Motorola Xoom Verizon Wireless Tablet Review

Motorola Xoom Verizon Wireless Tablet Review


Measuring 9.8 by 6.6 by 0.5 inches, the 1.6-pound Motorola Xoom looks slightly different than its primary competitor, the Apple iPad. Where the iPad has a brushed metallic border and back panel, the Xoom's contour back is black matte plastic. There's no physical Home button, like on the iPad, and the Xoom has a front-facing 2-megapixel camera lens flanked by the Motorola and Verizon logos, which run along the top horizontal border of the front panel. On-screen Back, Home, and Active Apps buttons, and a small battery indicator light live below the 10.1-inch, 16:9 1,280-by-800-pixel touch screen. On the lower horizontal side panel, there are connections for a microUSB sync cable (which is included), HDMI output, and the proprietary power adapter connection. (The tablet doesn't charge via the sync cable like most devices.) Two Volume Control buttons are situated on the left vertical panel. Around back there are built-in stereo speakers, a rear-facing 5-megapixel camera lens, a dual LED camera flash, and the Power/Lock button—which seems like an odd placement choice. You'll also find additional Google, Motorola, and Verizon logos on the tablet's back panel.