Motorola’s latest tablet is currently dubbed as Droid Xyboard. It is available in two different model, the largest 10.1 inch and the smaller 8.2 inch version. If you’re happen to live in Europe, then you might recognize these two tablets as Motorola Xoom 2 and Xoom2 media edition. But today, we will focused our review on the smallest model, the Motorola Droid Xyboard 8.2.
Build and Design
As you might already know, Droid Xyboard 8.2 feature 8.2 inch screen. It is a unique screen size, little bit bigger than the usual 7 inch tablet but still more compact that a regular tablet with 10 inch screen size. Unlike any other tablet, Droid Xyboard 8.2 feature angled edges. There’s no ergonomics explanation for this design, but all of our staffs agree that it is look very cool.
The screen can handle up to 1280 x 800 pixels resolution display. On the front side, you’ll find the 1.3 megapixels web camera. While on it’s opposite side, there’s small hole that contain the built-in microphone.
It’s back cover got some aluminum material finish with rubber frame that surrounded all of the edges. When we hold on to this device, it feels so great and comfortable. You can find the primary 5 megapixels camera and flashlight feature on the left side. Power and volume buttons are both placed on the top side of this tablet. These are the only buttons that you’ll find on Droid Xyboard 8.2 and they’re currently hard to press. It is not easily recognized by a simple touch. We are often accidentally turn our tablet to sleep mode, while we intend to increase the volume.
This tablet is a thin device. But when you compared it side by side to Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9, Xyboard is little bit thicker. You can find the built-in speakers on it’s left and right side. Audio jack and Infra Red port can be found on the left hand side, while micro USB, HDMI, and SIM card slot are currently placed on the right side of the tablet.
Screen and Speakers
Droid Xyboard 8.2 screen has 184 ppi pixels density. Normally, a standard 7 inch tablet will carry on 200 ppi pixels density. But don’t get it wrong, even with small amount of pixels density, Droid Xyboard 8.2 screen is still able to deliver high quality display.
Colors are displayed pretty accurate and brightness delivered in perfect amount. Viewing angles is also great. We’ve already spend hours stream movies through Netflix service without any problem. The touch screen quickly respond to all of our touch command. Well, maybe there’s a little bit exception for web browsing experience. There’s a noticeable pause delay, especially when you pinch zoom a web page.
Unlike any other tablet speakers, which is usually bad, Droid Xyboard 8.2 is currently packed with better speakers. It has cinematic surround sound technology on it’s two large speakers, complete with the digital subwoofer 2.1 for adaptive virtual surround sound. According to Motorola, the sound quality is completely depend on how you hold this tablet. Well, it seems like the company is right since we can’t hear anything in almost all positions.
In the end, we decided to set the volume to max level and we don’t find any trouble while streaming movies from Netflix. The music sounds over balance and pretty standard on this tablet. Even after spend some minutes to adjust the equalizer, it isn’t bring too much difference. Dialogue sound pretty good. We can hear the basses sound on these built-in speakers.
Performance
Droid Xyboard 8.2 is currently powered with a 1.2 GHz dual-core processors. It is more than enough to deliver fast and smooth performance. Although we’ve already witness the power of micro quad-core processors, we think that dual-core device is still good for these days requirement, at least until half of 2012.
The tablet is worked under Android 3.2 Honeycombs. When this tablet was released for the first time, it is contain lot of bugs and issues. But all of those problem has been tackled by some software update that is recently issued by Verizon and Motorola. Overall, the honeycomb work pretty well and could get along with the whole hardware package. We believe that it will be better when Android 4.0 update is already available for Droid Xyboard 8.2.
Droid Xyboard 8.2 will takes 40 to 50 seconds to boot from completely off condition to fully power up mode. On our independent benchmark test, this tablet is outclassed by Samsung Galaxy 7.0 and only manage to claim the second rank. But Droid Xyboard 8.2 is surely better than Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9, Asus Eee Pad Transformer, and Acer Iconia A501.
Battery unit is little bit disappointing. We turn on our Droid Xyboard WiFi mode and set the brightness level to maximum. With this condition, the tablet only manage to survive for 3 hours and 26 minutes. Under the similar test, Lenovo IdeaPad K1 can last up to hours.
But we’re currently pleased with Droid Xyboard 8.2 WiFi feature. It can capture the signal from far distance. This tablet is also support for Verizon’s fast blazing 4G internet connection, although it is not available every where. Thanks to it’s IR Blaster feature, you can also utilize this tablet as an universal remote control for your home entertainment system. You shouldn’t find any problem controlling your HD TV unit using this tablet from 8 or 10 feet distance.
Conclusion
Motorola did some great improvement on Droid Xyboard 8.2 and we are currently fall in love with it’s 8 inch screen size. However, you might dislike it’s poor battery unit. Not forget to mention it’s buttons that are currently hard to press and identified. It is also an expensive tablet, the 16 GB model will cost you $430 plus two years contract with Verizon. If you prefer the unlocked version, you have to pay for $600. With that amount of money, you can save some and still own an iPad 2 or Samsung Galaxy Tab.