One of the goals of tablets as a device since their inception is that one day they would be able to replace the laptop. But it takes a lot to do so: good performance, up-to-date software, quality accessories, etc. No, Replacing a computer is not up to any tablet or any job.
When OnePlus introduced the new OnePlus Nord 4he did not arrive alone. He was accompanied by headphones OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Prothe OnePlus Watch 2R smartwatch (which I was able to prove) and the OnePlus Pad 2, which I was able to get my hands on. OnePlus’ new tablet is aiming high in terms of performance, but beyond the spec sheet there is the day-to-day life. I have used the OnePlus Pad 2 for my work as an editor and this has been my experience.
Some preliminary considerations. This is an experiential article focused on my work, so what works for me might not work for you. I mainly use Webedia’s content management system, the Google suite, some ChatGPT, a website for EITB calls, and GIMP, although I usually do some photo editing so simple that I run it from my iPhone. Before I start, I already run into a couple of limitations: there is no GIMP app and Apple-only tools like AirDrop are not available for Android, although I get by with Telegram.
What I have been able to test these days is the OnePlus Pad 2 tablet accompanied by the keyboard-case and the stylus, although I have barely used the latter simply because it is not integrated into my routine (I don’t need it).
What caught my attention the most is the highest quality of materials and design: It has an elegant aluminum chassis, the keyboard feels very comfortable both when typing and using the pad, and the finishes are first class. I have a 2020 iPad Pro and it has nothing to envy in terms of aesthetics.
The tablet in question weighs just over half a kilo and is quite thin, although I have always carried it with the case, made of imitation leather and divided into two parts, one for the back of the device with a stand to put it vertically and the other that integrates the keyboard. With or without a case, It is a very handy device to carry in your backpack or in your hand.My laptop is a 13″ M1 MacBook Pro, which weighs almost twice as much.
The screen is another element that has impressed me, because it is one thing to use the tablet to watch a movie or series and another to spend a day writing. It does not reach the 13″ of my Mac, but it is close and it is ambitious in terms of performance for intensive use: 12.1″ with 3K resolution and up to 900 nits of brightness. A larger diagonal screen would be appreciated, but I’ve made do quite well. As a note: it has a 7:5 aspect ratio which is quite reminiscent of the 4:3 of the iPad and which is just as comfortable for working compared to the more landscape models (interesting for viewing content, but not so much for productivity).
The tablet only has one USB-C portbut that hasn’t been a problem as long as I don’t tend to connect extra devices… and since Apple isn’t exactly known for its generosity with ports, I always carry an adapter with me.
Performance
The OnePlus Pad 2 doesn’t have any PC hardware, but it doesn’t have a desktop operating system either, so in a nutshell: works like a charm for standard tasksUnder the hood we find a powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 accompanied by 12GB of RAM (much more than my MacBook Pro, which only has 8GB!) and 256GB like my computer. As OS, Android 14 with OxygenOS 14.1.
During my testing days I’ve used it for general tasks like checking email, browsing the web, watching the occasional video and the productivity tasks mentioned above and the performance has been fluid, with no noticeable lags, crashes or delays. It’s not as fast and it doesn’t handle having multiple things open as well, but Performance has not been an issue.
From the OnePlus customization layer I want to highlight that taskbar from the bottom area with the open and most used applications, which significantly speeds up the multitasking and also allows you to have three applications on the screen at the same time. Both things have been very useful to me in my daily professional life.
Experience
Between the good feel of the keyboard and pad, the quality and diagonal of the screen and the productivity tools of the OS, the idea of replacing the computer was promising. I had already tried it before with my iPad and with a Samsung tablet occasionally last summer and it always happened to me the same: in the end, the computer is much more comfortable and practical. Will the same thing happen to me with the OnePlus Pad 2?
I have mentioned the quality and care of the keyboard a couple of times and I can confirm: it is better than the Logitech one I have on my iPad. That said, it is a keyboard with a different layout, without tildes or tildes And although the OS has productivity options, it lacks the possibility of changing it to a QWERTY-ES, so I have been forced to always use the Google suite to correct words and suggest new ones. So, from “manana” it changes to “maña” and from “dia” to “día”. Annoying but handy. Yes, there is the option of writing on the screen, but for a journalist who writes so much throughout the day, it is not viable.
Although my tasks are not demanding per se, it is quite common for me to have 17 tabs open in the browser, a couple of browsers, the CMS, the photo editor and some other PDFs. Yes, The OnePlus Pad 2 allows multitasking, but the management of this is not as fluid and efficient like the computer, even if it has more RAM.
The pad is a real lifesaver for a computer-like experience, since switching to touching the screen or the pen would have involved a certain physical learning curve (understand me: I know how to use both, but I haven’t internalized them), but it’s not as smooth.
Let’s talk about tasks and processesAlthough the experience is intended to be similar to desktop software, it is not and it shows: the pages open in mobile format (in some cases, they appear vertically even if you have the tablet in horizontal), the adaptation is different and, for example, in the case of the content management system (designed for computers), its menu appears in the area immediately above the cursor and the format menu as well.
Two menus in the same place forces you to juggle to choose one or the other. That is, Interface adaptation has room for improvementbecause in practice you have the tablet in horizontal position and there are elements designed for tablet/mobile and others for computer.
In any case, I solved the problem: I wrote a couple of articles in the Google suite, pasted them into the CMS, downloading and adding photos was quick (Android makes it much easier than iOS) and I was also able to access the radio. Although I was able to edit some photos, it is something I normally do on the iPhone and since I couldn’t use GIMP, in the end in that sense it is a half-baked experience.
I had to make efforts to adapt (I would have also had to do it using Windows instead of Mac), but For a basic office usage scenario it is more than adequate..
Finally, I don’t want to forget its battery: 9,510 mAh that allowed me use it for almost a couple of days without any problempractically at the same height as my laptop. However, it does not come with a charger and to power it easily you should use a 67W SUPERVOOC adapter.
Conclusions
The OnePlus Pad 2 is One of the best tablets I’ve ever tried and we must acknowledge several virtues: its finishes, its power, its readiness for professional use, the quality of its accessories and even its price-performance ratio. Considering that it is a high-end tablet, 549 euros is a very striking price.
But it’s time to do the mathThe keyboard is sold separately and costs 149 euros, although at the moment for 499 euros you get a keyboard case and tablet (or if you prefer, tablet and pencil). Adding up their RRPs we get 700 euros and in the best case, 500 euros.
The problem is that There are already laptops for that price: Yes, they have a worse but larger screen, probably less RAM and are heavier and less premium, but you gain in versatility, you have a consolidated full desktop experience that allows you to do everything without resorting to hacks.
Yes indeed, If lightness is an essential factor and your use is limited to office automationthen the OnePlus Pad 2 is a great candidate because in practice an ultrabook usually costs around a thousand euros as a base price. If you can live with something less lightweight or need it for other purposes, it means making compromises.
The tablet is getting closer to replacing my computer, but I have to keep waiting.
Cover | Eva Rodriguez de Luis