The OnePlus Pad 2 is India’s cheapest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 device, in fact, this is the only tablet with the 8 Gen 3 chip, effectively making it the most powerful Android tablet on the market.
It offers some important refinements not just in the tab itself, but also in its updated accessories.
And true to OnePlus tradition, it’s priced incredibly competitively, starting at just ₹39,999.
So, can it really make the iPad less desirable? Let’s find that out!
OnePlus Pad 2 Design
The OnePlus Pad 2 retains the slick aesthetics of its predecessor, so you can easily recognise it as a OnePlus tablet. It is an aluminium unibody design that feels quite premium.
However, it is bigger than the first OnePlus Pad because of its larger display size. Consequently, it weighs 584g, which is standard for a tab of this size, but it may not be the most comfortable for prolonged one-hand use
Anyway, the design language is a lot more mature this time around, basically because of this new subdued grey colour. It looks quite professional and a lot less fun than the green colour of its predecessor.
It is kind of disappointing that OnePlus only offers one colour everytime on its tablet. A wider colour palette would be better.
Also, the OnePlus Pad 2 continues to be offered without cellular connectivity. You get two storage configurations, and both are WiFi only.
Then, typical of a high-end device, there’s no expandable storage or headphone jack here either.
However, my complaint with this tablet is its lack of a proper biometric authentication. There’s no fingerprint scanner or 3D face unlock on this tablet. You only have the old school camera-based face unlock which is not very secure.
OnePlus Pad 2 Display
Anyway, it’s time to shift focus on the most important aspect of a tablet which is of course the display. The Pad 2 rocks a 12.1-inch IPS LCD panel, which is about 0.5 inches larger than the previous model.
It has a resolution of 3K, a refresh rate of 144Hz, and a peak brightness of 900 nits.
It’s not an AMOLED, because no tablet at this price offers an AMOLED due to cost reasons. That’s not much of a problem because this LCD panel is really high quality with great contrast and vivid colours.
The Pad 2 also has 6 stereo speakers which offer pretty good bass and instrument separation. So, bingeing on TV shows, or watching tech hook videos is going to be really fun on this thing.
This tablet also retains the boxy 7:5 aspect ratio of its predecessor. This makes it great for using apps in landscape orientation. But obviously, there will be thicker black bars when you watch cinematic content on it.
OnePlus Pad 2 Smart Keyboard
This gives me a good opportunity to talk about the new Smart Keyboard, because it is amazing.
First up, it is really well priced at ₹8499. Then, it is quite thoughtfully designed. It splits into two, the upper half attaches magnetically to the tablet’s back and acts as a kickstand, while the keyboard attaches to the pogo pins.
The new keyboard itself has a big trackpad, and pretty good key travel for this slim profile. It also has a dedicated shortcut row at the top which is really handy.
However, the best feature is that you can actually detach the keyboard from the device and use it as a bluetooth keyboard as well. So in terms of versatility this folio keyboard case is a win.
But, I would still use this setup on a flat surface, because it does not inspire much confidence on a lap.
OnePlus Pad 2 Performance
Under the hood, the Pad 2 rocks a lot of power. Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 coupled with either 8 or 12 GB of RAM. You can basically play high-end games on it, and also easily edit a few short form videos on it without a hiccup.
On the software front, the Pad 2 runs on OxygenOS 14 that doesn't come with bloatware. The only third party app here was WPS office, which is a useful app to begin with.
Then, ofcourse, you do get all productivity features like an app dock and the option of using up to 3 apps simultaneously, although a decent number of system apps refuse to open in split screen.
The interconnectivity with other OnePlus smartphones is seamless. This NFC tag in the keyboard allows you to connect your OnePlus phone with the Pad 2 for screen mirroring or file transfer.
Anyway, I still believe that the Pad 2 would benefit greatly from a Samsung Dex-like desktop interface which boosts productivity exponentially.
Also, the quality and optimisation of apps on iPadOS is still better than on Android for tablets.
OnePlus Pad 2 Stylo 2
We also have the OnePlus Stylo 2, which has gotten a plush makeover thanks to its soft leather-like texture. But, design isn’t the best part of this stylus.
It’s the fact that it has a vibrator motor which continuously gives feedback as you write or draw. It definitely feels pretty awesome to use.
Despite all these features, the Stylo 2 costs just ₹5,499 which makes it a brilliant value too. Just that it is not reverse compatible with the previous OnePlus Pad, which sounds like a deliberate push for users of the older model to upgrade to the new one.
OnePlus Pad 2 Camera & Battery Life
Moving on, the OnePlus Pad 2 features a 13MP rear camera and an 8MP front-facing camera. While these cameras aren't anything special, they are more than adequate for video calls and document photos.
The rear camera can record in 4K at 30fps, while the front camera supports 1080p 30fps recording.
Finally, let’s talk about battery life. The 9510mAh battery on this tablet is the same size as the previous OnePlus Pad, despite the larger display. That isn’t much of an issue actually, since that tablet easily lasted me two days with an average screen time of 10 hours.
Plus, the 67W fast charging support is yet again one of the fastest on a tablet. It charges the tablet fully in roughly an hour and a half.
Also, while some countries don't get it, the Indian unit of the OnePlus Pad 2 comes bundled with a 67W adaptor.
OnePlus Pad 2 Review
Ultimately, the OnePlus Pad 2 stands out for its price. Starting at ₹39,999, it offers hardware that surpasses competitors like the 10th-generation iPad and Galaxy Tab S9 FE. With the Smart Keyboard and Stylo 2 also well priced, you can have a fully equipped OnePlus Pad 2 setup for under ₹55,000.
This makes it a great option for those looking for a powerful and versatile tablet for entertainment or light professional work.
It delivers on performance, design, and value, making it worth considering - especially if you don’t rely on apps specific to iPadOS or even Windows for that matter.
On the other hand, if you want a high-quality tablet just for content watching, then you can also consider the original OnePlus Pad, now available for ₹33000.
