Introduction
A year and a half later, the OnePlus Pad gets a sequel: the OnePlus Pad 2 features a larger and brighter screen, a higher-end chipset, louder speakers, and improved accessories.
We liked the OnePlus Pad because it was a simple tablet – it covered all the bases satisfactorily and didn't have any niche or gimmicky features. And of course, it had an affordable price. The OnePlus Pad 2 takes things to the next level, so let's see what's new.
The new model features an aluminum unibody with an even larger 12.1-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 2120 x 3000 pixels, 10-bit color depth, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision streaming, and up to 900nits peak brightness. It also supports the new (optional) Stylo 2 stylus.
The highlight of the OnePlus Pad 2 is the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, which should look good under that large display and with such a large heatsink (the aluminum unibody).
The OnePlus Pad 2 has the same basic cameras as its predecessor: a 13MP rear camera with 4K video recording and an 8MP front-facing camera with 1080p video.
The OnePlus Pad 2 has a total of 6 speakers, up from the 4 speakers of the original OP Pad. Connectivity has been upgraded with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, but there's no GPS or optional cellular connectivity – this is a Wi-Fi-only tablet. OnePlus has included some nice Continuity features if you already own a OnePlus phone.
Finally, the OnePlus Pad 2 features a 9,510mAh battery that supports 67W fast charging, just like the Pad 1.
OnePlus Pad 2 specifications at a glance:
- Body: 268.7 x 195.1 x 6.5 mm, 584 g; Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame; Stylus support.
- Display: 12.10″ IPS LCD, 1B colors, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 144Hz, 600 nits (typ), 900 nits (peak), 2120x3000px resolution, 12.74:9 aspect ratio, 304 ppi.
- Chipset: Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm): Octa-core (1×3.3 GHz Cortex-X4 and 3×3.2 GHz Cortex-A720 and 2×3.0 GHz Cortex-A720 and 2×2.3 GHz Cortex-A520); Adreno 750.
- Memory: 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM; UFS 3.1.
- Operating system/software: Android 14, OxygenOS 14.1.
- Rear camera: 13 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide angle).
- Front camera: 8 MP, f/2.3, (wide angle), 1/4.0″, 1.12 µm.
- Video recording: Rear camera: 4K@30fps, 1080p@30ps, gyro-EIS; Front camera: 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS.
- Battery: 9510mAh; 67W wired, 64% in 30 min, 100% in 81 min (advertised).
- Connectivity: WiFi 7; BT 5.4, aptX HD, LHDC.
- Miscellaneous: Accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor (accessories only), compass; stereo speakers (6 speakers).
For a €499 tablet, we think the OnePlus Pad 2 has everything – it's well-rounded in terms of specs, with strong features, and you even get a free charger and stylus thrown in if you buy direct from OnePlus. The only thing that could be a potential deal-breaker in our opinion is the lack of a fingerprint reader.
Unboxing the OnePlus Pad 2
The OnePlus Pad 2 comes in a fairly flimsy paper box, which houses the tablet itself and one of those signature red USB-AC cables.
Of course, there is no charger included, although OnePlus does throw one in for free if you buy it through the official website. That and a stylus, or a Folio Case, both nice gifts.