I've been covering tablets long before I started writing about smartphones. As a heavy first-generation iPad user, I've heard the "iPad killer" trope for almost a decade and a half. From Android Honeycomb to Jellybean, many have tried and failed. Yet here we are in 2024, and the iPad remains the dominant product in its category. However, foldable phones have begun to change this trend, pushing Google and smartphone makers to rethink how big screens can be utilised while retaining small-screen fundamentals. This shift has given Android tablets a second wind, led by the original OnePlus Pad, Samsung's Galaxy Tab series, and Google's Pixel Tab. Even Xiaomi is taking tablets more seriously.
After testing the OnePlus Pad 2 for a couple of hours and hammering out this piece using its keyboard, I have a sneaky feeling that an affordable iPad killer may be on the horizon, even if it ends up slightly disappointing me. This fleeting feeling suggests that OnePlus has something spectacular up its sleeve, but these are just first impressions. And as first impressions go, they're darn good. Here's why I'm so bullish.
Firstly, you can't ignore the specs and hardware at this price point. The OnePlus Pad 2 is the most affordable Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset-based device, making it a steal. The gorgeous display is fluid and astoundingly delicious for consuming content. Even Google Docs comes to life on this screen, with typography so silken that one prefers typing on this device over a larger MacBook Pro. Sure, the screen doesn’t match the technical chops and perfection of the OLED screen on the new iPad Pro, but it's killer in its own right.
OnePlus has also brought its open canvas multitasking system to the Pad 2, which I find the most intuitive multitasking interface for both tablets and foldables. With ample horsepower from the latest top-of-the-line Snapdragon chipset and 12GB DDR5X RAM, performance shouldn't be an issue. That being said, I need to test this more thoroughly.
The design of this tablet closely mirrors its predecessor. It is super slim, very portable, and well-built, with liberal use of aluminium giving it a luxurious feel. The bevelled edges make it feel slimmer than an iPad Air. The keyboard attachment latches on through pogo pins, much like its predecessor and the Surface. This keyboard is much more comfortable, and I managed to type parts of this article on it. However, there is zero lapability, making it challenging to use as a laptop replacement without a stable table.
Despite this, the keys are very comfortable, and the trackpad rivals that of a MacBook Air, making it massive and highly functional. The keys are cozy, squishy, and adequately wide, facilitating easy typing. The trackpad is also very responsive.
OnePlus claims all-day battery life. While I haven't run a scientific test, the standby time has been impressive. The OnePlus Stylo 2, sold separately, magnetically latches on to the top like the Apple Pencil and felt very responsive. For the main review, I've enlisted a tattoo artist to doodle the outline of my next tattoo, incorporating her opinion on how the Stylo 2 compares to the Apple Pencil.
Overall, this tablet looks very promising and could be widely adopted, given the potency of its package. Its aggressive pricing could make it a PC replacement for many who don't need to perform creative tasks.
At the end of the day, Android for tablets has evolved, with many apps now usable on larger screens. This trend has been driven by bigger smartphones and the proliferation of foldable phones. If good hardware is married with intuitive software, Android tablets will thrive, especially if they are cheaper than an iPad. In this context, the OnePlus Pad 2 becomes a strong contender, starting at Rs 39,999.
