OnePlus has quickly become one of the most prolific makers of Android phones, launching a string of top-end phones from its initial "budget flagship" slate. The company's next device, however, could be a pretty big step up.

That's because OnePlus has registered the trademark "OnePlus Pad" with the European Union Intellectual Property Office; OnePlus has never released a tablet before, so this would be a new step for the brand.

As first reported by MySmartPrice, there is unfortunately no information on this listing other than the name. Trademark and regulatory filings sometimes include images, diagrams, and other little details that suggest potential features and capabilities, but not in this case. As a result, it is likely that any device is still a long way off.

Still, the name seems fairly clear. All of OnePlus' smartphones to date have shipped with Android and have been skinned with OxygenOS.

There are many tablets on the market, but even the best Android tablets have never captured the mindshare of Apple's genre-defining and still field-leading iPad model. [But Amazon's ultra-affordable Fire tablet is perfect for simple content consumption, and Samsung makes a variety of tablets in all price ranges. Both manufacturers' tablets rank on our best tablets list, with iPad models like the new iPad Pro 2021 ranking the highest.

However, the potential of OnePlus' tablets could be an attractive new option, given the company's reputation for quality in the smartphone arena. A sleek, premium-feeling Android tablet with slick software and a sub-flagship price tag would be a truly attractive device; the biggest accusation against OnePlus phones is also their cameras, but for tablet users, it is generally not need to worry so much about it.

According to MySmartPrice, OnePlus' sister brand Realme has already announced its own upcoming tablet, and another sister brand, Vivo, has reportedly filed a trademark for the "Vivo Pad" with the same commission. If this detail is true, it could indicate that the OnePlus Pad could be part of a broader tablet push by parent company BBK Electronics.

OnePlus released the OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro Android flagship smartphones this spring, both of which received high 4.5-star ratings from Tom's Guide. The company's first smartwatch, the affordable OnePlus Watch, was recently called "the best inexpensive smartwatch for Android users" by Tom's Guide senior writer Kate Kozuch.

Whether the OnePlus Pad will eventually see the light of day remains to be seen, but the fact that OnePlus has registered its name is not in itself proof that it will actually make such a device. We will watch with interest.