Light, thin and just as powerful as its rivals, Sony’s new Xperia Z Tablet is appearing on the scene at just the right moment; with tablet shipments expected to total more than 240 million units worldwide in 2013 (exceeding the 207 million laptops that are expected).
Revealed just 2 weeks after the Sony Xperia Z smartphone was announced, the tablet is similar; clean, modern and minimalist in appearance and is defined by its super thin and light-weight body. Like the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 it is a 10.1 inch device but is both thinner and lighter than the Note. It is 6.9mm thick which compares to Apple's latest iPad at 9.4mm and Google's Nexus 10 which is 8.9mm thick. At 495g, the Z is also lighter than the other two tablets; the iPad weighing in at 652g and the Nexus at 603g. Considering it’s a 10.1-inch device it is remarkably light with a weight you’d expect from a 7-inch or 8-inch tablet.
We all know about Apple’s smashing new ‘Retina’ display (with a 2048x1536 pixel resolution at 264 ppi) but the Sony Xperia isn’t far behind (with a 1920x1200 pixel resolution and a slightly lower pixel density at 224ppi) and it’s way ahead of the Note (with a 800 x 1280 pixels resolution at 149-ppi). So I’m going to hazard a guess that the clarity really won’t be much different from the new iPad. And the Sony has another trick up its sleeve; its new layered Mobile Bravia Engine 2 technology considerably boosts colour depth, brightness and contrast. The result means a much gutsier picture than some of its rivals, although you have to pay the price of a reduction in decent viewing angles. Still, it’s pretty impressive nonetheless and pips the prize for grooviest tablet screen around we reckon - well, maybe joint first with the iPad.
So now we’ve established that it’s a pretty sexy beast let’s move onto the innards and let me tell you this puppy’s got brains as well as beauty.
The gadget is powered by a 1.5GHz quad core Qualcomm Snapdragon APQ8064 processor, 2GB of RAM and Adreno 320 GPU. It offers 32GB of internal memory – as standard - and microSD slot for external storage expansion. The Note 10.1 features a 1.4GHz Cortex-A9 quad core Exynos 4412 chipset, 2GB of RAM and Mali-400MP GPU but is available in all standard memory variants; 16GB, 32GB and 64GB with a microSD slot as well. Like the Note the new iPad offers a variety of memory; 16GB, 32GB and 64GB, but unlike the Note and the Z it doesn’t offer a slot. No tick for flexibility then, Apple.
The new tablet is premiering with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean which is one of the latest versions of the mobile Operating System – although apparently an update to the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean will be available soon. In comparison the Note 10.1 premiered with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and is now upgradeable to the new Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. So a bit ahead of the Note here as-well then. Jelly Bean (both 4.1 and 2) has a number of key advantages with good stability and smooth, optimised performance. The interface and menu layout is slick and multitasking is particularly easy. The Apple iOS 6 is also defined by its slick and easy interface and smooth performance but like the new iPad model itself, this hasn't changed and nothing new has been added to make upgrading your iPad all that beneficial.
Although it’s no secret that Sony has struggled in the Android market - looking a bit like Samsung’s inadequate sidekick - the new kid on the block certainly offers something new and exciting and is a definite must-have for those who want a premium Android tablet. Its only main drawback is its enigmatic position in the market at the moment; only Japan has a release date and the price is being kept under lock and key. Although we’re sure it won’t be long before the rest of the world gets to enjoy the sleek delights of Sony’s newest tablet it does put the mockers on things for the time being.
If you do decide to purchase some super-high end Android magic in the form of the new Sony Xperia Z Tablet, then don’t forget you can recycle your tablet with us here at OnRecycle – we’ll find you the best price. Guaranteed! And don't forget to 'like' us on Facebook!
