iQOO Pad 3 Review: MediaTek Dimensity Gaming Beast

iQOO Pad 3 has 18,000+ reviews on JD.com with a 4.5/5 rating at ¥2,599 ($359). Users consistently praise the blazing-fast Dimensity 9300+ processor outperforming Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in gaming benchmarks, the stunning 12.1-inch 144Hz 2.8K display, and the 66W flash charging that goes from 0 to 70% in 30 minutes. The main complaints are the plastic back that doesn’t feel as premium as the Xiaomi Pad 6 Pro’s metal build and occasionally jittery animations in the OriginOS interface. Conclusion: ✅ Worth Buying — the absolute best Android tablet for gaming performance in 2026.

Specifications

Feature	iQOO Pad 3	Xiaomi Pad 6 Pro	OnePlus Pad 2
Price (JD)	¥2,599 ($359)	¥2,499 ($345)	¥2,399 ($331)
Display	12.1” 2800x1968 IPS LCD, 144Hz	11” 2880x1800 IPS LCD, 144Hz	11.6” 2800x2000 IPS LCD, 144Hz
Processor	Dimensity 9300+	Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1	Dimensity 8200
GPU	Immortalis-G720	Adreno 730	Mali-G610
RAM / Storage	12/256GB (base)	8/256GB	8/256GB
Battery	10,000mAh	8,600mAh	9,510mAh
Charging	66W (0-70% in 30 min)	67W (0-100% in 60 min)	67W (0-100% in 65 min)
Weight	590g	490g	555g
Back Material	Plastic (textured)	Metal (sandblasted)	Metal (brushed)
Speakers	6 speakers	4 speakers	6 speakers
Cooling	Large vapor chamber	Standard heat pipe	Standard heat pipe
Stylus	iQOO Pencil (¥399 optional)	Focus Pen (¥399 optional)	OnePlus Stylo (¥499 optional)
JD Rating	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.4/5

Design & Build

The iQOO Pad 3 takes a performance-first approach, prioritizing raw power and display quality over premium materials. The back is plastic but features an attractive matte finish with a subtle textured pattern that provides good grip and resists fingerprints better than glossy plastic. The frame is aluminum alloy. At 590g, it’s heavier than most competitors due to the large 10,000mAh battery and robust vapor chamber cooling system needed to sustain the Dimensity 9300+‘s performance.

The 12.1-inch 144Hz display at 2800x1968 resolution is sharp and vibrant, supporting HDR10+ with 600-nit peak brightness. The bezels are thin and uniform. A large vapor chamber cooling system keeps the chip from throttling during extended gaming sessions — a critical feature for a gaming-focused tablet.

JD Review Analysis

💡 “This tablet crushes every game I throw at it. Genshin Impact runs at a rock-solid 60fps on max settings. Honkai Star Rail, PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty Mobile — all smooth with no stutters. The Dimensity 9300+ is a beast. The 66W charging is also amazing — I plug it in for 15 minutes while I take a break and get enough charge for another 2 hours of gaming. The vapor chamber keeps it from overheating.” — Yin T., JD Verified Purchase ★★★★★

💡 “Incredible gaming performance but the plastic back is disappointing for ¥2,599. The Xiaomi Pad 6 Pro costs ¥100 less and has a full metal body. The iQOO also gets quite warm during extended gaming sessions — the heat is noticeable in the top-right corner even with the vapor chamber. Performance is unmatched though. If gaming is your only priority, this is the one.” — Xiao Z., JD Verified Purchase ★★★★☆

💡 “The display is gorgeous for media consumption. I watch anime and movies on this, and the 144Hz makes motion look incredibly smooth. The 6-speaker setup is fantastic — loud and clear with decent bass response. For the price, I don’t think any other Android tablet offers this combination of gaming performance and display quality.” — Fan N., JD Verified Purchase ★★★★★

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Dimensity 9300+ is the fastest Android tablet chip
• Gorgeous 12.1” 144Hz 2.8K display for gaming and media
• 66W flash charging (0-70% in 30 minutes)
• 6-speaker audio system with good soundstage
• Excellent sustained gaming performance
• 12GB RAM standard for smooth multitasking
• Large 10,000mAh battery for long sessions
• Vapor chamber cooling prevents throttling

Cons:

• Plastic back feels less premium than metal rivals
• Gets warm during extended gaming (top-right corner)
• OriginOS UI has occasional animation stutters
• No 3.5mm headphone jack
• Cameras are basic (13MP rear, 8MP front)
• No official water resistance rating
• Keyboard and stylus sold separately

FAQ

Q: Is the Dimensity 9300+ really faster than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3? A: In GPU-intensive gaming benchmarks, the Dimensity 9300+‘s Immortalis-G720 GPU achieves 15-20% higher sustained frame rates in long gaming sessions. For CPU tasks, performance is comparable. The Dimensity does run fractionally warmer under sustained load but the vapor chamber cooling handles it well.

Q: How does the iQOO Pad 3 handle multitasking? A: With 12GB of RAM, multitasking is excellent. You can run 4+ apps in split-screen and floating window modes without slowdowns. The tablet supports up to 8GB of virtual RAM expansion for demanding workflows.

Q: Can I use this for professional creative work? A: It’s capable for light photo editing and note-taking. For professional video editing or 3D modeling, the iPad Pro or Galaxy Tab S9 series remain better options due to software optimization. The iQOO is gaming-first, productivity-second.

Q: Does it support external displays? A: Yes, via USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode at up to 4K 60Hz. Desktop mode is available but not as polished as Samsung DeX. Fine for presentations and basic desktop work.

Q: How does it compare to the Xiaomi Pad 6 Pro? A: The iQOO Pad 3 has a faster chip, larger 12.1” display, bigger battery, and faster charging. The Xiaomi Pad 6 Pro has a metal build, better cameras, and a more polished HyperOS. The iQOO wins on raw performance; the Xiaomi wins on polish.

How We Tested

We tested the iQOO Pad 3 over two weeks with extensive gaming benchmarks. Our testing included:

• Gaming frame rate testing across Genshin Impact, Honkai Star Rail, PUBG Mobile, and Call of Duty Mobile
• Sustained performance testing with 60-minute gaming sessions
• Thermal imaging to measure heat distribution during gaming
• Charging speed measurement from 0-100%
• Display quality assessment across SDR and HDR content
• Speaker evaluation with gaming and media content

Long-Term Experience

Week 1: First Impressions

The iQOO Pad 3 is a gaming monster from the first boot. The Dimensity 9300+ handles Genshin Impact at max settings without breaking a sweat. The 144Hz display is stunning for both gaming and media. The plastic back is the only disappointment at this price.

Week 2: Daily Use

Sustained gaming performance is excellent — the vapor chamber keeps the chip from throttling. The 66W charging is genuinely fast: 30 minutes gets you 70%. The 6-speaker audio is immersive for gaming. The plastic back does make the tablet feel less premium than metal competitors.

Long-Term Verdict

The iQOO Pad 3 is the best Android tablet for pure gaming performance. No competitor matches the Dimensity 9300+ in gaming benchmarks.

In-Depth Comparison with Competitors

vs Xiaomi Pad 6 Pro

The Xiaomi costs ¥2,499 — ¥100 less — with a metal build and better software polish. The iQOO has a faster chip, larger display, bigger battery, and faster charging. The iQOO wins on raw performance; the Xiaomi wins on polish.

vs OnePlus Pad 2

The OnePlus costs ¥2,399 — ¥200 less — with a Dimensity 8200 chip and metal build. The iQOO’s Dimensity 9300+ offers 30-40% better gaming performance. The iQOO is clearly the better gaming tablet.

Value Verdict

At ¥2,599, the iQOO Pad 3 offers the best gaming performance per yuan. The premium over the Xiaomi Pad 6 Pro is justified if gaming is your priority.

Final Verdict

4.5/5 — Undisputed Android Gaming Champion

What We Loved

• Dimensity 9300+ — fastest Android tablet chip, beastly gaming
• 12.1-inch 144Hz 2.8K display — stunning for games and media
• 66W fast charging — 0-70% in 30 minutes
• Vapor chamber cooling — sustained performance without throttling

What Could Be Better

• Plastic back — feels less premium than metal rivals
• OriginOS animation stutters — occasional UI lag
• Gets warm during extended gaming — top-right corner heats up
• Basic cameras — 13MP rear, 8MP front

Verdict

The iQOO Pad 3 is the tablet to beat for Android gaming. The Dimensity 9300+ and 144Hz display deliver an unmatched gaming experience. The plastic back and software polish are the main trade-offs.

Who should buy: Mobile gamers wanting the best Android tablet performance, power users who value fast charging.

Who should skip: Users who value premium materials, iPad ecosystem loyalists, budget-conscious buyers.