Every year, Sony products are only getting better. Over time, multifunctional and convenient gadgets will appear that are completely devoid of flaws. However, now we have to talk about the popular and at first glance the most successful tablet. Sony Xperia Z4. Is this so, what is its price and characteristics, we will find out further in the article.

What comes with?

The device enters the market for sale in a certain assembly. What does the manufacturer offer the consumer? In addition to the tablet itself, you can find documentation in the box. What is she for? The documentation will allow you to properly operate your device Sony Xperia Z4. If there are any incomprehensible processes at the very beginning, it is necessary to turn to her. You can also find a warranty card, power supply and USB cable.

Design and construction of the device

The device received a small weight - 390 g. The Xperia Z4 tablet has a 10-inch display, which is a pretty good indicator. The body is made of plastic. It differs from some competitors and analogues in that it has a rough surface. Especially fingerprints do not remain anywhere, except perhaps on the display. The assembly is of high quality, there are no questions or complaints about it. Some ports did not receive stubs, many consumers are happy with this decision. The tablet is protected from water, dust, easily survive immersion to a depth of 1.5 meters. However, it is better not to check this fact on purpose - let's leave this matter to chance. Sold in two solutions - black and white.

Externally, the Xperia Z4 tablet looks decent and attractive. It does not have too large frames, buttons and ends have received a corporate design. From the reviews, you can understand that some complaints come from where the mechanical keys for turning the device on / off and adjusting the volume are located. Behind it is easy to notice the camera, NFC. The device does not have a flash.

tablet display

As already mentioned, the Xperia Z4 Tablet has a 10-inch screen. He distinguished himself by the fact that he shows all colors in a calm and at the same time bright effect. This device surpassed gadgets from the Korean manufacturer Samsung. However, such a significant difference between color contrasts can be noticeable due to the fact that the described tablet has the Lolipop version of the well-known Android operating system installed. It is sometimes easy to spot problems with poor backlighting in commercial devices, so you need to pay special attention to the display when choosing and subsequent purchase.

If desired, you can change the temperature setting, sometimes this solves problems. The light sensor periodically shows unstable operation, so you need to be prepared for it. It happens that in a rather dark place, the backlight becomes sharply low, which makes it difficult to use the device.

The Xperia Z4 tablet has good viewing angles. In order to constantly watch movies with it, they are ideal, especially if you take into account the size of the device. But you need to understand that the display is quite large, so you need a case and headphones (column) for it.

Modifications and performance

On the domestic market the manufacturer supplies two versions of the device: with support wireless network Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi+ mobile connection 4G. In terms of memory, unfortunately only one version is available: the Sony Xperia Z4 32GB. If desired, you can increase this space up to 128 GB due to the presence of an external drive.

What else needs to be said about the work of the tablet? He got 3 GB random access memory. This allows you to work with even the most resource-intensive applications or games. Customer reviews make it clear that there are no problems.

Using the wireless "mesh" you can connect the tablet to the set-top box and use it as a screen. In this case, a joystick is required, since the sensor is turned off.

cameras

Xperia Z4 Tablet received two cameras: front and rear. The main one has a resolution of 8 megapixels, the front one - 5 megapixels. But even given the high resolution, it is quite difficult to take a good picture. The camera is, frankly, terrible, the quality is extremely low. Especially if you need to photograph something in a dark room, the task becomes impossible. Lights, overexposures may appear. Sharpness is often either absent or too high. There are settings, there are quite a few of them, but they do not carry any benefit. In order to take a more or less good picture, you need to press the shutter button and hold for a few seconds, as was done before with old phones.

Power and battery

The Xperia Z4 tablet has a 6,000 mAh battery, which is generally a good feature. But there are some interesting points. Let's consider them.

The gadget is protected from water and dust, but the micro-USB connector is not covered with a plug. That is, he himself has special technology, which does not give a chance to penetrate liquids and other foreign substances inside. Moreover, the tablet has a built-in fast charging function. What does it give? In an hour, you can “feed” the battery from zero to 70%. This will be useful especially in cases where a person is in a hurry and the battery is low. However, there are also some downsides. The battery with an average load is discharged in almost six hours. And also in "life" charging takes much longer.

In order to work with the described technology (a quick way to restore battery life) to the full extent, you need to buy a special power supply, and a regular adapter is included in the kit. It will allow you to use your tablet with maximum comfort. You can buy it for 2 thousand rubles at a branded point of sale.

The device works for about 17-18 hours, if you watch the video continuously. This is a pretty high figure. In general, if the tablet is not heavily loaded during the operational period, then it can last about 2 days without charging. Consumers are advised not to use the Google browser and to monitor how applications work in the background.

Tablets "Sony Tablet Z": review, characteristics, features of the model, reviews - will be discussed in the article. So let's get started.

The appearance of the Sony Tablet Z tablet in the Xperia line did not come as a surprise. It was only a matter of time. Inspired by the sales success of the recently released Sony smartphone, which was able to compete with popular flagships, the Japanese company has clearly defined its next task.

Appearance: slim and stylish

The developers awarded the tablets " Sony Xperia Tablet Z "excellent appearance. Exactly the same as the previous smartphone. The device is a rectangle with smooth edges, without rounding, which can be seen from other manufacturers. The rigor of design indicates that developers from Sony more I have ideas, and good ones.

Despite the unusual angularity of the device, as noted in the reviews, it is convenient to hold it in your hands. Indeed, with a weight of 495 grams, its thickness is only 7 mm. It's nice to feel the softness of Soft Touch plastic, from which the back cover of the tablet computer is made. Only in the process of using it actively accumulate fingerprints. Although it is typical only for black models. The front side is covered with glass, on which there is a protective film glued at the factory. Traces from touches also remain on it, but appear only with time.

Build quality

Judging by the reviews, the device is assembled with high quality. It can be seen that everything possible has been done so that it does not creak or play. The plugs sit tightly, the probability of their accidental opening is excluded. And this is understandable, because the Sony Xperia tablet is supposed to be waterproof.

The bundle in which the device is sold can hardly be called rich. Includes: USB cable Charger and user manual. That's all, even the headset is not put. The smartphone is more fortunate in this.

Connectors

As already mentioned, all connectors located at the ends of the plugs. They are labeled so that the purpose of each hole is clear. All buttons are well placed and soft to press.

There is also a microphone on top. Below are speakers, slots for a SIM card and a memory card, as well as a hole for a USB port. The left end is richer than the rest in connectors. There is a button to turn on and lock the device, a speaker, an audio output, a charging sensor, a volume rocker and a place for a docking station. On the right side is another speaker.

It is interesting that only two speakers are built into the Sony Xperia Tablet Z tablets, but there are four outputs for them.

Screen

The ten-inch TFT display of the device turned out well. The smartphone could not boast of this. The main advantage here is Full HD-resolution (224 ppi). The second point is a qualitative matrix. Despite the fact that the abbreviation IPS is not present in the list of characteristics, expert opinions boil down to the fact that this is practically it.

The colors are bright and saturated. Pleases black, it looks like a real one. The excellent performance of the Sony Xperia Tablet Z display should be thankful to Bravia Engine 2 technology. The effect is especially noticeable when watching movies and photos.

According to the technical documentation, the screen has a But it does not perform its main function. The screen gets dirty instantly, and is poorly cleaned.

If you use the Sony Xperia tablet indoors, there are no complaints about the brightness. But direct sunlight makes viewing much more difficult, as the display is highly glare. But this is a problem with many smartphones and tablet computers.

Sony Xperia Tablet Z Specifications

At the time of release, the characteristics of the device allowed it to be one of the most powerful on the market. To make it clear, there is a 4-core Snapdragon with a frequency of 1.5 GHz, an Andreno 320 adapter responsible for graphics, and a 2 GB RAM module. The company releases two versions of the tablet: Sony Xperia Tablet Z 16gb and 32gb. All this gives the device good performance.

The scores the device achieves in popular benchmarks explain the fact that the tablet handles the most demanding applications with ease. But there is a possibility of a strong heating of the device, since the launch of some games, such as Real Racing 3, has already led to this. Although lags and brakes were still not noticed.

Useful programs

Although the tablet is running Android OS Jelly Bean, it has its own shell - comfortable and visually appealing. Some applications can be called instantly even if the device is locked.

Of the useful programs, there are: Office Suite, a traditional Walkman player, a navigation tool, Chrome browser, a file manager and an application for managing all kinds of digital equipment.

It is also important to highlight the Smart Connect program here. This is the official application from Sony, which is worthy not only of the tablet. The phone is also not deprived of them. The program allows you to assign a specific action that will be performed when accessories and other devices are connected to the tablet computer. The SC application recognizes not only devices, but also the time.

Tablet Features

Like the rest modern devices under Android control, Sony Xperia Tablet Z tablets are not without GPS navigation.

By the way, an FM module is built in here, which many similar gadgets cannot boast of.

There is also an interesting "tablet-phone" function, with which you can display a picture from the device on the smartphone screen. This allows you to manage incoming calls.

It is worth noting that the device has received compatibility with SP 3, i.e. you can connect a joystick from the set-top box to it. True, sometimes there are problems with this, but in GTA vice city you can definitely play.

As for the inclusion of Sony Xperia Tablet Z 16gb and 32gb, it can be configured so that it will be enough just to knock on it to unlock it.

Protection

The presence of plugs on the openings around the perimeter of the device indicates that it is protected from dust and moisture. Relevant standards allow the tablet to hold out for several minutes at a depth of up to 1 meter. Thus, you can safely use it while lying in the bath or on the beach by the sea, without worrying that something will happen to it. Compared to other similar devices, this moment puts the Sony Xperia Tablet Z head and shoulders above. The price is almost the same, but there is no such protection.

Camera

There are two cameras in the device: 8-megapixel main and 2-pixel front. The first uses Exmor R technology and supports HDR shooting. In terms of the number and type of settings, it is no different from smartphone cameras. The picture quality is good, but this moment there are models that are significantly superior to the Tablet Z in this regard. The camera reproduces natural colors, the focus can be set by a mark on the screen.

The videos are shot in Full HD. During this, you can take pictures, but they will significantly lose quality.

And, of course, the front camera. Its settings are similar, and the video is shot in the same format, which makes it almost ideal for video calls.

Music

Ever since the advent of the Walkman brand, it has become clear that Sony pays special attention to the sound in its devices. And the Sony Xperia Tablet Z is no exception.

The developers claim that S-Force technology is supported there, which makes the sound natural. This is also a merit of the audio system, which includes two speakers with four output channels. So the sound is not just loud, it has a good stereo effect.

There are other audio features as well. For example, a mode that makes the sound three-dimensional. Although this will please few people, because not everyone will notice this transformation. But the Xloud mode is perfectly implemented, which regulates the frequencies so that the speakers do not wheeze.

In general, the Walkman player has many different settings. There will be no dissatisfied users here. Everyone will be able to choose the sound that suits him best.

Working with networks

The tablet computer is equipped with all the necessary network interfaces. WiFi technologies, NFC, Bluetooth, DLNA - they are all present here. There is also an infrared port and an MHL interface, which is used to transfer videos in HD quality.

As for wireless communication, the Sony Xperia Tablet Z LTE and 3G versions differ. Of course, you will have to overpay for the 4G module. A smartphone is equipped with it, and you can simply by means of WiFi networks link it to the tablet.

Battery life

Tablet Z is a monoblock, which means that the battery is non-removable. Therefore, it must be handled with care. So, how long will 6000 mAh last?

If you surf the Internet, play games and use applications, in general, use the device for entertainment, the charge will last only 5-6 hours. Seven hours are allotted for watching video files. Although, judging by the reviews, some and a couple of films did not have time to watch.

About 10 hours are allotted for reading, and at minimum brightness and without using the network.

If you do not use the device, that is, keep it in standby mode, the battery practically does not discharge. By the way, there is a charge extension function, when activated, the screen goes blank and the network turns off.

In general, indicators battery life very good, but not the best. There are devices that can keep a charge longer.

Conclusion

Should you buy the Sony Xperia Tablet Z? Its price differs little from the cost of similar models (from 25 thousand rubles), but it surpasses many of them in certain indicators. Take at least the protective properties that exclude the ingress of dust and moisture. For some, this is a big plus. Especially for those who love to travel.

You need to understand that, first of all, this is a device for entertainment, as evidenced by the great functionality of the gadget. It is good to play on it, watch movies or listen to your favorite hits. Although the device is suitable for business people, because it is stylish, productive, and also supports office applications necessary for work.

While the Sony Xperia Tablet Z was getting to the Treshbox edition, the second version of the tablet was already presented at MWC 2014. In light of the release of the new flagship, its predecessor will become even cheaper and will only become more attractive to the consumer. Unlike wide model range Sony smartphones, the variety of tablets seems somehow flawed. At the moment, there are only 2 models on the market: the state employee Xperia Tablet S and the flagship Xperia Tablet Z. We will take a closer look at the latter today.
Specifications:

• Housing materials: white or black plastic, glass
• Operating system: Android 4.3
• Network: no communication module / GSM 900/1800/1900, 3G, LTE
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon APQ8064 quad-core, 1.5 GHz
• RAM: 2 GB
• Storage Memory: 16GB or 32GB + microSD
• Screen: capacitive, TFT, 10.1", 1920 x 1200 pixels
• Camera: 8 MP main with autofocus, 2.2 MP front
• Additionally: Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, GPS, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, infrared port to control equipment
• Battery: 6000 mAh
• Dimensions: 266 x 172 x 7mm
• Weight: 495 g
• Device price: 19,000 rubles. / 4400 UAH (for 16 GB version without LTE)

Equipment

Xperia Tablet Z comes in a fairly stylish package that emphasizes the premium of the device. Unfortunately, in terms of configuration, everything turned out to be not so cool. In addition to the tablet itself, in the box you will find only:

• Instruction set
• USB cable
• Charger

Of course, for a fee, you can buy very fashionable magnetic cases or a super-cool cradle for watching movies and typing.

This cover costs about 3000 rubles.

The cradle has a built-in charger

For 19,000 rubles in a box, you expect to see more.

Appearance and usability

The design of Tablet Z is really very cool, outwardly it gives the impression of a strict uncle in a black jacket, well, or white. Appearance identical to the flagship smartphone Sony Xperia Z, though back panel not made of glass. In addition to the excellent appearance, this device has another trump card up its sleeve - the IP57 protection standard. This means that the tablet can be submerged in water up to one meter deep for up to 30 minutes, and is protected from dust and sand. IP57 is cool, but I would still not recommend taking hot baths with a tablet, and touch screen will not work underwater.

The Xperia Tablet Z is just a feather among all its 10-inch counterparts, its weight is 495 grams, which is about the same as the 8-inch iPad mini. The tablet is very comfortable to hold on weight and after several hours of reading or watching movies, the hands do not fall off.

The really puzzling thing is that with a 6000 mAh battery, the tablet is not only light, but also very thin - only 7 mm, which is much less than most modern smartphones.

The front panel is completely covered with glass. As in most tablets, there are no controls here, they are on-screen. Immediately above the screen is a 2.2 MP front camera and an ambient light sensor to the left of it. Closer to the left corner is the company logo.

The back panel of the tablet is covered with soft-touch plastic, which feels rubbery to the touch. In the very center there is an inscription of the line - Xperia, and at the bottom of the NFC icon. In the upper right corner there is an 8 megapixel camera with autofocus, but, unfortunately, without a flash.

All side edges of the device are rubberized and slightly rounded, and all connectors are covered with plugs that protect against water ingress into the case.
The lock button is located at the top on the left side and next to it there is a multi-colored LED that blinks when there are new notifications or low battery. The volume rocker and the 3.5mm headset jack are respectively located below and above the lock button. In addition, on the left side there are also contacts for connecting to the cradle charger.

On the bottom of the device there is a port for connecting a USB cable, ports for microSIM and microSD, a hole for a microphone. Acoustic system located at the bottom corners of the tablet, 2 speakers on the bottom edge of the tablet and one each on the left and right sides. At the top there is a poorly visible infrared port for controlling home appliances.

In the photos of the tablet, you can see that the plugs on the ports do not cope with dust so well, but rather they are even dust collectors. A sufficient amount of dust also accumulates in the gaps between the screen and the rubber ends.

Screen

Sony Xperia Tablet Z is equipped with a TFT-matrix screen with a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels. Color reproduction is very realistic, and at large viewing angles there is no strong distortion in contrast or brightness.

The brightness range is quite large, but at the same time the screen is hard to read in direct sunlight, Sony smartphones do much better with this. Multi-touch is fast enough and supports more than 10 simultaneous clicks. In general, the screen pulls somewhere in the rating of 8 out of 10.

System

System updates for Xperia Tablet Z are released promptly, the current version of the system is Android 4.3. A proprietary shell from Sony works on top of the system, with advanced options for customizing the interface. Most of the standard applications have also been replaced by branded ones, made in the same style.

Lock screen

Main desktop

The keyboard from Sony turned out to be really comfortable and has useful settings. For example, it can be divided into 2 parts, stuck to the right and left sides of the screen, for more comfortable typing with your thumbs.

The settings section is also slightly expanded compared to stock Android. In the power management section, there is a Sony STAMINA mode - the maximum power saving mode.

If it is active, then when the screen is turned off, all wireless communications will be disabled, and the processor will activate the most economical mode of operation.

Performance

The tablet is equipped with Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 quad-core processor with a clock frequency of 1.5 GHz and 2 GB of RAM. The processor is not only very powerful, but also quite economical in terms of energy consumption.

The Xperia Tablet Z easily handles all of today's most demanding games at the highest graphics settings. Real Racing 3 and Dead Trigger 2 work just fine, not a single slowdown or lack of FPS was noticed. The results in synthetic benchmarks speak for themselves. At maximum load, the tablet heats up very moderately.

Test results in various benchmarks:

• AnTuTu Benchmark: 21998
• AnTuTu 3DRating: 2791
• Quadrant Benchmark: 9024
• SQL Benchmark: 21.974 sec
• Benchmark Pi: 254ms
• Linpack: 648.72 MFlops
• Vellamo: 2351 / 596
• SunSpider JavaScript Benchmark (Chrome): 1348.5 ms
• NenaMark 2.4: 59.9 fps
• Epic Citadel, High Quality: 32.3 fps
• 3DMark - The Gamer`s Benchmark: Maxed Out / 10392 / 9580
• Basemark ES 2.0 Taiji Free: 42.55 fps
• Basemark X 1.0: 7.932 fps / 7.268 fps
• Browser Mark 2: 2590
• Basemark OS 2: 520
• Basemark GUI: 59.781 / 206.124

Antutu and Quadrant

Antutu 3D

Sunspider

Dead Trigger 2

Autonomy of work

The device is equipped with a battery of quite standard capacity for 10-inch tablets - 6000 mAh. As usual, the battery life of the tablet while using the Internet via Wi-Fi was tested using our standard test. Xperia Tablet Z showed a very enviable result for its competitors - 10 hours 55 minutes for a full discharge. The result is really impressive, the tablet can be charged once every 2-3 days. The total battery charging time is about 6.5 hours, which is on average 2 times longer than that of competitors.

Camera

Sony has always stood out among its competitors for the quality of cameras installed on its gadgets and is still the main supplier of photo sensors for its competitors. Tablet Z received one of the most powerful cameras among all tablets - 8 megapixels with autofocus.

The quality of the pictures is quite satisfactory, although obviously inferior to the photos taken on mid-range smartphones.

Sample photos taken with the main camera below:

Communication and sensors

As befits a flagship device, Xperia Tablet Z is equipped with the latest communication modules and sensors. The tablet comes with or without a GSM/3G/LTE module. Of course, there is Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 and an NFC chip.

In addition, thanks to the installation of an infrared port, the tablet can be used as a remote control for any home appliances. All the TVs and air conditioners available at home unconditionally followed the commands of the tablet.

GPS, compass, light sensor and other sensors work flawlessly.

Outcome

The Sony Xperia Tablet Z is one of best tablets on the market with excellent design, a very wide range of features and moisture resistant protection. This device was the first full-fledged competitor for the iPad. If you can afford a flagship tablet then the Xperia Tablet Z is a good choice.

Pros:

• Design
• Weight and thickness
• Good autonomy
• Water and dust resistance
• Performance
• Body materials used

Minuses:

• Long battery charging time
• Modest equipment

Alternatives

Apple iPad Air 16Gb WiFi- 19900 rubles.

Yes, of course the iPad. In addition to an equally trendy design, the iPad has a cool high-resolution screen. Performance, camera quality and battery life are about the same. And yes, iOS is not Android at all.

samsung galaxy Note 10.1 N8000 16Gb- 19000 rubles.

Almost identical to Tablet Z in performance, screen quality, battery life. True, Note 10.1 cannot swim, does not support NFC and is 200 grams heavier, but costs the same money.

ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity TF701T 32Gb dock- 22000 rubles.

It's funny, but having reported 3,000 rubles, you can get an almost full-fledged laptop, though on Android. ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity TF701T has a more efficient processor, a slightly clearer screen, but lacks water protection and an infrared port for controlling equipment. The optional dock is not only a keyboard but also an extra battery.

The device is provided by the official representative office of Sony in Ukraine.

With the release of the flagship smartphone Xperia Z as part of the very interesting and successful OmniBalance design concept, Sony seized on this idea and introduced the world to the Xperia Tablet Z, made in the same style. The gadget also received several unique features, the main of which (but not the only one) was water protection. The combination of top-end features, a modern version of Android and a stylish appearance should have given birth to an explosive mixture, but what happened in the end? Let's figure it out.

Technical Sony specifications Xperia Tablet Z:

• Network: GSM/GPRS/EDGE (850/900/1800/1900MHz), WCDMA/HSPA+ (850/900/2100MHz), LTE (Band I, Band III, Band V, Band VII)
• Platform (at the time of announcement): Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean
• Display: Capacitive, 10.1", 1920 x 1200 pixels, OptiContrast, Mobile BRAVIA Engine 2, 224 ppi
• Camera: 8.1 MP, flash, autofocus, video recording [email protected], Exmor R
• Front camera: 2 MP, Exmor R
• Processor: 4 cores, 1.5 GHz, Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro APQ8064
• Graphics Chip: Adreno 320
• RAM: 2 GB
• Internal memory: 16 and 32 GB
• Memory card: microSD
• A-GPS, GLONASS
• WiFi (802.11a/b/g/n), DLNA
• FM radio
• Bluetooth
• MHL (USB, HDMI)
• 3.5mm headphone jack
• Dust and water resistant IP55/IP57
• Battery: non-removable, 6000 mAh
• Dimensions: 266 x 172 x 6.9mm
• Weight: 495 g
• Form factor: monoblock with touchscreen
• Type: tablet
• Announce date: February 25, 2013 (Europe)
• Release date: Q2 2013 (Europe)

Video review and unboxing

Design, construction and equipment

The tablet has already appeared on sale in all available configurations, namely SGP311RU (16 GB, Wi-Fi, black), SGP312RU (32 GB, Wi-Fi, black and white) and SGP321RU (16 GB, Wi-Fi + LTE / 3G, black and white) at a price of 21,990, 23,990 and 25,990 rubles. We got the top-end model to date with 16 GB of memory and 3G / 4G in black. The device is shipped in a similar Sony smartphones box with the main features listed. Inside the package, in addition to the tablet itself, in a shipping bag and a film, you can find the EP800 charger (1000 mA) and a synchronization cable, instructions and warranty documents. The screen of the Xperia Tablet Z has a protective anti-shatter film glued on it, you should not remove it, and if it is all scratched over time, then you can buy a replacement in the Sony online store. Interestingly, there is no such official accessory for the Xperia Z smartphone yet, and, I must say, in vain.

On the front side there is a 10.1” TFT IPS screen with a resolution of 1920x1200 pixels, made using Sensor-On-Lens technology (that is, the screen sensor is placed directly on the glass, bypassing the air layer) and having a polarizing layer OptiContrast Panel. The display boasts maximum viewing angles, excellent brightness and contrast, saturation and color depth even without the Mobile Bravia Engine 2 enhancement enabled. There is a slight yellowishness inherent in IPS panels, but it is noticeable only on a white background at certain angles. Definitely one of the best displays on the market. Above the screen you can see a 2-megapixel front camera and an ambient light sensor.

On the left side of the tablet is a 3.5 mm headphone port, a metal power button, which has become a hallmark of the latest Sony Xperia devices, an LED, a volume rocker and docking station contacts. It is sold separately. At the very bottom is a speaker hole. The top end is equipped with a microphone and an infrared port. The bottom one has an MHL connector, slots for micro-SIM and microSD, and two more speaker holes. There is nothing on the left side, except for another speaker hole. As you correctly noted, they go out on all four sides of the device, and the tablet itself has as many as four speakers, so it will be unrealistic to mute the sound while playing or watching a movie.

On the back panel, you can see only an 8-megapixel camera and the Xperia logo. Soft-touch plastic is noticeably blurry, but things are even worse on a white tablet. Fortunately, it can be washed and wiped properly - all holes are closed with plugs, and the IP55 / 57 protection level will not allow the device to fail after immersion for 30 minutes to a depth of 1 meter. Dust is also not terrible for the tablet.

The Sony Xperia Tablet Z feels very nice in the hand and is not at all heavy (6.9 mm thick and 495 g weight do their job), and the soft plastic soft-touch back panel feels high quality and not prone to peeling. Meanwhile, our test sample of the Xperia Tablet Z does not have the best assembly: the back panel on the right side is noticeably squeezed and tapped, but this was not found on any of the tablets examined at the presentations and booths of stores (10 pieces, no less), so , apparently, this is a feature of a particular instance. Before buying, we recommend that you check this point. It is also worth noting that, unlike the Xperia Z smartphone, the tablet did not receive a frame made of durable glass-filled polyamide and here is ordinary plastic (there is no mention of polyamide either on the company's websites or in the technical documentation), as a result of which I would not recommend carrying Tablet Z in a bag with various things. Such a small outing from indoor conditions turned out to be a noticeable mark for him on the frame of the case above the screen, so if necessary, do not regret 3,500 rubles for a beautiful branded leather case-stand (or a few hundred rubles if you are going to take something Chinese from eBay).

Screen comparison Xperia Tablet Z and Xperia Z

Software

The tablet is running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean with Xperia Home installed on top of the proprietary interface. Software Tablet Z is not much different from Xperia Z (with a reservation to the Android tablet interface), but there are some features, and I want to focus on them.

There are two icons at the bottom of the desktop. The left icon is responsible for calling mini-applications, and the right one is responsible for calling the application for remote control of equipment via the infrared port. Additional mini-programs can be downloaded from Google Play. Among them, for example, you can find a player that allows you to watch videos in a small window on top of all others, or a task manager. Of the innovations - the ability to create a mini-application from any widget.

In Settings, the differences between a tablet and a smartphone are a little more noticeable. Sound has an additional S-Force Front Surround 3D mode to create surround sound from all four speakers of the tablet. I wouldn't recommend using it with Clear Phase as it gets worse and crackles. The feature itself is interesting, but I liked the sound without it more - it is cleaner and louder. In the display settings, you can activate wake-up by double-tapping on the screen off. In Memory, you can see that out of 16 GB, a little more than 11 are available for the user. The amount of free RAM after turning on the device is 1.3 GB. In the Xperia section, we were able to detect support for the DUALSHOCK 3 controller and successfully test it. For unknown reasons, a “square” is responsible for returning to the previous position on the gamepad, and not a “circle” or “cross”, as it should be by analogy with PS3 (for the West and Asia, respectively). The rest of the settings are similar to the Xperia Z and the company's latest smartphones. STAMINA mode is naturally present and keeps your tablet charged when idle.

Among the pre-installed programs, I would like to highlight those that have not been seen before on other Xperia devices.

We could see the remote control only in the Xperia ZL smartphone, here it is also present and offers in 5 steps to turn the tablet into a universal remote control for a wide variety of equipment from many manufacturers.

File transfer allows you to exchange data between the internal memory of the device and external drives, including USB.

Pre-installed client cloud storage Yandex.Disk allows you to store your files on a remote server. When you turn on autoload, you get 32 ​​GB of data for the next six months. A very good suggestion and useful application. However, the service in our case worked intermittently - about a third of the screenshots turned out to be broken due to autoload. They hoped for an innovation, but as a result, fewer pictures went into the material than they should have. Apologize.

The Stream app provides access to a collection licensed films, both free and available only by subscription. It is possible to adapt the image size to the tablet screen. It doesn't work very well, but it will come in handy for someone.

The rest of the programs are well known from Xperia smartphones and do not differ from them except for the horizontal view. Exactly like the standard programs from Google, so just look at the screenshots. Interestingly, the Messages and Contacts application has remained here, so, despite the lack of the ability to call a person (you can use Skype), you can easily send him an SMS.

Camera

The camera interface is similar to that of the company's smartphones and offers nothing new. All settings are at hand, they are clear and convenient. As for the quality of photos and videos, I suggest you evaluate them yourself by examples. In my opinion, it is very good, especially for a tablet.

Performance, benchmarks and user experience

The filling of the tablet is completely identical to the Xperia Z smartphone, and this is a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro 4-core processor with a frequency of 1.5 GHz, 2 GB of RAM, an Adreno 320 graphics accelerator. and there are no serious problems with the speed of work.

According to the benchmark results, Xperia Tablet Z showed the following results: the device passed the AnTuTu test with 20,399 points, the tablet scored 7569 in Quadrant, Vellamo - 2245/640, GFXBench - 13/12/12/12/32/31 fps, Basemark X - 6.8 / 6.4 fps, Epic Citadel - 29.3 / 57.4 fps.

The device passed the heating test quite adequately and warmed up by only 5 degrees in 35 minutes of the Stability Test, and the processor frequency did not drop at all. However, the charge took a lot - 15%. This result can be safely extrapolated to games and heavy tasks. In other words, the brakes and subsidence will not be strong, but it will not work for a long time, for example.

In games, the tablet performed very well. Real Racing 3 goes without fps subsidence and lags, they are still present in GTA Vice City, but in a minimal amount.

In the HD-video playback mode at maximum brightness, with active Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS, the tablet on the old firmware lasted a little more than 4 hours, which cannot be called the best indicator for a 6000 mAh battery. The same Sony Xperia Z lasts 4 hours with almost three times less battery capacity, although with the same resolution and smaller diagonal. After updating the software to the latest available version, the discharge when watching videos was 20% per hour, which will allow you to watch movies for about 5 hours. It's better than it was before the update, but it's still not enough compared to the iPad, for example. Runtime in daily use will vary depending on your specific scenario, but in general you can expect about one day of active use. FROM Full HD video the tablet copes with a high bitrate with a bang, only the sound track in the Movies application is sometimes missing, so it will not be superfluous to install some kind of omnivorous player from Google Play.

We couldn’t properly check the device’s moisture resistance during testing (since our sample had assembly problems, it was decided not to tempt fate and not drown it), but you can be sure of its moisture resistance - just look at the photos from the start of tablet sales in Moscow (the girls in the pool perfectly demonstrated the protective properties of the Xperia Tablet Z), and all your fears will disappear by themselves. Naturally, you can not be afraid to walk with the device in the rain or take it with you to the beach. The device is also not afraid of a simple washing under the tap. The tablet supports work in LTE networks, which is very cool. But coupled with not the best power consumption, the fourth-generation network will drain the battery very actively. Although, perhaps, a high data transfer rate, even at low divisions, will be more important for someone.

On the penultimate firmware, the tablet could not boast of stable operation. For example, scrolling through the list of widgets would certainly crash the Xperia Home launcher. Add to this the crashes of the AnTuTu test, not the best battery life, the lack of sensitivity when scrolling through the screens and we get that the Tablet Z needed serious software finishing. With the release of new software, the situation has improved somewhat. The bug with Xperia Home is gone, there were no more crashes from benchmarks, but performance and power consumption remained at about the same level, which means that at least power consumption still needs to be worked on.

conclusions

The Sony Xperia Tablet Z turned out to be not just a beautiful, stylish, thin and light toy, but also a very serious tool for both games and entertainment, and for work. The power of the device’s filling is enough for all modern tasks, and small lags and roughness of the software (which will definitely be corrected in future updates or have already been corrected) are easily covered by the advantages of the device, including an excellent screen, the sound of external speakers, security, lightness and thinness. There isn't a better Android tablet out there right now, so if that's what you're looking for and you don't need the Apple iPad 4 (perhaps the Tablet Z's main competitor right now), then Sony's latest tablet is the perfect choice. . Those looking for a more compact variant should wait for the 6.44” Xperia Z Ultra, of which we already have a preview.

Overview of the Sony Xperia Tablet Z. Part 1

With tablets today the situation is strange, but natural - in this market there is a relative polarization. On the one hand, Apple and Samsung tablets. This top heavy artillery is supported by the cavalry of Google (with its Nexus tablet), Asus and recently joined by Sony (Xperia Tablet S and P), albeit with very mixed success. On the other side of the scale there are a bunch of cheap noname devices, as well as those that have already gained some fame - Texet, Prestigio, Wexler, GoClever, even, I’m not afraid of this word, Ainol, etc. There are interesting, but insignificant bursts of popularity like Lenovo (though , more in terms of laptops and smartphones), but the rest, sometimes even famous brands, are a little lost against the backdrop of market leaders.

And in such a situation, "either image, or cheapness," Sony traditionally chooses the direction of the image and gives out to the world its new, one might say, "rethought" tablet Sony Xperia Tablet Z. After the "magazine" Tablet S and "case for glasses of someone some grandfathers" Tablet P, the Japanese again focused on design, but this time also on anorexic thinness, body armor protection from water and dust, and, of course, on Full-HD resolution.

Let's see how the company coped with the task.

"Oh! The warm one has gone ..." "Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath!"

First impression, appearance, design

Looking into the box, do not look for much - a USB / Micro-USB cable, charging (also Micro-USB) and documentation. There are no "buns" and gift accessories. The headset would, or something, be put down. Still, for such a device - a useful thing. On the other hand, real connoisseurs still connect separately purchased monster headphones, which are also wireless (so as not to wear out the connector).

Complete set - an attraction of unheard of generosity

True, in Japan itself, headphones are included in the package, and even with a docking station. But these are their local stocks.

The device looks strictly - black (there is a version with a white case), straight lines, no soft and smooth "turns" in the contours, except for small rounded corners. The edges of the frame are decorated with a frame frame. From the edge of the tablet to the screen, the sides are quite wide.

Complements the pleasant impression of elegance. Seven millimeters ... I can’t even call it thick, rather like this - seven millimeters of thinness (even more precisely - 0.1 mm less).

On the back - extremely appropriate in this case soft touch coating. The device gets dirty noticeably. If it's critical for you, it makes sense to try the white model, you might like it more (although this problem exists there too).

Assembled and fitted everything is traditionally excellent. It would be strange if it were otherwise. Especially with an emphasis on moisture and dust resistance. For the same reasons, the rear panel is solid and cannot be removed. However, in other tablets, it is also usually not removed.

Weight, of course, is also small - almost half a kilo.

Put an iPad and Sony Xperia Tablet Z side by side, and the former will suddenly seem like a victim of fast food. But there is also the opposite effect, taking this device in hand after the iPad is scary. It looks fragile and is sensitive to the slightest bend and pressing on the corners of the screen. The thin case also has its inconveniences if you want to put it somewhere or lean on something. So it is better to install it in a stand.

Interfaces for working with the network and devices. Connectors and elements

The system provides such technological solutions: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, DLNA (work in home network), NFC - this interaction unit is located on the back surface, below (for reference, this is short-range wireless communication, in particular communication when you touch another device with a tablet or broadcast music to wireless speakers - either via NFC or via Bluetooth).

Sony Xperia Tablet Z - communication with wireless speakers via NFC

There is also a high-tech MHL interface (Mobile High-Definition Link - HD video transmission), as well as the usual infrared port (the upper end, to make it easier to aim while holding the tablet in your hands) and Micro-USB. As you can see, an interesting combination of familiar and very unusual standards.

Tip: who needs HDMI, look for an adapter from MHL to HDMI - a completely normal solution.

There are also versions of the tablet with LTE and 3G. But, as you understand, a 4G module will often work in 3G mode, since really working and adequate LTE networks are still a relatively rare occurrence.

However, those who do not want to overpay for a high-speed communication module can make a bunch of "distributing Wi-Fi from a smartphone to a tablet." It is also an option.

Connectors (Micro-USB, SIM-slot and memory card slot) are aesthetically hidden by caps (they open with chaotic-picking movements). Some of them with an additional possibility of fixation. Some are labeled (for example, the headphone icon), and some are without guide signs (you can only find out which side to insert, for example, a card, by experience and preferably with the help of some kind of toolkit).

Where exactly is it located?

Left end: audio output, round metallic button for screen lock and on / off tablet (this is already a recognizable element), LED charging sensor, volume up / down. Plus connectors for a docking station (cradle).

Closed

Open

Top: microphone, infrared port.

Bottom: MHL, micro-SIM, Micro-USB, microSD/SDHC card slot.

All buttons are pressed gently. Conveniently located - no matter how you take the device. Also on the ends are four outputs for a pair of built-in speakers.

Screen

It's so nice when developers and manufacturers listen to the opinions of consumers. The Xperia Z smartphone had a relatively weak display: both the picture quality and viewing angles were, as they say, not so hot. In Xperia Z Ultra, the situation was significantly corrected, and even for the tablet, they decided to avoid such an "embarrassing moment" altogether.

There are somehow Sony Xperia Tablet Z and Sony Xperia Z ... (almost like a joke)

Here - honest Full HD with a resolution of 1920x1200. A very high-quality 10.1-inch matrix with finally good viewing angles (from any side), covered with durable glass. The company is very evasive about the definitions and specifications of the display, but almost all experts are inclined to believe that this is either an IPS matrix or its equivalent.

The only negative is that it gets dirty like a first-grader in a drawing lesson (like the back surface). The official specifications mention "oleophobic coating". This oleophobic coating is not particularly noticeable ...

The colors are bright and juicy, like a hybrid of watermelon and lemon. Even too "cheerful coloring" is obtained. And I would like pre-installed image profiles, so that a stricter color gamut can be set. Although there are no such psychedelic shades that can be seen in the Samsung Galaxy series. What pleases - the black color really looks like a deep black.

Everything looks beautiful, and if you do not delve into the microscopic technical values ​​\u200b\u200bof chart deviations and "color temperatures", then 99.9% of users will be delighted. Even pixel hunters have nothing to complain about.

But with brightness - everything is traditional: in the room - zero complaints, but on the street, under bright sunlight, - almost the same sadness and melancholy as most even expensive smartphones and tablets (subjectively a little better, but also not ideal ). Plus, glare is not as well extinguished as we would like.

Bright saturated colors and highlights - two in one...

But for the benefit of improving "watchability" works panel under the brand name OptiContrast, where the glass is combined with the touch panel (there is no air gap, as the developers say).

Screen Sony Xperia Tablet Z - OptiContrast technology
1 - glass, 2 - air, which is not there, 3 - sensor, 4 - screen itself

Mobile BRAVIA Engine 2 technology adds its own plus to the picture.

This technology appeared in 2005 in TVs from Sony of the BRAVIA line.

A small digression. With modern TVs produced under this brand, the tablet, by the way, can interact in a simplified way. For this, the NFC communication technology already mentioned above is used (data transfer with one touch of a tablet or smartphone to a TV).

The abbreviation BRAVIA stands for, as you probably know, as follows: Best Resolution Audio Visual Integrated Architecture (integrated solutions for perfect sound and high definition images). In short, the effect of using this technology is as follows: digital noise is suppressed, image sharpness and contrast are increased. Not significant, but still noticeable.

As a result, the picture looks almost as beautiful on the screen as it does on the iPad, and the kangaroo is two jumps ahead of the picture of other tablet manufacturers.

Performance

The Qualcomm S4 Pro APQ8064 chip is asynchronous, that is, the cores work independently of each other, like the eyes of a chameleon, moreover, at low loads, some cores can automatically turn off (this saves battery power). This processor is quad-core, on ARMv7. To this not very new, but very powerful solution, let's add 2 GB of RAM and a strong Adreno 320 video module, which, after the equal sign, gives absolutely excellent performance. And not some academic calculation, and not only in abstract "parrots", but also IRL, that is, in practice.

If Crysis 3 were made for tablets, I wouldn’t be surprised that it would go fine here too. Because modern heavy games run normally on the Sony Xperia Tablet Z. Almost all games run, even Asphalt, NFS or Real Racing, even Modern Combat. Even GTA: Vice City runs quite normally, only occasionally twitching a little (so as not to relax).

Did you recognize Batman?

Dead Trigger

Modern Combat

The Amazing Spider Man

racing

Public Favorite - GTA Vice City

Memory for data storage is provided 16 GB (there are options with 32 GB). Expandable with microSD memory cards.

In operation, the device does not heat up enough to cause complaints (however, again, I heard the opinion that at times it still heats up noticeably on the left).

A few words about the software part

As you probably know, Sony is finishing off Android with its own design. It turns out quite nice.

Customize your shell

On board, by the way, version of Android 4.1.2 (declared the possibility of a further upgrade to 4.2). On such powerful hardware, the system "runs" well (this is especially felt given the ten multi-touch touch points and good touch sensitivity), single "jerks" are a common phenomenon for almost all Android devices. However, I have heard opinions that the Sony shell still slows down.

Even from a locked device, you immediately get quick access to the camera and music. A beautiful stylized unlock (it turns out to be a rather arrogant imperial gesture with a finger) is a good solution. The upper left corner of the screen is ready to accept four shortcuts to choose from for the desired applications.

Typical applications installed on a tablet

In the second part of the review, we will continue the story about interesting programs, look at other features of the tablet, and also consider aspects such as battery life, vaunted protection against moisture and dust. And most importantly - a summary and conclusions.