When Apple released their New iPad model, little they would have expected such a tough competition. If you think that the Transformer Prime from ASUS is a big deal, or the Amazon Kindle Fire tablets are giving Apple a raw deal, then check out Motorola XYBOARD 10.1 and 8.2. Motorola’s Xyboard tablet line attempts to build an iPad competitor, with some slick and stylish features and a waterproof body. Unlike Motorola Xoom, which was heavily priced at $800, the Xyboard range is much more reasonable between the $400-$530 range.

The “Wi-Fi only” version of the Xyboard has a starting price of $399.99 for the 8.2 inch models, whereas, the 10.1 inch model is priced at $499.99. There is also a Verizon 4G version, which is called the Droid Xyboard. It has a price of $429.99 for the 8.2 inch model and a price of $529.99 for the 10.1 inch version.

Motorola XYBOARD 10.1

Both the Xyboard 8.2 and 10.1 models have a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels. The Xyboard 8.2 is more light weight at 390 grams, while the 10.1 inch model weights around 600 grams. The Motorola Xyboard 10.1 has a 1.2 GHZ Dual-Core processor, with 1 GB RAM, which is good for running Android Ice Cream Sandwich. The Xyboard 10.1 has a 5 MP camera, which is capable of shooting in HD quality at 1080p. According to early reception, the 5 Megapixel camera does not appear to be as good as Galaxy Nexus, iPhone 4 or Nokia Lumia 710. However, the camera is better than iPad 2 and Galaxy Tab.

The displays of Motorola Xyboard 10.1 is another plus point of the device. Not only is the display quality impressive, but the responsiveness to touch input, as well as website and application rendering is also quite smooth. Furthermore, unlike the iPad or Galaxy Tab 10.1, it has a HDMI (mini) port, which comes built in with the device. This enables users to hook the tablet to their TV sets.

Motorola XYBOARD 10.1 Technical Specifications

Dimensions: 253.9 x 173.6 x 8.80 mm

Weight: 603 grams

Processor: 1.2 GHz Dual Core

Operating System: Android 3.2 Honeycomb, upgradeable to Android Ice Cream Sandwich V 4.0

Battery: 7000 mAh Li Ion

Display

Screen Type: Widescreen IPS enhanced HD display

Widescreen IPS enhanced HD display Screen Resolution: 1280 x800, HD 1080p

1280 x800, HD 1080p Size: 10.1 inches

Memory

RAM: 1 GB

1 GB Internal Storage: 16 GB, 32GB, and 64GB storage options

16 GB, 32GB, and 64GB storage options Extendable Storage: No

Camera And Video Recording:

Primary Camera: 5 MP

5 MP Secondary Camera: Yes, 1.3 MP P2P

Yes, 1.3 MP P2P Video And Recording: Yes, HD video recording at 720p at 30 frames per second.

Yes, HD video recording at 720p at 30 frames per second. Sound And Audio :

Audio: 3.5mm Jack, 3D virtual surround sound

3.5mm Jack, 3D virtual surround sound Radio: No

Sensors:

Ambient light

Accelerometer

Barometer

Compass

Gyro

Connectivity

4G LTE

Corporate Sync, OTA

Bluetooth@ Technology4 (Stereo Bluetooth® technology 2.1+EDR)

USB 2.0 (High Speed)

Micro USB; HDMI out

GPS

Motorola XYBOARD 8.2

The edges of both the 10.1 and 8.2 inch tablets are coated with rubber, which provides good grip and makes it comfortable to hold the device. Unfortunately, the power and volume buttons are located on the back of the tablets, which means that the user will have to frequently flip the tablet for adjusting settings.

If you have previously used Motorola Xoom, then you will find the 8.2 Xyboard to be more comfortable and slimmer. It also has better touch than Xoom, with a more pleasant rubberized edges. As compared to the sharp edges and metallic design of iPad 2 and Asus Transformer Prime, you might find the Xyboards to be more comfortable to carry. It does not feel slippery, despite being slightly thicker its competitors. On the technical side, it has features much similar to its 10. inch twin. You can see the detailed technical specifications for this tablets below.

Motorola XYBOARD 8.2 Technical Specifications

Dimensions: 216 x 139.8 x 8.99 mm

Weight: 390 grams

Processor: 1.2 GHz Dual Core

Operating System: Android 3.2 Honeycomb, upgradeable to Android Ice Cream Sandwich V 4.0

Battery: 3960 mAh Li Ion

Display

Screen Type: Widescreen IPS Enhanced HD display

Widescreen IPS Enhanced HD display Screen Resolution: 1280 x 800

1280 x 800 Size: 8.2 inches

Memory

RAM: 1 GB

1 GB Internal Storage: 16 and 32 GB storage options

16 and 32 GB storage options Extendable Storage: No

Camera And Video Recording:

Primary Camera: 5 MP

5 MP Secondary Camera: Yes, 1.3 MP P2P Cam

Yes, 1.3 MP P2P Cam Video And Recording: Yes, HD video recording at 720p at 30 frames per second.

Yes, HD video recording at 720p at 30 frames per second. Sound And Audio :

Audio: 3.5mm Jack, 2.1 virtual surround sound.

3.5mm Jack, 2.1 virtual surround sound. Radio: No

Sensors:

Ambient light

Accelerometer

Barometer

Compass

Gyro

Connectivity

4G LTE

Wi-Fi

Bluetooth@ Technology4 (Stereo Bluetooth® technology 2.1+EDR)

USB 2.0 (High Speed)

Micro USB; HDMI out

GPS

As you can see many of the features are quite similar for both devices, however, it is worth mentioning here that some features may vary according to carrier type and model version. For example, the storage options and connectivity features are available with a number of variations.