OnePlus Pad 2 is the flagship killer for professionists

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Perhaps too quietly, the tablet segment has evolved significantly over the years, offering increasingly compelling options, even for professionals using these devices for work. But the OnePlus Pad 2, the second generation of the Chinese company’s tablet, brings a small revolution to the market by introducing a powerful, well-designed device with a rich set of accessories, all at a very attractive price.

OnePlus Pad 2: our tops & flops

I hadn’t realized how much this sector had evolved, much more than smartphones, until I got my hands on this device. Lightweight and well-built, it has the right dimensions and an incredible display, especially considering the price. In true OnePlus style, it supports fast charging and has an almost endless battery life: with my intensive use, which includes video editing, writing, watching TV shows, and some gaming, it lasted over 3 days (it promises 12 hrs YouTube videos, 6 hours gaming and 35 hours Spotify). When used only as a home device for watching YouTube videos and reading news, it lasts even longer.

Additionally, the mentioned video editing, while it still doesn’t reach the level of a specialized computer, delivers impressive results for shorter videos like those for TikTok/Reel, and even for slightly more complex content, such as YouTube videos. It has become a part of my daily routine because it’s lightweight and portable. My only critique is that the camera is somewhat lacking, even for video calls, and perhaps a version with eSIM would make many users happy.

What we like:

• The power, even in video editing
• The Dolby Atmos system with 4 speakers
• WiFi 7 and WiFi 6E make it perfect

What we don’t like

• The camera is underwhelming, even for video calls
• No option for an eSIM
• The pen holder isn’t very convenient

Prices in Scandinavia

Denmark: 4.299 DKK (now at 3.949 DKK is a best buy in the Country);

Sweden: 6.699 SEK (now at 6.199 SEK)

Norway: 6.290 NOK

OnePlus Pad 2: what a display

One of the most notable upgrades is the display. The previous OnePlus Pad’s IPS panel had a disappointing brightness of 500 nits, making outdoor use nearly impossible. The OnePlus Pad 2 addresses this issue with a peak brightness of 900 nits, allowing for easy visibility even in direct sunlight.

While the display is still IPS rather than OLED, the quality has significantly improved in terms of color accuracy and contrast, and that’s impressive. The unique 7:5 aspect ratio is perfect for productivity while still offering a solid multimedia experience. The display also supports a 144Hz refresh rate, although it’s not dynamic.

A software with a pretty AI improvement

In terms of software, OnePlus Pad 2 doesn’t stray far from its predecessor. The tablet comes with Android 14 out of the box, with promises of three major OS updates and four years of security patches, which makes OnePlus one of the best brands in terms of support both in smartphones and tablets.

The tablet continues to receive monthly updates that not only improve stability but also add new features. A notable upgrade is the enhanced split-screen functionality, which now allows users to run three apps side by side thanks to the larger display.

OnePlus has also integrated several AI features into the Pad 2, largely based on Google’s AI technology:

• AI Eraser 2.0: A tool to remove unwanted objects from photos.
• AI Smart Image Matting 2.0: For creating stickers or copying and pasting objects from photos.
• Writer AI: A tool to assist in composing messages.
• Speak AI: Helps synthesize web pages into voice summaries.
• Summary AI: Summarizes web pages or transcribes voice recordings.

Specs and accessories

Under the hood, the OnePlus Pad 2 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, paired with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. The tablet also boasts spatial audio with six speakers and Hi-Res certification, ensuring a high-quality sound experience. That means gaming or watching a movie/TV Series with this device is really enjoyable.

One of the standout features of the Pad 2 is its accessories. The OnePlus Stylo 2 pen has seen a significant upgrade, now offering a more tactile, pencil-like feel with 16,000 levels of pressure sensitivity. It magnetically attaches to the side of the tablet for easy storage and wireless charging, even though it can detach in the backpack, I might have preferred a slot in the keyboard for more protection.

The pen also features a haptic feedback system for a more natural drawing experience. The keyboard accessory, now separate from the magnetic cover, can be connected via Bluetooth, allowing for a more flexible setup. Additionally, the keyboard features a trackpad and an AI button for quick access to Google Gemini functions.

The tactile feel is really good, and the trackpad works well too. Perhaps the only inconvenience is that it’s an English/American keyboard, which means it’s very comfortable for writing in English (and this site is in English).

However, I also write in Danish and Italian, and it lacks the specific letters for the former, as well as the accents for the latter. It’s nothing too serious, as you can make up for it with the virtual keyboard, but it’s something worth mentioning if your audience is primarily Scandinavian.

A solid ecosystem

I’ll write a separate article about it, but what impressed me the most is the entire OnePlus ecosystem and how well it works. In addition to the tablet-specific accessories, the OnePlus Pad 2 connects lightning-fast to wireless earbuds, like the OnePlus Nord Buds 3, another device from the brand that I’ve tested and whose review will be out soon. Moreover, since I also have the OnePlus 12 (review here) and OnePlus Nord 4 (review coming soon), all the devices communicate with each other seamlessly.

Apple is always talked about as the leader in ecosystems, and while that’s partly true, I have to give credit to OnePlus. The devices are always fast, never a hitch, but the real advantage is the seamless interaction with Windows: thanks to Google’s QuickTransfer, I can always send files between devices, including to my PC, and thanks to the powerful hardware, I can do so in under 10 minutes, even for large files like 15 GB 4K 60fps videos!

Performance and battery

Performance is where the OnePlus Pad 2 really shines. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, combined with LPDDR5x RAM, makes it one of the most powerful tablets on the market, capable of handling demanding tasks like 4K video editing and high-end gaming without breaking a sweat.

Since my job requires me to travel a lot, I often edit my videos on a plane and you can understand how much is better doing this work without an heavy laptop. It also helps to make your backpack lighter.

Despite the larger, brighter display, battery life remains impressive thanks to the more power-efficient Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. The 9,510mAh battery, combined with 67W SuperVOOC fast charging, ensures that you can get through a full day of use without needing to recharge. In tests, the tablet achieved over 9 hours of screen-on time during mixed-use scenarios, including gaming and video editing.

Camera, microphones and connectivity

The OnePlus Pad 2 retains the same 13MP rear and 8MP front cameras from the previous generation, capable of recording 4K video at 30fps.

While the camera hardware hasn’t seen a significant upgrade, it’s still adequate for video calls and casual photography, but could be better in general. The front-facing camera supports face tracking during video calls, and that’s a good point.

Microphone quality has also improved, with two well-placed microphones providing clear audio during video calls. However, users should be mindful of potential audio overlap between the speakers and microphone during calls.

Connectivity has received a boost with support for Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.4, and even the next-generation Wi-Fi 7, ensuring future-proofing for faster wireless connections. Although there are currently very few networks that offer WiFi 7, having this support ensures excellent future usability, making the device less likely to become obsolete over time. Good for consumers and environment: well done, OnePlus!