REVIEW: OnePlus Pad 2

The OnePlus Pad 2 enters a competitive market where tablets need to balance performance, usability, and affordability. Aiming to provide a high-quality experience without the price tag of premium alternatives, the OnePlus Pad 2 impresses in several areas, even if it doesn’t fully deliver as a productivity powerhouse. Here’s a closer look at how it fares.

Design & Build Quality

The OnePlus Pad 2 stands out with its sleek and stylish design. At just 6.5mm thick and weighing 584g, it feels light in the hand yet sturdy enough for everyday use. The aluminium alloy chassis not only adds a premium touch but also ensures durability. The symmetrical bezels around the 12.1″ screen strike a good balance between aesthetics and practicality, allowing for a comfortable grip without accidental touches.

The Smart Keyboard cover (sold separately) is another highlight. Its magnetic attachment makes setup seamless, and the build quality is excellent. The keys offer good travel and tactile feedback, making typing a comfortable experience for extended periods.

The large, smooth trackpad performs well, offering precise control for navigation. A very handy feature is the keyboard’s ability to connect wirelessly, allowing you to use it even when it’s not physically attached to the tablet. Additionally, the keyboard’s lightweight yet durable design complements the tablet’s portability, making it an essential accessory for anyone looking to enhance their productivity with the tablet on the go.

The Pad 2 also boasts a six-speaker setup that delivers impressive audio quality. Whether you’re watching films, listening to music, or participating in video calls, the sound is rich, clear, and surprisingly powerful for a device in this price range.

The front facing camera, which is thankfully on the top of the display when in landscape mode, does a respectable job but, coming in at just 8MP in resolution, is only capable of capturing 1080p/30fps video so not the best by a long shot.

It will get you through quick Microsoft Teams/Google Meet calls but you won’t be the ‘sharpest’ looking participant on the call.

Similarly, the rear camera, which is 13MP, won’t be winning any awards but you really shouldn’t be using your tablet to take photos anyway.

Display Quality

The 12.1″ LCD display features a 3000×2120 resolution with a 7:5 aspect ratio, making it unique compared to most tablets in the market. It’s bright, with a peak brightness of 900 nits, and the 144Hz refresh rate ensures smooth scrolling and animations. While it’s not an OLED panel, the display still impresses with vibrant colours and sharp text, making it suitable for reading, browsing, and video streaming. while professionals and avid display tech fanatics might miss the deeper contrast of OLED screens, most users will find the display more than adequate for everyday tasks.

Software Features

Running on OxygenOS 15 (since an OS update in November 2024) the OnePlus Pad 2’s software feels fluid and intuitive. Multi-app support works smoothly, allowing for effective multitasking. Split-screen mode is particularly well-implemented, enabling users to work on two tasks simultaneously without noticeable slowdowns. Switching between apps is snappy, and the overall user interface is clean and easy to navigate.

The tablet includes features like a clipboard manager, quick notes, and app pairing, which enhance usability for everyday tasks. It also supports stylus input, and the OnePlus Stylo 2 pairs exceptionally well with the Pad 2.

The Stylo 2 magnetically snaps to the side of the tablet for secure storage and wireless charging, making it nice and convenient. Additionally, its tactile vibration motor provides a unique writing experience, imitating the sensation of writing on paper when using the Notes app. This added realism enhances the experience of sketching or taking notes on the glass display, making it a standout feature for creative users or avid note-takers.

However, the Pad 2’s software still feels somewhat limited for those seeking a full productivity experience. While the tablet supports external peripherals like the Smart Keyboard and styluses, its app ecosystem lacks the depth and optimisations seen in more established productivity-focused tablets.

For instance, not all third-party apps make the most of the larger screen, and advanced productivity tools can feel constrained. That said, OnePlus has a track record of improving devices through software updates, so there’s hope for better functionality in the future.

Performance

Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor and paired with 8GB of RAM for the 128GB model and 12GB RAM for the 256GB model, the OnePlus Pad 2 delivers reliable performance for most tasks. Apps load quickly, multitasking feels fluid, and gaming is handled well for a tablet in this price range.

Titles like Genshin Impact and Disney Speedstorm run smoothly at medium to high settings, although sustained gaming sessions might cause minor throttling. The device’s 128GB of storage is sufficient for casual users, but power users might find it limiting without the option for expandable storage.

Battery Life

Battery performance is one of the OnePlus Pad 2’s strongest suits. The 9,510mAh battery easily lasts a full day of moderate to heavy use, including streaming, web browsing, and note-taking. Standby times are also excellent, making it a reliable choice for users on the go.

Charging is quick, thanks to the 67W fast charging support. In real-world use, you can go from empty to full in just over 80 minutes, which is ideal for those who need a quick top-up during busy schedules.

The battery’s longevity also extends to gaming and video playback, where it consistently delivers over 10 hours of screen-on time. This makes it an excellent choice for travellers or users who frequently find themselves away from a charger.

Conclusion

The OnePlus Pad 2 strikes a good balance between style, functionality, and affordability. Its comfortable design, surprisingly good screen, and impressive quad-speaker setup make it a standout choice for media consumption. The Smart Keyboard cover adds versatility, and the all-day battery life ensures it can keep up with your daily needs.

The addition of the OnePlus Stylo 2 further enhances the tablet’s appeal, especially for users interested in note-taking or sketching. While it doesn’t fully live up to its ambitions as a productivity tablet due to some software limitations, it still offers great value for money.

For casual users or those looking for a secondary device for light productivity and entertainment, the OnePlus Pad 2 is an excellent option. With potential software updates, it may yet become a more compelling choice for professionals. In many ways, the OnePlus Pad 2 impresses, even if there’s room for growth.

At its price point, the Pad 2 is a strong contender for those seeking a versatile, mid-range tablet. It shines in areas like multimedia consumption, battery life, and design, while its productivity features are promising.

OnePlus Pad 2 Pricing & Availability

The OnePlus Pad 2 is available now on OnePlus.com, starting from €499 for the tablet only, down €50 from its usual RRP of €549.

The QWERTY Smart Keyboard is also on offer for €104.30, down from its usual RRP of €149.

Finally, the OnePlus Stylo 2 is on offer for €69.30, usually €99