iPad Air M3 vs OnePlus Pad 3: Which Tablet Is Worth Buying in 2026?

Choosing a mid-premium tablet in 2026 isn’t easy. The iPad Air M3 brings Apple’s desktop-class silicon and a polished app ecosystem, while the OnePlus Pad 3 has flagship-level Android performance, fast charging, and aggressive pricing.

In this guide, I will compare iPad Air M3 vs. OnePlus Pad 3 in terms of design, display, processor, battery, OS, accessories, and pricing. So, you can finally decide which tablet is right for you.

Quick Comparison: iPad Air M3 vs OnePlus Pad 3

Feature	iPad Air M3	OnePlus Pad 3
Price	$599–$1,449 (based on configuration)	$699.99
Display	11″ / 13″, IPS LCD, 60Hz, 500 / 600 nits	13.2″, LCD LTPS, 144Hz, 900 nits
SoC	Apple M3	Snapdragon® 8 Elite
RAM / Storage	8GB / 128GB-1TB	12GB / 256GB
Battery	Up to 10 hours	12,140 mAh, up to 18 hours
Cameras	12MP rear / 12MP front	13MP rear / 8MP front
OS	iPadOS 26	OxygenOS 15 (Android 15)
Pen & Keyboard	Apple Pencil (sold separately)	OnePlus Stylo (sold separately)
Weight	~460–617g	~675g
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 6E, optional Cellular 5G	Wi-Fi 7
Ports	USB 3 (up to 10Gb/s)	USB 3.2 Gen1 (up to 5Gb/s)

Design and Build Quality

Both tablets use premium aluminum builds, but the usage experience is slightly different.

The iPad Air M3 is lighter and more refined, especially the 11-inch model. It’s easy to hold for long reading or note-taking sessions, and Apple’s color finishes feel clean and professional. Buttons, speakers, and the USB-C port are neatly arranged, and the magnetic edge for the Pencil is solid and reliable.

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The OnePlus Pad 3 is marginally larger, heavier, yet only 5.97mm thin, slimmer than the iPad. The unibody design with rounded edges makes it easier to hold. I feel it’s less comfy for long handheld use. OnePlus has clearly designed it for media, multitasking, and desk use with a keyboard.

Quick takeaway:

• If you want portable and elegant, iPad Air wins.
• If you want big-screen comfort, the OnePlus Pad 3 feels better.

Display: Look, Feel, and Media Experience

The display is one of the biggest differences in this iPad Air M3 vs. OnePlus Pad 3 comparison.

The iPad Air M3 focuses on color accuracy. Apple’s P3 color tuning and True Tone make photos and videos look natural and consistent. Both 11-inch and 13-inch (2732×2048 resolution) is excellent for photo editing, illustration, and design work. Brightness is also balanced with an antireflective coating.

The OnePlus Pad 3 goes all-in on smoothness and immersion. Its 13.2-inch display with 3.4K resolution (3392×2400) and 144Hz higher refresh rate make scrolling and gaming feel ultra-fluid. You also get 600 nits standard and 900 nits high brightness mode.

The 7:5 wider aspect ratio and 12-bit color depth is great for movies and split-screen multitasking, and HDR content pops more. I personally loved the OnePlus Pad 3 screen for all my professional tasks and binge-watching shows.

Real-world advice:

• Light photo editing, drawing, reading → iPad Air M3
• Movies, gaming, multitasking → OnePlus Pad 3

Performance and Real-World Benchmarks

The Apple M3 chip is Mac-class silicon. It has an 8-core CPU with 4 performance and 4 efficiency cores and a 9-core GPU with Hardware-accelerated ray tracing. Apple has given 8GB RAM and a 16-core Neural Engine for on-device AI.

So, you can enjoy multitasking, ProRes video editing, and demanding games without breaking a sweat. Performance stays consistent over long sessions thanks to Apple’s excellent software support.

The OnePlus Pad 3 uses Qualcomm’s flagship-level Snapdragon 8 Elite, which is extremely powerful for Android. The Oryon CPU clocks up to 4.32GHz, and the advanced AI-elevated Adreno 830 GPU can run up to 1.1GHz. Its Neural Processing Unit is 300% faster at running AI tasks smoothly.

Moreover, OnePlus has upgraded the cooling system, keeping gamers in mind. The larger vapor chamber now comes with graphite composite materials for better heat dissipation. Overall, apps open instantly, 3-screen multitasking is smooth, and gaming performance is strong with low latency.

AnTuTu 10 Score:

• Apple M3: ~2,143,000
• Snapdragon 8 Elite: ~2,947,633

Who needs the extra power? Only creators, professionals, and gamers truly need OnePlus Pad 3’s performance. Most users, including students and office workers, will be okay with the iPad Air M3.

Software and Ecosystem

This is where the choice becomes very personal.

iPadOS shines with:

• Tablet-optimized apps
• Pro note-taking and creative tools for collaborative work
• Excellent multitasking
• Long-term updates (5+ years)
• Seamless integration with iPhone and Mac
• Apple Intelligence features for writing assistance, image generation, and more

OxygenOS (Android) offers:

• More freedom and customization
• Easy file access
• Sideloading and emulators
• Flexible multitasking layouts
• Better integration with Android phones. Can be connected to a Mac for drag-and-drop file transfers and remote work.
• OnePlus AI for writing, translation, and summary, along with built-in Google Gemini for advanced tasks.

If you already live in Apple’s ecosystem, switching away feels painful. If you love customization and flexibility, Android feels more open. But OnePlus has played a smart role in integrating Mac connection, making it ideal for professionals.

Pen, Keyboard & Accessories

The Apple Pencil remains the gold standard for stylus input. Latency is nearly invisible. Squeeze, Double Tap, Barrel Roll, and Hover work beautifully, and charging magnetically is effortless.

The OnePlus Stylo 2 is very good for notes and casual drawing. It has 16,000 levels of pressure, ultra-low latency, haptic feedback, and a laser pointer with page turn functions. But artists will notice the difference immediately.

Keyboard-wise, Apple’s Magic Keyboard feels more laptop-like with a 14‑key function row and a larger trackpad, while OnePlus’s keyboard is more affordable and flexible. It has a 6-row keyboard with a function row and an NFC tap for One-touch Transmission.

What’s best: If you want to replace your laptop, go for the iPad Air M3 with Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard. For basic needs, the OnePlus Pad 3 fits perfectly.

Cameras, Audio, and Microphones

Tablet cameras are mostly functional, not artistic.

The iPad Air M3 has a better wide-angle back camera with Smart HDR images and 4K video support. The Center Stage front camera placement is best for video calls, with clearer voice pickup with dual mics.

On the other hand, the OnePlus Pad 3 counters with louder high-frequency speakers and better stereo separation for movies. You get 8 speakers (4 Woofers + 4 Tweeters) with advanced spatial audio and immersive Holographic Audio processing.

If you attend lots of Zoom calls, Apple feels more polished. For Netflix and YouTube, OnePlus sounds better.

Battery Life and Charging

Battery life is similar in mixed use, but charging is not.

The iPad Air M3 lasts up to 9-10 hours and charges at standard USB-C speeds. So, if you are a heavy user, you may need to juice it daily.

The OnePlus Pad 3 has a massive 12,140mAh battery that can go up to 18 hours of video playback and 6 hours of AAA gaming. The best part is that it charges at 80W fast speed, which is great if you’re always on the move.

Connectivity and Extras

• iPad Air has Wi-Fi 6E with simultaneous dual-band and eSIM 5G support in cellular models. It offers better external display and pro accessory support.
• OnePlus Pad 3 provides Wi-Fi 7 for network stability. If you have a OnePlus phone, you can use its 5G network to connect and sync both devices.

Therefore, if you use external displays and other peripherals, iPad Air M3 is ideal. OnePlus Pad 3 shines in wireless connectivity.

Price & Value analysis

When you add accessories, the price gap grows.

• iPad Air M3 comes in different sizes and storage capacity. The 11-inch Wi-Fi model 128GB retails for $599, whereas the Wi-Fi + Cellular is $749. Combining with Pencil and Keyboard, it seems expensive, but holds resale value.
• OnePlus Pad 3 full setup is cheaper upfront and offers better value per dollar. Some promotions also give away the Stylo 2 pencil for free with the tablet.

Apple wins long-term value. OnePlus wins short-term savings.

iPad Air M3 vs OnePlus Pad 3: Which Tablet Should You Buy?

User	Best Tablet Choice	Recommended Setup	Why This Choice?
Students and Note-takers	iPad Air M3	iPad Air M3 + Apple Pencil	Excellent stylus support, best note apps, long software support
Digital Artists and Illustrators	iPad Air M3	iPad Air M3 + Apple Pencil + Keyboard	Top stylus precision, pro creative apps (Procreate, Affinity)
Casual Users and Media Consumers	OnePlus Pad 3	Pad 3 + Keyboard (optional)	Bigger screen, smoother refresh, stronger speakers for movies/games
Professionals (Pro Workflows)	iPad Air M3	iPad Air M3 + Keyboard + Pencil	Desktop-level performance, better pro app Apple ecosystem
Budget-Conscious Power Users	OnePlus Pad 3	Pad 3 base + Keyboard	Great performance value and display for the money
Gamers	OnePlus Pad 3	Pad 3 + Game Controller (optional)	Higher refresh rate & strong Android game support
Frequent Travelers	iPad Air M3	Wi-Fi + Cellular 11-inch model	Lightweight, long software lifespan, excellent battery optimization
Multi-device Android Users	OnePlus Pad 3	Pad 3 + Accessories	Seamless Android/OnePlus phone integration, flexible file system

iGeeksBlog’s Take

If you want a polished tablet experience and live in the Apple ecosystem, the iPad Air M3 is still the safest bet in 2026. You can use Continuity features like Markup and Sketch, Universal Clipboard, etc., and have the best privacy and security protection.

For the best value tablet with a big, smooth display, thinner form factor, and powerful processor, the OnePlus Pad 3 is incredibly hard to ignore. It has a bigger battery with fast charging, upgraded thermal management, and better AI.

So, which tablet did you add to your cart? Let us know in the comments below!