GADGET WATCH: Sony Xperia Tablet Z

The Sony Xperia smartphones have attracted some positive feedback – and now the series has expanded to tablets. Sony claims the Xperia Z is the thinnest tablet its ever made – but does it pack a punch in that compact structure?

Hardware and features

The Xperia Z is powered by a 1.5 Ghz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, with 2GB of RAM. The gadget features a 10.1 inch screen, with a native 1200 x 1920 resolution. The device includes 16GB of internal memory, although that is expandable to 64GB using a microSD card.

The Xperia Z also comes with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and NFC, along with an Infrared port and a microUSB port.

The gadget also features two cameras, with an 8.1 megapixel lens on the back, along with a 2.2 megapixel lens on the front, both capable of recording at 1080p

What’s the consensus?

Over at Engadget, the publication praised the “solid” build of the device, noting some improvements made from earlier models.

“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.”

Like the Xperia Z smartphone, Sony claims the tablet is waterproof, and Engadget said the device “held up find against our hose-down and a few dunks into a nearby sink”.

At Wired, the publication noted the processor was “plenty fast”, handling 3D games well. It also praised the cameras, although noted the lens on the back was placed “rather awkwardly”.

“Picture quality is very good too, with strong colour balance, sharp edges and plenty of detail. It will record video at full HD 1080p at 30fps and there’s also a 2-megapixel camera on the front for video calls.”

“Surprisingly for such a high-powered and busy device the battery didn’t disappoint, and comfortably lasted through more than a day of solid usage.”

At CNET, the publication also said the device made the case for the “best full-size Android tablet yet”, although noted this was based on a short amount of review time.

Back at Engadget, the publication stated the tablet run well using everyday tasks, and praised the battery life of over eight hours.

Who’s it for?

The Xperia Z tablet is a solid device, with a fast processor and a well-built design. If you’re after an Android tablet, this is definitely worth a look. The only downside being the price – for a premium product you’re going to have to pay a premium price.