Skip to main content

Motorola Xoom: $800, will launch Feb. 24

bestbuy_xoom_motorolaRumors surrounding the launch date of the Motorola Xoom have been all over the place. But now, a new Best Buy advertisement seems to have given us some concrete details: The tablet will launch on Thursday, February 24, for the price of $799.99, Engadget reports.

The news confirms our earlier report that the Xoom would run around $800. But the pesky launch date seems to change every time new information comes out about the Motorola tablet. (So, don’t be surprised if the date changes again before the tablet actually hits stores.)

Regardless of the exact release date, it is safe to say that the Xoom’s launch is getting closer.

Those who watched the Super Bowl last night were treated to a new Xoom ad, which payed homage to Apple’s famous “1984” ad. (In fact, the Motorola spot takes direct aim at Apple by featuring a hoard of automatons dressed in all-white hoodies, with little ear buds sticking out of their ears.)

Watch the ad:

Following the ad’s release, a new promotion site for the Xoom landed online.

From what we know so far, the Xoom is the first device that can stand up to the iPad’s dominance in the tablet arena. So Motorola’s provocation of Apple in its ad is, it seems, completely warranted. (How that plays out in terms of actual numbers sold of course remains to be seen.)

The Xoom runs on the new Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) operating system,  comes loaded with 32 GB of internal storage and two cameras (a 2 MP front-facing one and a 5 MP rear-facing one), and sports a 10.1-inch, 1280×800 touchscreen — slightly larger than the iPad.

Available exclusively on Verizon, the Xoom is also 3G-compatible, with a 4G upgrade expected later this year.

The monthly 3G plans range from 1 GB for $20 up to 10 GB for $80, which is convenient for those who don’t often use the wireless service. But according to the Best Buy ad, users won’t even be able to connect the device to Wi-Fi without at least a 1 month data subscription. So, if you were wondering, that’s where they get you.

Editors' Recommendations

Andrew Couts
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Features Editor for Digital Trends, Andrew Couts covers a wide swath of consumer technology topics, with particular focus on…
Does the Moto G Stylus have NFC?
Moto G Stylus 5G 2023 leaning

The Motorola Moto G Stylus is a line of midrange Android smartphones, each of which comes packing a stylus — as the name ,akes clear. The two latest models are the Moto G Stylus (2023) and the Moto G Stylus 5G (2023). Although these models are similar, they have some noticeable differences, including their support for near-field communication (NFC) technology. This article will examine which Moto G Stylus models come with NFC and which do not.
What is NFC?

Near-field communication (NFC) is a technology that lets two gadgets communicate with each other when they are within a few centimeters of each other. It is useful for touch payments, e-tickets, data sharing, and effortlessly linking devices via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

Read more
Galaxy AI is now available for these other Samsung phones
A white Samsung Galaxy S23 next to a pink Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus.

In January, Samsung introduced its Galaxy AI features alongside its Galaxy S24 series of smartphones. Since then, if you've wanted to use Galaxy AI, you've needed a Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24 Plus, or Galaxy S24 Ultra. That's about to change.

Samsung just announced that it's about to bring those Galaxy AI features to a lot more devices, meaning you'll soon be able to use Galaxy AI even if you don't have a Galaxy S24.

Read more
Visible just made its unlimited 5G plan better than ever
Visible wireless phones and plans featured

Digital wireless service provider Visible has announced upgrades to its premium Visible+ phone plan. The highlight is a new Global Pass feature that allows Visible customers to use their phones in 140 countries worldwide.

The Visible Global Pass offers unlimited talk and text services, along with 2GB of high-speed data, for a flat rate of $10 per day. Visible+ members can also enjoy a free Global Pass usage day every month. The activation process can be done through the Visible app.

Read more