I purposely put off writing my review of the Motorola XOOM for a couple of reasons. Â Partially because we already have a perspective from another AndroidGuys writer, but also because I wanted to give it a thorough assessment of how I use the device in my daily life. Â After spending a little over one month with the XOOM I have grown to really like the device, almost love it. Â I’ll break this review into two segments (hardware, software) and give you my real-world view of the tablet and leave the hardcore benchmarks and head-to-head stuff for other people to cover. Â My reviews are meant for the Average Joe types, not those looking for a complete walkthrough of every internal component.
HARDWARE
The first thing you notice about any new electronics device (especially tablets) is the weight.  Pulling it out of the box, it feels heavier than one might expect.  It’s not overly heavy but it has enough weight to it that I stopped for a moment and thought, “Oh man, this might be too heavy for general portability”.  I had grown comfortable using the Samsung Galaxy Tab for a few months and was unfairly basing this future “portability” against a smaller tablet that I had carried with me everywhere.
Moving along, it takes one a few seconds to locate that power button, which I am sure you’ve heard about before. Â What seems awkward the first couple of times becomes very natural with prolonged usage. Since one tends to hold the XOOM in landscape mode, your fingers are already where they need to be to power it on. Â This is compounded by having a case or cover on the tablet, leaving the button exposed and somewhat recessed. Â The volume buttons are more obviously placed when in landscape mode, becoming a little bit wonky in portrait mode. Â Of course this would be the case no matter where Motorola put the buttons as rotating the tablet moves their position anyway.
The general feel of the XOOM is that it is a solid piece of equipment, built using good materials. Â There are no places where the device creaks or feels cheap, something which plagues those $100 knock-off’s you can pick up at Walgreens or Kmart. If there were anything I could change about this device it would be the material used on the back. Â The slick and soft backing feel like they could be scratched if placed on a table with salt and pepper or perhaps a lap that has pieces of sand. I’ve yet to scratch the XOOM but I primarily keep it bundled up in a protective case. Â The back also tends to pick up anything you might have on your fingers, even the slightest bit of sweat or oil. Â Of course you don’t want to mess with a tablet directly after polishing off a bucket of wings, but simply moving the device then will attract more sauce than you’ll want to deal with.
Coming around to the front of the XOOM, I’ll quickly point out that the screen doesn’t stay clean. Â Ever. Â Even casual tapping and motion swipes are picked up and don’t leave too easily. Â If you like to use the pattern lock screen for your phone, you might want to reconsider for the XOOM, it’s that bad. Â Opt for the PIN entry or some form of password lest you want your child or a stranger to figure it out. It’s not so much that the screen gets cloudy or hard to read but it just doesn’t look good powered off. Â Given that your entire usage of the tablet is on the screen (no buttons) the XOOM’s 10.1-inch screen can get ugly in a hurry. Â Watch how that thing looks once you start letting your seven-year-old play Angry Birds or Fruit Ninja. I have yet to find a great way to keep the screen oil-free or an efficient way of cleaning it.
The 5-megapixel camera performs as one might expect and is not notable. Â Holding the tablet up to record video feels a touch awkward and will draw plenty of looks. Â Almost every time I have used it to take pictures or capture a moment I had someone ask “What the heck is that thing?” Â Having the large screen display what you are snapping feels somewhat silly (no covert spy pics) in an age of tiny point-click cameras with higher resolution but at least I don’t need to carry around a second device.
The front-facing camera is more than adequate for my usage and works as well as anything else I have used. Â After nearly a year with the EVO 4G I can count the number of times I used video chat. Â Although it felt more show-off and gimmick on the phone at the time, I can see this becoming handy on a tablet. Video conferencing software and the improved GTalk will ensure that I use this camera more often.
The speakers on the XOOM are found on the back, just above the spots where your hands hold the tablet. Â While they are plenty loud for me and my usage, I might like to have seen them on the side or somewhere around the face. Â I get that the thin design doesn’t lend well to too many options, but I feel like things could be louder or clearer in rare instances. I don’t use the tablet to play music too often but the occasional YouTube video has me holding the device up to my ear.
I would love to see the charging input moved to a different spot on the XOOM. Â Being that I have the Portfolio Case to protect the device and set it up on my desk, I found that I cannot charge the tablet and display it at the same time. Â The charger is directly under the screen and it’s this exact spot you rest the tablet when propping it up.
While on the subject of charging and battery I am happy to say that the XOOM gets me through nearly two full days of usage from a charge. Â Of course your results will vary based on your apps and lifestyle. I like to keep my tablet with me on the desk as a second screen for chatting, RSS, email management and the occasional sports and news reading. Â The XOOM accompanies me to the living room where I catch up on reading and play games. Â My son also gets the XOOM in the car to play games and draw me pictures. Â I’ve grown accustomed to charging (Android) phones daily and I try to stay in that habit with the tablet. Â Fortunately, I don’t have to worry quite like I do with my EVO 4G.
Generally speaking, the XOOM is ridiculous fast. Having a dual-core processor does that ya know. Â I’ve yet to run into a spot where I feel lag or that the tablet is not responding quickly. Â In fact, going to my handset for the same apps really amplifies the difference. Â It’s somewhat like the way a Snapdragon processor runs circles around your G1. Â I can’t believe how much slower it makes my phone feel by comparison.
SOFTWARE (Android 3.0)
After having spent time with every build of Android to date, the Honeycomb UI is definitely a change. Â Notifications and navigation are on the bottom while menu options go to the top. Â It takes a little bit of getting used to but a few days into it everything feels natural. Â I especially like features like line-item notification dismissals and the images that come with emails and GTalk messages. Â The “recent apps” Â button displays the five applications and games you have been currently using, making it a breeze to jump between your NOOK app and email. Â Given the five panels to the home screen, there is more than enough room for icons, folders, and widgets. Â The new scrollable widgets are great (Gmail, USAToday, CNN, etc) and provide even easier access to your content.
I’ve run into the occasional snag and force close but I am a forgiving Android user. Â The first update that rolled out seemed to address some of the browser problems I had although there was no mention of that in the changes and features. Â Once in a while I will see an app hang up but I imagine it’s more to do with how it was written and not Honeycomb specifically. Â On the other hand, I am certain there are things that could be done at the OS level to make sure older apps play nice.
The short list of apps that have been written specifically to take advantage of Android 3.0 are gorgeous. The fragments and partitioned screens in applications like USA Today feel intuitive and take no time to figure out. Â Things work the way you think they will. I simply love the new Android Market, Gmail, GTalk, and Contacts apps as they are shining examples of how to optimize for Honeycomb. Â The Android 3.0 UI makes the Galaxy Tab experience feel like a scaled-up smart phone experience. Â Yes, I know we’ve heard all along that older versions of Android were not meant for larger displays, but the XOOM makes this all the more obvious. Â With or without a custom UI, Honeycomb is the way to go for a tablet. Â Period.
The on-screen keyboard is good and works well in either mode but I would recommend getting something like Thumb Keyboard to make it even easier. Â It’s here that I missed the ability to blast through an email or message on the Tab. Â Once I downloaded a second option, things got much more efficient. Â Having said that, the standard keyboard works very well in landscape mode on a lap.
Other features tucked away in Honeycomb such as quick access to settings and app management get cooler over time. Â It’s as if Google lets users skip a few steps to get to where they need to go. Â Hopefully these are the details that make it into future builds for phones.
WRAP UP
The XOOM reminds me a lot of the G1 of years gone by in that it’s a first of its kind device with a new OS. Â After seeing the way Android developed over the last few builds, I am confident that this tablet experience will improve over time. Â There’s plenty of hardware under the hood to keep up with a few releases and given that it’s stock Android, I am optimistic in future support.
My usage in this size tablet is completely different from what I did with the Galaxy Tab. Â Instead of a larger Android device, this is a perfect compliment to my handset. I am consuming more information, reading, browsing, and generally exploring. I find myself opening the Android Market to simply look around, something I never did with the Tab. Casual games are more fun and the new titles designed for Honeycomb really have a way of pulling you in. I was initially hesitant to spend the money on the XOOM, thinking it would be relegated to the coffee table or put aside after time. Â After a month, I am learning of new ways to use the tablet every day. Â I don’t even think of the weight or size any longer because of everything that this guy does. Â In fact, I have to tell myself to leave it at home when I go out.
While the tablet is not perfect, no smart phone is either. Â There is always something on the horizon that might look more appealing. Â Am I eyeballing the new Galaxy 10.1 from Samsung? Â Of course. Â I also look forward to playing with something in the mid-size (G-Slate) as well. Â However, I can’t own everything that comes out so I have to learn to make do with what I have. Â And with the XOOM, this was pretty easy for me. Â There is nothing at this point that I wish this tablet had or that I cannot wait for. Â With its high sticker price it’s not for everyone. Â Drop a 16GB version on us and shave a hundred or so off the cost and it would be terribly difficult to resist. Â As it stands though, my XOOM gets better every day.
Thanks for the review, I wish they would drop the price with all the competition coming out of the Samsung camp.
New to tablets but this is truly intuitive and easier to use than my laptop and faster.there have been no dissapointments works very well what more could you want.p.s. 5years ago I paid the same amount for a laptop that is a dinosaur compared to this a very satisfied xoom owne
Great review Scott. +1 for the 16GB WiFi version!
Looks like Best Buy just came out with a 16GB version, calling it the Family Edition. It’s $120 cheaper than the 32GB version.Â
I really couldn’t agree more with most of what you’ve said. Great review. I love my Xoom, It’s not perfect, but it nowhere near has bad as a lot of reviewers have made it out.
One point was was disappointed about was the xVid/Dvix/Mkv the video playback. However I have found since overclocking to 1.5GHz, video playback is smooth.
It took some getting used to, but after customising everything to work the way I want it. I couldn’t really ask for more. When more apps start coming out for the large screen format, it will be brilliant!
If you want a tablet that will just work, then get an iPad2, If you want a tablet that will allow you to basically do whatever you want, and if you enjoy playing around with technology, then get yourself a Xoom.
Thanks Cam – As much as I like it today, I really look forward to seeing what happens in the coming weeks and months.
Sounds like a great device, so what type of printing solutions are people using for tablets?
Printershare is what I use and it works great with my HP printer on wifi only. HP print anywhere is an option for printing through wwan.
Much better than the “Negatives: iPad 2 exists” review by the closet Apple-zealot!
Keep up the great work!
After just 5 minutes messing with either device, I don’t see how anyone could even begin to compare the two.
as for the charging port, depending on the case or method you use to prop it up, since the xoom has 360 rotation, can’t you just put the charge port on the top when you want to charge it with it propped up?
Very nice review, Scott. Question for you – As not all tablets are built for everyone, what kind of person do you think would find the most value out of the Xoom?
As someone waffling on getting a xoom, I appreciate your review, thanks. Stats and specs don’t really tell a story, personal experience does.
I couldn’t agree more with this.
The speakers bother me a little more and find myself often using headphones when I watch video on the Xoom.
I do not have a case on mine and the back does have scratches, but you cannot find them.
One problem I have with the marketplace is App discoverabilty. I often search for “android 3.0”, “honeycomb”, or “xoom”. It would be nice if you could filter based on what API level the apps are coded for.
The gaming experience has been far more enjoyable than I imagined. Great games are starting to drop fairly often too.
No photos to prove that you really reviewed Motorola Xoom?
The name fits. . .
Question – what do you think are the pros and cons of the WiFi vs. 3G/4G version? Of course, pricing aside.
good review..i have really grown acustom to the xoom now & i feel once software catches up to hardware this product will completely replace my laptop
A nice review, it’s good to see someone writing about the Xoom without saying how the iPad 2 does it better every 5 minutes. If i wanted to hear about the iPad 2, i’d be reading a review about that, you know what i mean? I have a Xoom on pre-order, here’s to hoping it gets with me this week!
I got my Xoom wifi the day before the official release after waiting patiently while all my friends ordered (and waited for) their ipad2. I am a DX user and see the potential in the OS. I was easily able to use wireless tether from the DX and was able to pull up wifi (for an ipad2) which I took as a small victory for Android. While I encounter more force quits than I’d like (several per day in different apps) I am patient because I know it is new. Pandora won’t work on the wifi only model but after an email to customer service, I got a reply that day saying it would be fixed in the next release. An apple user was watching me use it yesterday and his comment basically summed up what a lot of people are thinking- “wow, i never really gave android any credit but this looks really good.” I’m excited to see how the OS and app store will evolve. Now if I could only find the perfect case…
Oh I just love the Motorola Xoom! I got mine at http://buymotorolaxoom.com and it’s just so powerful!
I personally have always liked Android compare to Apple and I will definitely buy the Xoom. The first app I get will be the DISH Remote Access app so that I can stream live and recorded TV to my android devices. I actually work at DISH and the best part is that I can stream TV wherever I have 3G coverage or WiFi.
Very good review I love my xoom even though wasnt happy forking out that much for a tablet but I wanted the best and I paid for the best. ;)
This has now dropped in price on Amazon for those waiting for this to be cheaper! – Â http://amzn.to/l6St6V
 I waited a while to get the Motorola Xoom but in the end got it for its speed, resolution, and build quality. Got mine at http://www.buymotorolaxoom.com and I love it!
 This has come down in price for UK shoppers! – http://amzn.to/l6St6V
I am very tempted to get a zoom, in the uk I can get it for 129pounds and 25 pm for 24 months. I am concerned about the lack of 3.+ apps available.
the reported SD card issue and the fact I would like to connect USB peripherals such as USB memory sticks to the tablet mean I am unsure.
Any advice?
This is now in stock at Amazon with a price drop as well! -http://amzn.to/l6St6V
They sell the zone with a card reader slot, but the card reader does not work. it is not activated. they are supposed to come out with a fix, but so far all I have is a dead slot- if you buy beware
Let me say I returned my ipad for the zoom the same day ipad2 came out….I love this machine.
i am looking at getting the xoom but i was just wondering if you can use the webcam on msn?
Indeed. If it can play movies, then it’ll most likely be
suitable for web browsing. If we’ve learned anything from the Touchpad
it’s that people want tablets on the cheap- Amazon meet be willing to
provide.
http://www.iphonefamily.net
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I bought an apple ipad 2 and found it extremely limited and disappointing. Two days later I bought my Motorolla Xoom. The difference is astounding! I absolutely love the Xoom. I gave the ipad2 to my wife and unwisely let her use my motorolla Xoom when the ipad2 (which does not support adobe flash and several other very necessary add ons) when her ipad2 needed charging. Now I have to buy another Xoom for her.