OPPO Pad Neo is an Android tablet with a ReadFit 7:5 ratio screen, a big 8000mAh battery, and four-speaker Dolby Atmos decode sound. It is an Android tablet done right, and at $449, it is very attractively priced.

While price may be a driver, it is not short on specifications.

Processor: 6nm MediaTek Helio G99 and Arm Mali-G57 MC2
RAM/Storage: 6/128GB LPDDR4x/UFS 2.2 and microSD slot to 1TB
11.4”, 2408 x 1720, 260ppi, 8-bit+2FRC/1.07 billion colours, 400nits, 90Hz, LTPS LCD
Front and rear 8MP, f/2.0 camera, 1080p@30fps with EIS
8000mAh battery (no charger supplied but charges at 9V/2A/18W)
Wi-Fi 5 2.4/5GHz
BT 5.2 with SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD, and LDAC
USB-C 2.0 (no Alt DP)
Face or Password unlock
Colour OS 13.2 (Android 13 – 2+2+4 warranty/OS upgrade/security patch)

New review format

We are experimenting with our review format. Where we used to put all the raw data in tables at the end, we will now break them up and briefly comment on the various parts. Why? Readers who want to know more will paw over the tables. Readers who wish to see if it’s a good phone can just read the comments. Of course, we still have CyberShack’s’ View and rating explanation at the end – do make sure you read that.

We use Fail (below expectations), Pass (meets expectations) and Exceed (surpasses expectations or is the class leader) against many of the items below. We occasionally give a Pass(able) rating that is not as good as it should be and a Pass ‘+’ rating to show it is good but does not quite make it to Exceed. You can click on most images for an enlargement.

We are also tightening up on grading. From now on, Pass, for example, means meeting expectations for the price bracket. We consider a Pass mark to be 70+/100 with extra points added for class-leading and excellence.

Australian Review: OPPO Pad Neo Android Tablet – 11.4” 2.5K, 1.07 billion colour ReadFit screen

Brand	OPPO
Model	OPPO Pad Neo
Model Number	OPD2302
RAM/Storage Base	6/128GB
Price base	449
Warranty months	24-months
Tier	mid-range
Website	Product page
From	OPPO online
Country of Origin	China
Company	OPPO is now #2 in Australia for Android smartphone market share. It has achieved this by offering excellent products and after-sales service.
More	CyberShack OPPO news and reviews CyberShack smartphone news and reviews (contains tablets)
Test date	1-29/4/24
Ambient temp	10-20°
Release	January, but available later in Australia
Other models not for Australia (Don’t buy)	The genuine Australian model has an RNZ C-Tick on the box label. Grey Market: While not as critical with Wi-Fi-only tablets, the usual culprits (Kogan/Dick Smith/Etoren and many online stores) sell it. Only approved devices carry an Australian warranty and use Australian frequencies.

First Impression – Pass+

Samsung and Lenovo dominate the tablet world. Yet OPPO, with its 2023 OPPO Pad 2 – premium Android tablet with new format screen, and now this model offers better specifications and value than the competitors without compromising on quality.

It is an Android tablet – quite reserved and elegant in space grey. The key difference is the 7:5 ratio screen. It is best for use in landscape mode with a camera on the top bezel and four speakers (two on each side) on the left and right short sides.

After a few days, I found I was using this far more as a portrait reader, perfect for digital newspapers and A4 or A5 documents. I found the beautiful clarity and pure colours a bonus compared to typically over-saturated colour tablets. It is easy on the eye. It is a superb content consumption device.

What is the 7:5 golden ratio?

OPPO calls the 7:5 ratio screen ‘ReadFit’. Let’s explore that screen—some call it the Golden Ratio.

Most tablets have a 16:9 or 16:10 landscape ratio, which suits video content. This has 7:5 (12.6:9), which in portrait mode is closer to the width of an A4 paper (297 x 210 or 7.05:5), which suits productivity.

If you play a 16:9 movie, you get smaller letterbox black lines, top and bottom, than on most tablets.

Screen – Pass+

It is a 10-bit/1.07 billion colour screen. OPPO calibrate it to a Delta E <1 (<4 is good), hitting 94.7% DCI-P3 and 100+% sRGB of the wide colour gamut. Samsung and Lenovo still use an 8-bit/16.7 million colour screen; frankly, OPPO has the edge by a large margin. Read 8-bit versus 10-bit screen colours. What is the big deal?

It is very easy on the eyes as we have come to expect from OPPO’s phone screens – lovely, colour-accurate with a 90Hz refresh.

The 7:5 ratio is about content consumption, although it’s closer to the shape of a book than a 16:9 movie. It has L1 FHD 1080p SDR certification for all streaming services.

It is not very daylight readable, and we cannot determine if there is a screen protector. We suspect it is toughened glass.

Bedtime mode switches to warmer colours at night, and you can schedule Eye Comfort, which also adjusts the colour of the light.

Size	11.4″
Type	LTPS LCD
Flat, Curve, 2D, 3D	Flat with centre o-hole on top
Resolution	2408 x 1720
PPI	260
Ratio	7:5 (12.6:9, 14:10)
Screen to Body %	82.7%
Colours bits	8-bit_2FRC for1.07 billion colours
Refresh Hz, adaptive.	Auto stepped 48/50/60/90Hz or fixed 60Hz.
Response 120Hz	N/A
Nits typical, test	400 (test 395-402)
Nits max, test	N/A
Contrast	1200:1 (test 1251:1)
sRGB	Natural 100% (Test 97.45%)
DCI-P3	96% (Test Vivid 94.75%)
Rec.2020 or other	Vivid mode and colour temperature slider. Also, Nature Tone adjusts colour temperature to ambient light with 2048 brightness levels.
Delta E (<4 is excellent)	<1
HDR Level	N/A SDR only
SDR Upscale	N/A
Blue Light Control	Yes, plus Bedtime mode
PWM if known	No
Daylight readable	No
Always on Display	No
Edge display	Yes and sidebar
Accessibility	Usual Android features
DRM
Gaming	Not tested, but no dedicated game features.
Screen protection	Not stated but tablets usually have toughened glass.
Comment	Excellent colour-accurate tablet screen with an interesting ‘golden ratio’ of 7:5 that suits an A4 page in portrait mode. Good viewing angles.

Processor – Pass+

It is a TSMC-made 6nm (good) MediaTek Helio G99 widely used in mid-range phones. It is pretty energy efficient, and, as it does not have to power a phone system, it is more than suited for a tablet. In fact, the 11” Samsung Tab A9 uses it as well. It is similar in performance to the Qualcomm SD695.

It is not for serious gamers but will play most browser and lower-framerate games well. It does not throttle under load.

Brand, Model	MediaTek Helio G99
nm	6nm
Cores	2 x 2.2GHz & 6 x 2.0 GHz
Modem	N/A
AI TOPS OR Multi-thread Integer Operations Per Second (INOPS) GINOPS = billion	11.22 GFLOPS 9.07 GINOPS
Geekbench 6 Single-core	720
Geekbench 6 multi-core	1898
Like	Benchmarks Similar performance to SD695.
GPU	Arm Mali-G57 MC2
GPU Test
Open CL	1394
Vulcan	1396
RAM, type	6GB LPDDR4X plus 2/4/6GB virtual RAM expansion.
Storage, free, type	128GB UFS 2.2 (98GB free)
micro-SD	Up to 2TB
CPDT internal seq. Read MBps sustained	651 Jazz Maximum 938
CPDT internal seq. write MBps sustained	360 Jazz Maximum 527
CPDT microSD read, write MBps	77/49 mountable
CPDT external (mountable?) MBps	20/20 OTG
Comment	A tablet does not need a powerhouse processor as it focuses on content consumption. It also does not have to support things like phones, etc. This is a good SoC for the purpose and is energy efficient. This is a popular SoC for its energy-efficient 6nm used by Motorola G72, Samsung A15/24 and various OPPO, vivo and realme phones.
Throttle test
Max GIPS	181861
Average GIPS	177132
Minimum GIPS	169494
% Throttle	Nil
CPU Temp	50°
Comment	Excellent thermal management

Comms – Pass

Wi-Fi 5 AC Dual band 2.4/5GHz is fit for purpose, and it maintains maximum 433MBps speeds out to 10m.

The GPS is four-band—L1, B11, G1, and E1—and capable of 1m accuracy, making it suitable for in-car navigation.

Wi-Fi Type, model	Wi-Fi 5 AC 2.4/5Ghz
Test 2m -dBm, Rx/Tx Mbps	See image below
Test 5m
Test 10m
BT Type	5.2
GPS single, dual	L1, B11, G1, and E1
USB type	USB-C 2.0 480Mbps (no Alt DP)
ALT DP, DeX, Ready For	No
NFC	No
Ultra-wideband	No
Sensors
Accelerometer	Yes
Gyro	Yes
e-Compass	Yes
Barometer
Gravity
Pedometer
Ambient light	Yes
Hall sensor	Yes
Proximity
Other
Comment	Meets all expectations

Battery – Pass+

PC Mark’s Work 3.0 Battery Test lasts 18 hours and 7 minutes. A 1080p video loop at 50% sound/brightness and aeroplane mode lasts 14 hours and 46 minutes. This is a full-workday device with a 2-hour charge.

OPPO loses some points for not providing its 33W SUPERVOOC charger inbox, but it works with any 20W or higher PD/PPS charger.

mAh	8000mAh
Charger, type, supplied	Not supplied. $35 SUPERVOOC wall charger Charges at 9V/2A/18W from a USB-C PD/PPS charger.
PD, QC level	It will work on any USB power from 5W.
Video loop 50%, aeroplane	14 hours 46 minutes
PC Mark 3 battery	18 hours 7 minutes
GFX Bench Manhattan battery	Would not run
GFX Bench T-Rex	476.8 minutes (7.95 hours) 6005 frames
Drain 100-0% full load screen on	4 hours 33 minutes
mA full load	1500-1600mA
mA Watt idle Screen on	350-400mA
Estimate loss at max refresh	Tested on Adaptive screen refresh
Estimate typical use	It will give an entire workday of use and around 15 hours of video.
Comment	It has decent battery life for a tablet and a large screen.

Sound hardware – Pass+

It has four speakers in a 2 x 2.0 landscape configuration. To be clear, it is stereo – not quadraphonic. It defaults to Dolby Atmos decoding and is 10-15% louder than other tablets in its class.

Speakers	2 x each short side speaker, a total of 4.
Tuning	No
AMP	MediaTek
Dolby Atmos decode	Yes to 2.0
Hi-Res	No
3.5mm	No, but it has an FSA4480 USB Type-C port to pass a USB 2.0 signal, analogue audio, sideband use wires, and an analogue microphone signal. No DAC is required.
BT Codecs	SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD and LDAC 16-bit/44100/48000Hz
Multipoint	Should support it
EQ	Smart, Movie, Gaming, Music mainly for earphones
Mics	2 with some noise-cancellation
Test dB – all on EQ flat DA off
Volume max	95 – this is 10-15% louder than most smartphones
Media (music)	90
Ring	100
Alarm	90
Notifications	95
Earpiece	N/A
Hands-free	N/A
BT headphones	All codecs available. Tested on LDAC and aptX HD. Excellent separation.

Sound quality – Exceed

Finally, we have a device that you can use to listen to music. Unlike a phone that is turned for clear voice, this is tuned for music.

Mid-bass starts at 63Hz (quite low for small speakers) and gives you a nice hint of bass – it’s not overbearing, but it is there. It is flat (good) to mid-treble, giving it excellent directionality and a feeling of air – being there.

Mid bass from 63Hz and reasonably solid mid-upper treble make this quite listenable.

Deep Bass 20-40Hz	Nil
Middle Bass 40-100Hz	from 63Hz building 120Hz and flattening off
High Bass 100-200Hz	Flat
Low Mid 200-400Hz	Flat
Mid 400-1000Hz	Flat
High-Mid 1-2kHz	Flat
Low Treble 2-4kHz	Flat
Mid Treble 4-6kHz	Slight dip to avoid harshness
High Treble 6-10kHz	Flat
Dog Whistle 10-20kHz	Very slow decline to 20kHz
Sound Signature type	Neutral: The audiophile standard is a flat (good) response that neither adds nor subtracts from the original music.
Soundstage	Dolby Atmos is enabled by default and appears to add more soundstage width. With DA content, the soundstage widens about 15cm past the speakers and gives a nice sense of height for movies in landscape mode.
Comment	Finally, a tablet that is actually quite listenable, with enough bass to satisfy, enough mid/high treble to give a sense of being there and good directionality.

Build – Pass+

The OPPO Pad Neo build quality is a given—it’s well-made and a keeper. Our only issue is the lack of a 33W SUPERVOOC charger.

You should probably buy the $59.95 OPPO Pad Neo Smart Case, which offers viewing angles of 110°, 120°, and 130° degrees and auto on/off. There is no combo keyboard/trackpad cover.

Size (H X W x D)	255.12 x 188.04 x 6.89mm
Weight grams	538
Front glass	Not stated
Rear material	Aluminium
Frame	Aluminium
IP rating	Not stated – no
Colours	Space Grey
Pen, Stylus support	Passive capacitive only
In the box
Charger	No
USB cable	Yes
Buds	No
Bumper cover	No
Comment	Excellent build quality.

Android – Pass+

Multitasking features include split view, flexible windows, and dual windows. I ended up using dual windows the most because they allow you to have two apps running at the same time. It has a handy Windows-like Taskbar.

It is relatively clean of Bloatware, and we have classified OPPO’s Privacy Policy and Terms as benign as long as you do not sign up for a HeyTap account.

Android	13
Security patch date	5 April 2024, current
UI	Color OS 13.2
OS upgrade policy	Three updates to Android 16
Security patch policy	Quarterly updates for four years from launch.
Bloatware	Relatively clean: Netflix and WPS Office trial. Recommend you use Google Apps instead of OPPO apps where possible.
Other	Implements Android Taskbar
Comment	ColorOS is the light grease on Android wheels that makes it easier to use

Security
Fingerprint sensor location, type	No
Face ID	Yes 2D
Other	OPPO ColorOS has advanced security features
Comment

OPPO PAD Neo rear camera – Pass

It is suitable as a happy snapper or for scanning a whiteboard. You need reasonable light.

Rear Primary	Wide
MP	8MP
Sensor	Likely Hynix HI556 or Galaxy Core GC08AC3 or SmartSens SC820cs
Focus	FF plus macro
f-stop	2
um	1.12
FOV° (stated, actual)	78 (67.1 H x 79.4 D)
Stabilisation	No
Zoom	2x
Video max	10870p@30fps with EIS
Flash	No
Auto-HDR	Yes
	Photo, Video, Panorama, Time-lapse, Sticker, and Text scanner.
QR code reader	Google Lens
Night mode	AI

1X and colours are a tad over saturated but it was a late afternoon shot.

Macro is very good courtesy of an 8MP sensor.

Office light and you can see it struggling – AI tried to enhance brightness at the expense of details.

<40 lumens and again it struggles but brings up brightness at the expense of details.

OPPO Pad Neo front camera

MP	8MP
Sensor	Likely Hynix HI556 or Galaxy Core GC08AC3 or SmartSens SC820cs
Focus	FF
f-stop	2
um
FOV (stated, actual)	78.2 (67.1 H x 79.4 D)
Stabilisation	No
Flash	Screen fill
Zoom	No
Video max	1080p@30fps
Features	Photo, Video, Panorama, Time-lapse and Portrait.
Comment	It is a decent selfie with reasonably natural colours. There is AI face tracking for video conferences.

CyberShack’s view – OPPO Pad Neo leads the class by a big margin

While the 7:5 ratio screen is nice, it is not the sole reason to buy. The whole package has a reasonable SoC, decent speakers, camera, and, interestingly, quad-band GPS, making it great for in-car navigation.

OPPO Pad Neo ratings – 81/100

Ratings	New 2024 ratings – 70 is a pass
Features	80
	It is a $449 11.4″ 7:5 tablet with a decent LPTS screen and speakers that you can listen to.
Value	85
	There is not much around to compete with. The $479 Samsung A9+ 11″ uses the same processor but has a 1650x1200p screen, 8.5MP cameras, and a smaller battery. The Neo is superior on paper. The $449 Lenovo M11 has a slower processor and eMMC flash storage.
Performance	80
	It meets or exceeds what is expected at this price.
Ease of Use	80
	Its 2+3+4 warranty/OS/security is quite good.
Design	80
	Well-made and designed for landscape use. Buy the cover to protect it.
Rating out of 100	81
Final comment	Overall, it is an excellent 11.1″ tablet that will exceed expectations of a tablet of this price.