Motorola Xoom 2 Media Edition review

Its 1.2GHz dual-core chipset is perfectly capable, but now looks a little dated compared to the quad-core Transformer Prime. That tablet also has a fifth low-power core to maximise battery life (lasting for over ten hours), and such technology is sorely missed here with a slightly disappointing time of five hours and 25 minutes in our video playback test. With only a 3,900mAh battery inside, compared to 7,000mAh in the larger Xoom 2, it was bound to struggle despite its screen’s lower power drain. A smaller battery is unfortunately unavoidable in a smaller-screened tablet if you want it equally slim and retain all the other features of larger models.

Speaking of features, the Media Edition sensibly retains the IR emitter of the Xoom 2, so you can control your home theatre kit via the Dijit app. There’s a Micro HDMI output and it uses a Micro USB for both data transfer and charging purposes. As with the Xoom 2, a flap reveals what could be Micro SDHC and SIM card slots, but both are blanked off. The lack of storage expansion, beyond the internal 16GB is annoying here as before; but the lack of 3G (or any 3G-capable model at present) is baffling given the portability of this device. With basic data-only contracts now as low as £5, being able to browse the web and pick up email on the go is no longer the preserve of the rich. If you’re looking for 3G on a smaller tablet then consider the Sony Tablet P instead.

The Xoom 2 Media Edition is essentially a smaller version of the rather good Xoom 2. However, between the two launches, the Asus Transformer Prime came along and showed us the next step for tablet hardware. At £330 the Media Edition is far cheaper than that device – as the Prime only comes bundled with its keyboard dock presently for £500 – and £50 less than the regular Motorola Xoom 2. Even at this quite competitive price we can’t help but feel that its relatively poor battery life and lack of 3G make it a somewhat compromised device. Also as smartphone screens get larger, many may feel an 8.2in tablet is an unnecessary halfway house between their pocket-friendly handset and a full-sized tablet.

Except for a few minor details, its looks practically identical to its larger sibling

With the big trade shows coming up, such as CES next week and Mobile World Congress in February, we’re bound to be showered with shiny new tablet options very soon. The Xoom 2 Media Edition is the best conventional small Android tablet to buy today, but that’s not enough for us to give it full marks.