The OnePlus Pad 2 with its keyboard cover and stylus
TL;DR
A new OnePlus tablet has been spotted in an FCC listing, labeled as the OnePlus Pad 3R.
The listing doesn’t reveal much about the tablet’s hardware specs.
A new OnePlus Pencil was also filed alongside it, and both products could launch soon.
For the past few weeks, rumors have been swirling about a new high-end OnePlus tablet. Most signs pointed to it being a follow-up to last year’s OnePlus Pad 2 — possibly a “Pad 2 Pro” with flagship-tier specs. But now, a fresh FCC filing suggests OnePlus might be heading in a different direction entirely.
As first reported by Droid Life, a new OnePlus device has appeared in the FCC database under the model number OPD2408. The listing identifies it as a tablet and includes a label that clearly names it the “OnePlus Pad 3R.” Also appearing in the FCC database is a new stylus under model number OPN2405, officially named the “OnePlus Pencil.”
The FCC documents mention support for dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and wireless power transfer (WPT) on the tablet, though it’s unclear whether that last bit means we’re getting actual wireless charging. That’s still a rare feature on tablets, so it’s best to stay skeptical for now. The device is described as working in both standalone and keyboard-laptop modes, and the hardware/software builds are listed as OPD2408_11 and OPD2408_15.0.0.61, respectively.
That’s about all the FCC confirms on paper, but it’s what’s missing that makes things interesting. Prior leaks about this device hinted at a powerful tablet, possibly a rebadged version of the OPPO Pad 4 Pro, which was launched in China.
That model features a 13.2-inch 3K+ display, Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, up to 16GB of RAM, and a massive 12,140mAh battery. OnePlus often mirrors OPPO’s hardware under a different name, so expectations were set for something similar, if not identical.
So, where does the “Pad 3R” name come into play? That’s where things get a bit confusing. In the phone lineup, OnePlus typically reserves the “R” moniker for slightly trimmed-down, mid-range versions of its flagship devices, such as the OnePlus 13R compared to the full-fledged OnePlus 13.
But if this is truly the tablet with all those rumored high-end specs, branding it as “3R” instead of “2 Pro” suggests OnePlus might be rethinking how it positions its tablets.
Still, all we know for sure is that a new tablet, possibly called the OnePlus Pad 3R, is on the way. And with both the tablet and stylus now clearing the FCC, it might not be long before we see an official announcement.
Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at news@androidauthority.com. You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it’s your choice.
With another launch season approaching, I’m focused on what might be coming down the pipeline. The Samsung Galaxy Watch line, in particular, has plenty of room for improvement this year. While the company’s smartwatches have been strong contenders in the Wear OS market over these last few years, a few key upgrades could really help the next model stand out. Here’s what I hope to see in the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8.
The return of the rotating bezel
Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority
Like many fans, I’d like to see Samsung bring the rotating bezel back to the Galaxy Watch 8 series. It’s one of Samsung’s most distinctive hardware features, first introduced on the Gear S2 and most recently seen zipping through Wear OS tiles on the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic. The design offers an intuitive way to navigate the interface without relying solely on touch, which is especially handy after sweaty workouts.
In a market where most smartwatches lean heavily on swipe gestures and digital crowns, the rotating bezel helps Samsung stand out. Last year, the company launched an Ultra model instead of a Classic, and to my despair, the pricey new sibling skipped the iconic feature. Bringing it back this season on a Classic variant would go a long way in keeping Samsung’s signature smartwatch feel alive.
Improved heart rate tracking
Ryan Haines / Android Authority
Better heart rate accuracy is near the top of my list for the Galaxy Watch 8. While the current sensor does fine for steady workouts like runs or walks, it still struggles during cycling or any activity with a lot of wrist movement. I’ve seen noticeable lag in readings, especially when cadence picks up, which makes it hard to trust the data for things like interval training or even recovery insights. It’s not a dealbreaker, but for a watch that pitches itself as a serious fitness tracker, I’d love to see more consistent performance.
More importantly, Samsung needs to step up here if it wants to keep pace with Google and Apple. The Pixel Watch 3 already delivers some of the most accurate heart rate data I’ve tested, and Apple’s Watch Series 10 is highly reliable. Both brands are likely to launch equally powerful next-gen models.
Better battery life
Ryan Haines / Android Authority
I look forward to the day I can write one of these lists without mentioning battery life, but that day is not today. Power efficiency remains a major talking point for nearly every smartwatch. While I’ve found the Galaxy Watch 7 will last about two days with moderate use, its performance varies, especially during GPS activities. Compared to competitors like the OnePlus Watch 3 with its dual-chip architecture or the TicWatch Pro 5 with its dual-display technology, the Galaxy Watch 7’s battery life is good, but not great. I want the 8 to last more than 48 hours on a single charge, even with heavy usage.
Thanks to sleuthing on South Korea’s product safety platform by XpertPick, we already have an idea of what we might see on the next model. Listings reveal two batteries, EB-BL330ABY and EB-BL505ABY, which are likely tied to the standard Galaxy Watch 8 and the Watch 8 Classic, respectively. The EB-BL330ABY battery has a rated capacity of 435mAh, which is slightly larger than that of the 44mm Galaxy Watch 7.
More reliable GPS accuracy
Ryan Haines / Android Authority
Accurate GPS tracking is another area where I’m hoping Samsung will improve the Galaxy Watch lineup. I was excited when the Galaxy Watch 7 introduced dual-frequency GPS, which typically enhances reliability in challenging environments like urban areas or trails with dense foliage. In reality, though, the watch’s performance can still be inconsistent. In real-world tests, it’s recorded me everywhere from the wrong side of the road to running inside buildings.
Samsung’s biggest Wear OS competitor, the Google Pixel Watch 3, also struggles more than I had hoped, which only makes it more important for the Galaxy Watch 8 to improve so it can stand out. Meanwhile, the Apple Watch delivers accurate GPS tracking, as do Garmin’s devices. For the Galaxy Watch 8 to become a viable option for serious endurance athletes, it needs to provide reliable and precise GPS tracking.
Full access for all users
Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority
Finally, I hope the Galaxy Watch 8 offers full access to all features for non-Samsung phone users. While Samsung’s watches are packed with great functionality, some premium features are locked behind a Samsung phone. Features like Samsung Pay, advanced health tracking including blood pressure detection, and even some customization options are either limited or unavailable for those of us using phones from other brands. It feels like a bit of a missed opportunity, especially when greater inclusivity would make the Galaxy Watch line a stronger Pixel Watch rival. Though unlikely, I’d love to see Samsung open the Galaxy Watch 8’s features to all, regardless of phone brand, so users can take full advantage of everything the watch has to offer.
What do you want to see on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8?
4 votes
Will there be a Samsung Galaxy Watch 8?
Ryan Haines / Android Authority
While Samsung has yet to officially confirm the Galaxy Watch 8, regulatory filings suggest its imminent arrival. As mentioned, batteries likely corresponding to the lineup have been certified by SafetyKorea, suggesting shoppers will see both a standard Galaxy Watch 8 and a Watch 8 Classic. We’ve also seen entries in the GSMA’s device database, including one reference tying model number SM-L505U to a Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, as spotted by Smartprix. These certifications point to a summer launch for the Watch 8 series, which would make sense given the company’s launch schedule historically.
Galaxy Watch 5 series — August 10, 2022
Galaxy Watch 6 series — July 26, 2023
Galaxy Watch 7 series — July 10, 2024
We will most likely see the new generation announced and the company’s Summer Unpacked event. My best guess is that this will take place in July, though I’ll keep this hub updated as we see more leaks and rumors surface. We could also see a second Ultra model land as well as a sequel to the Galaxy Ring.
Should you wait for the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8?
Ryan Haines / Android Authority
We’re now in that awkward window where upcoming launches are just months away, and buying an existing model feels a bit silly. If you’re currently eyeing the Galaxy Watch 7, I recommend holding off. With the Galaxy Watch 8 on the horizon, it’s worth waiting for the next iteration, especially considering the useful upgrades it could bring, like improved battery life, more accurate tracking, or even new features. Plus, once the new model lands, you can expect the price of the Galaxy Watch 7 to drop. In other words, you can save cash by simply waiting a few months.
That said, if you want a watch on your wrist sooner rather than later, the Galaxy Watch 7 ($299.99 at Amazon) is a good buy for Samsung phone users. For a more durable device and a larger battery, Samsung also has the Ultra ($649.99 at Amazon) in its lineup. The Google Pixel Watch 3 ($349.99 at Amazon) is the best Wear OS smartwatch available overall, but the OnePlus Watch 3 ($329.99 at Amazon) offers the best battery life. Of course, if you’re an iPhone user, your best bet is the Apple Watch Series 10 ($386 at Amazon).
When looking at changes to a single AdMob metric, such as revenue, we know that context is key. So we’ve added the ability for you to compare two metrics within the same chart (see upper right in image below) so that you can more easily correlate trends within your data.
You can also now break out metrics, such as estimated earnings, by dimensions like app, ad unit, format, and country (see upper left in image below). Our improved graph interactivity allows you to add or remove dimensions by simply clicking on the corresponding circle in the key, as shown below on the upper left.
Adaptive anchor banners are a great option for AdMob publishers who want the simplest solution to getting the best banner ad returned across any device. This format is still in beta on Google Ad Manager, so publishers who want to try it out on that platform should reach out to their account managers or contact our support team.
Adaptive anchor banners are currently only available for anchored placements—banners locked to the top or bottom of the screen. However, AdMob is actively developing another adaptive algorithm for in-line banners placed in scroll views or within content.
To get started with adaptive anchor banners for AdMob, check out our implementation guides (iOS, Android). We walk you through when it’s appropriate to use adaptive banners, implementation notes, and code examples.
We recommend testing adaptive banners against some of your existing banner ads to understand how they can help you maximize fill rates, engagement, and revenue.
App publishers are justifiably concerned about what ads show up in their app, so we’ve taken steps to ensure that your app will only serve ads that meet the guidelines you’ve set. Our ad controls allow you to set a maximum content rating level or block ads by category, ad type, URL, and more. Both of these controls can be applied to a single app or to your whole AdMob account.
For example, applying a maximum rating of G to your account ensures that only G-rated ads are served across all of your apps. However, you can simultaneously set a maximum rating of T for a specific app to allow it to include PG and T rated ads as well. For even more control, our Ad Review Center allows you to review individual ads on a creative-by-creative basis to decide whether you want to continue serving them. We’ve designed these features to ensure that you only serve ads you feel are appropriate for your users.
A/B testing can be a great way to gauge your user’s reaction to new features before rolling them out to your entire app. For example, Onefootball, a leading soccer app, wanted to test a Top News section in their app’s News stream. However, they first wanted to determine whether this potential change would lower revenues. They set up a test with a control group and two exposed groups, which showed them that this proposed change would not hurt revenue. As a result, the feature increased daily engagement by 5 percent, and articles read on the app rose by 6 percent.
Mobile apps have transformed the way people engage with the world. From gaming, to ride sharing, to messaging, apps enrich the lives of billions — and are often funded by ads. Ads help make content available to everyone, creating a more diverse ecosystem of apps for people to enjoy. But one of the biggest threats to ad-supported content is ad fraud, a pervasive issue for users, developers, and advertisers alike.
For over 20 years, Google has been heavily investing in creating a healthier ads ecosystem that generates value fairly, for everyone involved. In 2019, we delivered on key initiatives to protect advertisers, publishers, and users.
Protected advertiser spend by reducing ad fraud: Google blacklisted numerous bad actors that were found to be committing large scale invalid traffic and ad fraud, which violates Google policies. In 2019 Google removed tens of thousands of apps and developers that were found to be in violation of our policies, from both AdMob and Play. Taking corrective action was an imperative step in protecting advertiser dollars, leveling the playing field for legitimate publishers, and removing bad app experiences for users.
Protected publisher revenue from app spoofing: Bad actors may attempt to disguise their inventory as a high value app to unfairly claim associated ad revenue. To help publishers publicly declare authorized inventory to combat this issue, we launched our app ads.txt solution in August 2019 and in just four months, the majority of Google’s app ad inventory is now ads.txt-protected.
Improved safety of family-friendly content for users: In addition to fighting ad fraud, the Google Play and Ads teams both announced new steps to help ensure that ad content served in apps for children is appropriate for their intended users. The Play team updated its Families Policies and the requirements for inclusion in its Designed for Families (DFF) program to better ensure that apps for children are appropriate. AdMob now offers a maximum ad content rating to give publishers more control over the ad content shown to their users.
We know that ensuring a safe and high quality app experience has never been more important to the success of your business. That’s why multiple teams across Google are coming together to further secure and protect the ads ecosystem for our most important audiences. As a preview, here are three key areas where we are focused and you can expect to hear more from us in the months ahead:
Double down on safeguarding advertiser spend from invalid traffic: One area of focus for the Ads team is developing new ways to detect disruptive ads shown outside of the app — for example, out-of-context ads from an app not currently in use. This behavior violates Google policies, so Google removes these apps from both AdMob and Play — in fact, a recent enforcement sweep resulted in the joint removal of nearly 600 apps. Our investigations are ongoing and when we find violations we will continue to take action.
Help app publishers towards compliance with industry regulations: As industry regulations evolve, Google is providing tools for app publishers to manage their compliance strategy, maintain user trust, and minimize the risk of losing revenue.
Give users more control over their app experiences: Android is making fundamental platform changes to minimize interruptions in app experiences and keep the user more in control of what’s shown on their screen.
We’re excited to build on this momentum in app ad safety as well as peace of mind. Stay tuned for more updates over the next year on how Google is protecting its ad systems and improving ad traffic quality.
Last month, Game Developers Conference (GDC) organizers made the difficult decision to postpone the conference. We understand this decision, as we have to prioritize the health and safety of our community. GDC is one of our most anticipated times of the year to connect with the gaming industry. Though we won’t be bringing the news in-person this year, we’re hosting the Google for Games Developer Summit, a free, digital-only experience where developers can watch the announcements and session content that was planned for GDC.
Google for Games Developer Summit
The Developer Summit kicks off on March 23rd at 9:00AM PT with our broadcasted keynote. Immediately following, we’ll be releasing a full lineup of developer sessions with over 10 hours of content to help take your games to the next level.
Here are some types of sessions to expect:
Success stories from industry leaders on how they’ve conquered game testing, built backend infrastructure, and launched great games across all platforms.
New announcements like Android development and profiling tools that can help deploy large APKs to devices faster, fine tune graphic performance, and analyze device memory more effectively.
Updates on products like Game Servers (currently in alpha)—a fully managed offering of Agones, letting developers easily deploy and manage containerized game servers around the globe.
We recognize every developer is impacted differently by this situation. We’re coordinating with the GDC Relief Fund to sponsor and assist developers who’ve invested in this moment to further grow their games.
We also understand many developers were looking forward to sharing their content with peers. To help with this, developers can use YouTube to stream events from small to large using tools like Live Streaming and Premieres.
We can’t wait to share what we have in store for gaming. Discover the solutions our teams have been building to support the success of this community for years to come.
As an avid gamer, every year I look forward to spending time with developers at GDC to celebrate together and learn from their successes. We are all disappointed that this year’s conference was postponed, but we applaud the organizers for taking steps to protect our global community.
Although we won’t be gathering in person this year, the Google team is hosting the Google for Games Developer Summit, a free, digital-only experience where developers can watch the announcements and session content that was planned for GDC. We still wanted to share these updates with you because we think these new products will help developers succeed and are a direct response to feedback from our developer community.
As we study emerging gaming trends one of the most consistent things we’ve noticed over the years is that those who build a strong games business always put players first. That means deeply understanding players at every stage of their app journey. Today, we’re announcing new solutions that help you launch a game people love, improve it based on player insights, and earn more during the time that someone is engaged with your game.
Launch a game players love with scaled user testing
Appealing to players at launch is essential to the success of your game. Based on recent Google internal data, more than half of installs come within the first 8 weeks of an app’s release. To make the most of this influx of users, leading developers like Big Fish Games test their apps in beta before releasing them publicly. That’s why last year we introduced open testing in the Google Play Console to help you get early feedback from real users before your full release.
To get even more testers into your app, you’ll soon be able to promote Android games with open testing in Google Ads as well. By running open testing ads in App campaigns, you can drive early users to your app to test things like app stability, user retention, monetization, and effectiveness of ad creatives—then use the learning to improve your results when you launch.
In one example, Chinese developer NetEase used open testing ads to reach more beta users that helped them optimize in-app purchase behavior based on open testing data. For their new game, Dawn of Isles, Netease was able to double in-app purchases which ultimately led to higher lifetime value (LTV) at launch.
Increase operational efficiency with automated features
Maximize revenue from multiple networks with mediation
Waterfall management takes up a lot of time and manual work. Ad Network Optimization offers an easy solution to help you automate that process and free up time to spend on other areas of your business. This feature automatically pulls in the freshest CPM value from each network in the waterfall and allows the one with the highest eCPM to serve the ad.
Optimize AdMob demand on other platforms
If you are using a different platform to mediate AdMob demand, you can set your ad units to a Google optimized eCPM floor which allows Google to dynamically set the floors based on your preference. The AdMob Network’s eCPM floor placement will then be adjusted with the other ad networks automatically to help you maximize total revenue.
We hope the best practices shared here can help inform your monetization strategy during this time. If you’re interested in other tips to help your app business, check out Google Play’s best practices for your in-app products and subscriptions.
1. Google Data, Global English, Feb 26 – Apr 25, 2020 vs Feb 25 – Apr 25, 2019
