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| OnePlus Pad 2 Review |
I'm going to start this review directly with the price, something that I don't generally do. The OnePlus Pad 2 is priced at Rs 39,999 and Rs 42,999 for 8 and 12 GB respectively with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. This makes it the most affordable device with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in India right now. When was the last time that OnePlus offered such an affordable flagship device? It’s been quite a while. So, let that sink in while I review the OnePlus Pad 2 and explain why it's actually one of the best Android tablets we've tested to date.
Display
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| OnePlus Pad 2 display |
The display on the OnePlus Pad 2 has been upgraded. It's now a larger 12.1-inch IPS LCD panel with a 3K resolution and a 144 Hz refresh rate, which is variable. However, the aspect ratio is still the somewhat unusual 7:5, which does not align with a lot of content, especially movies, resulting in black bars. I am not aware of what display protection OnePlus has used, but since it's a large panel, it’s best to avoid dropping it.
The 144 Hz panel is very smooth and responsive, with good touch response. The previous OnePlus Pad had issues with color shifting at extreme angles, but this is no longer a problem here. The color accuracy is impressive with a Delta E of less than 0.7. The display brightness has been upgraded to 600 nits typical brightness from 500 nits on the original OnePlus Pad, with a peak brightness of 900 nits. This means it performs well even in bright outdoor conditions and HDR videos on YouTube are a pleasure to watch.
Also Read: Best Phone Under 40000 Rs (2024): No More Confusion!
Multimedia Experience
When it comes to multimedia, the OnePlus Pad 2 boasts a six-speaker system that sounds loud and rich. OnePlus has introduced Omni Bearing Sound Field, which adjusts the sound orientation depending on the device's position, whether vertically or horizontally. This feature is particularly useful if you watch content like Instagram Reels on the large 12.1-inch panel. Unfortunately, the tablet lacks a headphone jack, which is quite important for a device of this type. However, the Type-C port at the bottom is a proper USB Gen 3.2 Type-C port, allowing for connection to any high-speed USB DAC. It also supports Bluetooth high-res codecs like LHDC and LDAC.
Performance
One of the standout aspects of the OnePlus Pad 2 is its performance. Equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and the Adreno 750 GPU, it is one of the most powerful tablets available. Gaming performance is exceptional, with BGMI supporting 90 FPS gameplay, and Genshin Impact running smoothly at high graphics settings with an average of about 59.2 FPS. Call of Duty runs at 120 FPS without any issues. The tablet remains cool even during intense gaming sessions, though the CPU does throttle. The use of UFS 3.1 storage instead of UFS 4.0 is a minor letdown. Despite these issues, the OnePlus Pad 2 is a strong competitor, even outperforming the iPad 10th Generation.
Accessories and Software
The OnePlus Pad 2 comes with OxygenOS 14.1 based on Android 14, with promises of 3 years plus 4 years of software updates. The software is well-tuned for a tablet experience, featuring a persistent dock and a highly functional multitasking implementation called Open Canvas. It allows you to open three apps simultaneously and transitions contextually based on your activity. Features like File Dock and App Relay, which transitions work between your phone and tablet, enhance productivity. Cellular data sharing is available, possibly compensating for the lack of LTE support.
Smart Keyboard and Stylo 2
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| Smart Keyboard and Stylo 2 |
The Smart Keyboard is one of the most notable tablet accessories. It can attach via Pogo pins or Bluetooth, with Bluetooth being the preferable method due to stability issues with Pogo pins. The keyboard offers good key travel and various shortcuts, including an extra function row. The trackpad is quite impressive, and the keyboard includes NFC for quick phone connections. However, the keyboard can be heavy and cumbersome when combined with the tablet, which impacts portability.
The Stylo 2, featuring 16,000 pressure points sensitivity, works well for writing and sketching, although the presentation mode that allows for air annotation is not very effective.
Also read: Nothing Phone 2A Plus Review: Is It Worth the Upgrade?
Battery Life
The OnePlus Pad 2 houses a 9510 mAh battery. Testing revealed 5 to 5.5 hours of screen-on time under stress conditions, which could potentially extend to around 7 hours under normal use. This is not particularly impressive but is complemented by 67W charging support. The tablet charges from 0 to 100% in under 80 minutes.
Camera
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| OnePlus Pad 2 camera |
The camera setup includes a 13 MP rear camera and an 8 MP front camera. While the rear camera is suitable for capturing documents, the selfie camera performs adequately for video calls. However, the Limelight feature for dynamic framing is missing. The camera quality is average, reflecting typical tablet camera performance.
Design and Connectivity
The OnePlus Pad 2 features a basic design, similar to the original OnePlus Pad, but with an aluminum body. It is slim at around 6.5 mm, making it comfortable to hold despite being heavier than its predecessor. The antenna bands are integrated around the camera ring. The tablet supports Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 but lacks LTE or 5G connectivity. While it would be beneficial to have standalone network options, you can still leverage your OnePlus phone for connectivity.
Conclusion
The OnePlus Pad 2 represents a significant upgrade over the original OnePlus Pad, offering a flagship-level display, excellent performance, and a well-tuned software experience. However, its battery life is not exceptional, and its weight with accessories can affect portability. For those considering replacing a budget Windows laptop, the OnePlus Pad 2 can handle basic tasks but might fall short for more demanding applications.
What do you think of the OnePlus Pad 2? Do you like it? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and I'll see you in the next review. Until then, keep tracking and stay safe!
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