As an leisure machine, the brand new OnePlus Pad 2 shines. The show is dazzling, its audio system, top-notch. In truth, the Android pill is much more highly effective than its predecessor for watching films, listening to music, and enjoying video games — a lot in order that, throughout the time I spent testing the pill, I had no want to stream exhibits or hearken to music on my 2022 iPad Air.
Unfortunately, although, that isn’t the entire story. The Pad 2 can be being bought as a productiveness machine — and for that, as I’ll clarify, I discovered it lackluster. Add to that the truth that, whereas the unique OnePlus Pad (which, sadly, will probably be discontinued as soon as the prevailing inventory is bought out) offered a formidable worth for its value, OnePlus has elevated the price of its new midrange pill by $70 to $549.99, making it tougher to compete with related Android tablets.
A flagship display screen at a midrange value
But it needs to be admitted that different equally priced tablets can’t compete with the specs of the OnePlus Pad 2’s display screen, both. Like its predecessor, the Pad 2 provides the next 144Hz variable refresh fee than even Apple and Samsung’s pricier premium tablets, which permits for buttery clean scrolling and straightforward navigation. The 3K LCD display screen nonetheless helps Dolby Vision however can now hit a peak brightness of 900 nits with a sharper 3000 x 2120 decision. The impressively vibrant and crisp show makes films come alive, with good distinction ranges for an LCD. Colors are additionally wealthy and vibrant — as long as you keep indoors.
With the brand new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 cell processor, double the storage, and extra RAM (256GB SSD / 12GB RAM), apps (together with video games) load at lightning pace and run easily. The improved efficiency additionally doesn’t come on the expense of battery life, which lasts so long as its predecessor’s.
At 12.1 inches, the Pad 2’s display screen sits someplace between the newest 11-inch and 13-inch tablets from Apple, Samsung, and Google, and it additionally feels spacious and cozy for content material consumption, due to its 7:5 side ratio. In distinction, Samsung and Google’s tablets function a 16:10 ratio, which may make studying or watching movies in panorama mode really feel cramped.
Yet whereas the display screen is spacious, at round 1.29 kilos (584 grams), the pill’s weight makes it onerous to learn or watch films comfortably for lengthy intervals of time. Combined with its dimension, the Pad 2 will get tiring to carry — I get pleasure from watching films or studying whereas mendacity down, so this turned an issue. I had to make use of the case to prop the pill up.
Still, when you can overlook that, you get a pill that gives an important movie-watching expertise that’s made even higher with its terrific audio system. Curiously, OnePlus has dropped help for Dolby Atmos, however its six audio system nonetheless ship a loud and full sound with OnePlus’s model of spatial audio, Holo Audio. It robotically switches audio channels relying on whether or not it’s in panorama or portrait mode, which lets you get pleasure from an immersive stereo sound onerous to search out in a pill at this value. It’s a disgrace there’s no 3.5mm headphone jack, however then once more, most tablets as of late appear to solely work with wi-fi headphones.
Still not a critical productiveness machine
As an Android pill for leisure, the OnePlus 2 is phenomenal — however for all the pieces else, it’s simply okay. For instance, one of many methods OnePad tries to pitch the Pad 2 as a productivity-focused pill is by bettering the pill’s multitasking capabilities with the Open Canvas function. First debuted within the OnePlus Open, the setting now helps you to run three apps split-screen and customise their format — you possibly can then save the trio as a bunch for fast entry, which makes multitasking simpler than earlier than. However, Apple and Samsung’s tablets supply extra helpful multitasking and windowing choices.
In addition, as a result of OnePlus’ OxygenOS 14.1 software program is constructed on high of Android 14, the function is restricted by the truth that lots of Android apps aren’t optimized for a pill’s bigger show. Slack, as an illustration, seems to be stretched out and lacks multiple-column views, which leaves lots of empty area. Sharing the display screen with two different apps utilizing the Open Canvas function made the app smaller and much more difficult to navigate, so I simply stopped utilizing it altogether.
That isn’t to say you possibly can’t get any work executed. The pill works simply fantastic for mild productiveness work. Google and Microsoft Office apps work effectively, and the recording app even helps you to mark particular factors. I like that OnePlus’ Notes app provides built-in notebooks with three completely different templates: one with bullets, a second with strains, and one other with a grid. Note-taking e-readers like Kobo’s Elipsa 2E supply extra choices, however that’s nonetheless a pleasant contact for college students or individuals like me who additionally use their tablets for journaling.
OnePlus additionally guarantees to introduce lots of new AI-powered options which are just like the productivity-focused ones Google launched earlier this yr. AI Recording Summary will summarize key factors in lengthy paperwork, whereas AI Speak will learn textual content aloud, and AI Writer will enable you write up content material utilizing textual content or picture prompts. Maybe these options will assist make the pill higher — however they certain aren’t right here but, and what’s at the moment obtainable received’t lower it if you wish to get some actual work executed.
Aside from its software program, OnePlus’ equipment additionally maintain it again from being a critical productiveness machine. Along with the $39.99 OnePlus Folio Case 2, the corporate additionally sells the $149.99 OnePlus Smart Keyboard and the $99.99 OnePlus Stylo 2. I used to be in a position to check the final two.
OnePlus’ removable keyboard is okay, however it doesn’t stay as much as the requirements wanted for actual productiveness. I had no drawback utilizing it for shopping the online or capturing brief emails. It’s small even for my tiny fingers, however it’s nonetheless snug to kind on. The trackpad is spacious and straightforward to navigate, too, with useful options like multi-finger gesture help. It clicks loudly, although, which made me really feel uncomfortable in quieter public settings.
My greatest criticism, although, is that the keyboard simply isn’t sturdy sufficient. The keyboard magnetically attaches to the Pad through three pogo pins and prices by means of the pill comparatively rapidly. It bends to present a tilt starting from 110 to 165 levels, offering for a good variety of viewing angles. Unfortunately, the keyboard popped off the pins just a few instances, as soon as whereas resting on my lap and one other time whereas on my desk. Thankfully, you don’t have to connect the keyboard to your pill to make use of it as a result of it helps Bluetooth, however that does maintain it again from being a good laptop computer substitute.
The stylus may be OnePlus’ saving grace
The stylus may be OnePlus’ saving grace, although. Like the OnePlus Smart Keyboard, the brand new Stylo 2 rapidly prices when magnetically connected to the Pad. It writes easily with no perceptive lag and provides elevated strain sensitivity ranges, from 4,096 to 16,000. The new leather-like materials provides higher grip and is snug to carry, whereas OnePlus has additionally added a brand new linear motor that makes the tip vibrate to simulate writing with pen and paper. I positively didn’t really feel like I used to be writing on paper, however it did replicate the expertise barely higher than my USB-C Apple Pencil.
Very good, however overpriced
Overall, the OnePlus Pad 2 capitalizes upon its strengths and continues to supply flagship specs, with a formidable display screen that comparable tablets can’t match. It’s nonetheless not nice for critical productiveness or creation work, however it might deal with mild productiveness chores and is a terrific midrange Android pill for watching films and consuming different kinds of leisure. If you personal a OnePlus cellphone, it’s much more tempting, with further pluses equivalent to hotspot sharing.
However, in contrast with related Android tablets, its $549.99 price ticket is simply too excessive. Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus, which prices $50 greater than the Pad 2, features a stylus, waterproofing, mobile connectivity as an choice, and a greater software program coverage; Samsung says the Tab S9 FE Plus will obtain 4 years of Android upgrades, versus OnePlus’ promise of three, and 5 — not 4 — years of safety updates. Even Google’s first rate Pixel Tablet, which doesn’t supply as many bells and whistles, will prevent about $150 over the brand new Pad 2.
In different phrases, OnePlus as of late really now faces actual competitors. While the good display screen and efficiency could also be tempting, for my part, it’s not sufficient to justify the $70 value hike.
Photography by Sheena Vasani / The Verge
