![]() ![]() Most of the back is covered in metal, mind, bringing the high-end premium feel that’s a must-have for any tablet costing hundreds of pounds. The edges – when held horizontally – use this finish, avoiding the cold, hard touch of metal. Rather like the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, part of it has a soft touch finish. The back is also made up of three slabs rather than a single seamless field of anodised metal. Like most Android tablets, it’s widescreen (16:10), with a 10.1in 1,280×800 pixel display as opposed to the iPad’s 4:3 aspect, 1,024 x 768 pixel panel. Not that we’re accusing Motorola of copying Apple’s homework, as the design is actually fairly different. Coincidence? Of course it’s bloomin’ not. That’s exactly the same thickness, and within a gram or two of the iPad 2. The original Xoom’s 12.9mm body and 730g weight have been shrunk to 8.8mm and 599g (601g according to our scales). The second generation of 10.1 Android Honeycomb tablets has predictably seen several manufacturers follow the pattern set by Apple in its transition from the iPad to the iPad 2, in cutting down weight and thickness significantly. But will it convince the masses to shell out just under £400, when its predecessor largely failed? It’s thinner, it’s lighter and it’s faster than its forebear. The Xoom 2 is Motorola’s second attempt at a 10.1in tablet. But its early headline-grabbing promise was fairly soon washed away by the ultra-thin Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, the ultra-pricedropped HP Touchpad, the ultra-Apple iPad 2 and, of course, our tablet of 2011 the Asus Transformer. Those wanting more bass but still want a party speaker with lights will want to check out the JBL Pulse 4, which gets louder, has more bass impact and a full-body lightshow but is over twice the price.The original Motorola Xoom was the first Android tablet to get an official stamp of approval from Google. However, the UE is more rugged and smaller, making it easier to toss in a bag or backpack. Those who don’t care about the minor updates will be happy with the discounted original, which is still available for sale.Ĭompared to the competition, the Flare 2 fits better in the home and sounds better than the UE Wonderboom 2. Minor upgrades like the second LED ring at the top and USB-C charging are nice to have, but not necessary. Everything that made the original great is still here, including sound quality, an excellent mobile app, and an understated yet durable design. The Anker Soundcore Flare 2 is a minor refresh of the already-great Flare. This is a nice feature to have for users who travel with their portable Bluetooth speaker or for days by the pool or campfire when you don't want to hold your phone the entire time. One nice feature of the Flare 2 that many of the competition lacks is speakerphone. However, those looking for more bass response will want to step up to a larger speaker like the JBL Charge 4 or JBL Pulse 4. The BassUp feature is a nice way to get more bass out of the speaker quickly and it isn’t overwhelming. This is expected from small wireless speakers that lack the amperage of larger speakers and the Flare 2 sounds best below 70% volume, which is still plenty loud for a small to medium sized room. The Anker Soundcore Flare 2 gets mighty loud but like the original, the louder the speaker gets, the more sound quality suffers. Tonally, the Anker is slightly warm, making it relaxing to listen to at low to medium volume. Sound quality is great, offering a nice balance across the frequency spectrum. There’s also a basic equalizer within the app, but most users will most likely enjoy the speaker’s default sound or BassUp feature, which has a dedicated button around the back of the speaker. There are several modes to choose from or you can create your own. Additional lighting features can be accessed in the app, allowing you to customize colors as well as reactive lighting. One nice surprise is the excellent Soundcore app, which allows users to update the speaker and control additional features. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |