Chinese tech company OnePlus unveiled four new gadgets at an event in Milan, Italy. The Nord 4 smartphone, reviewed elsewhere on our website, was among them. Additionally, OnePlus introduced the Pad 2, Watch 2R, and the new Nord Buds 3 Pro earbuds.
For details on the Nord 4, OnePlus’ new mid-range 5G smartphone in ‘Full Metal Jacket’ finish, we refer you to our in-depth test (Data News was able to test the device even before the announcement.) The other major launch in Milan was the Pad 2, a powerful Android tablet that you can optionally expand with a keyboard and stylus.
Open Canvas
The OnePlus Pad 2 is slim (6.49 mm), featuring a spacious 12.1-inch 3K display with six stereo speakers surrounding it. The same Open Canvas feature, introduced on the OnePlus Open foldable smartphone, is available on this device. This allows you to place up to three apps side by side using the split-screen function. You can also extend the workflow to an external display if desired. The rear camera is an impressive 13 megapixels, while the tablet takes selfies in 8 MP resolution.
The MediaTek chipset used in the previous model has been replaced by the Snapdragon 8 Gen3 platform, which should improve performance. For now, only a single model of the Pad 2 is being released, without a SIM card slot. However, OnePlus states that the flagship tablet can easily share the internet with the phone, as well as sync multimedia, clipboard data, and notifications simultaneously. App Relay allows for seamless switching between the phone and tablet.
Under the Nimbus Grey metallic exterior, there’s 16GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and a substantial 9,150mAh battery that offers up to 43 days of standby time. A full charge takes 81 minutes using the 67W SuperVOOC charger (not included).
AI Features
OnePlus bundles the Pad 2 with a comprehensive AI toolkit. This includes AI Speak, which can read aloud, and AI Writer, which can generate ‘original’ texts based on images or text prompts. Recording Summary converts recorded audio into text or a concise summary. At the time of writing, it is unclear if these tools would be immediately available in French/Dutch.
The OnePlus Pad 2 will be available starting August 1st at a recommended price of €549. The optional magnetic clickable keyboard will cost €149, and the new Stylo 2 will be priced at €99.
Watch and Buds
We will be concise regarding the new Watch 2R. It’s essentially a more affordable version (279 euros compared to 329 euros) of the OnePlus Watch 2, which we had tested extensively in mars. The reason for this price reduction was not immediately clear at the launch event. It might be linked to the case material, which is no longer stainless steel but aluminum, resulting in a 25 percent lighter watch compared to the Watch 2. Other visual differences include the numbers being located all around the Watch 2R’s display, while the flat button of the Watch 2 has been replaced by a rotary button (which, can only be pressed). The watch is available immediately in Gunmetal Gray and Forest Green.
Finally, OnePlus showcased a new set of earbuds in Milan: the Nord Buds 3 Pro. These mid-range earphones, priced at 79 euros, come equipped with active noise cancellation (ANC) and a special Transparency Mode ensures that the user remains aware of relevant ambient sounds (traffic, announcements, …).
According to the manufacturer, the Buds 3 Pro incorporate an extra-large 12.4 mm driver, which, combined with BassWave 2.0 technology, should enhance bass performance. On a single charge, the earphones can provide up to eleven hours of battery life (without ANC). However, with the charging case (which can recharge the earphones), you will have enough power for 44 hours of listening pleasure. They are available in two colors: Starry Black and Soft Jade.
OnePlus Unveils Pad 2, Watch 2R, and Nord Buds 3 Pro in Milan
Chinese tech company OnePlus has launched four new gadgets at once at an event in the Italian city of Milan. One of them is the Nord 4 smartphone, which you can already find a review of elsewhere on our site. In addition, OnePlus has launched its Pad 2, Watch 2R and new Nord Buds 3 Pro (earbuds).
For all the information on the Nord 4, OnePlus’ new mid-range 5G smartphone in ‘Full Metal Jacket’ finish, we refer you to our in-depth test (Data News was able to test the device even before the announcement.) The other big flagship in Milan was the Pad 2, a powerful Android tablet that you can expand with a keyboard and stylus, if you wish.
Open Canvas
The OnePlus 2 is slim in appearance (6.49 mm), equipped with a spacious 12.1-inch 3K display with six stereo speakers all around it. The same Open Canvas feature that debuted on the OnePlus Open foldable smartphone can be used on the device, where you can place up to three apps side by side thanks to the split screen. You can also extend the workflow to an external display, if you wish. On the back, there is a remarkably large 13-megapixel camera. The tablet takes selfies in 8 MP quality.
The MediaTek chipset from the previous model has been replaced by the Snapdragon 8 Gen3 platform, which should boost performance. For now, only one model of the Pad 2 will be introduced, without a SIM card slot, but the flagship tablet can easily share the internet with the phone, as well as sync media, clipboard information, and notifications at the same time, according to OnePlus. With App Relay, you can switch between the phone and the tablet easily.
Under the Nimbus Grey metallic hood, there’s 16GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and a beefy 9,150mAh battery that offers up to 43 days of standby time. A full charge takes 81 minutes, provided you use the 67W SuperVOOC charger (not included).
AI Features
OnePlus ships the Pad 2 with a complete AI toolbox. This includes, among other things, the components AI Speak, which can read text aloud, and AI Writer, which can generate ‘original’ texts based on images or text prompts. Recording Summary, on the other hand, is a tool for converting recorded audio into text or a concise summary. At the time of writing, it was not yet known whether these tools would also be available in French/Dutch immediately.
The OnePlus Pad 2 will be available from August 1st at a recommended price of €549. The optional magnetic clickable keyboard will cost €149, and the new Stylo 2 will cost €99.
Watch and Buds
We’ll be brief regarding the new Watch 2R. It’s mainly a cheaper version (279 euros versus 329 euros) of the OnePlus Watch 2 that we had tested extensively in mars. What is the reason for this price reduction? This was not immediately clear at the launch event. It might be related to the case, which is no longer made of stainless steel, but of aluminum, which makes the watch 25 percent lighter than the Watch 2. Two other optical differences: on the Watch 2R, the numbers are located all around the display, while the flat button of the Watch 2 has been replaced by a rotary button (which, by the way, can only be pressed). The watch is available immediately in the colors Gunmetal Gray and Forest Green.
Finally, OnePlus presented a new set of earphones in Milan, the Nord Buds 3 Pro. These mid-range earphones sold at 79 euros are equipped with active noise cancellation (ANC), where a special Transparency Mode ensures that the user remains aware of relevant ambient noise (traffic, announced information, …).
According to the manufacturer, the Buds 3 Pro contain an extra-large 12.4 mm driver, which, in combination with BassWave 2.0 technology, should better emphasize the bass. A single charge is enough for the earphones to offer a battery life of eleven hours (without ANC), but in combination with the storage case (which can charge the earphones), you will have enough energy at hand for 44 hours of listening pleasure. Available in two colors: Starry Black and Soft Jade.
