It wasn't all that long ago that every month offered up yet another Android tablet for review. While Samsung is still producing plenty,
the output of Google-powered slabs has generally slowed, replaced by a
steady stream of Windows 8 / RT hardware often from the very same
manufacturers that were once all about Android. Sony continues to be
pretty discriminating with its launches, however: until now it's
released only three Google-powered tablets. The first was the Tablet S, followed by the clamshell Tablet P and the Xperia Tablet S, which improved on the original with a thinner build and improved specifications.
Then there's this, the Xperia Tablet Z. It arrives with a completely new design, although it should be familiar to anyone who's already seen Sony's Xperia Z
smartphone. It features the same "OmniBalance" look, uniform thickness
and straight edges. The display's resolution has been bumped up to 1,920
x 1,200, while the tablet runs Android 4.1.2 on a quad-core 1.5GHz
Snapdragon S4 Pro, with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of built-in storage -- all
the while weighing in below 18 ounces (1.13 pounds). Like the Sony
Xperia Z smartphone, there's also water and dust protection, which makes
it a relatively unique property in the tablet market. But priced at $499 and up against the iPad and the pin-sharp Nexus 10, is there enough here to protect itself against the tablet competition? Join us after the break to find out.
Another upgrade from its Android tablet predecessors is
the display. It may have the same 10.1-inch size, but it's now capable
of 1080p playback. The official resolution (1,920 x 1,200) affords a
little extra space for the on-screen Android soft keys. There's a pretty
substantial inch-wide bezel around the display, but this enables you to
hold onto the tablet without inadvertently nudging the touchscreen. In
fact, from the front, at least, it bears a passing resemblance to
BlackBerry's PlayBook.
There are also stereo speakers split across both of the
lower corners, so the four outlets are almost exactly where your palms
will cup the device. If you're worried that would affect audio playback,
you'd be right, although the unfortunately tinny, treble-heavy playback
means music actually sounded better with our hands filtering it. Maybe we've been spoiled by the mobile audio skills of the HTC One, but on a tablet, we had hoped for a lot better.
Despite its claim to be the world's thinnest and lightest
tablet, the Z is still surprisingly solid. We're relieved to say that
Sony has improved on the early preview models we toyed with at MWC,
nixing an awkward creak we found while handling it. Additionally, the
company's engineering team fixed a screen that previously looked
distorted if you applied pressure to the display. Suffice to say, we
experienced neither of those issues with our retail sample.
Despite its claim to be the world's thinnest and lightest tablet, the Z is still surprisingly solid.
Even with the slim silhouette, the Xperia Tablet Z still
manages to house everything you'd expect in a 2013 Android tablet.
Alongside 16GB of storage, there's memory expansion through microSD, FM
radio, Bluetooth 4.0, WiFi, an infrared blaster and HDMI through a
MHL-compatible micro-USB port. That blaster, which resides along the
center of the top edge, means the tablet can double up as a
multi-talented remote.
Along the left edge, there's a port for headphones (with a water-protective cover), volume rocker and Sony's talismanic power button.
It's still machined aluminum, although it wobbles around a little more
than it does on the related smartphones. There's also a notification
light that resides here, which will broadcast whether your tablet is
charging or when there are new emails and other social notables. If you
prefer to avoid blinking lights, you can also turn it off inside the
Display tab of the Settings menu. There are two more protective cover
flaps for microSD and micro-USB along the bottom side and these covers
are identical to the ones found on the Xperia Z. While sturdy enough, we
do have concerns with their longevity -- they're a necessity for the
water and dust resistance. In our not-so-scientific testing, the
IPX5/7-qualified tablet held up fine against our hose-down and a few
dunks into a nearby sink. We just have to reiterate -- check that you've
closed all those port covers.
DISPLAY
Sony's new tablet display might not be the highest
resolution we've seen, but it's perfectly suited for 1080p video
playback, swiping through photos and browsing the internet. This pixel
count places it squarely between the 1,280 x 800 Galaxy Note 10.1
and the 2,560 x 1,600 Nexus 10, both from Samsung. Having spent plenty
of time with the iPad's differently proportioned screen, we reckon the
Xperia Z's widescreen ratio is the better option in many scenarios. As
well as acting as a more suitable canvas for movies, internet browsing
while in vertical orientation offers a lot more scroll room -- useful
for news sites with ever-updating content.
Sony's thinned its tablet screen tech, removing a layer of
air to keep the touch panel closer to the surface while reducing
reflection. This is also what ensures the screen remains black (and
almost the same shade as the tablet) when switched off. Size aside, the
panel appears to be a different caliber to the one found in the Xperia Z
smartphone, with a high level of off-angle visibility and little to no
color undulation either -- two major complaints we had with Sony's
smartphone flagship. However, we tended to crank up the brightness
setting to the higher levels while in use. A layer of tempered glass,
while perhaps not our preferred choice, didn't pick up a scratch during our week of testing.
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