Where is the flagship orca tablet?Samsung has one with its FE tablets . The other compelling options are n’t uncommitted in the U.S. Thankfully , the 2d half of 2024 has beautify us with the long - awaited solution : the OnePlus Pad 2 .
Armed to the tooth with Qualcomm ’s fast silicon , a delicious outfit of computing accessories , and a few promising software tricks , this one await like a well - rounded powerhouse . I bravely endured using it as my primary workhorse for a couple of weeks , and what observe is a retelling of all the snag and joy I bump in that time .
OnePlus Pad 2: specs
144Hz , 600 nit ( typical ) , 900 nits ( peak )
2120 x 3000 pixels ( ~304 ppi compactness )
12GB/256 G
Selfie : 8 MP , f/2.3 , ( wide ) , 1/4.0″ , 1.12 µm
OnePlus Pad 2: display, stylus, and speakers
On the OnePlus Pad 2 , you get a 12.1 - inch display with a 144Hz refresh rate — the high-pitched on any tablet . This is an LCD dialog box , and the aspect proportion is also odd at 7:5 . It seems OnePlus is chasing the formatting Apple has adopted for its iPad Pro tablet . The resolution chassis stand at 3,000 by 2,120 pel , which is great for a display of this size .
The peak luminance goes up to 900 nit , but typically , it climbs up to 600 nit . That ’s not bad for an LCD screen , but it ’s decidedly a notch below the OLED panel on the iPad Pro , which touches 1600 nits for HDR subject matter . As far as raw quality is concerned , OnePlus has done an impressive job .
Now , let ’s start with the basics . That odd panorama proportion means filthy black bar are a mainstay while stream films and TV substance . On the positively charged side , using apps in split mode arrive that sweet special erect space on the CRT screen . For someone hopelessly addicted to work on tablets , I love this .
This 3 KB control board is endearing for watching video and play games . My only gripe is that the panel is pretty reflective , and if you are working outdoors or in a well - light up indoor space , you will see reflection artifacts even at peak brightness .
It ’s a trouble afflicting almost every tablet out there , except those with a special coating on the screen , a much higher brightness output , or a lustrelessness blind protector on top . It , therefore , does n’t issue forth as a surprise that this glossy covert gets smudged rather chop-chop . Also , the screen has no Corning Gorilla Glass protection .
OnePlus enjoin Digital Trends that China ’s Panda Glass supplies the presentation chalk . A show supplying string expert state me that Panda is an affordable alternative to Corning but is know to be more scrape - prone . On a similar note , there is no right dust and H2O resistance to be find here .
Watching 4 K video on the presentation is a lovely experience . Unless you ’ve been bungle by the deep Black person and eminent contrast horizontal surface volunteer by large - format OLED panels , you will love the OnePlus Pad 2 and wo n’t be left desperately hunting for more colors . The viewing angles are acceptable , and no glary color shift issues exist .
The 144Hz refresh pace only sweetens the ocular experience . Now , this is not a fully adaptive control board . Instead , it take aim a staggered approach , which means the refresh rates automatically shift between 30Hz , 48Hz , 50Hz , 60Hz , 90Hz , 120Hz , and 144Hz values . It ’s unruffled , responsive , and glides like a ambition for stylus input .
OnePlus has done an impressive job .
Talking about the stylus , OnePlus has best itself once again . The Stylo Pen is one of the nice touching pens I ’ve used . It mimics the same profound formula as the Apple Pencil Pro but fare draped in leather - like skin , which expect and feels deceptively premium . OnePlus says it can recognize over “ 16,000 pressure sensitiveness grade , ” or so four time higher than the Samsung S Pen for its Galaxy tablets can offer .
There ’s a vibration motor packed indoors , and it can double as a optical maser Spanish pointer , one that supports touchless scribbling , as well . I have tried a few sketching apps like Krita and Ibis Paint , and I love the experience . There is virtually no response time for penitentiary virgule , and copulate with true pressure sensitiveness , it can be a trustworthy fellow traveller for any artist .
However , the touch - sore sphere is more or less iffy with speck gesture . Despite trying multiple apps , I could n’t get the dual - tap gesture for playpen switching to work . Interestingly , the same double - tap motion managed to do other tasks , like opening the color palette or shifting between current and old pens .
I trust the tap gestures on the touch - sensitive country could also utilise a morsel of refinement to improve their consistence . On the positive side , it can trigger a quick note right on the lock screen , lets you adjust the haptic and tracking speed , and allows free scribbling with automatonlike handwriting recognition across the system .
Overall , this is one of the nicest stylus experiences I have experienced on Android tablets . It could just use a bite of “ inspiration ” from a few other things that Samsung ’s S Pen can accomplish .
The six - speaker system is fantastic . It is sufficiently trashy and fork up exonerated audio output signal with a beat undertone . It does an impressive job at outspoken clarity and separation without mess up too much of the subtle backgrounds .
It has a profound signature tune but could use a bit of soundstage refinement . But if you wish bass - punishing or EDM tracks , those deteriorate go amazing , and so do high - tempo implemental tracks . OnePlus has also machinate a system where the talker adjust their directional audio pump base on the tablet ’s preference .
OnePlus Pad 2: design, build, and keyboard
OnePlus did n’t do anything radical with the OnePlus Pad 2 compared to the first poser . The rounded position are here to stay , and despite being slenderly duncical than the iPad Air , the OnePlus Pad 2 is easier to hold as the side do n’t dig into your palm . For prolonged usage sessions , like bust - watching a TV series , that ’s a crucial consideration .
The human body is all metal , with a beautiful anodized sandblasted surface finish . The weight profile seems equally balanced and less bulky than the 13 - in iPad Air . This tablet has a certain sense of symmetry , especially if you see the four tastefully cut loudspeaker system electric outlet on either side .
The top edge has a slightly adjourn channel to accommodate the style as it draws wireless ability from the pad . OnePlus currently offer the OnePlus Pad 2 in a solitary Nimbus Gray color , which also seems to have become a pillar for Apple and Samsung .
The OnePlus Pad 2 is easier to hold .
The bezels are about the right size . They are n’t the slim , but you need that extra width for a strong grip . However , the metallic back attract smear , which is , once again , a conversant issue for metallic element - made pill .
The genuine star is the OnePlus Smart Keyboard . It ’s a detachable two - bit outfit with a simulated leather finish on top . It seems that OnePlus borrowed the esthetic straight from the OnePlus Open , and it feel courteous . One one-half of the keyboard snaps to the rearward shell , with its own kickstand .
The other half relies on three Pogo tholepin to connect up with the lozenge , but the ridge has a firm magnetic grip . Notably , the keyboard deck can also be used as a standalone accessory , thanks to Bluetooth support , which signify you’re able to prop the tablet on a table and put the keyboard on your lap for a more well-fixed typing experience .
The touchpad is munificently big and does a fantastic job with click , taps , and multi - finger gestures . There are a whole lot of gestures , both on - cover and touchpad - reliant . I have a go at it this versatility . However , it on occasion convey too sensitive and register a false pat stimulant .
The fundamental layout is intimate , with a full - routine row layout at the top and a multi - function button at the bottom for executing fundamental compounding shortcuts . Most keyboard shortcut work as they examine to mimic the Windows format , but a bit of a learning curved shape is postulate in a mobile ecosystem .
The keys put up lovely springy feedback , and even though they ’re not truly clicky , they ’re not mushy either . The keys are well - space and provide an satisfactory vertical travel — more thanApple ’s Magic Keyboard for the iPad — and they ’re not particularly noisy either .
My only wishing is that the keycaps were slightly bigger and had a slightly sunken surface . The cheeseparing compare would be Apple ’s Folio keyboard , which offers a standardised typing experience without the touchpad perquisite . Since I am used to working on tiny keyboards , it did n’t take me long to strike my common typewriting speeding , but the sense of non - casualness still lingers .
Also , this is not a backlit keyboard . While working in the iniquity , I always had the low-cal mode enabled and pushed for maximal brightness from the screen so that it could empty the keycaps , as well . It ’s quite a miss , OnePlus !
OnePlus Pad 2: performance
OnePlus went with Qualcomm ’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 crisp , the in force Qualcomm currently offers . It ’s a sweet surprisal of no little magnitude , as phones with the same Qualcomm chip usually cost $ 800 or more . Yet , the troupe has crammed it inside a tab that starts at $ 550 , a feat that even get the iPad dominance at price - to - public presentation ratio .
It works just as expected . The variation we got for revue offer 12 GB RAM partner off with 256 GB onboard storage , but a lower - end version ( available in select markets ) will give you 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB onboard entrepot . Unfortunately , there is no consecrate slot for storage expansion , so if you ’re eyeball content redaction , you might desire to pick up the costlier 256 GB version .
Irrespective of your exercise prerequisite , this tab can have its own . I had about a dozen task management and communication apps constantly run in the desktop and never ran into performance stutters . I just wish that the car - revolution system is more honest . It can be really annoying .
At benchmarks , the OnePlus Pad 2 well leapfrog the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ by about 35 % but still has much to catch up on when compared to Apple ’s M2 and even further against the M4 atomic number 14 inside the iPad Pro . Those are much more expensive , so keep that in mind , too .
But in the Android world , this is the fastest machine you may get on U.S. shoring , which is a tight effort given the sticker monetary value . When it comes to play , I had a with child metre playingDevil May weep : Peak of Combatat top graphics mount without ever operate into tarry stutter or lag .
Titles likeAsphaltandDiablo : Immortaloffered a similar fluidic experience . I was surprised that even a demanding form of address likeZenless Zone Zerooffered a smooth experience . Bluetooth controllers also sit no hindrance in the plot I judge .
When pushingBattlegrounds Mobileat Extreme art presets , the game touched 90 frames per secondly . However , there were frequent dips in the build charge per unit , and specially during fight , it usually played around the 50 Federal Protective Service dominion . Temperatures go up by about 19 grade Fahrenheit in a session lasting 30 second .
The OnePlus Pad 2 can hold its own .
Those figure are n’t too bad , but the skeleton rate constancy could employ some carrying into action optimisation , chiefly because gambling mode was enabled and system resources press toward one app in particular . Synthetic benchmarks give a constancy score of 80.1 % , but the frame rate dips are veritable — and consistent .
I then switched to productivity work flow . Flat Full HD footage hire about six arcminute to export , while some AI filters applied throughout the timeline and upscaled to 4K/60 fps took about 10 minutes to export . The M4 iPad Pro blaze out through a similar work flow in less than half the time .
I also hate that the Android interface of many multimedia redaction apps is seriously feature - devoid and visibly light than the iPadOS rendering . That predominantly has to do with iPads loaded with top - tier silicon , while Android tablets are a ocean of machines with a spectrum of silicon firepower .
But at the end of the day , machines like the OnePlus Pad 2 have to live with this app chokepoint , something beyond the company ’s control . However , if you design to grease one’s palms the OnePlus Pad 2 as an on - the - go motorcar for quick medium edits or play , it ’s a trusty motorcar . For vane - ground tasks , it will chew through them without breaking a sweat .
Something odd is going on with the Wi - Fi , though . On the same mesh , my MacBook Air log a downlink pace of around 300Mbps , while the OnePlus Pad could only summon half that number . Also , there ’s no 3.5 mm headphone laborer .
OnePlus Pad 2: software
The OnePlus Pad 2 runs Oxygen OS 14 based on Android 14 . The experience is deep conversant . Take the software from OnePlus Open ’s screenand cross it across a pad . That ’s essentially what you get on this machine . It may sound drab , but there are a few standout joke here .
You get access to the adorable sidebar system , which is neatly hidden at the screen ’s edge and can be pulled in for quick access code to tools like screen recorder , eminence , or any app you choose .
Among them is the file dock , a quick - accession bucket for oftentimes used file . you’re able to drag and throw off files back and forth between an app and the Indian file dock . The idea is bang-up , but the execution needs a bit of a lift .
For example , drag - and - drop did n’t work in the OnePlus Photos app , so I had to choose the single file manually , fetch up the share sheet , and then sum them to the docking facility . But once you ’ve added the asset in the dock , you could sweep and cast them into an app of your pick .
The list of supported apps is a number rigorous at the moment , but it operate without a hiccup for basic apps like Notes . It also offers a cloud sync alternative , so you may access it from a connected OnePlus phone .
It looks like OnePlus also considered AirDrop and a few other Apple goodies . Take One - Touch Transmission , for example . You just need to bring your phone nigh to the keyboard for an NFC handshake , and your phone will pair with the tablet . Oh , did I tell you the animation looks like a farrago of Apple ’s fresh Siri and Namedrop notifications ? Yeah , that , too .
This connection , established over Wi - Fi and Bluetooth , allows projection screen mirroring , call communicating sharing , and , most significantly , cross - equipment file cabinet share-out . I could effortlessly transfer single file between my phone and the OnePlus Pad 2 in either direction .
you’re able to synchronise keyboard and media ; there ’s also scope for sharing customizations for cellular data , calls , and notification . A few times , the filmdom - mirroring feature disconnected mechanically , but it ’s nothing that ca n’t be fixed using the “ check ” bubble that seem in one corner of the covert on each gimmick .
OnePlus calls it OneTouch Transmission , and I think it ’s a great trick for get by from your distract phone . It works almost as seamlessly as Apple ’s own cross - machine sync system . Since it ’s all marry to a OnePlus account , OnePlus is apparently building an ecosystem , and I ’m all for it .
I experience bad for the rest of the Android ecosystem , which is still trying to recreate catchup with Apple in this zone . Some jumpy edges could utilise some polishing , but for a first attempt , the whole endeavor looks quite bright .
OnePlus ’ fantastical app multitasking interface , which we last saw on the Open foldable phone , is in full resplendency on the OnePlus Pad 2 . It lets you race three apps side - by - side in a far less cramp format . It ’s an approach we have n’t seen on any fluid or calculation political platform , and it ferment astoundingly well .
I just hope OxygenOS can extend the same sort of windowpane resizing flexibleness as One UI on Samsung tablets . It would be adorable if OnePlus could also build a Samsung DeX - corresponding computing surroundings for its tablet . The foundations are already here ; it ’s just a matter of commitment and execution .
As far as length of service goes , this tablet will get three years of Android O upgrades and an extra year ’s worth of certificate updates . OnePlus is n’t quite on the same level as the likes of Google , Samsung , and Apple , so keep that in thinker .
OnePlus Pad 2: battery life
stamp battery life has been fairly irregular for me . On days that I had my common blogging and editing duties — which entailed using apps like Google Docs , Chrome , Asana , Teams , Slack , Trello , and a whole hatful of social medium — I could get the OnePlus Pad 2 to last all Clarence Shepard Day Jr. . That ’s a call not many pad of paper can exact to do , peculiarly with a span of Bluetooth accessories connected to them at all time .
But when crusade it to video editing and gamey - remnant gaming with the added Bluetooth streaming load , the drainpipe is expectedly fast . For exemplar , at Battlegrounds Mobile India , a 45 - mo gaming sitting sucked up nearly 18 % of the electric battery . Editing a 60 Federal Protective Service video for around an hour also consume about 15%-20 % battery in one go .
Battery life sentence has been reasonably unpredictable for me .
I ran a battery iteration trial that entailed playing a Full HD video over Wi - Fi and setting the CRT screen brightness to upper limit . The OnePlus Pad 2 ’s 9,510mAh battery managed around 10 hour , which is much good than its harbinger and more or less above the in style like Samsung tablet . The endurance figures light unsure of the iPad Pro , though .
However , the OnePlus Pad 2 is a deletion above the rest in one important aspect : profligate charging . It supports SuperVOOC fast charging , and the 67W charging brick fare bundled in the retail loge . Getting an empty battery to full heraldic bearing take about 81 minutes . It ’s the fastest bill slate from a mainstream brand name , and the feature article is as convenient as it gets .
OnePlus Pad 2: price and availability
The OnePlus Pad 2 costs $ 550 and is available now . In the U.S. , there ’s just one configuration available : 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storehouse .
If you need to pair the OnePlus Pad 2 with its accessory , expect to pay $ 150 for the keyboard and $ 100 for the stylus . However , OnePlus does run promotional material for these , so you may be able to snag them for up to 50 % off ( or more ) .
OnePlus Pad 2: verdict
The OnePlus Pad 2 is a grand opus of hardware , and Ezra Pound - for - pound , it offer the best experience of any Android pad in 2024 . The software program is a rewarding experience , albeit it could use more clock time in the blueprint and test labs . The build quality is top - notch , with a rattling curing of Speaker and fantabulous keyboard and stylus accessories .
The with child undoing of this tablet is Android , which is nowhere virtually as polished as iPadOS 18 and the graceful app experience it offer up . The bench mark is n’t too high because iPadOS is a frustrating wad in its own mode . Samsung ’s Galaxy Tab line races ahead due to niceties like DeX , better window direction , and longer - term software financial backing . The lack of an IP rating for debris / water supply protection is also hard to swallow .
The OnePlus Pad 2 put up the best experience of any Android tablet in 2024 .
But there is n’t much competitor out there . If you have an iPhone , theiPad Airor a refurbished Pro should be your ideal option . For Samsung fans , the Galaxy Tab S9 FE or the Tab S8 + are great . But if you piece up the OnePlus Pad 2 , you wo n’t repent the decision . And if a OnePlus phone is your daily number one wood , you ’re in for an even nicer delicacy .
