Xyboard. With a name that interesting there were definitely some high expectations being put together when we first heard of the device. Turns out this is Verizon’s crazy name for a new tablet and we have to give them a few creativity points… it’s a really fun word to say out loud, it almost sounds like something out of Star Trek. Back to the gadget, many people have downplayed the release of this tablet by stating it is just the Americanized version of the European Xoom 2 along with a couple upgrades, but we find this statement to be completely false. After spending some quality time checking out this device, and examining it from the inside out, there are some huge differences between the two tablets that we will point out today.
First let’s start out with the similarities, the Xyboard is a tablet that runs the same software, similar camera, and processor as the Xoom 2 but makes some crucial upgrades. Very often people will ask themselves just how much the upgrade model of a device is worth. Different people will obviously come up with their own conclusions as this is an opinionated answer, but in the end these type of greatly needed upgrades all come together to produce one very different product. On top of the fact that the Xyboard comes with it’s 1.2 ghz processor, IR blaster (like a remote for your television) and LTE built-in, the tablet is completely different from its predecessor.
The main upgrade that has been made on the device is undoubtedly the LTE connectivity. One of the main complaints that mobile users have, pertains to data usage and the speed of mobile but more specifically 3G speeds. While all of the different phone providers have their own way of telling the consumer they have the fastest speeds on the market, lazy companies are actually holding many phones back from their true potential. Hopefully you will be pleasantly surprised when using the Xyboard as it comes with the LTE network attached. This means faster downloads and all around a faster online experience. Upgrading the network side of a device is always enjoyable too and many people underestimate just how much of an impact is made on user’s actions by the provider; think about your current mobile data plan and how must it costs in relation to a usual home internet service.
There are two different versions of the Xyboard, both of which come with exactly the same internals as each other, and the only difference is the screen size. There is a 10 inch version which retails for $529.99 and an 8 inch version that costs a hefty $429.99. From personal experimentation, paying another hundred dollars for a larger screen may be a complete rip off but it is definitely worth the price hike. Let’s face it, on a device where you will spend most of your time watching youtube video or music videos, you just can’t compromise when it comes to main entertainment feature of a device. From top to bottom the Xyboard is a greatly functioning device, coming with some cool new features, and an all-time high for data speeds, it looks like Verizon has really out done themselves with this tablet.
