The budget tablet market in India just got a serious wake-up call. Launched on December 17, 2024, the OnePlus Pad Go 2 isn’t just a minor spec bump; it’s a complete overhaul of what a “budget” tablet can do. With a starting price of ₹24,999, it sits right in that sweet spot where you expect performance but don’t want to sell a kidney.
The real truth is, most budget tablets feel like oversized smartphones with laggy interfaces. But with the addition of 5G connectivity (a first for the Go series) and the Dimensity 7300-Ultra chipset, OnePlus is making a bold claim: you can have flagship-level productivity without the flagship price tag. But is it just marketing fluff, or does the “Go 2” actually go the distance? Let’s get into it.
OnePlus Pad Go 2 in Shadow Black lying on a clean white minimalist desk.
OnePlus has stuck with its “ReadFit” philosophy. The first thing you’ll notice is the 7:5 aspect ratio. It’s squarer than your typical widescreen tablet, making it feel more like a physical A4 notebook.
The build is solid—a mix of metal and high-quality matte finish. The Shadow Black variant has a sophisticated, carbon-like texture that resists fingerprints much better than the Lavender Drift (Wi-Fi only). At 6.83mm thickness, it’s incredibly thin, though the weight has crept up to nearly 600g. It feels substantial in the hand—not “cheap,” but you will definitely feel the weight during long reading sessions if you don’t use a stand.
OnePlus Pad Go 2 held by a hand to show its 6.83mm thickness.
DISPLAY & VISUALS
This is where OnePlus spent the most money. The 12.1-inch 2.8K panel is stunning. While it’s an LCD and not an AMOLED, the 900 nits peak brightness means you can actually use this in a bright cafe without squinting.
The 120Hz refresh rate makes scrolling through Twitter (X) or long PDFs feel buttery smooth. Because of the 7:5 ratio, you get 14% more vertical space than a standard 16:10 tablet. This is a game-changer for students and Excel-warriors. However, the “real truth” for movie lovers? You’ll see thicker black bars at the top and bottom of Netflix movies compared to a wider tablet.
Don’t let the “Go” name fool you. The Dimensity 7300-Ultra is a massive leap over the old Helio G99. In our stress tests:
Multitasking: We ran Open Canvas with two apps in split-screen (YouTube and Chrome) and a floating calculator window. There was zero lag.
Gaming:BGMI and Genshin Impact run comfortably at Medium-High settings. It’s not a gaming beast like the iPad Pro, but it doesn’t turn into a toaster after 30 minutes of play.
AI Features: OxygenOS 16 brings AI Writer and AI Summary. The AI Summary feature is surprisingly accurate at condensing long web articles into 5 bullet points.
CAMERA & AUDIO
Let’s be honest: don’t use a 12-inch tablet to take photos at a wedding. The 8MP rear and 8MP front cameras are strictly for document scanning and Zoom calls. The front camera is centered in landscape mode, which is exactly where it should be.
The audio, however, is phenomenal. The Quad-speaker setup uses “Omnibearing Sound Field” technology. If you rotate the tablet, the stereo channels swap automatically. It’s loud, clear, and has a surprising amount of “thump” for such a thin device.
OnePlus Pad Go 2 camera module and the matte texture of the Shadow Black back panel.
BATTERY & ENDURANCE
The battery is a massive 10,050mAh unit.
The Reality: In a continuous video loop test at 50% brightness, it lasted 14.5 hours.
Charging: 33W SUPERVOOC is “okay” but not “OnePlus fast.” It takes about 28 minutes to hit 30%, and a full charge takes nearly 1 hour and 40 minutes.
Bonus: It supports 6.5W reverse wired charging. If your phone is dying, you can use the tablet as a massive power bank.
THE COMPETITION
OnePlus Pad Go 2 vs Redmi Pad Pro 5G vs Samsung Galaxy Tab A11 Plus
Feature
OnePlus Pad Go 2
Redmi Pad Pro 5G
Samsung Tab A11+
Price (Approx)
₹24,999
₹23,999
₹21,499
Chipset
Dimensity 7300-U
Snapdragon 7s Gen 2
Dimensity 7300
Display
2.8K 120Hz (7:5)
2.5K 120Hz (16:10)
FHD+ 90Hz
Battery
10,050 mAh
10,000 mAh
7,040 mAh
The Winner: The OnePlus Pad Go 2 wins on software (Open Canvas) and display quality. The Redmi is a close second for media consumption, but for work and study, the OnePlus 7:5 ratio is superior.
FINAL VERDICT
Buy it if:
You are a student or professional who reads a lot of documents (the 7:5 ratio is king).
You want a 5G tablet that doesn’t feel like a compromise.
You are already in the OnePlus ecosystem (App Relay and Screen Mirroring work flawlessly).
Skip it if:
You only want a tablet for watching 21:9 movies (too much wasted space).
You need ultra-fast charging (33W feels slow for a 10k battery).
You want a lightweight “mini” tablet (this is a big, heavy slab).
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
FAQs (People Also Ask)
Does the OnePlus Pad Go 2 support a SIM card?
Yes, the Shadow Black variant comes with 5G SIM support. The Lavender Drift variant is Wi-Fi only.
Is the Stylo included in the box?
No, the OnePlus Stylo (2nd Gen) is usually sold separately for ₹3,999, though there are often launch offers where it’s bundled for free.
Can it replace a laptop?
For basic tasks like emails, writing, and browsing—yes. For video editing or heavy coding—no.
Does it have a 3.5mm headphone jack?
No, you will need a Type-C to 3.5mm dongle or Bluetooth earphones.
How many software updates will it get?
OnePlus has promised up to 4 years of security updates and 2-3 major Android version updates.
