OnePlus Pad 2 in for review

Display

The star of the show seems to be the display. It’s a jump to a larger 12.1-inch 3K LCD panel with a super smooth 144Hz refresh rate. This should make everything from gaming to watching videos a joy. Brightness is also a big improvement, reaching 900 nits according to reports, making it great for outdoor use or brightly lit environments.

Performance

Under the hood, the OnePlus Pad 2 packs the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, paired with up to 12GB of RAM. This should provide excellent performance for multitasking, demanding apps, and even high-end games. Reviewers mention the tablet running smoothly and especially benefiting from the improved OxygenOS software for a more cohesive user experience.

Design and Build

Despite the bigger screen, OnePlus kept the Pad 2 thin and light at just 6.5mm. That’s impressive for a tablet with such a large display. The weight is a manageable 584g on its own, but if you plan on using the keyboard attachment, expect it to jump to 1088g.

Accessories

The optional magnetic keyboard seems like a strong selling point. Early reports praise its detachable design, allowing you to position the tablet at a comfortable angle for typing. The Stylo 2 also gets a nod for its responsiveness and palm rejection technology, which is important for artists and note-takers.

Potential Downsides

While reviews are generally positive, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. The lack of a fingerprint scanner might be an annoyance, especially if you plan on having multiple user accounts on the tablet. Additionally, some reviewers mentioned a slightly flimsy connection point between the keyboard and the tablet itself.

Battery Life and Camera

These are two areas where we’ll have to wait for the full reviews to get a definitive answer. Based on the OnePlus Pad 1, we can expect good battery life, but whether the 9510mAh capacity translates into excellent endurance with the power-hungry new processor remains to be seen. The camera is a bit of a mystery. The single 13MP rear camera and 8MP front camera might be sufficient for video calls and basic snapshots, but we don’t know yet how they perform in low-light situations or for more detailed photography.

Price and Competition

The original OnePlus Pad was praised for its competitive price. With the Pad 2 boasting higher-end specs and features, the price tag is likely to increase as well. This places it more in line with premium tablets like the iPad Air and Galaxy Tab S8, so it will be interesting to see how it stacks up against that competition in terms of overall value.

Final Thoughts:

The OnePlus Pad 2 appears to be a significant upgrade over the original, offering a powerful processor, a beautiful display, a more complete software experience, and potentially great accessories. However, the potential lack of a fingerprint scanner and a possibly higher price tag are things to consider. Keep an eye out for full reviews in the coming weeks, which will provide a more comprehensive analysis of battery life, camera performance, and any other strengths or weaknesses.