OnePlus 2 review: Flagship killing tablet

The Android tablet sector has been in the doldrums for several years, with only Samsung offering a premium experience in the form of the Galaxy Tab S series. 2023 brings the powerful OnePlus Pad to the market, and this year brings its successor, the Pad 2. Contrary to Samsung’s move with its new Galaxy Tab S10 series, which switched from Qualcomm to Mediatek, the OnePlus Pad 2 moves from the latter to the former and is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset.

Priced at $549 in the US, the OnePlus Pad 2 offers high-end hardware and increasingly useful software without breaking the bank. I’ll write a review after using it for a while.

design

The first thing I noticed when I picked up the Pad 2 was that its edges were rounded, unlike the flat, squared edges of its rivals. It provides a comfortable grip and, in my opinion, looks very smart. This time around, the Pad 2 is only available in one colorway called Nimbus Gray, and while it looks pretty good, it’s prone to smudges and fingerprints.

There’s a bit of an odd juxtaposition to the tablet’s layout, with the rear camera housed in the center for landscape use, and the charging port set at the bottom edge in portrait mode. There’s nothing really wrong with this, it just feels a little confusing.

Anyway, there’s a speaker chamber on the bottom next to the USB-C charging port and on the top edge next to the power button. The right edge of the tablet has volume controls, and the left side has three POGO pins for connecting to keyboard accessories.

At 584g, the Pad 2 isn’t the lightest tablet when compared to the 11-inch iPad Pro (444g) and Pixel Tablet (493g), and it can be a bit tiring to hold while lying in bed watching Korean dramas. No. Still, there’s always the option of using a case to prop your tablet up.

read: OnePlus Pad 2 and Google Pixel tablet: how do they compare?

hardware

performance

First off, the original OnePlus Pad had no performance issues thanks to its Dimensity 9000 chipset. That aside, Qualcomm’s move to a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor goes a step further, and combined with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage, it actually makes for a very fast device. Multitasking is super fast and games like Call of Duty: Mobile launch smoothly.

The 12.1-inch OLED ReadFit panel with 3K resolution and 144Hz refresh rate is bright with vibrant colors and deep blacks. Viewing angles are good, and the 7:5 aspect ratio makes the display feel less cramped than Samsung’s Galaxy Tab series when reading or watching videos.

We ran the OnePlus Pad 2 through several benchmark apps, and unsurprisingly, it succeeded with flying colors.

battery

A large 9510mAh battery keeps the light on and takes just 30 minutes to charge from 0 to 64%. A full charge takes just 81 minutes. This puts even phones and tablets from the likes of Google and Samsung to shame. The only downside is that OnePlus doesn’t include a charger in the box.

A fully charged battery provides approximately 11 hours of active use (browsing and watching videos), which is sufficient for most long-haul flights.

keyboard case

A keyboard consists of two parts. Both parts can be installed separately. So if you don’t need the keyboard bit, you can install the back cover to protect the back panel. It also pairs over Bluetooth, so you don’t need to connect a keyboard to your tablet to type. This means you don’t have to bend over your device when you have room to stretch out at your desk. Use the kickstand on the back attachment to position the display at a comfortable angle and continue typing.

The keyboard case came with our review unit, but it’s sold separately and costs about $149 unless OnePlus discounts it as part of a deal. If you don’t need a keyboard, a regular folio case is available for a more affordable price of $40.

read: Why OnePlus Pad 2 is better than Pixel tablet

software

Running OxygenOS 14.1 based on Android 14, the OnePlus Pad 2 gets three more OS upgrades and four years of security patches. It’s not as well supported as Samsung or Google’s products, but it’s not terrible either. Write “I can improve even more” on your report card.

Unlike Samsung’s tablets, the Pad 2 doesn’t offer a desktop mode, so it’s a bit lacking in terms of productivity. It has an open canvas feature that allows you to open three apps at once in split screen, and also allows parts of the app to overflow beyond the actual display limit. When you actually try it, it works quite well.

OnePlus isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel when it comes to productivity apps, but the Pad 2 does come with WPS Office pre-installed, which only offers basic functionality unless you commit to a Pro subscription. Of course, you can also install third-party apps like Microsoft’s Office apps and Google Docs to make your Pad 2 even more useful.

It wouldn’t be 2024 without mentioning AI capabilities. OnePlus includes features like AI Eraser and Smart Cutout in the Gallery app, as well as options like AI Speak, AI Summary, and AI Write to help with text-based tasks.

camera

Since it’s a tablet, I don’t really care about camera performance, but I understand that the camera you carry with you is the best. As you might expect, the rear camera takes average quality images, but not terrible. Selfies with the front camera are pretty much the same, but they’re great for things like video calls.

conclusion

As for competitors, the OnePlus Pad 2 really only has Honor’s Magic Pad 2 and Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S9 FE, both of which are about the same price. The cheaper Tab S9 FE offers an IP rating and longer software support, while the Pad 2 has a better display, better sound, faster charging, and more thanks to its Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. It has excellent performance. The Magic Pad 2 offers a similar experience to the Pad 2, but costs around £50 more and has a slightly larger battery.

I’m a big fan of the OnePlus Pad 2, and my beloved Xiaomi Pad 5 has reached the end of its lifespan, so I was looking for a new Android tablet. It’s comfortable to hold, performance is by far the best, battery life is excellent, and the display definitely looks great whether you’re watching movies or playing games.

Unless you really need the desktop mode and IP rating, there’s no reason to shell out big bucks for Samsung’s expensive Tab S10 series. The OnePlus Pad 2 offers one of the best entertainment and gaming experiences you’ll find on a tablet, especially at this price point.