Oppo Pad SE at ₹13,999 A Big Battery and Android 15 Make It the Best Budget Tablet for Students If you’re looking for a tablet that feels high-quality without costing too much, you often have to make sacrifices. Maybe the battery drains too fast, or the software is outdated. The new Oppo Pad SE (model OPD2406) seems to have solved this issue. It offers an 11-inch display, a huge 9,340 mAh battery, and the latest Android 15-based ColorOS 15.0.1, all for just ₹13,999. After using it for over a week for taking notes, watching video lectures, and even some Netflix, I think the Pad SE is currently the best budget tablet for students.
Sleek, Sturdy Design You’d Expect at Double the Price
Right out of the box, the Pad SE feels surprisingly solid. Oppo offers it in Starlight Silver and Twilight Blue, both with a subtle shine that doesn’t scream “cheap plastic tablet. The all-metal frame is only 0.74 cm thick, and at 530 g (standard screen) or 527 g (matte screen), it’s light enough to hold comfortably during long reading sessions.
The flat edges give it a modern, “iPad-inspired” look, but unlike many budget tablets that feel flimsy, this one is sturdy there are no creaks when you grip it tightly. The minimal bezels around the 11-inch (27.94 cm) LCD panel make it look more immersive than many competitors in this price range.
Pro tip: If you share your tablet between classes and family time, the Twilight Blue option hides fingerprints very well.
Eye-Friendly Display for Marathon Study Sessions
I love smooth scrolling. Oppo’s display switches between 60 Hz and 90 Hz based on your activity. Scroll through your lecture slides, and it’s buttery smooth; leave it idle, and it drops the rate to save battery. The 1920 × 1200 resolution isn’t breathtaking, but at 207 ppi, text is clear enough for reading PDFs and e‑books.
More importantly, Oppo has TÜV Rheinland certifications for low blue light and flicker-free performance. I spent an evening preparing notes in Bedtime Mode (which dims based on ambient light), and my eyes felt much less strained than usual. If you’re studying late, that’s a big win.
Helio G100: More Than Just Basic Performance
Inside, you’ll find MediaTek’s Helio G100. It’s not a top-of-the-line chip, but it performs well. You get two powerful cores clocked up to 2.2 GHz, six smaller efficiency cores, and an Arm Mali-G57 MC2 GPU. In practice, I was able to:
- Run split-screen with Google Docs and a YouTube lecture
- Play casual games like Asphalt 9 at medium settings
- Switch between more than 10 Chrome tabs for research
Sure, it’s not going to run Genshin Impact at high frame rates, but for everyday tasks like note-taking, browsing, and streaming, it works smoothly.
Storage That Won’t Hold You Back
The Pad SE comes in 6 GB + 128 GB for both colors, with an 8 GB + 128 GB option in Twilight Blue if you need more room for apps and games. Oppo uses LPDDR4X RAM and UFS 2.2 storage, so launches are quick and file transfers aren’t painfully slow. Keep in mind that the operating system and pre-installed apps take some space, so you’ll see slightly less available right away.
Student hack: Store class recordings on a USB drive and plug it in using OTG. Oppo supports USB OTG, so you won’t run out of space during the semester.
Cameras That Punch Above Their Weight
Yes, it’s a tablet most people don’t buy one for impressive photography. But you do get dual 5 MP cameras (front and back), both with f/2.2 apertures. The rear camera has autofocus and a 76° field of view, good enough to capture a whiteboard or lab setup. The front camera is fixed-focus at 77°, which works for clear video calls. I tested both in my well-lit study room, and even when recording 1080 p 30 fps video, the results were more than acceptable for Zoom calls or short presentations.
Unbeatable Battery Life (and a Quick Top-Up)
Here’s where the Pad SE really excels: its 9,340 mAh battery (typical rating). Oppo claims up to 11 hours of continuous video playback, and I got close to that two full movie marathons with 20% battery remaining. Even when I used the 90 Hz setting, maxed the brightness (about 500 nits), and played Asphalt 9, I still got over eight hours of use.
When it finally needs charging, SuperVOOC 33 W charging (plus PPS, QC, PD at 9 V 2 A) fills it up in about 1.5 hours. That means you can grab a quick lunch and be back at 100%.
Real-world note: While there’s no wireless charging, the wired speed is impressiverare at this price.
Quad-Speaker Setup for Immersive Sound
I was skeptical about “budget tablet speakers,” but Oppo’s quad-driver system, tuned with Omni-bearing Sound Field technology, genuinely impressed me. When you put the tablet in landscape mode, you get a wide stereo effect, regardless of how you hold it. The sound has clear mids, decent bass for a tablet, and enough volume to fill a small dorm room. Video lectures and background noise apps for focus both sounded great.
ColorOS 15.0.1 on Android 15: Clean, Fast, and Secure
Software can often be a weak point on budget tablets, but Oppo ships the Pad SE with ColorOS 15.0.1, based on Android 15. The interface is fast and uncluttered:
- Split-screen and floating windows for true multitasking
- A revamped notification shade that’s easier to manage
- Detailed privacy controls to select which apps can access your information
Also, built-in AI tools like Document Summary, AI Rewrite, and AI Unblur are useful for polishing scanned notes or improving low-resolution diagrams. And Google Gemini is ready for voice prompts, quick fact-checks, or basic math help (like “Hey Gemini, what’s 17% of 2,500?
Seamless Cross-Device Experience
If you’re already using Oppo (or broader Android) products, the Pad SE connects easily:
- O+ Connect lets it borrow your phone’s GPS and data on the go
- Screen mirroring and drag-and-drop file sharing simplify switching between phone and tablet
- It even works with iOS devices, so you can easily share photos from an iPhone to the Pad SE
For group projects, this cross-device compatibility saves time—no more emailing files to yourself during presentations.
Dedicated Kids Mode for Younger Learners
One nice bonus is Oppo’s Dedicated Kids Mode. If you have younger siblings or cousins, this feature turns the tablet into a controlled learning environment. You can set time limits, restrict certain apps, and curate content. It’s a thoughtful addition that makes the Pad SE appealing for families who want one device for everyone.
Why ₹13,999 Is a Steal
Let’s discuss the price. At ₹13,999, the Pad SE is cheaper than many competitors that compromise on build quality, battery life, or software updates. You’re getting:
- A metal-framed, sub-600 g design
- TÜV-certified low-blue-light, adaptive 90 Hz display
- A 9,340 mAh battery with fast charging
- Helio G100 performance that handles everyday tasks well
- Quad speakers that actually sound good
- Android 15 with Oppo’s latest UI and AI features
When students compare specifications and brand reputations, the Value Per Rupee meter on this one shoots up. Campus whisper: Several classmates pre-ordered it after I demonstrated the impressive battery life guess who’s borrowing it next?
Potential Drawbacks
No device is perfect. Here are some trade-offs to keep in mind:
- Dual Connectivity: Supports both LTE and Wi-Fi, so you’re always connected.
- UHD video recording: It maxes out at 1080 p 30 fps, which is fine for calls but less ideal for aspiring YouTubers.
- No stylus support: If you like handwriting notes, you’ll need to get a separate Bluetooth stylus.
Still, for the price and typical use cases reading, streaming, browsing, light gaming the Pad SE exceeds expectations.
Final Thoughts: A Student’s Dream Tablet https://www.oppo.com/in/accessories/oppo-pad-se/
If you’re a student balancing online lectures, digital textbooks, collaboration on group projects, and some casual gaming, the Oppo Pad SE feels well-made for your needs. With its endurance, performance, and eye-friendly features, you’ll take fewer charging breaks, experience less eye strain, and enjoy smoother multitasking all in a package that won’t embarrass you in class.
At ₹13,999, Oppo has crafted an experience that feels polished, reliable, and impressively premium for a budget device. For anyone who needs a daily tool for studying, streaming, and staying organized, the Pad SE is my top recommendation in 2025’s crowded entry-level tablet market.