Move over, iPad; there’s a new multitasking king on the block

My daily workflow revolves around browser-based services. Tablet The iPad is the perfect device for me to use on the go, and in fact, I’ve been documenting my adventures on it. iPad as your primary computer I’ve tried it a few times in the past, but being a compulsive multitasker, I always end up going back to the desktop. I rely on my 43″ TV as a monitor for multitasking setup, so you can imagine that a tablet just isn’t enough for a full day of work. But OnePlus has a solution that could change my mind.

I’ve been checking out new stuff OnePlus Pad 2We think the company’s Open Canvas system is the biggest advancement yet in multitasking on tablets, and it’s certainly better than Apple’s Stage Manager. But more on that later. Open Canvas Multitasking Works with OnePlus Pad 2.

Astute readers will remember that Open Canvas is not all that new. OnePlus OpenMy colleague Ryan called this the best approach to multitasking on any foldable in his review, and we’ve found that anything that works on a foldable also works on a tablet.

I’ve been using the OnePlus Open as my primary smartphone since it was launched last year, and Open Canvas is one of my favorite features. However, due to the limitations of the screen size, I rarely use more than two apps at the same time. Size isn’t everything, but 7.8 inches is not enough to display three apps at the same time. The OnePlus Pad 2 has a gigantic 12-inch screen, so you can have three usable apps on-screen at any time. Here’s how it works:

Once you’ve launched your main app, you can use the standard Android method of going into the multitasking menu and tapping the split screen option, or use a gesture shortcut: As long as your tablet is in landscape mode, swiping down the middle with two fingers will split the app and allow you to launch another app.

To launch your next app, swipe from the top-right corner to reveal the OnePlus Smart Sidebar, a floating toolbox that lets you access any app on your phone. Simply hold and drag an icon across the screen to open a third split area on the OnePlus Pad 2’s large 12-inch display.

By default, thirds split highlights two apps and displays the third off-screen, but a quick four-finger pinch will bring all apps into view at once. On the OnePlus Open, this three-app layout was too small to read, but the generous space on the OnePlus Pad 2 makes it a very practical solution.

I play guitar in my bedroom and I always have my tabs displayed on my tablet. Metronome App and Spotify Or you can use YouTube as your backing track. Open Canvas lets you have all three open at the same time. What about me? I love having tabs and a metronome on screen, and Spotify just a tap away. You can even lock specific app combinations for easy return. Awesome!

Open Canvas itself is limited to a maximum of three apps, but it has one more trick up its sleeve: you can load a fourth app as a floating window. It’s not as convenient as full-blown multitasking, but it can help in a pinch. In my case, this means loading up a YouTube tutorial where a skilled guitarist demonstrates how to perfectly play a complex lick. But the possibilities are endless.

That said, I’d love to see OnePlus open up its Canvas multitasking system to more than three apps. The OnePlus Pad 2’s 12-inch display is easily large enough to display four apps, and probably more if displayed in a smartphone-style portrait window. In fact, I wouldn’t mind having an infinite app canvas, even if it limited me to three apps at a time. But I digress.

OnePlus Pad 2 vs iPad Air: Which is better for multitasking?

My favorite tablet is iPad AirI have plenty of experience with multitasking in that ecosystem, so it makes sense to pit the OnePlus Pad 2 against the iPad Air. Out of the box, the iPad’s multitasking is pretty basic, offering little more than a variety of two-way splits and a third app tucked away to the side. But Stage Manager (Apple’s attempt to shoehorn desktop-class multitasking into a tablet) is also worth considering.

When I wrote about Stage Manager two years ago, I called it a good start with a lot to learn. Stage Manager It hasn’t moved an inch since then. iPadOS 18 Beta It didn’t improve anything. It’s still just a two-way split, with the added benefit of being a bit less restrictive on how you split the window. There’s a lot of wasted screen real estate, as Apple has focused on animations and effects. I tried it briefly, and it reverted to the regular interface. The feature was cumbersome, which explains why Apple hasn’t mentioned it in any of its WWDC sessions since.

In contrast, OnePlus’ multitasking experience is much more capable and smooth, making the most of every inch of available screen real estate.

I could end this story by saying that OnePlus has built the best multitasking system on a tablet. And it is. But I also need to point out its limitations. First, limiting it to three apps seems like an arbitrary limitation that doesn’t belong on a high-end tablet. More flexibility in window resizing would also be a nice addition. But the most egregious issue is the lack of education on how to enable this feature. I would never have noticed it if I wasn’t already using it with OnePlus Open. Unfortunately, this feature will remain largely unnoticed by the majority of OnePlus Pad 2 users.

That said, it’s clear that OnePlus has the right idea when it comes to truly maximizing productivity on foldables and tablets. I hope this feature is freely stolen across the Android (and Apple) ecosystem; it’s too great not to steal it. Well done, OnePlus!