Important points
- OnePlus Pad 2 offers a premium experience at an affordable price.
- It has a powerful processor, a vibrant display, and a long-lasting battery.
- The Smart Keyboard is clunky, but the Stylo 2 stylus provides a great experience.
Last year, OnePlus surprised me with its impressive first attempt at an Android tablet. The company is back with the OnePlus Pad 2, which builds on the success of its predecessor and brings even more power, a beautiful display, and great battery life. But does it have what it takes to compete with other premium Android tablets?
In a world where tablets are becoming increasingly expensive, the OnePlus Pad 2 stands out by offering a premium experience without a premium price tag. This has always been the company’s mission. However, while OnePlus has wavered a bit from that idea when it comes to phones, the tablet lineup seems to be focused solely on that.
one plus pad 2
OnePlus Pad 2 is a high-performance Android tablet with a brilliant 12.1-inch display, powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, and long-lasting battery life.
- The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip and 12GB of RAM make this tablet fast.
- The 12.1-inch, 144Hz display is comfortable to use.
- Excellent battery life will easily get you through a day of intense use.
- A premium tablet experience without the high cost.
- Typical lackluster camera performance.
- The software is supported for only 4 years.
- The Smart Keyboard accessory is difficult to use.
Price and availability
The OnePlus Pad 2 is available in Nimbus Gray and starts at $499 for the 256GB model with 12GB RAM, with a regular price of $549. OnePlus also offers a folio case, two keyboard covers, and a stylus for the Pad 2, but these are sold separately. Folio Case 2 is $40, Stylo 2 Stylus is $100, Smart Keyboard is $150, and Magnetic Keyboard is $150.
Thin, light and nice design
OnePlus Pad 2 is a sleek and stylish tablet. It is made of aluminum and has a well-built unibody design. This tablet is surprisingly thin and light, making it easy to hold and carry around. OnePlus has once again opted for a 7:5 aspect ratio. This is a bit taller and narrower than the typical 16:10 aspect ratio found on most tablets.
The 7:5 aspect ratio is close to 4:3, which was one of my favorite things about the original OnePlus Pad. This may seem like a small thing, but huge The difference in feel when holding the tablet in your hand. In fact, with this aspect ratio, you might want to hold it in portrait mode. It’s not like wrestling with a mini TV, it’s like having an oversized book.
And when you pick it up, it’s really surprisingly thin and light. At only 6.5 mm thick and weighing only 584 g, it almost disappears in your hand, assuming you don’t have a keyboard cover on. The aluminum unibody construction is extremely sturdy and has smooth, rounded edges for a comfortable grip.
some awkward accessories
Speaking of keyboard covers, there are two models: “Smart Keyboard” and “Magnetic Keyboard”. I tried the Smart Keyboard cover and this was probably my least favorite part.
The “smart” part of the name comes from the fact that the keyboard can connect via Bluetooth and can be used without being physically connected to the tablet. However, for this to work, the stand must be separate from the keyboard. So you can prop up your tablet when you don’t have a keyboard. This all makes sense on paper, but it’s annoying in practice.
Like most tablet stands, a portion of the back plate folds down to support the device. However, the action doesn’t feel very good. It’s like folding a thin piece of metal along the crease, and you won’t get a satisfying snap at any particular angle. The advantage is that you can set up the stand at any angle you want, but it doesn’t feel quite right.
I also found that the magnets that hold the stand and keyboard closed were both too strong and not strong enough. I often struggled to pry the keyboard open and the backplate came off in the process. The stand was also not as easy to fold as I expected. If you’re buying a keyboard for your OnePlus Pad 2, you’ll likely choose a magnetic keyboard instead.
My favorite accessory is the Stylo 2 stylus. It feels great in your hand and mimics the feel of a real pen with tactile feedback. However, the real star of the show is the low 2ms latency and pressure sensitivity. It’s like writing on paper, with almost no delay between your hand and the screen. Plus, with features like instant notepad launch and improved palm rejection, it’s perfect for taking notes, sketching, or just doodling.
A beautiful display that will make you forget that it is not an organic EL display
OnePlus Pad 2 boasts a vast 12.1-inch LCD display with the same unique 7:5 aspect ratio as the original. This gives it a slightly square-ish look compared to most tablets, but I’m still a big fan of this form factor. The screen resolution is a crisp 3000 x 2120 pixels with a pixel density of 303 ppi.
One of the standout features of this display is its variable refresh rate of up to 144Hz. This makes scrolling and animations incredibly smooth, giving your tablet a premium feel. This display also supports Dolby Vision HDR with improved contrast and color accuracy and up to 900 nits of brightness.
I don’t have any complaints about the display, but keep in mind that it’s not OLED. This means the blacks aren’t as deep and the colors aren’t as vibrant. However, the OnePlus Pad 2’s LCD panel is still very good and most people will be happy with how it looks.
Software optimized for smart tablets but lacking support
OnePlus Pad 2 ships with OxygenOS 14.1 based on Android 14. This is the same software found on the OnePlus 12, but with a few tweaks to make it more suitable for tablets. Overall, the software experience is smooth and fluid, with a clean interface.
Like the original, OnePlus has done a great job of optimizing OxygenOS for larger screens. The app is highly scalable and has plenty of space for multitasking. When we reviewed the OnePlus Open, we really liked OnePlus’ “Open Canvas” multitasking interface. Even better with a huge 12-inch screen. It’s easy to have three apps open on your screen at the same time. Plus, you can save app groups and quickly open them again later.
However, one thing that remains a sticking point for Android tablets is app support. There are a lot of apps available for download on the Play Store, but not all of them look great on the big screen. For example, Reddit doesn’t support landscape mode at all. I had to install a third-party screen rotation app to use Reddit properly.
Another issue with OnePlus’ software is long-term support. OnePlus promises three years of Android updates and four years of security updates, which is far behind what other manufacturers offer. Samsung and Google provide seven years of Android updates. This is more important on tablets than on phones because you’re less likely to upgrade them as often.
Despite these minor quibbles, we found OxygenOS 14.1 to be a stable and enjoyable experience on the OnePlus Pad 2. It’s a clean, fast, and user-friendly operating system that’s suitable for large screens.
Nimble performance and days of battery life
OnePlus Pad 2 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, the same powerful processor found in many flagship phones. This will definitely fly. Whether I was browsing the web, watching a video, or running three apps at once, the Pad 2 never stuttered. This is also thanks to the 12GB of RAM.
But what really impressed me with the OnePlus Pad 2 was the battery life. A large 9,510mAh battery can easily power you through heavy use throughout the day. If you’re just relaxing on the couch at the end of the day and using it a little here and there, you’ll find the Pad 2’s battery life to last several days (OnePlus says it has 40 days of standby).
And finally, if you need to charge it, the OnePlus Pad 2 supports 67W SUPERVOOC charging like most of the company’s devices. This means you can squeeze 100% juice in about 80 minutes and 50% juice in 30 minutes.
Yes, it has a camera
OnePlus Pad 2 comes with a 13MP rear camera and an 8MP front camera. It always feels weird to talk about tablet cameras. I don’t think I ever needed a tablet the same way I needed a cell phone. But OnePlus has chosen to put the 13MP camera in the center of the back, so we’ll have to talk about that.
If the lighting is good, you can take practical shots. Images are clear enough for social media and casual sharing. Dynamic range isn’t amazing, and low-light performance isn’t great either. The front-facing camera is definitely more important on a tablet, and it’s fine for video calls and the occasional selfie. It gets the job done, but again, don’t expect to be blown away by the image quality.
To be honest, the camera situation on the OnePlus Pad 2 is about what I expected from a tablet. It won’t replace your smartphone for serious photography, but it will suffice if that’s all you have within arm’s reach.
competition
If you’re considering the OnePlus Pad 2, you’ve probably already decided on an Android tablet. That makes the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 the top contender (there are no models in the S10 series other than “Plus” or “Ultra”). The Pad 2 features a larger 12.1-inch display with a unique 7:5 aspect ratio and 144Hz refresh rate, while the Tab S9 features a smaller 11-inch display with vibrant colors and deep blacks. It has a traditional 16:10 AMOLED display. Inside the Pad 2 is a slightly more powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip.
Both tablets have excellent battery life, but the Pad 2 has the edge due to its 9,510mAh battery and 67W fast charging. When it comes to software, it’s a matter of preference. The Pad 2’s OxygenOS 14.1 is clean, bloatware-free, and tablet-optimized, while the Tab S9’s One UI is packed with features that make it feel a little heavy. Samsung’s S Pen is a sleeker stylus that supports a wider range of apps, but the OnePlus Stylo 2 has slightly lower latency.
Ultimately, the OnePlus Pad 2 wins for its price. Even at its $549 list price, it’s much more affordable than the $800 Galaxy Tab S9. However, while the Tab S9 comes with the S Pen, adding the $100 Stylo 2 to the Pad 2 only makes it $649. Honestly, choosing the OnePlus Pad 2 is a no-brainer.
Should I buy OnePlus Pad 2?
I love reviewing products that are easy to recommend. If you’re looking for a premium Android tablet experience without the premium price tag, the OnePlus Pad 2 is a great option. This tablet fires on all cylinders with a powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, a beautiful 12.1-inch display, great battery life, and clean software.
Sure, it might not have all the bells and whistles of a Samsung tablet, like an AMOLED display or the ultra-sleek One UI. But let’s be honest, most people don’t need all the features Samsung has to offer. what are they do You need a tablet that doesn’t need to be constantly charged and can handle your daily tasks without breaking the bank. OnePlus Pad 2 does just that. This is a great all-around tablet that punches way above its weight class.
one plus pad 2
OnePlus Pad 2 is a high-performance Android tablet with a brilliant 12.1-inch display, powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, and long-lasting battery life.
