The vanilla iPad is an extremely efficient tablet, and what it has to offer for $349 is almost unbeatable. It gets almost everything right, from solid build quality and smooth performance to reliably feature-rich software and update longevity. It is perfect for children, schools and entertainment.
It’s been the North Star for gamers in the Android segment for years, but none have managed to completely eclipse it. OnePlus comes in with the Pad Go 2, a budget Android offering that goes in a slightly different direction, turns the iPad on its head and almost nails it.
It can’t quite beat the iPad in a decisive way, but for $399 it still offers plenty of extras that make it one of the most versatile Android slates on the market. I’d even crown it the best value Android tablet on the market. After using it as a companion device for a few weeks.
A screen snippet for working and playing
It’s difficult to find a decent screen on a budget. The budget constraints affect either pixel density, size, brightness or fluidity. The OnePlus Pad Go 2 strikes a good balance – perhaps the best balance – between all of these crucial metrics.
Compared to the vanilla iPad, it offers a larger display (12.1 inches versus 11 inches) with a resolution of 2800 x 1980 pixels. As for sharpness, the pixel density on the OnePlus Slate is even higher (284 vs. 264 PPI) and it also offers a higher brightness output of 600 nits (900 nits in high brightness mode), while the iPad reaches a maximum brightness of 500 nits.
There’s no difference between day and night, but you’ll notice better readability outdoors. Another underrated advantage is the aspect ratio. The 7:5 format is better for split-screen multitasking than the iPad’s square approach. Of course, the screen area is also more generous.
If you’re buying this tablet primarily for streaming content, it won’t disappoint. It supports Dolby Vision content and the aspect ratio also makes it a suitable choice compared to the 16:9 format on a number of Android tablets and Apple’s 4:3 approach.
If you plan to play a lot of games or even stream titles from the cloud, this panel is better suited for that. The OnePlus Pad Go 2 is less likely to experience pillarboxing situations or strange vertical clipping compared to the iPad.
The screen is fairly well saturated and the viewing angles are also fine. But what really sets this tablet apart is the 120Hz refresh rate. Most tablets in this price range – including the iPad – have a regular panel, but the OnePlus Pad Go 2 raises the bar with a 120Hz screen.
The extra pinch of liquid is immediately noticeable. Whether you’re interacting with Oxygen OS 16 as usual, taking notes with the pen or watching games, the 120Hz panel feels noticeably smoother. In automatic mode the frequency can drop as low as 30 Hz, but I would stick to the peak value even if it puts a strain on the battery.
Due to limited system resources, you can’t fully experience the fun of gaming at 60 FPS+, but in the few titles where this can be achieved with a little graphics optimization, the experience is quite enjoyable. In my experience, 60fps mode in games is the Goldilocks situation for the OnePlus Pad Go 2’s 120Hz LCD panel, and it’s still pretty fun.
The software is what sets it apart
OnePlus has really embraced the future of an AI-native software experience based on OxygenOS 16, but hasn’t overdone it. On the contrary, the Android 16 based software on the tablet still retains its own charm with many unique features.
The sidebar is one of my favorites. An inward swipe gives you quick access to your most frequently used apps and utilities, without the hassle of back-and-forth across apps. It also houses the File Dock, which works more like a synced universal file container, aka an improved clipboard.
Items that you access frequently can be quickly stored and accessed here without having to rummage through the local storage unit. Additionally, if you have a OnePlus phone handy, you can sync the files across both devices. Similarly, you get a handy screen mirroring system that works just like the iPhone-Mac bridge.
OnePlay has even developed an app relay system that allows you to broadcast the phone content to the tablet screen. I love the off-screen note mode, which lets you start doodling right on the lock screen without having to go through the unlock and app launch process.
There are also a handful of AI-powered features that can handle tasks like translation, summarization, image editing, and more. However, they could use some polish. For example, the AI ​​Writer feature didn’t work in the pre-installed Notes app, and I couldn’t run it on web pages in Chrome.
OnePlus’ implementation of app window management is pretty intuitive, especially the gestures. And yes, it does a better job than what you get with iPadOS 26 on the iPad. The drag-and-drop gestures, window switching, and transparency controls in OxygenOS 16 are standout elements of the user experience.
The only major flaw is the Open Canvas, which allows you to run three apps side by side. I liked it on the OnePlus Open foldable phone, but for some reason it’s missing on the OnePlus Pad Go 2. Apparently it’s due to resource limitations. Another feature that is sorely missed is the OnePlus Mind Space.
Another small but notable advantage is the scalable symbols. Essentially, you can expand the app icon and add quick access shortcuts in the same bubble. For example, the Perplexity app icon can be stretched to directly launch voice mode or camera view.
The highs and hiccups
The OnePlus Pad Go 2 offers a lot for its price. OnePlus has equipped it with the MediaTek Dimensity 7300-Ultra SoC, which comes with 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of onboard storage. That’s a pretty powerful combination for basic tasks, video streaming, casual gaming, and light video editing.
Devil May Cry handled it quite well at 60 frames per second, and Call of Duty: Mobile was an enjoyable experience even with the frame preset “high” and respectable graphics settings. Just don’t expect Zenless Zone Zero to be handled with the same visual verve and fluidity.
For comparison, in the Geekbench benchmark, the A16 silicon in the iPad is about 50% faster in multi-core test runs and a whopping 150% faster in single-core test runs. This gap does not translate to everyday experience. The OnePlus Pad Go 2 handles media and gaming tasks easily.
The speaker setup can get quite loud and sounds comfortable in the 50-50% volume range. However, as you increase the level, you will hear some distortion and rips while the bass also fades into the background. The iPad doesn’t perform significantly better, but it sounds more refined in a subdued way.
Battery life is a winner here. The 10,050 mAh power supply installed in the OnePlus Pad Go 2 easily manages more than 12 hours of streaming content. Unless you’re binge-watching, this tablet can last well over a day and even easily last into the second day. Fortunately, the power consumption when idling is not excessive.
The tablet supports 33W wired charging, which is extremely slow by OnePlus standards but is still a few miles ahead of the iPad. However, refilling is a test of patience. Using the included 33W adapter, it takes almost two hours to fully charge the tablet.
You can also get this device in a 5G cellular variant, which is pretty nice. The structure, on the other hand, is minimalist and absolutely solid. However, the black version I had for testing gets smudged, and pretty quickly, mind you.
Overall, the OnePlus Pad Go 2 is a fantastic option if you want to dive into the world of tablets but don’t want to miss out on the locked iPad experience. It is currently unbeatable in the Android segment. And there are enough standouts on the table here that will make even iPad buyers think about what the $50 premium can get them.
