Motorola Droid Xyboard 8.2 Android tablet reviewed

After the Xoom, Motorola has rolled out yet another cool tablet: the Droid Xyboard 8.2. With this tablet, Motorola has made a noticeable advancement in the tablet market and now, it’s a close competitor to the Apple iPad (maybe). Out in the market now, the Motorola Droid Xyboard 8.2 tablet is as light as paper, it sports a 8.2-inch widescreen, IPS-enhanced HD display and 2.1 adaptive virtual surround sound. You can efficiently stream files from your PC with MotoCast. Let’s dig in a little deeper.

Motorola Droid Xyboard 8.2

How it shows

Basically, the Droid Xyboard 8.2 is an upgrade from Motorola’s very own Xoom tablet. The Droid Xyboard can be termed as the next-gen Xoom as it can work as computer and a phone, along with other functionalities such as a camera, making the tablet a complete package. The Xyboard is an Android device with a dual processor. It is a 4G device with a high resolution display.

1. A striking feature of the tablet is that the Android 3.2 Honeycomb version is upgradeable to Android 4.0 Ice-Cream Sandwich.

2. It supports multiple networks, be them either CDMA or GSM.

3. Through the MotoCast, you can conveniently interface the tablet to your PC. Playing around with your files is now a piece of cake.

4. It has a Virtual Surround sound system and an Adaptive sound technology

5. It has a 5MP Camera with LED Flash and Digital Zoom plus a separate web cam.

6. Connectivity options include: WiFi, Bluetooth, USB and HDMI.

7. The Motorola Droid Xyboard 8.2 Android tablet comes with a web browser and in-built Adobe Flash Player. The outrageous Android market is, of course, there too.

8. It has Google Plus Messenger and Google Talk for Instant Messaging (IM) along with POP3 and IMAP4 for Email.

9. Supports multiple audio and video formats and has a standard 3.5mm headset jack too.

Where’s the difference

It weighs less than a pound, but the body still promises strength. The body of this tablet is covered with Gorilla glass which makes it scratch proof. The water repellent nano coating is also quite impressive. The Adaptive sound technology detects the position in which you are holding device and changes its sound intensity and clarity accordingly. It is equipped with an app, Dijit, through which you can use your tablet as a remote controller for any of your digital device.

The Xyboard 8.2 is very thin and weighs less. It sports one of the brightest displays on a tablet. The 5MP camera works well and the speakers ensure a great listening experience. The 4G LTE super fast speeds are a delight and the Micro-HDMI is a clever addition to this tablet. But the unique in-built universal remote functionality really spices things up.

The Xyboard 8.2 isn’t good enough to sign a 2-year contract or to buy it off-contract. The location of the Power and the Volume adjustment button is not very apt and this affects the usability of the tablet. Moreover, the tablet is susceptible to usual hangs and the aluminum plate on the rear looks poorly put.

Accessories

The Motorola Smart controller helps you to control another device like an HDTV, to which the tablet is connected. The wireless keyboard with a track pad allows typing comfort and the high speed cable allows data transmission at unbelievable speeds. The VGA travel adapter can connect the tablet with a larger external display, which is useful for presentations.

Price and availability

Considering what it offers, it’s a little over-priced. It will cost your around $430 or $530 with contract and off contract $600 and $700 for 16 and 31GB versions respectively. It is costlier than other tablets in the section. If you want a 10 inch tablet with a cell phone service and GPRS services, it’s not that bad to buy. In case you are someone who is satisfied with only Wi-Fi services don’t opt for this because you have cheaper options available.

Our say

The tablet is certainly good, but it’s your need that determines whether you should opt for it or not. Performance-wise, it works well, but price-wise, it does not. If you do not mind spending a lot and the combo of a mobile-plus-tablet is a must for you, you should go for this one. But if you are just a casual user with a price limit in mind, you should go for just a WiFi only tablet.