Motorola Xoom Vs Apple iPad 2 (Specs, Price, Looks and More)

Unveiled last week, the long-awaited iPad2 has been announced with an official release date of March 11, 2011. Like we expected, a lot of potential buyers are now finding it difficult to choose between the Motorola Xoom and the Apple iPad2. If you are one of them, you need not worry! This will be a detailed comparison between the two tablets in terms of design and aesthetics, sexiness, camera quality, processing power, display quality, accessories, apps, software availability, and price. But the final decision is entirely up to you. We just share our point of view.

But, before we proceed with the comparison, here is an interesting piece of news we came across just yesterday! In fact, this news might justify your decision of purchasing a Motorola Xoom!

Motorola Xoom Vs Apple iPad2

Now, let’s see how iPad2 fairs against Motorola Xoom when it comes to design/looks, components, price, and apps…

• Design/Aesthetics: In terms of aesthetics and hardware design, the iPad2 definitely has an edge over the Xoom. With a thickness of just 8.8 mm (even thinner than iPhone 4), a round front border, a beveled and more flattened back, and an alternate white version, Apple’s new tablet looks pretty exciting. The Xoom, on the other hand, has a thickness of 12.7 mm and a standard, black industrial look. Although the iPad2 looks aesthetically better than Xoom, the latter is not an ugly device, by any means…

Motorola Xoom

• Processing Power & Storage: While the Xoom features the Nvidia Tegra 2 1GHz dual-core Processor, the iPad2 runs on a 1GHz dual core processor deigned by Apple itself, called the A5. Few would bother about the technical difference between the two processors as long as they match the present-day trend of 1GHz dual core processors. But, let me tell you that the processor is actually the biggest cost differential between these two tablets. Xoom’s Nvidia Tegra 2 processor, along with its components, costs around $20.78, which is much higher than the estimated cost of an iPad’s A5 processor. The good thing about iPad 2 is that it will be sold in different variants with 16 GB, 32GB, or 64GB storage. Xoom users, on the other hand, will have to accept the 32GB storage. However, it is anticipated that Motorola is soon going to release a software update to enable users to use a MicroSD card of up to 32GB on the device. We have yet to see the A5 processor at work, but we’d take the Xoom on this one.
• Screen/Display: Although we see a lot of improvements made in iPad 2, it seems Apple has forgotten to work on improving the screen! Unfortunately, iPad2 features the same old 9.7” backlit LED screen with a resolution of 1024 x 768 and a standard aspect ratio of 4:3. This is definitely not bad, but with an aspect ratio of 16:9 and a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels, the 10.1” WXGA widescreen of Xoom has stolen the show. No doubt, the iPad2 is better in terms of brightness and its unique IPS technology, but widescreens are the trend today and the Xoom seems much better equipped than the iPad 2 for viewing HD-widescreen content.

• Cameras: From what Apple has revealed on its website, iPad 2 will feature a 1.3 MP rear camera that can record 720p video. This is obviously weak as compared to the 5 mp rear camera of Xoom with dual LED flash and autofocus. Also, while Xoom features a 2 Mp front facing camera, iPad 2 will most likely have just a VGA quality one (640 x 480 p). While cameras don’t make a tablet, the Xoom still holds an advantage over the iPad in this section.

• Apps: When it comes to apps, the iPad2 is a clear winner. While iPad 2 features nearly 65,000 different apps, Xoom features Google’s first tablet OS, Android 3.0 Honeycomb that has less than hundred tablet specific apps. But do expect an invasion of Honeycomb apps over the following months.

• Connectivity & Accessories: Both iPad2 and Xoom are 3G, but the latest rumor claims that Motorola is planning to soon offer a 4G update for free. Moreover, both the tablets will come with Wi-Fi only versions as well. Unfortunately though, the Xoom is confined only to Verizon, whike the iPad will come to AT&T as well. In this case, iPad2 is surely a better bet. In terms of accessories and additional features, Xoom is again leading the race. While iPad costs $39 for an additional feature, Xoom features an amazing speaker dock for the screen, a direct HDMI out, a standard dock to convert the tablet into a frame, a proximity sensor, a barometer, and a digital compass. The iPad 2 may also have a wireless keyboard, an accelerometer, a light sensor, and a gyroscope, but Xoom is undoubtedly a step ahead.

• Price: The bare Wi-Fi only version of iPad 2 with 16GB storage will cost you around $499, while the cheapest Xoom version (32 GB) is priced at $599. The currently available Verizon 3G model of Xoom has a hefty price tag of $799, while a 32GB iPad2 will cost you nearly $729. [Wall Street Journal]

Thus, our comparison clearly gives more points to Motorola’s Xoom as compared to iPad2. But there are hundreds of other ways in which Apple lovers could reorganize the battle to award more points to the iPad 2!