OnePlus Pad Go 2 Review: A Worthy Successor with Premium Features

The tablet market has been experiencing a fascinating shift in recent years. While Apple has long dominated the space with its iPad lineup, the company's market share has been gradually eroding as Android tablets have stepped up their game. This trend is particularly evident in the mid-range segment, where devices like the OnePlus Pad Go 2 are offering compelling alternatives at more accessible price points.

Design and Build Quality

The OnePlus Pad Go 2 maintains the premium aesthetic that OnePlus has become known for in its tablet lineup. The device features a sleek aluminum unibody construction that feels substantial in hand at 597g, though the 6.8mm thickness helps keep it manageable for extended use. The glass front provides a premium feel while protecting the large display.

One of the standout design elements is the inclusion of stylus support, which has become increasingly important for productivity-focused tablet users. The device's dimensions of 266.0 x 192.8 x 6.8mm strike a good balance between screen real estate and portability.

Display Excellence

Where the Pad Go 2 really shines is its display. The 12.1-inch IPS LCD panel represents a significant upgrade over its predecessor, offering a resolution of 1980 x 2000 pixels. While this isn't quite 4K, the 283ppi pixel density ensures sharp text and crisp visuals for most use cases.

The display supports 12-bit color depth, which translates to over 68 billion colors - a feature typically reserved for higher-end devices. The 120Hz refresh rate ensures smooth scrolling and responsive touch interactions, while Dolby Vision support enhances media consumption with improved contrast and color accuracy.

With a peak brightness of 900 nits in High Brightness Mode (HBM), the Pad Go 2 can handle outdoor use reasonably well, though it may struggle in direct sunlight compared to OLED alternatives.

Performance and Hardware

Powering the OnePlus Pad Go 2 is the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Ultra chipset built on a 4nm process. This octa-core processor pairs four high-performance Cortex-A78 cores running at 2.5GHz with four efficiency-focused Cortex-A55 cores at 2.0GHz. The Mali-G615 MC2 GPU handles graphics duties.

With 8GB of RAM and UFS 3.1 storage (available in 128GB or 256GB configurations), the Pad Go 2 offers respectable performance for its class. The inclusion of a dedicated microSDXC slot for storage expansion is a welcome feature that many competitors have abandoned.

Camera System

The camera setup on the Pad Go 2 is fairly basic, featuring 8MP sensors on both the front and rear. While tablets aren't typically photography powerhouses, the inclusion of front and rear cameras at least provides flexibility for video calls and document scanning. Both cameras can record 1080p video at 30fps, which is adequate for casual use.

Battery and Charging

One of the most impressive aspects of the Pad Go 2 is its massive 10,050mAh battery. This substantial capacity should provide excellent battery life, easily lasting through a full day of heavy use or multiple days of lighter usage. The 33W SuperVOOC wired charging is notably fast for a tablet, helping to minimize downtime when recharging is necessary.

The inclusion of reverse wired charging is an interesting feature, allowing the Pad Go 2 to function as a power bank for other devices. Additionally, bypass charging support (via software update) helps reduce battery wear during extended gaming sessions by powering the device directly from the charger.

Connectivity Options

The Pad Go 2 offers impressive connectivity for its price point. The 5G model includes a physical SIM card slot, which is increasingly rare as many manufacturers move to eSIM-only solutions. However, it's worth noting that there is no eSIM support available on this device.

Wi-Fi 6 support ensures fast and reliable wireless connectivity, while Bluetooth 5.4 with aptX HD support provides high-quality wireless audio. The inclusion of a comprehensive sensor suite including accelerometer, gyro, and compass enhances the overall user experience.

Audio Experience

Audio quality is a strong point for the Pad Go 2, featuring a quad-speaker setup that delivers immersive sound. This makes the tablet particularly well-suited for media consumption, gaming, and video calls.

Software and User Experience

Running Android 16 with OnePlus's OxygenOS 16 skin, the Pad Go 2 benefits from OnePlus's reputation for clean, fast software. OxygenOS has consistently been praised for its near-stock Android experience with thoughtful additions and optimizations.

Market Position and Competition

The OnePlus Pad Go 2 occupies an interesting position in the tablet market. It's not quite a flagship device, but it offers many features typically found in higher-end tablets. This positioning makes it particularly attractive to users who want a premium experience without the flagship price tag.

When compared to competitors in the same price range, the Pad Go 2 stands out with its combination of a large, high-refresh-rate display, stylus support, and 5G connectivity options. However, it faces stiff competition from established players like Samsung's Galaxy Tab series and emerging Chinese brands offering similar specifications at competitive prices.

Conclusion

The OnePlus Pad Go 2 represents a significant evolution from its predecessor, addressing many of the limitations of the original while adding meaningful new features. The larger display, faster processor, 5G connectivity, and improved battery life make it a compelling option in the mid-range tablet segment.

While it may not compete directly with flagship tablets in terms of raw performance or camera quality, the Pad Go 2 offers an excellent balance of features, performance, and value. For users seeking a large-screen Android tablet with stylus support and modern connectivity options, the OnePlus Pad Go 2 deserves serious consideration.

The tablet market continues to evolve rapidly, and devices like the Pad Go 2 demonstrate that Android tablets are becoming increasingly capable alternatives to their Apple counterparts. As competition intensifies, consumers benefit from better specifications, more features, and more competitive pricing across the board.