Sony Xperia tablet Z review

Sony Xperia Tablet Z

 Sony has not focused on the tablet market the way it is doing on smartphones. In the last few years, it made some Android tablets - part of the Tablet S and Tablet P series - but did not push them like the Xperia phones. With Xperia Tablet Z, this is changing. 

With Tablet Z, Sony has a better idea of what it is doing in the market. Unlike the original Tablet S that had an asymmetric shape, the design of Tablet Z is simple and mainstream, which should appeal to more consumers. The hardware, at least on paper, looks good. There are hundreds of Android tablets made by tens of companies. To stand out in this crowd, Sony has given Tablet Z some special treatment. Currently, this is the lightest and thinnest 10-inch tablet you can buy anywhere in the world.

In terms of specifications and features, Tablet Z looks as good as any other Android tablet, and we can tell you that it provides an experience that is reliable. Yet, there is the matter of price. With an MRP of Rs 46,990 it is one of the most expensive tablets launched in India. 

Does it offer to enough to justify the premium Sony is seeking over tablets sold by other companies? No, it doesn't. But the tablet does have a few features that you will not get in any other device. Are these features important? Read on and decide... 

Slimmest one
Despite sporting a 10-inch screen (10.1 inches to be precise), Tablet Z is incredible to hold in hands. With a 6.9mm thickness, it is slimmer than even smartphones. The tablet uses a 1200 x 1920 pixels screen and hence has an aspect ratio of 16:10. This makes it rectangular, unlike iPadthat has a more square shape and an aspect ratio of 4:3. The shape and thickness make Tablet Z comfortable to hold. You can use it for long durations whether you are working on an office document by holding the tablet in portrait mode or watching a film by keeping it in landscape mode. 

Talking of using Tablet Z for long durations, it is difficult to ignore the tablet's weight, or rather lack of it. At 495 grams it is very light for its size. The low weight is undoubtedly the result of material that Sony has used in building the shell of the tablet. Unlike iPad, which uses an aluminum shell, Tablet Z has been built using plastic. Fortunately, the back cover, which can not be opened by a user, has been given a coat of soft rubber, which makes it impervious to fingerprints and gives the device a premium feel. 

Other than the weight and thickness, Tablet Z also scores over its competitors when it comes to the ruggedness. It is a water-proof and dust-proof device. The headphone jack, microUSB port, microsim and microSD card slots are covered with flaps that seal them. Yes, you can use Tablet Z in rain or wash the dust of its screen when it gets dirty. 

The only area where the design seems lacking is the placement of speakers. When the tablet is held in landscape mode, the speakers, which are placed on the bottom of left and right sides, are covered under hands. This muffles them. 

Screen is a very important component of a tablet. Tablet Z has a screen that is more vibrant and has much better viewing angles compared to the one found on Xperia Z phone. But when compared to the screens on tablets like iPad 4 and Nexus 7, we found it lacking. For example, colours look better on the iPad. Brightness is another issue. In our use, we found that in well-lit conditions the brightness and contrast on the Tablet Z screen was less than satisfactory. 

Customized Android experience
Given the powerful hardware under-the-hood, Tablet Z performs well when you use it. Apps open in seconds, web browsing is smooth, most of the FullHD videos play nicely, and demanding games like Real Racing run well. Unfortunately, there is a hint of lag from time to time in user interface (UI), especially while opening the app drawer or swiping between home screens. It is not a deal breaker - even on Samsung Galaxy tablets similar lag is visible - but the level of UI smoothness doesn't match what Nexus 7, Google's official Android tablet offers. 

This lag seems to be the result of UI customization that Sony has put on the tablet. The device is powered by Android 4.1 but to make it more suitable for the large screen, Sony has added a few UI elements. Between the onscreen navigation button and the notification centre on the bottom bar, Sony has added two onscreen buttons. One gives a user access to a remote control that uses the infra-red sensor in the tablet to control a TV, set-top box or digital media player through the tablet. Clicking on the second button gives access to mini apps like Calculator, Recorder and Notes that can be opened on top of any primary app for easy multitasking. 

Sony has also added a bar on the top of the screen. This gives users access to the app drawer, where all installed apps can be viewed and managed, as well as allows them to add four apps for quick launch. 

Both quick launch and mini apps are good ideas and help users do things in a better way on the tablet. 

The device has two cameras - a 2.2MP shooter above the screen and 8MP camera on the back. Both can shoot videos in FullHD. For video chats we found that the front camera produced detailed and clear feed. The primary camera, however, doesn't live up to its promise. Even in good light, it takes images that are average at best. The photos lack details and aren't very sharp. In low light, the camera produces images that are full of noise (grain) and are unusable. That said, clicking photos with a large device like Tablet Z doesn't feel natural and you will like to use primary camera only occasionally. 

The battery life of Tablet Z is average. When charged 100% the battery lasts around 10 hours when the tablet is used primarily for web browsing, social networking, emails, and a bit gaming and video watching. 

Should you buy it?
No. As we said earlier, Tablet Z is too expensive for what it does. You can get iPad 4, which has access to better apps, has better battery life and has a much better screen, for almost Rs 15,000 less. The only important feature you would miss out with iPad is ability to add extra storage through a microSD card. 

If you prefer Android, we suggest Nexus 7 with 3G connectivity and 32GB internal storage. That sells for around Rs 23,000, which is half of the price of Tablet Z. Though Nexus 7 has a smaller screen. 

There is only one particular scenario where Tablet Z makes sense. If for some reason you want a tablet that you can use during rain or in shower or a beach, Xperia Tablet Z is the perfect choice. It is pricey but if you want to use a tablet while you are in a swimming pool, this is the best option. 

Specs: *10.1-inch capacitive touchscreen (1200x1920 pixels)
*1.5GHz quad-core processor with Adreno 320 GPU
*2GB RAM
*Water-proof and dust-proof design
*16GB internal memory
*Support for microSD card up to 64GB
*8 megapixel rear camera
*1080p FullHD video recording
*2.2 MP front camera with 1080p HD video recording
*3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, microUSB, NFC, Infrared sensor
*6000mAH battery that lasts around 10 hours of average usage
*Android 4.1