OnePlus Pad Go | A compelling mid-segment choice that sometimes falls short

The Hindu tried out the OnePlus Pad Go for several weeks to see if the company’s newest tablet offering is worthy of a buyer’s attention.

OnePlus released its very first tablet, the OnePlus Pad, in May this year, but the Chinese electronics maker has come back with its second tablet even before the end of the calendar year. Retailing at ₹23,999, the OnePlus Pad Go is what the company described as its “first mid-level tablet” and is geared towards entertainment-seekers.

The Hindu tried out the OnePlus Pad Go for several weeks to see if the company’s newest offering is worthy of a buyer’s attention.

We received the OnePlus Pad Go, a Type-C Cable, the 33W SUPERVOOC Power Adapter, a SIM ejector, and documentation for the device. Accessories such as the keyboard and the stylus will need to be purchased separately.

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Slim and lightweight, the OnePlus Pad Go comes with a metallic sage green backing and a glossy green camera bar. The stylish colour scheme makes the tablet stand out in a segment saturated with generic black and dark grey devices. As the tablet is very thin and slippery, owners may want to invest in a sturdy case to enjoy a more comfortable grip. The screen and camera bar also get severely smudged with use, so additional protection is a must.

While the design is aesthetic, there are several challenges. The OnePlus Pad Go’s power and volume buttons are perpendicular to each other, causing confusion whenever the device is flipped. The button placement also favours left-handed users when the tablet is placed in the landscape mode. As the camera protrudes from the back, users’ fingers pass over it often and dirty the lens, causing foggy photos. A standing case is also necessary since the speaker vibrations are very strong and pass through the hands. The on-screen bezels are thick, and there is no home button.

OnePlus’ OxygenOS 13.2 does not feel very different from an Android setup, and a less technical user is not likely to even notice a difference. The OnePlus Pad Go comes with a pre-installed word processor system. The device can be locked with the help of a password or through facial recognition. The user interface feels generic and easy to navigate.