I reviewed the OnePlus Pad when it got here out final yr, and whereas I favored the {hardware} quite a bit, there have been loads of points with the software program. OnePlus addressed these shortcomings by way of software program updates in subsequent months, and the Pad grew to become the most effective tablets in its class.
OnePlus is constant that momentum with the Pad 2. The pill is greater, way 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.
Hardwired
In Hardwired, AC Senior Editor Harish Jonnalagadda delves into all issues {hardware}, together with telephones, audio merchandise, storage servers, and routers.
The Pad 2 ditches the distinctive inexperienced colour scheme, as an alternative coming in a gray possibility that does not fairly have the identical design aptitude. That mentioned, the construct high quality is incredible, 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 excellent 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 way 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 quite a bit on tablets, and the display 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 might have made a big distinction in my utilization of the Pad 2.
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 finally paying, you might be getting an excellent 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 normal, and it runs demanding titles with none problem. The panel technically goes as much as 144Hz, however that is simply advertising and marketing; in common use, it will not cross 120Hz, and like each different gadget working OxygenOS, video games are restricted to 60fps.
That mentioned, there is not any lag or jitter in visually-intensive video games, and the Pad 2 does all the appropriate issues on the subject of the efficiency. Battery life is equally nice, and the Pad 2 simply presents 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 phase.
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 actual property, together with a dock, break up notification pane, tabbed shopping, 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 significantly better exhibiting than final yr. The pill will decide up 4 Android OS updates, and whereas it will not get updates wherever as rapidly as OnePlus telephones, it is going to make the change to Android 18 when that turns into accessible.
Positive, there are just a few omissions; you aren’t getting biometric authentication, there is not any vibration motor, and the Pad 2 misses out on a MicroSD slot. These are inconveniences, however they do not finally hinder using the pill, and the caliber of the {hardware} greater than makes up for the omissions.
OnePlus did an excellent job with the equipment as properly, and the Stylo 2 is significantly better. The stylus has a textured end that feels nice, and it has elevated strain sensitivity, making it a sensible choice if you wish to take notes or sketch. I am not as keen on the Good 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. Not like the iPad, you aren’t getting wherever as a lot in the way in which of exterior equipment with the Pad 2, and which means you are restricted to the Good Keyboard for those who want a keyboard accent.
Android tablets have seen a resurgence within the final two years, and there is a respectable quantity of selection for those who want a price range or mid-range gadget. Coming in at $499 for the 12GB/256GB variant, the OnePlus Pad 2 is without doubt one of the strongest choices you should buy on this class, and it has a terrific display, detailed sound, top-notch {hardware} that is nice for gaming, and standout battery life.
The Pad 2 has the most effective {hardware} packages in its class, and the software program is significantly better than final yr.Â
