Motorola has just launched not one but two new Android Honeycomb-powered slate devices. Both tablets come under the Xoom-brand, being called the Xoom 2 and the Xoom 2 Media Edition, but should not be confused with the original device – these guys are taking things one step further.

The Xoom 2 Media Edition is the first 8.2-inch slate device to hit the market. According to Motorola’s ‘extensive research,’ 8.2-inches is the optimum size for a tablet device. Need a reference? It’s about the same size as your standard paperback novel.

 

The exact measurements of the Xoom 2 Media Edition are 139mmx216mmx8.99mm and it weighs in at 386g. The device is exceptionally svelte and feels great in the hand. We absolutely loved the size of this slate as well – it really is a happy medium between larger devices like the iPad and 7-inch ones like the PlayBook and Galaxy Tab.

Specs wise, the Media Edition is exactly the same as the Xoom 2, which means you’ve got a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 16GB of internal storage, a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera, a 5-megapixel rear shooter, 1GB of RAM and no microSD support.

Like the Motorola Xoom 2, the Media Edition is styled like the recently launched Motorola RAZR, which is a good thing in our opinion – the RAZR, like its early-2000′s predecessor, is one good looking device. HDMI, microUSB and a volume rocker are all aboard the slate as well and sit in exactly the same position as they do on the Xoom 2.

For all intents and purposes the Xoom 2 Media Edition is basically a more portable version of the Xoom 2. It has the same specs, the same applications built into it and the same functionality. There are only two things that separate the devices: (1) display size and (2) the Xoom 2 works with a stylus. That’s literally it from what we could gather.

Motorola didn’t clarify what the exact resolution of the Media Edition’s display was but we’re assuming, for now at least, that it’s the same IPS 1280×800 pixel display that’s present on the Xoom 2. Like it’s larger brother everything was as it should be with great viewing angles, vibrant colours and lots of detail.

Overall this was by far our favourite tablet out of the two newly launched devices. We loved its size and proportions and svelte design, which, combined with the new RAZR, show Motorola venturing off into a new, and very positive, design phase.

Our only problem with the Media Edition – and the Xoom 2 – is Honeycomb. It’s clunky, difficult to navigate and vastly inferior to iOS, QNX and webOS, in our opinion. Of course Ice Cream Sandwich, which both devices will get upgraded to, could change all this by introducing the amendments that Honeycomb’s UI so desperately needs. And we hope Google rises to the challenge too, because with the introduction of Microsoft’s Windows 8 next year things are certainly going to hot up. 

As we said earlier, the Media Addition has the same UI, operating system and features as the Xoom 2.

 

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