What is the Difference Between Apple iPad 2 and Motorola Xoom?

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The Apple iPad 2 and Motorola Xoom are two tablets with different specifications and features. Here are some key differences between the two:

  • Dimensions and Weight: The iPad 2 is slimmer (8.8mm thick) than the Xoom (13mm thick). The iPad 2 is also lighter in weight compared to the Xoom.
  • Display: The Xoom has a slightly larger 10.1-inch screen with a 1280x800-pixel resolution, while the iPad 2 has a 9.7-inch screen with a 1024x769-pixel resolution.
  • Cameras: Both tablets have front-facing webcams and more powerful rear cameras, but the Xoom has better front and rear cameras compared to the iPad 2. The iPad 2 has a VGA-quality (640x480) front-facing camera, while the Xoom has a 2-megapixel front-facing camera.
  • Operating System: The iPad 2 runs on Apple's iOS, while the Xoom runs on Android 3.0 Honeycomb.
  • App Ecosystem: The iPad 2 has access to a vast library of apps through the App Store, while the Xoom's Android Market offers fewer tablet-specific apps.
  • Ports and Expandability: The Xoom has more ports than the iPad 2, including a micro-USB port, mini-HDMI port, and space for a microSD memory card.
  • Sensors: The Xoom has more sensors, such as a proximity sensor, digital compass, and barometer, compared to the iPad 2.

Ultimately, the choice between the two tablets depends on personal preferences and the user's familiarity with the respective ecosystems. The iPad 2 offers a more refined design, access to a vast app library, and a more polished user experience. In contrast, the Xoom provides a larger screen, better camera quality, expandability, and the ability to use a stylus for note-taking.

Comparative Table: Apple iPad 2 vs Motorola Xoom

Here is a table comparing the differences between the Apple iPad 2 and the Motorola Xoom:

Feature Apple iPad 2 Motorola Xoom
OS iOS 4.3 Android 3.0
Dimensions (in.) 9.5 x 7.31 x 0.34 9.8 x 6.6 x 0.5
Weight (lbs) 1.33 (Wi-Fi) 1.6
Display size (in.) 9.7 (LED backlight) 10.1 (TFT)
Display Resolution 1024 x 768 1280 x 800
Processor 1GHz Apple A5 (dual core) NVIDIA Tegra 2 1GHz dual core
RAM (MB) 512 1024
User Storage (GB) 16/32/64 32
Front Camera VGA 2 MP
Rear Camera HD (720p) 5 MP (720p)
Camera Flash x √
Microphone √ √
Audio/speaker Mono speaker, stereo headphone Stereo speaker, stereo headphone
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n 802.11 a/b/g/n
3G Radio (GSM) UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA/ GSM/EDGE -
3G Radio (CDMA) CDMA, EV-DO -
Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR 2.1 + EDR
GPS w/3G √
Battery Life 10 hrs (25 watt-hr) ~24.5 watt-hr
  • The iPad 2 runs on the iOS 4.3 operating system, while the Xoom runs on Android 3.0.
  • The iPad 2 has a 9.7-inch LED backlit screen with a resolution of 1024 x 768. The Xoom has a slightly larger 10.1-inch TFT screen with a higher resolution of 1280 x 800.
  • The iPad 2 has a 1GHz Apple A5 dual-core processor, while the Xoom is powered by an NVIDIA Tegra 2 1GHz dual-core processor.
  • The iPad 2 has between 16 and 64 GB of storage, depending on the model, while the Xoom comes with a fixed 32 GB of storage.
  • Both the iPad 2 and the Xoom have front and rear cameras, but the Xoom's rear camera has a higher resolution at 5 MP (720p) compared to the iPad 2's HD (720p) camera.
  • The Xoom also has a specific MicroSD card slot that could support up to 32GB, but it is not enabled by Motorola yet. An upcoming software update should enable SD card use on the Xoom.
  • The iPad 2 has mono speaker and stereo headphone capabilities, while the Xoom has stereo speaker and stereo headphone capabilities.
  • The iPad 2 and the Xoom both support Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n), but the iPad 2 also has 3G connectivity (UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA/ GSM/EDGE, CDMA, EV-DO depending on the model), while the Xoom does not on its own.
  • Both the iPad 2 and the Xoom have Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR connectivity.
  • The iPad 2 has GPS capabilities with 3G, while the Xoom does not.
  • The iPad 2 has a battery life of up to 10 hours (25 watt-hr), while the Xoom has a slightly smaller battery capacity of approximately 24.5 watt-hr.