OnePlus Pad Go 2 Review: A Surprisingly Complete Android Tablet
The OnePlus Pad Go 2 proves you do not need to spend a fortune for a premium tablet experience. Priced at Rs 28,999, this device offers significant upgrades over its predecessor. After using it daily for weeks, it has become my go-to tablet for streaming, reading, and productivity tasks. I have even stopped using my Galaxy Tab regularly. Here is a detailed look at what makes this tablet stand out.
Design: Sleek and Practical
The original OnePlus Pad Go had a controversial design with an oversized circular camera module. That module caused the tablet to wobble on flat surfaces. The OnePlus Pad Go 2 fixes this issue completely. It now features a much cleaner, iPhone-like single camera lens that sits discreetly on the back.
OnePlus has also moved away from the dual-tone finish. Instead, they use a unibody metal design that looks and feels premium. I tested the Lavender Drift color variant. It looks subtle and elegant, blending well with other devices. OnePlus includes a matching lavender folio case that acts as a stand. They also bundle the OnePlus Pad Go 2 Stylo for note-taking and drawing.
Display: Bright and Responsive
The tablet boasts a large 12.1-inch display with a 7:5 aspect ratio. This makes it taller and squarer than most tablets. It works excellently for browsing, reading, and multitasking. However, when watching videos in full screen, you will notice thicker black bars compared to traditional tablet displays.
OnePlus has increased the refresh rate from 90Hz to 120Hz. This change is immediately noticeable when scrolling through websites or reading articles. The tablet uses an IPS LCD panel instead of OLED, but color reproduction and brightness remain impressive. With a peak brightness of 900 nits, I had no trouble using it outdoors on a sunny winter afternoon in Delhi, even with direct sunlight hitting the screen.
Performance: Smooth and Capable
Performance was a major weak point in the original OnePlus Pad Go. The OnePlus Pad Go 2 addresses this concern effectively. It is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Ultra chipset. This chipset handles web browsing, reading manga, watching movies, and multitasking with ease. The tablet rarely shows any signs of lag or throttling, even during extended use.
For gaming, this is not the most powerful chipset available. Titles like Call of Duty, BGMI, and Genshin Impact run at respectable frame rates. However, you will need to lower the graphics settings for a completely smooth experience. Storage has also seen a notable upgrade. The new tablet features faster UFS 3.1 storage, delivering nearly double the speed of the previous UFS 2.2. This results in quicker app launches and smoother performance in games.
Software: Optimized and Reliable
The OnePlus Pad Go 2 runs OxygenOS 16 based on Android 16 out of the box. OnePlus promises five years of software updates and security patches. Based on my experience, the company's software support and update rollout have been reliable and timely.
OxygenOS 16 is well-optimized for the larger screen. Within any app, you can simply swipe up from the bottom bar to access split view or floating windows. This makes multitasking quick and intuitive. Like on OnePlus phones, OxygenOS 16 remembers grouped apps, allowing you to jump back into multitasking with ease.
The tablet supports a stylus, and OnePlus has done a commendable job integrating it into the user interface. In the Notes app, the stylus feels natural and responsive. Compared to other mid-range tablets with buggy software, the OnePlus Pad Go 2 stands out as one of the smoothest and most polished Android tablets in this price range.
Battery: Long-Lasting and Convenient
Battery life on tablets can be tricky to judge, but the OnePlus Pad Go 2 excels in this area. It features a large 10,500mAh battery. With light usage, the tablet easily offers over 10 hours of screen-on time. Even under heavy workloads, it lasts anywhere between 7 to 8 hours, which is more than enough for a full day of office use.
OnePlus includes a 45W charger in the box, although the tablet itself supports charging speeds of up to 33W. A full charge from zero to 100 percent takes close to two hours. This did not bother me, as I usually plugged it in overnight. The battery performance is reliable and meets the needs of most users.
Verdict: Who Should Buy It?
The OnePlus Pad Go 2 is a well-rounded tablet that gets most things right. From performance to software to updates, there is very little to complain about. The folio case makes the tablet difficult to use with one hand, but that is a minor issue.
The display is sharp, performance is excellent, and the speakers are loud enough to comfortably fill a medium-sized room. If I were to nitpick, the only real drawbacks are the slightly slower charging speeds and the absence of a dedicated keyboard case.
With a starting price of Rs 25,999, the OnePlus Pad Go 2 offers great performance, loud speakers, a sharp display, and fantastic battery life. This is one of the best mid-range tablets I have ever used. If you have a budget of Rs 30,000 and want a tablet that will last for years, the OnePlus Pad Go 2 is an excellent choice. I have recommended Xiaomi tablets for years, but the OnePlus Pad Go 2 has genuinely changed my mind.
