OnePlus Pad 2: A Game-Changer in Affordable Tablets with Premium Design and Performance

Last year, OnePlus generated considerable excitement with the release of its first tablet, the ‘Pad’. The OnePlus Pad was a mid-range tablet that came with keyboard and stylus accessories, offering significant value at its starting price of Rs. 37,999. This year, OnePlus has launched its successor, the ‘Pad 2’, which is priced at Rs. 39,999 for the 8GB +128GB version and Rs. 42,999 for the 12GB + 256GB version. This time, OnePlus has prioritized performance, equipping the Pad 2 with a high-end processor that appears to deliver excellent value on paper. But how well do its included accessories function? And can the larger display serve as a viable alternative to a laptop? Continue reading to discover the answers.

OnePlus Pad 2 Review Design: Premium Feel

• Dimensions — 268.66mm x 195.06mm x 6.49mm
• Weight — 584g
• Optional Accessories — OnePlus Stylo 2, Smart Keyboard

While the OnePlus Pad 2 has a few visual resemblances to the original model, including its centered rear camera, the design experience is notably upgraded. The new design is striking and conveys a premium feel. Constructed from a unibody metal chassis, it features a beautifully crafted rear panel that encases the edges, complementing the new high-resolution display on the front. Besides the flat top for stylus charging and storage, the tablet’s rounded edges blend cohesively with the smooth back surface, with the camera module being the sole noticeable protrusion.

The OnePlus Pad 2 boasts a unibody design with smooth edges and curves

 

The way the new 2-piece Smart Keyboard adheres to the tablet is impressively designed. Notably, only half of the case (the kickstand segment) attaches to the back, yet it securely supports the tablet’s weight, which is manageable at 584 grams. Strong magnets hold the upper half while the lower section flips out between 110 and 165 degrees, allowing for varied viewing angles. This flexibility is convenient for watching movies (when standing) and can be adjusted when using the stylus at an angle.

The OnePlus Pad 2’s Smart Keyboard case features a two-piece design

 

The bottom section of the new case includes a 205mAh battery and connects to the tablet through a 3-pogo pin connector within the soft collar. The keyboard section also connects directly to the tablet via the three-pin connector.

This arrangement allows for both attached and detached usage of the keyboard. It proves beneficial when working at an elevated position, as it lets you avoid looking down constantly. All gesture functions operated smoothly in both connected and wireless modes. Manual pairing for the Bluetooth keyboard can be done by holding the Control+R+F keys for 10 seconds.

The keyboard section of the case does not adhere to the display when closed

 

In contrast to the sturdy back cover, the keyboard half is merely suspended from the pogo pin connector at the base and fails to stay firmly in place when closed, which reflects poor design. The reliance on a single magnet located at the top right corner of the display is insufficient to keep it secured. Additionally, the two-piece keyboard configuration does not permit comfortable usage on one’s lap like a traditional laptop due to its lack of a rigid structure compared to the OnePlus Pad’s previous keyboard cover.

It’s important to note that acquiring the keyboard is essential if you plan to use the tablet, as the upper section serves daily use cases. However, if you’re not planning to type on it, the Rs. 8,499 price tag might feel steep, particularly considering it adds 504 grams to the overall weight of the tablet.

The new OnePlus Stylo 2 has an appealing leather-like finish

 

The OnePlus Stylo 2 is a fresh addition with a price point of Rs. 5,499. It has a weight reminiscent of a standard pen and offers a textured grip, enhancing the experience of writing and drawing. More details will follow in the performance section.

OnePlus Pad 2 Review Display: Somewhat Deceptive

• Display — 12.1-inch, 3000 x 2120 pixels, 144Hz
• Display Type — LCD
• Display protection — Unknown

The OnePlus Pad 2 features an upgraded, larger display compared to its predecessor. Retaining its taller aspect ratio, the new display reaches a sharp 306PPI, enhancing photo quality and interface clarity, while also improving multitasking capabilities with a Full view mode in Open Canvas. While the original OnePlus Pad’s 7:5 ratio felt limiting for multitasking, the Pad 2’s larger size makes this aspect ratio suitable for both work and entertainment.

The pogo pins at the bottom facilitate the keyboard case’s direct connection to the tablet for charging

 

Boasting 900 nits of brightness, the display performs adequately in outdoor settings for work or video viewing. However, it lacks HDR certification, restricting the enjoyment of HDR content on streaming services. While SDR visuals look appealing, the LCD panel doesn’t achieve the deep black levels characteristic of OLED displays.

Despite its maximum 144Hz refresh rate, usage within the software interface or apps tops out at 120Hz, rendering it somewhat of a marketing ploy.

OnePlus Pad 2 Review Software: A Quirky Trackpad Experience

• Software — Oxygen OS 14.1
• Version — Android 14
• Latest security patch — 5 June, 2024

OnePlus has added some valuable AI features, including AI Eraser 2.0, Smart Cutout 2.0, and AI Toolbox, all of which we have experienced in other systems derived from Oppo’s ColorOS. The Recording Summary feature effectively converts recorded audio into text summaries. Additionally, the Scan Document tool leverages AI technology for document scans. While these features compare favorably to offerings on other tablets, the AI Eraser tool lacks the precision of Google Photos’ Magic Eraser.

The Smart Keyboard now includes a spacious layout and a generous trackpad

 

The new Smart Keyboard case is equipped with a considerably larger trackpad than its predecessor. Its smooth surface allows for easy gesture navigation and clicking. However, the trackpad’s performance can be quirky, possibly due to software issues. For instance, when accessing a website in the Chrome browser app, you might find that certain links aren’t clickable unless ‘Tap to click’ in Touchpad settings is activated. Once enabled, taps are recognized, but this function was only enabled after a recent keyboard firmware update. Initially, this made using the touchpad frustrating, leading me to revert to the touchscreen.

Open Canvas now showcases its functionality on a larger screen

 

Open Canvas, which has its origins in OnePlus’s Open foldable interface, enhances multitasking by allowing three full-sized windows to be opened simultaneously in preview mode (activated via a four-finger pinch-out gesture on the touchpad). Full view mode requires physically interacting with the display to engage a four-finger pinch-out gesture, as the touchpad doesn’t support this function.

This feature is beneficial for serious tasks (like Google Docs + Google Chrome + File Manager). However, limitations within OxygenOS (or Android) prevent scrolling through Google Docs documents with the touchpad while editing, a task that is possible on iPadOS using the same applications. Consequently, the user must remove their hands from the keyboard to tap the display for scrolling, which feels inconvenient during work.

OnePlus Pad 2 Review Performance: Quite Impressive

• Processor — Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3
• RAM — 8/12GB (LPDDR5X)
• Storage — 128/256GB (UFS 3.1)

Equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 SoC, I anticipated no issues, and indeed there were none. The tablet generally operates cool, heating up only when using the camera outdoors. Even during demanding games like Genshin Impact, Call of Duty Mobile, and Asphalt Legends Unite on the highest settings, it remained cool to the touch.

This tablet features six speakers that provide impressive sound quality with adequate bass, reaching enough volume to fill a large room. It is also Dolby Atmos-certified, ensuring an immersive audio experience when streaming supported content.

A significant drawback from the OnePlus Pad that regrettably persists in the Pad 2 is the absence of a crucial biometric authentication method—it continues to rely on passcodes and patterns for secure unlocking. OnePlus offers face unlock, which is effective in private settings, but isn’t recommended in public, as it utilizes a basic selfie camera and lacks security.

The Stylo 2 now accommodates tap gestures on its flat side

 

The new Stylo 2 stylus is an intriguing addition, but it requires further refinement. Offering 16,000 levels of pressure sensitivity caters well to creative users, while a vibration motor positioned near the pen’s tip provides feedback for registered gestures, mainly for the ballpoint pen and pencil tools. This feature works exceptionally well, often making it easy to forget that one is using an electronic stylus after a short period. The micro-vibrations enhance friction in the silicon tip, addressing a common shortcoming in many stylus models today.

You can also press and hold the flat side of the pen (closer to the tip) to turn it into a laser pointer for the display. However, I struggled with aligning the pen tip and display pointer, as they were consistently misaligned by 3-4 inches.

The kickstand component of the Smart Keyboard case can be adjusted to various angles

 

Regarding the keys, they offer a comfortable typing experience with adequate travel, not feeling overly stiff compared to other soft keyboards I’ve encountered. With a spacious keyboard layout that surpasses the previous smart keyboard’s cramped design, I found it pleasant to type on for extended periods.

You can easily cast smartphone apps to the tablet by tapping a OnePlus phone to the NFC patch on the keyboard

 

The new keyboard case features a right-side NFC patch next to the large trackpad, which enables app casting from a OnePlus smartphone to the tablet’s display.

In addition to the missing biometric authentication, the tablet does not support cellular connectivity. OnePlus suggests that its workaround, called Auto Connect, seamlessly links the tablet to a OnePlus smartphone’s cellular connection, ensuring ongoing connectivity when both devices are nearby. Of course, both devices must be logged into the same OnePlus account for this feature to function. This dependency on a OnePlus smartphone is further emphasized by the new Content Sync feature, allowing for seamless transfer of photos, videos, and more between devices. There’s also Notification Sync, permitting users to view and respond to smartphone notifications directly using the keyboard on the tablet.

OnePlus Pad 2 Review Cameras: The Expected Standards

• Primary camera — 13MP, AF
• LED flash — Yes
• Selfie camera — 8MP, FF

The OnePlus Pad 2 is equipped with a single rear camera and an LED flash

 

As is typical for tablets in this price range, we anticipate basic camera functionality—not due to a lack of capacity for fitting larger sensors into tablets but because a 13-inch tablet weighing approximately half a kilogram (before adding its case) would be cumbersome to hold for capturing images. The more critical camera for a device of this size is its front-facing camera, ideal for video conferencing and regular video calls.

Camera Samples from the OnePlus Pad 2. Top: Main camera; bottom: Selfie camera (click images for a larger view)

 

That being said, the rear camera does include LED flash. It is adequate for capturing photographs for documents and official work, delivering decent detail and dynamic range in good lighting conditions. However, for high-quality shots, reaching for your smartphone is advisable. The front camera performs sufficiently for selfies (with good edge detection) and is ample for video calls, provided there’s adequate lighting.

OnePlus Pad 2 Review Battery: A True Workhorse

• Battery capacity — 9,510mAh
• Wired charging — 67W
• Charger provided — Yes

With a similar battery capacity to its predecessor, I anticipated a reduction in battery life due to the larger display. However, thanks to the significantly improved SoC, it performed admirably, lasting around 15 hours and 28 minutes in our video loop test compared to 18 hours and 10 minutes previously. The tablet can comfortably last through two full workdays (around 9 hours) with regular use. Engaging in gaming will diminish battery life to just over a single day’s worth.

Charging speeds have seen slight improvements, allowing the tablet to reach 56 percent in 30 minutes and fully charge within 1 hour and 14 minutes—much faster than many competing devices.

OnePlus Pad 2 Verdict

While Android tablets still face challenges in matching the practicality of Apple’s iPads for work, the OnePlus Pad 2 marks notable progress, even if it isn’t a complete laptop replacement. This progress also helps bridge gaps in the OnePlus product ecosystem, especially with this year’s enhanced connectivity features. Minor touchpad issues aside, Open Canvas functions impressively. Although I’m not completely convinced by the two-piece Smart Keyboard, it offers improved utility compared to the previous keyboard accessory from OnePlus.

Considering the competitive landscape, OnePlus continues to provide superior hardware with a starting price of Rs. 39,999. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+, retailing from Rs. 42,999 (8GB + 128GB) for its 12.4-inch model, is a key rival. This tablet features an IP68 rating which may be appealing for potential buyers. Additionally, cellular (5G) connectivity is available, although it comes at an increased cost of Rs. 54,999. Lenovo’s compact Legion Tab is targeted primarily at gamers and offers enhanced performance for Rs. 34,999 (8GB + 128GB).

Aside from the lack of standalone cellular connectivity and biometric security, there are few noticeable drawbacks, making this tablet an easy recommendation for gamers seeking a bigger display and those intending to use it for productivity tasks.