OnePlus Pad 2 Review: Excellent Performance, But Some Key Flaws
OnePlus Pad 2 offers strong performance, a bright display, good battery life, and seamless integration with OnePlus phones.
OnePlus Pad 2 ($549.99) is a nice upgrade from the original. It has a powerful processor, a bigger and sharper display, great sound, and fantastic battery life. The custom software makes it work smoothly with OnePlus phones, which makes multitasking and staying connected easy. The only downside is that the stylus is sold separately. That said, Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ ($599.99) still holds the top spot for midrange Android tablets in my opinion. It has similar performance, comes with a stylus, and is waterproof.
Table of Contents
OnePlus Pad 2 Specification
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| 📅 Release Date | August 1, 2024 |
| 📏 Dimensions | 268.7 x 195.1 x 6.5 mm (10.58 x 7.68 x 0.26 in) |
| ⚖️ Weight | 584g (1.29 lb) |
| 🏗️ Build | Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame |
| 📱 SIM | No SIM support |
| ✏️ Stylus Support | Yes |
| 🖥️ Display Type | IPS LCD, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 144Hz, 600 nits (typ), 900 nits (peak) |
| 📏 Display Size | 12.1 inches (445.2 cm², ~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| 🔲 Display Resolution | 2120 x 3000 pixels (~304 ppi) |
| 🖥️ OS | Android 14, upgradable to Android 15, OxygenOS 15 |
| 💻 Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) |
| ⚙️ CPU | Octa-core (1×3.3 GHz Cortex-X4, 3×3.2 GHz Cortex-A720, 2×3.0 GHz Cortex-A720, 2×2.3 GHz Cortex-A520) |
| 🎮 GPU | Adreno 750 |
| 💾 Storage Options | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM (UFS 3.1) |
| 🔒 Card Slot | No |
| 📸 Main Camera | 13 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), LED flash |
| 🎥 Main Camera Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| 🤳 Selfie Camera | 8 MP, f/2.3 (wide), 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| 🔊 Speakers | Stereo speakers (6 speakers) |
| 🎧 3.5mm Jack | No |
| 🎶 Audio | 24-bit/192kHz Hi-Res & Hi-Res Wireless audio |
| 🌐 WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, dual-band |
| 📶 Bluetooth | 5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, LHDC |
| 📍 Positioning | No |
| 📡 NFC | Yes (data sharing only) |
| 📻 Radio | No |
| 🔌 USB | USB Type-C 3.2, OTG, accessory connector |
| 📡 Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass (accessories only) |
| 🔋 Battery Type | Li-Po 9510 mAh |
| ⚡ Charging | 67W wired, 64% in 30 min, 100% in 81 min |
| 🎨 Color | Nimbus Gray |
| 💶 Price | About 550 EUR |
| 💻 Performance | AnTuTu: 1,977,475 (v10), GeekBench: 6,616 (v6), 3DMark: 4,699 (Wild Life Extreme) |
| 🖥️ Display Test | Contrast ratio: 864:1, Max brightness: 793 nits |
| 🔊 Loudspeaker Test | -21.8 LUFS (Excellent) |
| 🔋 Battery Test (Active Use) | 10:51h |
OnePlus Pad 2 Review: Display and Design
OnePlus Pad 2 feels premium with its aluminum and glass design. It’s a bit bigger and heavier than the previous model but still comfortable to hold. Compared to Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+, it’s smaller and lighter. The rear has a soft matte finish, which keeps fingerprints away, and the raised camera module adds a nice touch.
Tablet is mostly used in landscape mode, with a front-facing 8MP camera for facial recognition (which works smoothly). The power button and volume rocker feel solid with nice clicks, and there are also places to attach the Stylo 2 stylus and Smart Keyboard (sold separately).
12.1-inch display is vibrant and sharp, supporting Dolby Vision and 144Hz refresh rate, making it great for watching videos and browsing even in direct sunlight (though glare can be an issue). Tablet lacks an IP rating, unlike Galaxy Tab S9 FE+, which is waterproof.
It’s available only in Nimbus Gray and the box includes the tablet, charging cable and an 80W SuperVOOC charger.
OnePlus Pad 2 Review: Performance
OnePlus Pad 2 is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, with options for 8GB RAM + 128GB storage or 12GB RAM + 256GB storage. I tested 12GB/256GB version and the tablet feels fast and smooth. It switches between apps without any lag and handles multitasking easily.
For benchmarks, it scored 1,240 on single-core and 4,645 on the multi-core test in Geekbench 6 which is a big jump from the original OnePlus Pad (810/2,123). It also outperforms Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ but doesn’t beat the iPad Air with the M2 chip.
Graphics performance is great with Pad 2 scoring 67fps in the GFXBench Aztec Ruins test—better than iPad Air at 60fps and a huge improvement over the original Pad at 27fps. Gaming is smooth too; I played Genshin Impact with no lag or stutter and tablet only got slightly warm after 30 minutes of play.
Battery life is impressive, lasting 11 hours and 43 minutes on a YouTube streaming test, much better than original Pad and Galaxy Tab S9 FE+. Even iPad Air couldn’t last as long.
Charging is fast with 80W SuperVOOC charging, taking about 1 hour and 20 minutes to fully charge, compared to Tab S9 FE+‘s 1 hour and 40 minutes with a 45W charger.
OnePlus Pad 2 Review: Connectivity
OnePlus Pad 2 supports Wi-Fi 7 but I mainly tested it on a Wi-Fi 6 connection. It connected to my home network without any issues and handled app downloads & video streaming just fine.
In speed tests Pad 2 reached 105Mbps down & 21Mbps up. In comparison my iPhone 14 Pro hit 239Mbps down & 18.5Mbps up. But in real use, I didn’t notice any difference between the two while watching YouTube or browsing websites.
OnePlus Pad 2 Review: Audio
OnePlus Pad 2 doesn’t have a 3.5mm headphone jack, so you’ll need wireless headphones for private listening. But when it comes to watching a movie with friends, the speakers are impressive.
It has six speakers and Holo Audio, which is OnePlus’ version of spatial audio. The tablet automatically adjusts the audio channels based on its orientation, giving you loud and clear stereo sound. During testing, the track “Silent Shout” by The Knife sounded deep and punchy.
OnePlus Pad 2 Review: Cameras
OnePlus Pad 2 has a 13MP rear camera and an 8MP selfie camera, but you’ll probably want to use your phone for photos instead. The rear camera struggles with detail, even in good lighting.
In my photos, the grass and leaves look grainy and the branches of a tree blend together, with the white balance looking off.
The selfie camera isn’t much better especially indoors. I had trouble getting a sharp shot of my dog.
If you want to record videos, the rear camera can capture 4K at 30fps, and the front camera can record 1080p at 30fps. Both have electronic image stabilization but the video quality is just as grainy as the photos, especially in low light.
OnePlus Pad 2 Review: OxygenOS
OxygenOS on the OnePlus Pad 2 works similarly to how iPads work with iPhones and Galaxy Tabs with Galaxy phones. It’s based on Android 14 and is clean, though there are a few OnePlus apps, like a Microsoft Word knockoff, hidden in a folder.
The cool part is that OnePlus phones and pads signed into the same account can easily sync. For example, if the Pad 2 is out of Wi-Fi range, the phone will share its 5G connection. When your phone connects to a new Wi-Fi network, it’ll share the login details with the Pad 2. You can also view and edit photos from your phone on the tablet, sync content, notifications, and even access files remotely.
When using the Pad 2 solo, multitasking is easy. You can have two apps side by side, and even a third app floating on the screen. The apps adjust automatically to fit the screen in portrait or landscape.
There are some AI features like AI Eraser and Smart Cutout for removing unwanted people or objects from photos. Plus, OnePlus plans to add more AI tools in a software update, like AI Speak, AI Summary, and AI Writer to help with tasks like summarizing documents or crafting content.
OxygenOS is simple, easy to use, and great for multitasking.
OnePlus promises three years of OS upgrades and four years of security updates for the Pad 2, while Samsung promises four years of Android upgrades and five years of security updates for the Tab S9 FE+.
OnePlus Pad 2 Review: Accessories
OnePlus Pad 2 has an optional Smart Keyboard case with a magnetic, adjustable holder that lets you tilt the tablet at different angles. You can connect the keyboard via pogo pins or Bluetooth. It also has NFC for easy file transfer, but this will be available later via a software update. OnePlus plans to bring this feature to more phones by the end of the year.
OnePlus also offers the Stylo 2 stylus with up to 16,000 levels of pressure sensitivity and a touch control pad. It even has a laser pointer for presentations.
If you’re looking for basic protection, the Folio Case 2 ($39.99) will keep your tablet safe from bumps and scratches.
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Pros and Cons of OnePlus Pad 2
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 🏗️ Durable aluminum build | ⚫ Low screen contrast |
| 🌈 Vibrant HDR display with smooth 144Hz refresh rate | 🔒 Lacks a fingerprint scanner |
| 🔋 Impressive battery life and quick charging | 📸 Camera quality is below expectations |
| 🔊 Loud and clear audio from stereo speakers | 💻 No desktop mode support |
| 🚀 High-end performance with reliable stability | ⚡ Charger is only included with direct purchases from OnePlus |
| ⚙️ Clean, responsive OxygenOS software | ⌨️ Smart Keyboard has issues with language switching |
| ✏️ Compatible with an optional stylus and keyboard | 🖱️ Trackpad click performance can be inconsistent |
Conclusion
I really like the OnePlus Pad 2 for its sleek design, strong performance, bright display, and good battery life with fast charging. It works especially well for OnePlus phone owners because of how the software connects both devices. However, I wish the stylus was included, it had better protection against dust and water, and the cameras were better.
If you already have a OnePlus phone, these issues might not be a big deal. But if you don’t, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ is a better option with an S Pen stylus and waterproof design for just $50 more.
OnePlus Pad 2 is great for OnePlus phone owners who want good performance and a bright display, but there are better options for those without one.
