Back in December, OnePlus launched the new iteration of its Pad Go tablet. Priced at Rs 27,000, the Pad Go 2 primarily locks horns with the Redmi Pad 2 Pro (our review here), while also punching above its weight in a bid to sway the base iPad’s buyers. The midrange tablet packs the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Ultra SoC under its hood and flaunts a vivid 2.8k AMOLED display. The battery capacity has been upgraded to 10,050mAh. On paper, these specs look amazing for the price. We took it upon ourselves to investigate further and see whether the tablet holds up as a reliable entertainment and productivity device. Here is our review of the OnePlus Pad Go 2.
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In This Article
OnePlus Pad Go 2 Review: Design and Display
Before we dive into the review, let’s take a look at what you get inside the Pad Go 2’s retail box:
- Tablet
- 45W power adapter
- USB-A to USB-C cable
- User guide
OnePlus has kept the design of the Pad Go 2 clean and minimal. The metal unibody chassis has a matte finish. While it isn’t a fingerprint magnet, it can attract smudges over a period of time. The lone 8MP camera is placed inside a small cutout in the top-right corner. There is no LED flash to be seen. The OnePlus logo is embossed at the centre of the back panel.
The vertical edges of the frame house the quad-speaker setup with two grilles on either side. The side button is positioned on the left edge, while the right edge has a microphone. The top horizontal edge houses the volume rocker keys and another microphone. We used the WiFi variant of the tablet for this review. It does not come with a SIM or microSD card tray. Expandable storage support is exclusive to the 5G model, which is currently priced at Rs 32,999.
The 12.1-inch IPS LCD panel is surrounded by thick bezels to reduce accidental touches. This display has a 120Hz refresh rate and can hit 900 nits in High Brightness Mode. It is able to maintain perfect legibility in bright outdoor conditions. Its smooth touch response facilitates a satisfying browsing experience. The Pad Go 2 does not have an under-display or side-mounted fingerprint scanner. Face Unlock is the only biometric option on offer.
The LCD panel has a 2.8k resolution and supports HDR10+ content. It relays sharp visuals with punchy colours. While its contrast levels fade in comparison to an AMOLED display, this is the best viewing experience you’ll get in this price range. The quad speaker setup produces a decent audio output that’s loud enough to fill a small room. The sound quality is good enough to keep your earbuds in your pocket, but we would’ve preferred a slightly heavier low end.
There are 2 accessories available for the OnePlus Pad Go 2 – Stylo (Rs 3,999) and Folio Case (Rs 1,499). You can get the Stylo as a free gift if you purchase the tablet from OnePlus’ official website. This stylus is good for taking quick notes. It offers a decent grip and has a handy button to trigger quick controls. Tapping it on a locked display opens up the Notes app. We noticed a slight latency while using the Stylo for writing purposes, but it did not prove to be an annoyance. Since the tablet does not have any magnetic strips, this stylus can only be charged using a USB-C cable.
The folio case snaps shut magnetically, locking the tablet’s display in the process. It can be fashioned into a stand as well. This comes in quite handy while watching content on the tablet. The only drawback is that there is no way to adjust the viewing angle once the tablet is mounted on the folio stand. We do like that the case has a dedicated slot for the Stylo.
OnePlus doesn’t offer a keyboard case for the Pad Go 2. If you’re thinking about replacing your laptop with this tablet, you will need to explore third-party options for a keyboard case. Since there are no magnetic connectors on this device, any external keyboard will need to rely on a Bluetooth connection to work.
OnePlus Pad Go 2 Review: Performance and Cameras
The MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Ultra SoC lies at the heart of the OnePlus Pad Go 2. The tablet is equipped with 8GB (LPDDR5X) RAM and comes in 2 storage (UFS 3.1) variants.
- 128GB: Rs 26,999
- 256GB: Rs 29,999
- 256GB (5G, with expandable storage): Rs 32,999
We ran a couple of benchmark tests on the tablet. Here’s how it performed.
- AnTuTu 3D: 1,019,387
- Geekbench 6: 1,015 (single-core) | 3,108 (multi-core)
The Dimensity 7300 Ultra chipset is a big upgrade on the Helio G99 processor that powered the previous iteration in the Pad Go 2 series (our review here). The second-generation model immediately feels like a step up in terms of performance. It handles routine tasks like instant messaging, video calling, media streaming, and web browsing with absolute ease, ensuring that the general usage experience isn’t plagued by stutters. Apps take minimal time to load, and the LPDDR5X RAM does a brilliant job of managing them in the background. We were never left short of power while using this tablet during the review period.
Routine tasks aside, the OnePlus Pad Go 2 can run gaming titles like BGMI and Call of Duty Mobile. We recommend sticking to medium graphics and a 60fps frame rate for a pleasant gaming experience. We didn’t come across any major frame drops in the gameplay. While FPS games are best enjoyed with an external mouse and keyboard on a tablet, the touch controls did not disappoint us. The only drawback lies with the large form factor, as holding the tablet for a long duration can cause fatigue.
The Pad Go 2 runs Android 16 out of the box. We have long maintained that OnePlus has one of the best skins for tablets, so we are happy to report that the OxygenOS 16 was a pleasure to use on this device. Its light and breezy optimisation doesn’t come at the expense of crucial features. The split-screen setup allows you to maximise your productivity by running two apps side by side. Additionally, you can summon floating windows whenever required.
You get a good set of AI features on this tablet. The AI Writer can draft anything from emails to social media posts within seconds. The native photo editor lets you remove unwanted objects, shadows, and reflections from images. The AI Voicescribe can record, translate, and summarise your calls and meetings. Of course, you also get Google’s Circle to Search and Gemini Assistant on this tablet.
The 10,050mAh battery pack delivers over 15 hours of screen time. During the review period, we primarily used the OnePlus Pad Go 2 for media streaming, video calls, web browsing, and gaming. We got great mileage out of the battery, with the tablet lasting up to 2 days with ease. The overnight battery drain was minimal. The charging speed could use some work, as the tablet supports 33W wired charging despite shipping with a 45W power adapter. It takes just over 1.5 hours to fully charge the device.
The 8MP rear camera takes decent pictures in outdoor daylight conditions. While the images are slightly soft, they pack rich colours and have a good dynamic range. Images taken in limited lighting conditions are soft and grainy. The 8MP front-facing lens takes clear selfies with natural skin tones. This camera is ideal for video calls. Both 8MP shooters can record 1,080p videos at 30fps.
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Verdict
The OnePlus Pad Go 2 is a very easy tablet to recommend to casual users who prioritise a vivid display and a clean software experience above everything else. The 2.8k IPS LCD panel produces a thoroughly enjoyable viewing experience – perhaps the best you’ll get in this price bracket. OxygenOS yet again proves to be one of the best Android skins for tablets out there. It is perfectly optimised for the large form factor and takes productivity to the next level. Speaking of productivity, we hope OnePlus releases a keyboard case for this tablet down the line, as several users would want to use it as a laptop alternative.
Pros
- Great display
- AI features
- Good battery life
- Top-notch software experience
Cons
- WiFi model does not support expandable storage
- Mediocre rear camera
