OnePlus Pad Go 2 review: Looking for an iPad alternative? This might fit the bill.

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iPads are not the panacea of ​​tablets. There’s a big world beyond iOS, and Android tablets are just as suitable for all your streaming and working needs. OnePlus, a supplier of Android smartphones and smartwatches, also makes tablets.

The brand’s latest novelty, the OnePlus Pad Go 2, is a tablet for less than $500. On the surface, it looks a lot like Apple’s iPads, but how do they compare under the hood? Well, that’s where the differences appear.

I tested the OnePlus Pad Go 2, a tablet aimed at students and creatives, to see how it compares.

OnePlus Pad Go 2 specs and price

Even though it doesn’t have the best computing power for creatives, you can still draw and doodle on the OnePlus Pad Go 2.
Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The OnePlus Pad Go 2 is the brand’s accessible tablet. It doesn’t have quite the computing power and memory we expect from a laptop, but it still has more than you’ll get in a phone.

• Price: $399.99

• Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 7300-Ultra

• Memory: 8 GB of RAM

• Storage: 128 GB ROM

• Display: 2.8k resolution, 900 nits brightness and 120 Hz refresh rate

• Port : 1 USB-C port

• Camera: 8MP front and rear camera

• Audio: 4 speakers

Ideal interface for those switching from iOS

After testing various Android tablets, I declare the OnePlus Pad Go 2 to be the most iPhone friendly. Turning on the OnePlus Pad Go 2, I was pleased to see how familiar the home screen looked, with its widgets and sleek display. The biggest difference is that Apple uses square app icons, while OnePlus tablets use round icons. The gestures are also essentially the same: swipe down to access menus or swipe up to close apps.

Compared to other Android tablets I’ve tested, it seemed much more intuitive. It’s not entirely fair to only attribute it to being similar to iOS, as the OnePlus Pad Go 2 has many features that iPads don’t have. In the Pad Go 2’s bottom apps bar, you’ll find a directory that lets you quickly browse your apps alphabetically rather than flipping through all your display pages.

Split-screen functionality is missing

The Pad Go 2’s split-screen feature isn’t as functional as the multi-window features on other tablets.
Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The flagship tablet feature is multi-window displays, now available on iPads and Samsung Galaxy Tabs. Rather than true adjustable windows, on the OnePlus you can use split screens which split the screen in half, although you can drag the splitter to adjust the split. What you can’t do is move organic windows around to create a fully customizable workspace.

You can also use OnePlus’ floating window feature; However, windows always lock to one side of the screen, so you don’t have full freedom to move them. The OnePlus Pad Go 2’s split-screen feature is good in a pinch, but not as usable as the multi-window features on other tablets.

High-quality streaming with just OK speakers

The OnePlus Pad Go 2’s tiny speakers deliver disappointing sound.
Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

I spent a lot of time streaming on the OnePlus Pad Go 2; he became my companion when I worked or cooked in the kitchen. I have never been disappointed with the streaming quality. It’s a fast processor that never buffers, leaving me on an unintended cliffhanger. Its 2.8k resolution and 900 nits brightness provide clear and bright image quality.

What impressed me less about the OnePlus Pad Go 2 was its speakers. The tablet has four speakers, but I found the sound to not be very flattering. It sounded like a smartphone speaker, generally clear but a bit fuzzy and tinny.

Disappointing computing power

For everyday use, I found the OnePlus Pad Go 2 to be a fast and well-equipped device. It loads pages easily and requires very little buffering. I expected it to be comparable to Apple’s iPad with the A16 chip, but I was surprisingly disappointed.

In the Geekbench 6 test, the OnePlus Pad Go 2 scored 3,030 in the multi-core test. That’s less than half of the iPad’s score of 6,233. This score does not weigh down the Pad Go 2; For light activities like streaming, reading, mobile gaming, and internet browsing, it has plenty of power. But I wouldn’t use this tablet for photo or video editing or any other very demanding task.

Extended battery life

One of the most impressive features of the Pad Go 2 is its battery life. Running a battery drain test, it lasted 13 hours and 57 minutes. That’s an impressive amount of time, meaning you won’t have to charge it every day and it can keep you company on long-haul flights.

Cameras flatter no one, human or animal.

I’ll look at you a little sideways if you take photos with your tablet. But hey, there’s a time instead. The front and rear cameras of the OnePlus Pad Go 2 leave a lot to be desired. I know it’s winter, but when I took a selfie, I felt pale and washed out. The rear camera isn’t any better. I went to take a photo of my puppy, Milly, and found that it didn’t do her much justice – the photo was still washed out and grainy.

Should you buy the OnePlus Pad Go 2?

The OnePlus Pad Go 2 is pretty good
Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The OnePlus Pad Go 2 is a very good tablet. For basic tasks, it works well. I had no problems using it for streaming and browsing. For a budget Android tablet, it definitely gets the job done. That said, there is still room for improvement in terms of camera, computing power and speaker.

I recommend the base iPad over the Pad Go 2. Its shape and interface are almost identical; However, it has a higher Geekbench 6 score and is $50 cheaper (and often on sale for even less).

But if you’re not happy with iOS, the Pad Go 2 is a comparable, albeit less powerful, Android option.