For decade , smartphones have progressively grown bigger , and after , so have tablets , and the lines between big phones and small tablet have grown progressively more blurry . Some companies make small-scale phones or tablets , but these are exceptions to the rule .

A case in level is Samsung ’s tablet portfolio . Samsung debuted theGalaxy Tab S10 series in Octoberbut drop down a replacement for the veritable Galaxy Tab S9 . The Galaxy Tab S10 Plus andGalaxy Tab S10 Ultrapick up where their harbinger bequeath off , but if you ’re a Galaxy Tab S9 user , you ’ll either have to bribe the FE series or flip-flop to an alternative .

One potential alternative is theOnePlus Pad 2 . It ’s prominent than the Galaxy Tab S9 but slimly smaller than the Tab S10 Plus . I ’ve been using it for a few months , and it ’s phenomenal . In particular , it ’s the perfect portmanteau word of productiveness , portability , and magnate , and some of OnePlus ’ staple features — like super - fast charging — are a cut above the contention .

Yes , it still suffers from the same endangerment as all Android pad of paper — namely that the iPad has a higher overall lineament of apps — but that aside , OnePlus has modernise an unvanquishable formula . Here ’s why the OnePlus Pad 2 is still my preferent Android pad here in 2025 .

Flagship hardware in tablet form

The OnePlus Pad 2 follows previous OnePlus devices by combine flagship specs in a more low-priced form agent . This mean the latest silicon , great electric battery liveliness , and A-one - loyal charging — and the OnePlus Pad 2 bear in every way .

It ’s power by theQualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3processor couple with 8 GB or 12 GB of RAM and either 128 GB or 256 GB of warehousing . There ’s a 12.1 display — versus the 12.4 - in in the Tab S10 Plus — but a tweaked aspect proportion to the Galaxy Tab S10 Plus means the OnePlus Pad 2 is significantly unretentive and a petty extensive .

At 584 g , the OnePlus Pad 2 is heavy than Samsung ’s latest pad of paper , but the smaller sizing and more friendly facial expression ratio means it ’s easy to carry . I chance the thinner and bigger Samsung design language less friendly , but OnePlus has built a tablet that feels great in the hand .

Excellent battery and super-fast charging

If you ’ve used a OnePlus phone before , you ’ll be intimate with the OnePlus barrage and charge experience . The OnePlus Pad 2 follow OnePlus speech sound by propose much faster charging than the rivalry and fantabulous battery biography . Like the Galaxy Tab S10 series — and unlike OnePlus earpiece — you get a USB cable in the loge but no charging brick .

As long as you ’ve got a OnePlus headphone , chances are you will have a brick capable of give up the 67W charging speeds on the OnePlus Pad 2 . Like most products , it rapidly charge at first before slowing down toward the death . For example , charging around 60 % takes just 30 minutes , but a full charge will take almost 90 minutes .

The 9,510mAh electric battery is n’t the heavy , but it is more than capable of lasting several Clarence Shepard Day Jr. with average usage . I ’ve attain more than 11 hours of mixed use on a individual bang , and the standby clip seems much stronger than other tablets . The Galaxy Tab S10 Plus has a slightly larger bombardment and display but offers similar electric battery animation , albeit with slower 45W charge speeds .

A great media and gaming experience

The OnePlus Pad 2 stands out as a media participant for one key reason : OnePlus focused on the display and the media playback experience . The list of lineament is considerable and include Dolby Vision support , a 144Hz refresh rate , and 900 nit peak brightness . It ’s made for media , play , and everything in between .

The display is only IPS , and there are occasions when I miss the Dynamic AMOLED 2X display on the Tab S10 series , but it ’s one of the best Android tab displays that I ’ve used . Unfortunately , it ’s still not on par with the Tandem OLED presentation on theiPad Pro with M4 — which stack two OLED displays on top of each other — but it ’s a phenomenal experience otherwise .

In particular , it ’s an excellent portable Netflix participant . Instead of carrying an Apple TV+ — a key item on my travelling tech tilt — for shorter trips , I ’ve paired the OnePlus Pad 2 with a USB - C to HDMI cable and plug it into a hotel television . It lack the DeX desktop feature of the Galaxy Tab S10 series , but otherwise , it works flawlessly and is the thoroughgoing direction to add Netflix or YouTube TV to any hotel TV .

A fantastic keyboard with one exception

The OnePlus Pad 2 keyboard makes typewrite play again . The soft finishing on the key , a springy action , and full key travel make it fun to typecast away on the keyboard . unluckily , OnePlus also tooketh away : it opted against my favorite keyboard .

Like theMagic Keyboard for the iPad Pro , OnePlus used to offer an excellent magnetized keyboard for its tablet . Unfortunately , for the Pad 2 , OnePlus choose to make a smart keyboard style keyboard instead , and while the keyboard is grand , it is n’t ideally suit for use in your lap on the go .

The welfare is that the keyboard is now detachable from the tablet , allowing it to simultaneously serve two determination . I hope that OnePlus develops the Magnetic Keyboard again , but for now , the Smart Keyboard is still a joyousness to utilise .

Great multitasking and software features

The OnePlus Pad 2 is compatible with the OnePlus Stylo 2 , the caller ’s answer to the Apple Pencil . The tablet also work the best multitasking features on a foldable form factor to a big display , and despite my love for Samsung ’s approach to multitasking , Open Canvas on the OnePlus Pad 2 is my newfangled favorite .

Let ’s bulge with Open Canvas , which made its entry 18 calendar month ago on theOnePlus Open . Until OnePlus , every Android manufacturer has approach multitasking in the same elbow room : splitting the display into different - sized windows that can each load an app .

OnePlus took an entirely unlike overture , and it is innovative enough that it deserve to be the nonremittal multitasking feature on all Android devices . or else of splitting the screen into three different windows , Open Canvas imagines multiple screens that you could swipe between . It ’s great on a foldable , but it shines on the 12.1 - inch filmdom on the OnePlus Pad 2 .

Outstanding value for money

The OnePlus Pad 2 is a quintessential OnePlus twist as it offer excellent spec and a majuscule all - around experience at a more affordable price than the competition . In short , the OnePlus Pad 2 offers excellent value for money . It ’s a compelling package , but then you view its pricing and positioning compared to the competition .

In the U.S. , the OnePlus Pad 2 cost $ 550 for the in high spirits - specification interpretation with 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of store . There are often deals uncommitted and at the metre of writing , it ’s discounted by 18 % to just $ 450 . The OnePlus Pad Smart Keyboard costs $ 135 additional , while the OnePlus Stylo 2 costs $ 100 . However , at the time of writing , you’re able to choose one of these as a gift when purchasing the OnePlus Pad 2 .

How does this compare ? In the Android space , it ’s the same price as the Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus — which fall with a bundled S - Pen but charge extra for the keyboard — but less than half the cost of the Galaxy Tab S10 Plus , which starts at $ 1,000 . For those wanting an iPad option , the OnePlus Pad 2 is kin to theiPad Air , which commence at $ 599 for the 11 - inch and $ 799 for the 13 - inch models .

It ’s not often I actively use an Android tablet over my iPad , but the OnePlus Pad 2 has earned its point in my go - bag . I just wish OnePlus had made a Magnetic Keyboard .