OnePlus Pad 2 quick review: Exceeds expectations
OnePlus’ second-generation tablet has been launched at the summer launch event in Milan, Italy. Several improvements have been made to the device, including an improved stylus.
OnePlus has launched its second generation tablet and third tablet overall. The OnePlus Pad 2 comes with a number of improvements over the original OnePlus Pad, and at least on paper, the new tablet sets our expectations high. We got a chance to play with the OnePlus Pad 2 for a few hours. We can’t share our final review of the device just yet, but here are our initial thoughts about the tablet.
It is interesting to see that the OnePlus Pad 2 comes with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. It is a powerful chip. Its price starts at Rs 39,999, which is fantastic. The OnePlus Pad 2 comes in two variants – the 8GB RAM model with 128GB storage is priced at Rs 39,999 and the 12GB RAM model with 256GB storage will be priced at Rs 42,999. I think OnePlus has done an incredible job with the pricing this time. Because as we said, we are yet to test the device, but the specifications and features point to a very power-packed tablet.
The Pad 2 features a 12.1-inch 3K display with a 7:5 aspect ratio. The tablet supports Dolby Vision and the company’s exclusive 6-speaker Omnibearing sound system for high-resolution and spatial audio. The display is 3,000 – 2,120 pixels, with a peak brightness of 900nits and a pixel density of 303 PPI. In the short time I spent with the OnePlus Pad 2, the display looked absolutely beautiful.
The OnePlus Pad 2 looks quite similar to the OnePlus Pad first-generation. However, this time the Pad feels a bit bulky after putting all its accessories together. I also noticed that OnePlus has removed the physical SIM option on the Pad 2. But overall, the tablet looks great. Its edges and corners are rounded very well, giving it a very premium feel. I have the dark grey variant. It still has the same round camera module at the back.
The tablet comes with the Smart Keyboard and a new stylus called Stylo 2.0. The efficiency and value of these accessories are yet to be tested, but I think when the whole set is put together, the OnePlus Pad 2 becomes a lot more convenient to use, but it also adds a bit of weight to the product if you want to carry it along. I also used the Smart Keyboard, and by and large, the keys move well and the keyboard is quite solid. The keyboard of the Pad 2 has a trackpad which makes working on the tablet quite easy. The base of the keyboard and the back cover that is stuck on the tablet are two separate parts. I think this is a good thing because this way, you still have a back cover for the tablet even if you don’t want to use the keyboard. The magnetically affixed back on the back of the Tab also acts as a stand for the tablet. When we played around with the device, I realized that the kickstand is stable, but the process of using it is not that intuitive. For new users, this might take a minute to figure out. Also, unless you are using the kickstand on a properly flat surface, it might wobble a bit.
The Stylo 2.0 also gets a slight redesign. The stylus now has a leather-like finish, which looks much more sensible than the plastic finish of the OnePlus Pad first-gen stylus. With the leather texture, the stylus has a much better grip. I have the black variant and it looks beautiful. The weight distribution of the stylus is also really good, so that you don’t feel the weight leaning back. The stylus charges automatically when you stick it to the tablet. There is a dedicated strip for this on the right landscape edge where it sticks magnetically. Thanks to that magnetic strip, you don’t even have to worry about carrying it separately.
The OnePlus Pad 2 has a lot of features in terms of software as well. The OnePlus Pad 2 has a lot of AI features for better productivity. It has all the same features as the OnePlus Nord 4 and has many features like AI Eraser 2.0, AI Summary, Smart Cutout 2.0, Scan Document. What it actually does is what we have to test. For productivity, there are also features like App Relay, Remote File Access, Auto Connect and Content Sync. We will test all these features in detail during our review.
There’s still a lot we need to explore about the OnePlus Pad 2. The tablet’s connectivity, battery, and general performance will be the focus of our testing when we share our review of the device in a few days. For now, the brief time we’ve spent with the device has given us a lot of expectations.