Aleksandar is a tech enthusiast with a broad range of interests, from smartphones to space exploration. His curiosity extends to hands-on DIY experiments with his gadgets, and he enjoys switching between different brands to experience the latest innovations.
yet, and that naturally raises the question: how much better will it be than last year’s already impressive Pad 2? While the Pad 2 positioned itself as an affordable yet powerful alternative to big-brand tablets, the Pad 3 looks set to push even further on that agenda with a larger screen, bigger battery, and the latest Qualcomm chip.
But as exciting as that sounds, this is still a pre-release comparison. Most of the Pad 3’s details are based on official teasers and leaked information, so take everything with a grain of salt until the official announcement on June 5. The OnePlus Pad 2 launched in 2024 with a $550 starting price, while The Pad 3 is expected to start around $599–$649. There will be pre-orders for early buyers who want to score free accessories like the keyboard and stylus.Bigger and thinner The OnePlus Pad 2 comes with a sleek aluminum frame with soft rounded edges and a minimalist look. It measures 6.5 mm thick and weighs 584 g, making it slightly heavier than some competitors in the same size class. The power button, volume rocker, and stylus charging strip on the Pad 2 are all positioned for landscape-first use, with pogo pins for the keyboard connector on the bottom edge. The Pad 3 is expected to take this same design and scale it up. According to leaks, it will feature an even thinner 6.0 mm chassis, while still retaining the aluminum build. That means it could be heavier.In terms of screen quality, the Pad 2 impressed us with its 144Hz LCD panel, decent brightness , and smooth scrolling. Colors weren’t the most accurate, but contrast and sharpness were perfectly acceptable for regular media content and casual work. The Pad 3 is expected to keep the IPS LCD tech and 144Hz refresh rate, though now on a much larger panel, and reportedly with support for Dolby Vision.The Pad 2 supports a Smart Keyboard accessory that magnetically attaches via pogo pins and charges through the tablet itself. It’s well-built, with spacious keys, a large trackpad, and gesture support. Sold separately for $150, it's a must-have for productivity. The Stylo 2, OnePlus’ smart stylus, comes with 16,000 pressure levels, Bluetooth connectivity, and magnetic charging. It costs $99 and supports remote gestures like scrolling or advancing slides. The Pad 3 will most likely support the same accessories or updated versions of them—and this time, early buyers in the U.S. can get both the keyboard and stylus for free with pre-orders. That makes the Pad 3 bundle especially attractive out of the gate.The Pad 2 runs on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, paired with 8 GB or 12 GB of RAM, depending on the model. In real-world use, it’s fast and responsive, with the 144Hz display taking full advantage of the power under the hood. However, synthetic benchmarks told a different story, with unexpectedly low single-core scores , likely due to thermal throttling or software tuning. Still, gaming and multitasking were handled well, and the Pad 2 was generally smooth in everyday use. The Pad 3 is expected to upgrade to the much more powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite, Qualcomm’s top-tier mobile chip, in 2025. Hopefully, the new model doesn't suffer from the same throttling issues we saw in the Pad 2 and the new chip can be utilized to its maximum potential. For reference, this is the same silicon that the Rumors suggest 12 GB of RAM again, which should still offer ample memory for demanding apps and multitasking. Storage configurations are unconfirmed, but microSD expansion is not expected, just like on the Pad 2.It’s lightweight, fast, and well suited for productivity. OnePlus hasn’t confirmed a long-term update policy for the Pad 3. The Pad 2 should get 3 years of major OS updates and 4 years of security patches, so the Pad 3 may follow suit unless OnePlus announces otherwise. No DeX-like desktop mode is available, but the clean UI combined with the keyboard and stylus makes for a decent laptop replacement for most workflows.The Pad 2’s six-speaker system was one of its standout features. It gets loud, maintains clarity at high volumes, and produces satisfying bass—all without distortion. The chassis even subtly vibrates when cranked up, adding to the immersion. The Pad 3 is expected to retain the same six-speaker layout, and if tuning is improved further, it could be one of the best sounding tablets in its class. There’s no 3.5 mm headphone jack on the older model so we don't expect one on the new one either. The Pad 2 supported 24-bit Hi-Res audio via USB-C, which should carry over to the Pad 3.Battery and ChargingCharging is where it excels—67W fast charging fills the battery in just 52 minutes, with 35% charged in 15 minutes. That’s much faster than most tablets. The Pad 3 is expected to bump battery capacity to 12,140 mAh, while retaining 67W wired charging. If true, this should deliver longer battery life, although it could increase the charge time since there will be more battery to fill.The Pad 2 has a 13 MP rear camera and 8 MP front camera, neither of which deliver standout results. Photos are passable in good light, but lack dynamic range and detail. Video recording tops out at 4K 30fps, and it’s fine for occasional clips or video calls. The Pad 3’s camera setup hasn’t been detailed yet, but there’s been no indication of major upgrades. It’s safe to assume the same or similar hardware, which is acceptable for a tablet, but not noteworthy.The OnePlus Pad 3 is shaping up to be a meaningful upgrade over the Pad 2. With a larger 13.2-inch display, next-gen Snapdragon chip, bigger battery, and bundled accessories, it’s clearly aimed at buyers who want power and value in a single package. That said, the Pad 2 still holds up well in 2025—especially if you don’t need the extra screen real estate or already own the accessories. If OnePlus sticks to its ~$599–$649 expected price and delivers on performance tuning, the Pad 3 could be one of the best all-aroundAleksandar is a tech enthusiast with a broad range of interests, from smartphones to space exploration. His curiosity extends to hands-on DIY experiments with his gadgets, and he enjoys switching between different brands to experience the latest innovations. Prior to joining PhoneArena, Aleksandar worked on the Google Art Project, digitizing valuable artworks and gaining diverse perspectives on technology. When he's not immersed in tech, Aleksandar is an outdoorsman who enjoys mountain hikes, wildlife photography, and nature conservation. His interests also extend to martial arts, running, and snowboarding, reflecting his dynamic approach to life and technology.A discussion is a place, where people can voice their opinion, no matter if it is positive, neutral or negative. However, when posting, one must stay true to the topic, and not just share some random thoughts, which are not directly related to the matter.Multiple accounts - one person can have only one accountModeration is done by humans. We try to be as objective as possible and moderate with zero bias. 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