OnePlus Pad 2 vs. OnePlus Pad: A small step ahead

• 

  Refined expertise

  OnePlus Pad 2
  

  $500 $550 Save
  $50

  The OnePlus Pad 2 takes all the pieces that the unique OnePlus Pad did nicely and turns it up a notch. With a greater show, much-improved efficiency, and the identical nice battery life, the OnePlus Pad 2 is definitely among the best Android tablets out there.

  Execs

  • Stunning 3K show
  • Nice battery life
  • Upgraded efficiency

  Cons

  • No LTE model
  • Cameras aren’t superb
  • No fingerprint sensor

• 

  Nonetheless worthy

  
  OnePlus Pad
  

  $400 $480 Save
  $80

  OnePlus entered the pill market with the OnePlus Pad, and it was a superb first try, which nonetheless holds up a yr later. With a handsome show, strong battery life, and good general efficiency, the OnePlus Pad is price holding onto or shopping for on a finances.

  Execs

  • Good wanting 11.6-inch show
  • Strong battery life and quick charging
  • Efficiency remains to be good

  Cons

  • No LTE possibility
  • No fingerprint sensor
  • Cameras are lackluster

Not so way back, in case you had been an Android fan and wished an incredible pill, you actually solely had one possibility. For a very long time, Google all however forgot about Android tablets, leaving Samsung as the one actual participant for many customers. Whereas Samsung nonetheless has top-tier tablets just like the Galaxy Tab S9+, different firms like Google and its Pixel Pill have begun to enter the market, creating some much-needed competitors.

To not be outdone by Samsung and Google, OnePlus tossed its hat into the ring final yr with the OnePlus Pad. OnePlus then took all the pieces that it discovered from its first foray into the pill house and launched the brand new and improved OnePlus Pad 2. Neither machine is ideal, however for these in search of a pill, OnePlus has confirmed it will probably grasp with the perfect and supply a tremendous expertise.

Worth, availability, and specs

The OnePlus Pad was the corporate’s first try at launching a pill and was launched in February 2023. It retails for $480, however you will discover it for $400 on sale. The OnePlus Pad 2 hit the market in July 2024 and carries a $550 retail value, though it may be discovered for $500, in case you are affected person.

Each tablets solely are available in a single GPS variant and lack a mobile connection. Likewise, they solely are available in a singular colour possibility. The OnePlus Pad ships in Halo Inexperienced whereas the Pad 2 is available in Nimbus Grey. You’ll find the units straight from OnePlus or Amazon.

• 	OnePlus Pad 2	OnePlus Pad
  SoC	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3	MediaTek Dimensity 9000
  Show sort	LCD, 144Hz	LCD, 144Hz
  Show dimensions	12.1″	11.6″
  Show decision	3000 x 2120	2000 x 2800
  RAM	8 or 12GB	8GB
  Storage	128GB or 256GB	128GB
  Battery	9,510mAh	9,510mAh
  Charging velocity	67W SuperVOOC	67W wired
  Cost choices	USB-C wired	USB-C wired
  Ports	USB-C	USB–C
  Working System	Android 14 with OxygenOS 14	Android 13 with OxygenOS 13
  Entrance Digital camera	8MP	8MP ultrawide
  Rear Digital camera	13MP	13MP
  Wi-Fi connectivity	Wi-Fi 7	Wi-Fi 6
  Bluetooth	Bluetooth 5.4	Bluetooth 5.3
  Dimensions	268.7 x 195.1 x 6.5mm	258 x 189.4 x 6.5mm
  Weight	584g	552g
  Colours	Nimbus Grey	Halo Inexperienced
  Worth	$550	$480

Design

The identical, solely bigger

Having been launched solely a yr aside, it shouldn’t come as a lot of a shock to seek out that the OnePlus Pad and the Pad 2 are strikingly comparable in some ways. Each units have an aluminum body and a entrance largely dominated by the show, apart from some slim bezels. The rear of each options an aluminum again with a big, round digital camera lens prominently positioned within the top-middle of the pill.

One space that was modified fairly drastically is general measurement and weight. At 258 x 189.4 x 6.5mm and weighing 552g, the OnePlus Pad is a bit smaller than the Pad 2’s 268.7 x 195.1 x 6.5mm dimensions. The Pad 2 can be a bit heavier at 584g. When holding both pill in panorama mode, you’ll discover the singular USB-C port, sort 2 for the OnePlus Pad and kind 3.2 for the Pad 2, positioned alongside the proper facet. The unique OnePlus Pad ships with a four-speaker setup, whereas the Pad 2 will get a six-speaker configuration.

There are a few points that the tablets share. The primary one is neither machine carries an IP ranking in opposition to water and mud ingress, so maintain any drinks away from these tablets. The opposite is that they do not have a fingerprint scanner. You do get face unlock, however not having a fingerprint reader could also be a deal-breaker for some customers.

Show

Larger and brighter

Whereas not drastically totally different, the show is one space the place the newer Pad 2 will get a pleasant spec increase. The OnePlus Pad got here with an 11.61-inch IPS LCD panel. With a 144Hz refresh charge and a decision of 2000 x 2800, it’s sharp and fluid. The unique Pad can even hit a most brightness of 500 nits, which is nice for indoor use, however it could trigger some visibility points in direct daylight.

A part of the rationale why the OnePlus Pad 2 is a lot greater than the unique is because of the show measurement. The Pad 2 comes with a big 12.1-inch IPS LCD Panel. It has the identical 144Hz refresh charge however boosts the decision to 2120 x 3000 pixels. It additionally boasts a brighter show due to its 600 nits of typical and 900 nits of peak brightness.

I want OnePlus had chosen a pleasant OLED for his or her show, however the LCDs used listed here are fairly good. It received’t have the identical stage of immersive blacks when viewing your favourite content material, but it surely’ll serve you simply high-quality.

Software program

An analogous expertise

With the tablets coming from OnePlus, you possibly can count on an almost similar software program scenario. The OnePlus Pad shipped with Android 13 and OxygenOS 13.1, however has since been upgraded to Android 14. The OnePlus Pad 2 comes with Android 14 and OxygenOS 14.1 out of the field.

If in case you have used OxygenOS on a tool just like the OnePlus 12, then it’s best to have an thought of what to anticipate, because it’s largely the identical. Along with offering Shelf and its customized climate app, OnePlus has optimized OxygenOS a bit for the bigger show. You get a dock for shortly leaping between functions, a dual-panel settings menu, and the power to run a number of apps simultanously for enhanced productiveness.

OnePlus affords the identical software program replace coverage for each units: three years of Android upgrades and 4 years of safety updates. If you happen to aren’t already rocking the OnePlus Pad, the Pad 2 stands out as the solution to go simply from a software program help perspective.

Efficiency

An enormous improve

For its first foray into the pill house, OnePlus selected a Mediatek Dimensity 9000 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of UFS 3.1 storage. It wasn’t the strongest processor on the time, but it surely was ok to supply a principally lag-free expertise. OnePlus went in a unique route with the Pad 2, switching out the Mediatek processor for the far more highly effective Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor. OnePlus additionally bumped the RAM to 12GB and doubled the UFS 3.1 storage to 256GB.

One of many many causes for OnePlus’ success is that the corporate has by no means been afraid to supply flagship-level energy at an aggressive value level. Swapping to the newest Snapdragon processor helps OnePlus maintain that picture and supplies a way more succesful expertise. With out diving into the nitty-gritty of the benchmarks, you possibly can count on a large efficiency hole between these two. You might expertise some slowdowns with the Dimensity 9000 throughout every day utilization, however it’s usually quick sufficient so it is not too noticeable. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, nonetheless, received’t decelerate in any respect throughout common use. If you happen to push your pill a bit more durable with superior productiveness duties or heavy video games, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 will present a far superior expertise.

Battery life

Typical pill battery life

Because of their elevated measurement, tablets have the luxurious of huge batteries that present a number of days of use. The OnePlus Pad affords that actual expertise and the model should have felt that it was ok as a result of the Pad 2 has the identical battery specs.

The OnePlus Pad and the Pad 2 have a 9510mAh battery that may be charged by way of USB as much as 67W. Neither comes with wi-fi charging nor reverse charging. Because you doubtless received’t be utilizing a pill as usually as you seize your cellphone, a very good pill ought to have strong standby time and each of those tablets ship that in spades. You shouldn’t have any hassle getting by way of a weekend of on and off once more use.

Digital camera

Why do tablets have cameras?

When an organization is making a pill, the cameras they put in them are sometimes an afterthought and don’t come shut to what’s supplied on flagship telephones. Regardless of its distinguished location on the again, I can safely say that the cameras used on each tablets are simply meh. The OnePlus Pad and the OnePlus Pad 2 ship with a 13MP f/2.2 major lens that may document 4K or 1080p video at 30fps. In addition they have an 8MP f/2.3 front-facing digital camera that may document video at 1080p 30fps.

Within the well-lit situations, you may get common images from both pill. Issues shortly worsen as soon as the lighting begins to fade away. You additionally lose fairly a little bit of element when zooming in on topics. The front-facing digital camera isn’t significantly better for images however does work alright for video calls.

Which is best for you?

Selecting a nice Android pill will depend on your scenario and perspective. I went backwards and forwards on which angle I ought to method to reply which is healthier. Since each units can nonetheless be bought model new, I opted to take the method of shopping for a brand new pill in the present day.

In case you are trying to purchase a pill in the present day, the OnePlus Pad 2 would be the hands-down winner right here. Every part in regards to the Pad 2 is the same as or downright higher than the unique OnePlus Pad. You will get a bigger and brighter show, a big efficiency increase from a greater processor and extra RAM, double the storage, and, due to it being newer, an extra yr of software program updates. It does value a bit greater than the OnePlus Pad, however I consider the extra value is nicely well worth the soar.

If you happen to already personal the OnePlus Pad, it’s best to grasp onto your present machine. Certain, you get some good advantages with the Pad 2, but it surely isn’t price the price of entry when your present pill does all the pieces the Pad can do. It might not do it as quick or be on as giant of a show, however you’ll have the identical day-to-day software program expertise and battery life. Your greatest guess is to present it a few years and improve whenever you begin to really feel it slowing down.