specs
When reviewing any tablet, the first point of comparison is naturally with the iPad and this one is no exception. The Xoom is quite similar to the iPad in terms of shape and size and is made from high-quality materials. In the design department, the approach is also minimalist.
The tablet comes with a 10.1-inch HD display that has a resolution of 1280×800 and multi-touch functionality. The hardware consists of a 1GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual core processor and there is 1GB of RAM on the unit. It has 32 GB of internal solid-state storage space that makes it easy to store apps, music, movies, and other files.
It comes with a 2-megapixel front camera for making video calls and a 5-megapixel rear camera with a nice dual-LED flash. The first model is compatible with 3G, but it will be possible to upgrade it to 4G. On top of this, there are the usual features, including a 3.5mm headphone jack, stereo speakers, Bluetooth, and as mentioned above, the platform is Android 3.0 Honeycomb OS, which was built specifically for tablets.
advantage
What really works for the Motorola Xoom is the fact that it is possible to multitask even under heavy load. This is a great advantage as you will be able to do more than one thing at a time without any glitches or lags. The 3D graphics performance is also top notch and makes viewing HD multimedia content a joy. The scroll buttons move very smoothly and there are no other obstacles in this department.
Widgets are also scrollable, and the large HD resolution screen is really nice to look at. Its resolution is, in fact, superior to that of the iPad. Another great point in favor of the tablet is that it offers HDMI output with mirror mode, which allows the option to surf the web and play games on the television.
Cons
Here’s what’s not working for Motorola’s Android tablet: First, there’s no 4G at launch. Only 3G connectivity is available at the moment and we will have to wait until the second half of the year for 4G. The outer chassis, made of metal, is prone to smudges and fingerprints, as is the case with most glossy finishes. Also, there is no removable battery and no microSD card slot.
Performance
However, when it comes to performance, there’s little reason to complain; Android platform works great with this tablet and offers smooth web browsing, photo/movie viewing or gaming. Motorola seems to have taken full advantage of the dual core processor.
3D graphics have been included from the get-go, like 3D buildings on Google Maps and a 3D video wall on the fancy You Tube app.
All in all, the Motorola Xoom tablet is a very good buy for the price. It has excellent external and internal features and offers very good battery life. It is suitable for all the purposes it is built for and overall the consumer gets excellent value for money.