OnePlus Pad 2 Review: An Affordable Premium Android Tablet
OnePlus Pad 2 Review: Performance, Battery Life And Our Conclusion
In terms of battery life, the OnePlus Pad 2 was able to last a total of 716 minutes (11 hours and 56 minutes) before running out of juice in PCMark for Android's Work 3.0 test. This proved to only be slightly better than the original OnePlus Pad, which put up 710 minutes in the same test, but keep in mind the Pad 2 also offers significantly higher performance.
During real-world testing, we were able to use the OnePlus Pad 2 fairly heavily throughout the day without needing to charge it. The tablet was used for things like browsing the web, watching YouTube videos, productivity, and gaming. For most situations, the OnePlus Pad 2 should be able to last an entire day on a single charge.
OnePlus Pad 2: Geekbench 6
Geekbench 6 is a cross-platform benchmark that simulates real-world workloads in image processing and data compression scenarios, among other things. While Geekbench 6 is not always a particularly informative benchmark, it can be helpful as a relative data point.
Surprisingly, the OnePlus Pad 2 had a lower single-core score than its predecessor at 968, which doesn't seem to scale with other Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 devices. We tried multiple runs and that relatively low single-thread score was repeatable. OnePlus may have optimized the power profile on the device for better battery life when running lightly threaded workloads. However, when it came to the multi-core score of 4726, the OnePlus Pad 2 not only outscored the original OnePlus Pad by a wide margin, but the Google Pixel Tablet as well, and several smartphones on the list powered by a similar processor.
OnePlus Pad 2: PCMark For Android - Work 3.0
PCMark for Android is a suite of tests designed to evaluate performance running productivity tasks, such as email and web browsing.
In this test, the OnePlus Pad 2 had an overall score of 13938, which is good and nearly 35% higher than Google's device, but somewhat lower than a handful other Snapdragon 8 Gen 3-based devices. The OnePlus Pad 2's score put it above the Google Pixel Tablet, which scored 10721, and well ahead of the original OnePlus Pad, which had an overall score of 10654 (not listed in the chart to save space).
OnePlus Pad 2: GFXBench
OnePlus claims the OnePlus Pad 2 is able to provide smooth framerates with gaming thanks to its HyperBoost gaming mode, HyperRendering and Frameplus low-latency features, and Game Super Resolution (where supported).
The OnePlus Pad 2 performed very well in the GFXBench Aztec Ruins graphics benchmark. With a framerate of 185fps, it landed right alongside the more expensive Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 we tested, and handily outpaced the original OnePlus Pad (106fps), and the Google Pixel Tablet (87fps).
OnePlus Pad 2: Our Conclusion
The OnePlus Pad 2 was a pleasure to use throughout our evaluation process. It has a premium feel, with an all-metal unibody design. OxygenOS is easy enough to get used to for anyone coming from another Android-based device, or an Apple device for that matter, and it includes handy software features like a Document Scanner, AI Eraser 2.0, and Smart Cutout 2.0.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip powering the device proved performant enough for every workload we threw at it, while also being efficient enough to offer competitive battery life. Users should be able to power through an entire day of general usage, without having to worry about charging the battery.
The OnePlus Pad 2's 12.1-inch 3K display provided a gorgeous viewing experience as well. Images were detailed, and colors were on point. The screen was also bright enough to use in outdoor situations with no problems. In terms of audio, the tablet got plenty loud enough to fill a room with sound, but seemed to lack bass, even for a tablet. This is usually par for the course with mobile devices with small drivers, but the OnePlus Pad 2 lacked bass more than most.
Much like with a Samsung or Apple tablet, the OnePlus Pad 2 offers features unique to those who also own a OnePlus smartphone. Features such as Content Sync, which allows OnePlus owners to instantly view and edit photos, screenshots, and videos across OnePlus devices, make interoperability simpler for those already invested into the ecosystem.
All-in, the OnePlus Pad 2 is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a good-performing, Android-based tablet, especially if you already own a OnePlus smartphone. Its premium build quality, good battery life, and excellent mobile gaming performance all add to the overall appeal of this Android slate. Adding the Smart Keyboard and Stylo 2, both sold separately, will only enhance the user experience -- if you need them. It would have been nice to have had the Stylo 2 included with the OnePlus Pad 2 though, especially since the starting price between the original OnePlus Pad and Pad 2 jumped by more than $50. The OnePlus Pad Smart Keyboard is currently 10% off and priced at $135, while the OnePlus Stylo 2 is also 10% off at $89. The OnePlus Pad 2 itself, with 12GB RAM, and 256GB of storage is currently on sale for 13% off and available for just $479.
With everything the OnePlus Pad 2 brings to the table, and at a reasonable price, considering what a premium tablets from Samsung or Apple currently cost, we're granting it a HotHardware Editor’s Choice.
