I recently needed an Android device for development, so I bought an Oppo Pad Mini. After spending some time with it, I think it is pretty decent. Here is a quick account of my overall experience.
Price and Specifications
I need access to Google Play, which ruled out Huawei immediately. I also remember Huawei devices having a built-in anti-fraud feature, which feels absurd, so avoiding them seemed like the safer choice. Xiaomi was never under consideration either. That did not leave many options, and after factoring in my budget, I chose the Oppo Pad Mini with 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage.
I ordered it from Pinduoduo for RMB 2,800. Its historical price was only around RMB 2,500 in May and June, but there was not much I could do about the price increases driven by the AI boom. I chose the purple model. In person, it is fine, though I think any of the available colors would have been acceptable.
Accessories
So far, I have only bought a tempered-glass screen protector. I am holding off on a protective case for now because it would add weight and take away from the tablet’s feel in the hand. Ordering through PDD or JD is quite affordable.
Google Play Experience
- For network access, I recommend using Clash.
- Sign in with a Google account.
- Google Play is available from the Oppo App Store. If the required components are not installed, follow the prompts to install them.
Apps I Use
These are the apps I mainly use on the tablet, listed here for reference only.
- 1Password
- Quark Cloud Drive
- Chrome
- ClashMetaForAndroid
- GitHub
What I Do Not Like About the Tablet
- It comes with far too many preinstalled apps. There is an entire folder of games, along with CapCut, the Sogou keyboard, and plenty more. Apple devices include built-in apps too, but considerably fewer by comparison.
- The label on the back of the tablet is ugly and difficult to remove. I will probably leave it alone until the warranty expires.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I change the default browser?
Settings → Apps → App management → Menu in the upper-right corner → Default app management → Browser
How do I enable Developer Mode?
Settings → About device/About tablet → Version information → Tap “Build number” about seven times
Once enabled, Developer options are usually under Settings → System & updates/System settings → Developer options, where you can turn on features such as USB debugging.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the Oppo Pad Mini is a solid tablet, especially for someone like me who needs a device for Android development. It offers reasonable value for the money. I just hope future versions feel less intrusive and put more emphasis on the user experience.
