Motorola XOOM Wi-Fi With Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich Review
The Wi-Fi Motorola XOOM tablet is one of the few devices in the U.S. to have received an update to Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich. Although the tablet launched over a year ago, The Christian Post recently got to spend some time with a XOOM running Google's latest operating software.
Here is a review of the Motorola XOOM ft. Ice Cream Sandwich.
Display
When it was first released in early 2011, the Motorola XOOM's display was probably on par with most of the tablets in the market. But now it seems the technology of its 10.1 WXGA has fallen slightly behind some of its competitors such as Apple with the Retina display on its new iPad. Its picture quality is slightly dull, lacking the brightness of devices like the Galaxy Tab or Note. Transitions from screen to screen are relatively smooth and Ice Cream Sandwich employs a new graphics foundation that makes fonts extremely clear and legible. Watching YouTube videos is satisfying on the tablet as well.
Speed
The Motorola XOOM features a dual-core processor that happens to compliment Ice Cream Sandwich nicely. There is little to no lagging on the device while switching applications or waiting to view a video. Multitasking is also smooth on the tablet. It barely ever froze up and for the most part is quite efficient for getting things done. Every app loads up quickly.
Battery Life
This is one of the most impressive areas on the Motorola XOOM Wi-Fi tablet. On a full charge the device can last up to 14 days left on standby. Here at CP we have used it at a moderate level over the course of seven days and have not had to charge the device yet. It still is at 30 percent battery life after all the use.
Camera
The 5-megapixel camera featured on the XOOM takes some nicely detailed pictures. It also films videos capable of 720p playback. CP found that the video quality was good, but all the detail was lost once we zoomed in on something while filming. The video became quite blurry. However, normal filming was good as the videos played back showing nice detail.
With Ice Cream Sandwich, the Panorama is now available on the device. Panorama makes for a fun feature where you can form an image by scanning a wide area. CP did not encounter any problems using this feature on the XOOM.
Design
The Wi-Fi 10.1-inch XOOM is a heavy device weighing in at 708 grams. Holding it with one hand for too long can be exhausting. It seems to be quite sturdy and the screen is scratch-resistant. A good part of its body is made from Anodized aluminum.
Conclusion
The Wi-Fi Motorola XOOM is an efficient device. It's display seems to lack brightness, but it still displays content with nice detail.