Motorola launches Xoom 2 tablet: more of the same?

Remember last year’s Motorola Xoom? It was one of the first iPad competitors to grace our shores. With the new year upon us, Moto has made some improvements and partnered with Telstra for a new model.

Launched this week as the Xoom 2, the new tablet features a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 10.1 inch HD screen with 1280×800 resolution and Corning’s scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass, 32GB storage, microSD slot, 5 megapixel rear camera, and 1.3 megapixel front camera.

With the Telstra partnership comes access to a 3G network, but sadly none of the 4G LTE love the HTC Velocity smartphone provided us with earlier in the year.

Most of the differences between the Xoom 2 (left) and the original Xoom (right) appear to be cosmetic.

Motorola says that the new tablet is 100 grams lighter than the original model, is slimmer, takes on a slightly different and more angular shape, and now features a splash protection, likely similar to what was used on last year’s Razr smartphone.

But overall, it doesn’t appear to be a whole lot different from the last model, outside of the thickness, weight, shape, and water protection. The first Xoom featured the same amount of storage, same resolution screen, and an ever so slightly slower processor.

In fact, they both feature Android Honeycomb, with Motorola promising an upgrade to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich to the Xoom, but no firm release date.

Regardless, the tablet is available today for $720 RRP, or on a host of plans from Telstra requiring you to spend at least $49 per month.