Sony has unveiled the Xperia Tablet Z, now one of the thinnest and lightest 10-inch tablets on the market, at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The new tablet is just 6.9mm thin and weighs only 495 grams, and will launch in Canada sometime between April and June.
The new Tablet Z does away with the fold-like design in the back that was part of the previous two tablets Sony released, and goes with a very thin profile that is consistent on all sides of the device instead. It has a 10.1-inch 1080p display, 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 8-megapixel rear camera (2-megapixel HD camera in front) and will run the latest version of Android Jelly Bean. The tablet will also come in both black and white.
There will be 32GB and 64GB versions, with a microSD card slot that can expand that up to a further 64GB. The Tablet Z will be Wi-Fi-only, with the possibility that an LTE-enabled model may come later in the year. There is no more HDMI output, but using an MHL adapter means you can get the same functionality through the microUSB port.
NFC (Near Field Communication) will be built-in to the device, a feature that Sony is pushing throughout its various lines in consumer electronics. This is part of the “One-Touch” ecosystem Sony is trying to build with its own products, and to some degree, with NFC-enabled devices from competitors, too. The idea is that users could touch the tablet to an NFC speaker to listen to music there, or tap it to an NFC-enabled TV to mirror the screen or push a video over.
The Tablet Z will also be water-resistant to a depth of one metre for no more than 30 minutes. This essentially allows you to use it at the pool or beach without any worries. Sony executives also said that it’s sand-resistant, so rinsing off sand afterward is not an issue.
There is freezeproof technology here as well, and though not shockproof, it is possible the tablet won’t be damaged after an accidental fall from four feet.
The top edge of the tablet is all one big IR blaster, which is a feature kept from the first Sony tablet two years ago. Users can use the tablet to change channels and access content playing from their cable or satellite provider. In addition, the blaster can control Blu-ray players, game consoles and any other supported device. A universal remote feature also allows you to set up a sequence of devices to turn on simultaneously.
A stamina mode is figuring prominently in the device for the reason that it could conceivably give you up to 15 hours of battery life. Stamina turns off certain features and apps and dials down others, like the Bravia enhancements for video, for example, in order to provide longer life on one charge. If it works as advertised, it would make the Tablet Z one of the best, if not the best, tablets on the market for battery life.
Stereo speakers are found on each corner, and Sony is touting the audio quality to be among the best in the industry.
No exact launch date has been announced for Canada as of yet, but it will be in Q2, and will be available at big box retailers and the Sony Store. Pricing has also been kept under wraps for now, though Sony has traditionally priced their tablets about the same as the iPad.
