OnePlus is constant that momentum with the Pad 2. The pill is larger, rather more highly effective, has higher sound, and higher connectivity. However what provides it a noticeable edge is that the software program would not really feel half-baked out of the field, and that is a refreshing change of tempo.
The Pad 2 ditches the distinctive inexperienced colour scheme, as an alternative coming in a gray choice that does not fairly have the identical design aptitude. That stated, the construct high quality is unbelievable, and the aluminum chassis together with curving sides and rounded edges makes the pill snug to carry and use. Whereas it’s heavy at 584g, I did not discover the heft in common use.
Principally, the Pad 2 would not look or really feel like a mid-range pill, and OnePlus did an awesome job with the general design. Dominating the entrance is a 12.1-inch LCD panel that goes as much as 144Hz, and it renders Dolby Imaginative and prescient content material. Whereas an AMOLED panel — just like the one on the OnePlus 12 — would have made the pill rather more engaging, it could have raised the price considerably, and for now, OLED screens stay the purview of flagship tablets .
Whereas it is not an OLED, the LCD panel has good colours and wonderful brightness figures, and the three:2 ratio is right for my use case. I learn so much on tablets, and the display screen is ideally suited to learn books or long-form content material. I am nonetheless aggravated that the Studying Mode function present in legacy OxygenOS builds hasn’t made its manner into the ColorOS period, as that will have made a major distinction in my utilization of the Pad 2.
(Picture credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)
The 12.1-inch panel is nice for streaming content material as properly, and the upgraded audio with six drivers manages to ship detailed sound with no distortion even at a excessive quantity. It would not have the identical colour vibrancy because the iPad Professional , but it surely prices lower than half, so for what you are in the end paying, you’re getting a very good high quality panel and spectacular onboard sound.
I did not see any points with gaming both; the Pad 2 is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and comes with 8GB of RAM as customary, and it runs demanding titles with none problem. The panel technically goes as much as 144Hz, however that is simply advertising; in common use, it will not cross 120Hz, and like each different gadget working OxygenOS, video games are restricted to 60fps.
(Picture credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)
That stated, there isn’t any lag or jitter in visually-intensive video games, and the Pad 2 does all the fitting issues with regards to the efficiency. Battery life is equally nice, and the Pad 2 simply affords ten hours of video playback between prices. The pill prices at 67W, and a full cost takes beneath an hour — that is higher than simply about each different gadget within the mid-range section.
Most Android tablets have nice {hardware}, but it surely’s the software program that continues to be the differentiator, and there’s a lot to love on this space on the Pad 2. The pill runs OxygenOS 14.1 based mostly on Android 14 , and you will find the same old tablet-focused additions that maximize the true property, together with a dock, cut up notification pane, tabbed looking, and two-pane view in Gmail and messaging shoppers.
However what I like essentially the most concerning the pill is Open Canvas multitasking; the mode lets you will have as much as three home windows side-by-side, and it’s easy to make use of. The software program itself is fluid in day by day use, I did not run into any bugs within the month I used the Pad 2, and it is a a lot better exhibiting than final yr. The pill will decide up 4 Android OS updates, and whereas it will not get updates wherever as shortly as OnePlus telephones, it would make the change to Android 18 when that turns into accessible.
Certain, there are a couple of omissions; you aren’t getting biometric authentication, there isn’t any vibration motor, and the Pad 2 misses out on a MicroSD slot. These are inconveniences, however they do not in the end hinder using the pill, and the caliber of the {hardware} greater than makes up for the omissions.
(Picture credit score: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)
OnePlus did a very good job with the equipment as properly, and the Stylo 2 is a lot better. The stylus has a textured end that feels nice, and it has elevated stress sensitivity, making it a good selection if you wish to take notes or sketch. I am not as keen on the Sensible Keyboard; it makes use of a removable design this time, and the means the kickstand is built-in into the again cowl, and that makes it fiddly to make use of.
Whereas the keys are higher than final yr, there’s nonetheless no backlighting, and the removable design simply is not handy to make use of. In contrast to the iPad, you aren’t getting wherever as a lot in the best way of exterior equipment with the Pad 2, and meaning you are restricted to the Sensible Keyboard in case you want a keyboard accent.
Android tablets have seen a resurgence within the final two years, and there is a respectable quantity of selection in case you want a finances or mid-range gadget. Coming in at $499 for the 12GB/256GB variant, the OnePlus Pad 2 is among the strongest choices you should buy on this class, and it has a terrific display screen, detailed sound, top-notch {hardware} that is nice for gaming, and standout battery life.
The Pad 2 has among the best {hardware} packages in its class, and the software program is a lot better than final yr.
