Thinnest, lightest and waterproof are just a handful of adjectives that very accurately describe Sony's Xperia Tablet Z2. In all this series there is one more phrase - the most expensive, well, or almost the most expensive of all the tablets on the market. And of course, perhaps one of the best tablets of 2014. Is this true and is the price justified?
Specifications:
- Housing materials: glass, aluminum, plastic
- Body colors: black, white
- Operating system: Android 4.4.2 (Android 5.0 planned)
- Network: GSM 850/900/1800/1900, HSDPA 850/900/1700/1900/2100, LTE 700/800/850/900/1700/1800/1900/2100/2600, depending on versions there may be variations
- Processor: Quad-core Qualcomm MSM8974AB Snapdragon 801, 2.3 GHz
- RAM: 3 GB
- Storage Memory: 16GB + Micro SD (up to 64GB)
- Screen: capacitive, IPS, 10.1 inches, 1920x1200 pixels, shockproof glass
- Camera: 8.1 MP main with autofocus, 2.2 MP front
- Additionally: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, GPS, GLONASS, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, IP58 waterproof housing
- Battery: 6000 mAh
- Dimensions: 266x172x6.4mm
- Weight: 439 g
- Device price: 26,000 rubles. / 8500 UAH
Equipment
The box is made in the standard Sony style.Equipment:
- Charger
- microUSB 2.0 cable
- Instruction set and warranty card
- Headset may be available depending on model
Appearance and usability
Sony remains true to its style and the Xperia Tablet Z2 is easily recognizable as any flagship of the Japanese company. The skeleton of the tablet is made of aluminum, which makes it possible to achieve such a low weight of the device. By the way, in comparison with its predecessor, the device has become 50 grams lighter. In addition to its low weight, only 439 grams, the thickness of the device is also surprising - 6.4 mm, which is a millimeter, and sometimes even slightly less than that of all competitors.The tablet looks amazing. The use of soft-touch plastic on the rear panel was a slight departure from the OmniBalance style, which usually used glass, but this did not harm the appearance in the least.
The feeling when you hold the Xperia Tablet Z2 in your hands is simply unforgettable, it's hard to say that this is a 10-inch device in front of you. It's really very light and thin, and without the rounded edges trick that hides the true thickness of the case, the Z2 has nothing to hide.
On the front panel there is a 10-inch TFT-display protected by Sony's proprietary shockproof glass. The coating is very scratch resistant. The bezels around the screen are unusually wide, so visually the screen seems smaller than it really is. 
Above the screen is a silver company logo, a 2.2 MP front camera and a barely noticeable light sensor.
To the right and left of the screen, you can see small slots, these are stereo speakers.
On the top of the device, you can see a black insert with rounded edges - this is an infrared port for controlling household appliances. Next to it is a hole for an additional microphone and a couple more plugs.
Under the plugs are a microUSB 2.0 connector, a slot for a memory card and a SIM card. The plugs are part of the water protection system.
You can charge the tablet without connecting the cable. To do this, you need a special docking station and a connector, which is located on the bottom of the device.
In addition, a 3.5 mm headset jack is located at the bottom. He obviously does not belong there, while using the headset, you constantly want to turn the tablet “upside down”.
On the left side there is a proprietary lock button and a volume rocker.
Right in the center of the rear panel is the company logo, in the upper right corner is the 8 MP main camera, and slightly below it is the NFC logo.
As mentioned above, the tablet is protected from water and dust according to the IP58 standard. According to the IP58 standard, the device can be submerged for a long time at a depth of more than 1 meter.
The build quality is excellent, there are no creaks or similar shortcomings here.
Screen
Sony Xperia Tablet Z2 is equipped with a 10.1-inch IPS-matrix with a resolution of 1920 by 1200 pixels. The dpi is 224, which is less than the iPad Air (264) or Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1 (299). The clarity of the screen is sufficient, but from a marketing point of view, it is no longer sufficient, because the last generation of the device uses exactly the same resolution.
When creating the screen, Triluminos and X-Reality Engine technologies were used, which migrated from Sony Bravia TVs. Of course, according to the company's statements, here is the best color reproduction, as close as possible to reality. Triluminos is responsible for the improved color depth, while X-Reality analyzes photos and videos and automatically adjusts to them.
The color rendition here is really on top, for those to whom it may not seem like that, the white balance setting is in the tablet settings. Viewing angles are maximum, while the screen does not dim and does not change shades.
Of course, there is an oleophobic coating here that is designed to repel oily fingerprints and make it easier to wipe the screen. There is also an anti-reflective coating here, but it does not do its job perfectly. In direct sunlight, the screen seems too glossy, due to the large amount of glare it becomes difficult to read from the tablet.
The brightness range is very wide, which makes it comfortable to use the device in almost any lighting. The automatic backlight adjustment function works adequately and without sudden jumps. In the settings there is an item “Smart backlight”, which blocks the screen from turning off while you look at it.
Multi-touch supports 10 simultaneous touches, works quickly and without flaws.
System
The Sony Xperia Tablet Z2 runs on Android version 4.4.2 KitKat. The manufacturer promised that the firmware for the recently released Android 5.0, which is available only in the Developer Preview version, will soon appear.
The tablet interface has a corporate look, but it is worth saying that the changes compared to the stock version are minimal. The company limited itself to redrawing standard elements, using its own font and keyboard. In terms of “cleanliness” of the system, Sony is perhaps second only to Motorola, which supplies its smartphones with stock Android.
The biggest difference will be only the presence of the right panel in the main menu, “pulling out” which you can customize the sorting and appearance of this menu.
Sony's signature keyboard looks very stylish, but otherwise it's just a keyboard.
Performance
The heart of the Sony Xperia Tablet Z2 is the Qualcomm MSM8974AB Snapdragon 801 processor, a sister of the Snapdragon 800 with 30% more graphics performance. The amount of RAM is 3 GB. Such characteristics are enough for the most demanding games with maximum graphics settings. At the moment, there are simply no games that could fully unlock the potential of the chipset. Paired with the proprietary Dualshock 3 joystick, the tablet becomes a serious gaming platform.
Test results in various benchmarks:
Antutu Benchmark 5.1: 39992
Quadrant 2.1.1: 17683
RL Benchmark SQL 1.3: 21.392sec
Benchmark Pi 1.11: 154ms
Linpack 1.2.8: 714.689 MFlops
Sunsiped Chrome 1.0.2: 1017.8ms
Epic Citadel UHQ 1.07: 52.1 fps
Basemark ES 2.0 Taiji 1.2: 59.59 fps
Basemark X High 1.1: 12554
Basemark OS II 1.0.1.0:1070
Antutu and Quadrant
Basemark X High
Real Racing 3
Dead Trigger 2
Autonomy of work
The battery capacity of the Sony Xperia Tablet Z2 is 6000 mAh, which is about 30% less than the competition. Despite this, the power system is designed to squeeze the juice out of the battery and use it as efficiently as possible.
System optimization allowed us to outperform all competitors in terms of battery life. Our tests showed that in the mode of web surfing via Wi-Fi, the tablet is able to withstand 13 hours and 35 minutes of work on a single charge.
Camera
The main camera is equipped with an 8 MP sensor with Exmor RS technology. The camera interface is almost identical to that of the company's top smartphones. In the settings, you can change the ISO, white balance and other settings.
In addition to the usual shooting modes, such as panorama, burst, face and smile detection, there are several exotic ones:
- Defocusing the background - will allow you to take photos almost like professional photographers with large lenses. The function works quite tolerably, although sometimes it messes up;
Bluetooth 4.0 with A2DP supports ANT+ ultra-low power mode, which is commonly used for various sports accessories and similar gadgets.
The Xperia Z2 Tablet supports the NFC standard, which is now only gaining popularity. The infrared port allows you to control any home appliances, from air conditioning and TV, to the most fashionable and sophisticated audio systems. The application has a really huge catalog of devices.
The tablet supports the standard joystick from the PlayStation 3 - Dualshock 3.
Outcome
Sony has a long history of designing amazing devices and the Sony Xperia Tablet Z2 is a good example. The article repeatedly repeated the words “thin” and “light” - this is perhaps the most striking distinguishing feature of this tablet. Coupled with a great design, the Xperia Tablet Z2 gives that impression of a premium and expensive product, and water resistance is its special feature. Have you ever used your tablet by the pool or in the kitchen?
Of course, there were some downsides too. The camera, which is the weak point of any tablet, is no exception here either. It is obvious that the quality of the camera has been sacrificed in the pursuit of thinner body.
Without a doubt, the tablet will be a good purchase and fully justifies its cost.
Pros:
- Waterproof case
- Weight and design
- Battery life
- Wide functionality
- Average camera quality
- Imperfect Anti-Bill Coating
- High price
Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet was released in three variations at once, from budget to the most prestigious:
| Operating system | Android 4.4 |
| Screen | 10.1, TFT IPS, 1920×1200 pixels, capacitive, multi-touch, glossy, 264 ppi |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 2.3GHz Quad Core |
| GPU | Adreno 330 |
| RAM | 3 GB |
| Flash memory | 16 and 32 GB |
| Memory card support | microSDHC (up to 32 GB) |
| Connectors | Micro-USB (with OTG/HOST support), for SIM card (in SGP521 modification), 3.5 mm headphone jack |
| Camera | rear (8.1 MP) and front (2.2 MP) |
| Communication | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, 3G, GPS(GLONASS), NFC (SGP521 modification supports LTE/4G, GSM, EDGE, HSCSD, HSDPA, GPRS, HSUPA, HSPA+ mobile networks) |
| lithium polymer battery, 6000 mAh | |
| Additionally | accelerometer, QWERTY keyboard, FM radio with RDS, MHL and DLNA support, waterproof and dustproof case |
| Dimensions | 266×172×6.4mm |
| Weight | 424 g |
| Price | $529 |
Contents of delivery
Like all tablet models from the Japanese company Sony, it comes in a fairly simple package that mistakenly suggests "budget" content. The delivery set is rather “ascetic”, however it includes everything you need:
Design
The tablet has a lot of similarities with the previous model, but it is impossible not to notice a number of design differences. The first thing that catches your eye is that the ends are trimmed with metal, the speakers were transferred from them to the front of the gadget.
The device “lost weight” by 60 grams, apparently due to a change in thickness to a minimum (6.4 mm). Such changes in dimensions will be appreciated by those who use the tablet every day - it has become even more convenient to hold, the brush does not get tired at all.
The case itself is covered with matte plastic, and not Soft Touch, which has already shown itself from the negative side. The device has 2 design options - black and white. Both of them look quite ergonomic and restrained. However, a review of the options showed that there are nuances. So, using a gadget in black, be prepared for the daily nervous rubbing of the tablet to a shine, because there is no other way to get rid of fingerprints and other dirt. The white version is simpler, traces of use are much worse visible on it. .
Quality tablet waterproof case finishes, as always, the Japanese are on top. Visually, the thinnest gadget in the world, as the manufacturers position it, leaves a good impression, the review will confirm this. Well, if we also take into account the fact that even divers can use it under water, although not deep, up to 1.5 meters, we can say with confidence that the tablet is perfect for those who love reading in a warm bath.
Screen
Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet will communicate with its owner through a 10-inch IPS-matrix display, which provides a good viewing angle. However, with a strong deviation, users notice a noticeable drop in brightness - the same problem was also encountered on the company's smartphones. When developing the display itself, the Japanese used OGS technology. It assumes the absence of a gap between the sensor and the screen itself, due to which the clarity and contrast indicators have been increased.
In this model, the manufacturers did not use a protective film. Instead, an oleophobic coating and scratch-resistant glass were used.
In addition, in order to maximize the clarity and detail of the image, the Japanese had to resort to the use of X-reality technology, which made it possible to obtain a bright, detailed, juicy image.
Performance
Qualcomm, which, as before, supplies processors for Sony gadgets, introduced the Snapdragon 801 chip with a high clock speed of 2.3 GHz in this model. The operation of the 4-core chip is supported by 3 GB of RAM and an excellent Adreno 330 graphics engine, which together ensure the impeccable speed of the tablet.
In addition, the tests carried out showed that Snapdragon 801 is more than 70% faster than the chip that was in the previous version of the gadget - S4 Pro. At the same time, the processor is energy-saving. Taken together, the characteristics allow not only to work with several “serious” applications at once, but also favorably affect the charging time.
Multimedia features
Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet is equipped with a standard for playing audio and video files and a graphics editor, with which you can easily change the brightness, contrast, frame, crop the image.
A standard video player reads 4K videos without any problems. FullHD display resolution only contributes to high-quality video viewing.
As for the audio player, it does not need additional introduction and review. Here we will meet the Walkman player, already known to all Sony fans, with a huge number of equalizers, "recognition", sorting, sound "improvers", visual effects and other lotions. The built-in speakers proved to be a solid four, although at full volume the back cover of the tablet still rattles.
In addition to all this, the gadget has a built-in remote control function with a wide list of manufacturers and devices to which it can be connected as a control device.
Battery and operating time
In this tablet model, the developers have introduced fundamentally new battery modes. The non-removable capacity is 6000 mAh, which guarantees its uninterrupted operation for 10 hours of using the Internet and about 100 hours of standby time. This duration is achieved through the introduction of STAMINA mode, which detects unclaimed applications and disables them the next time the tablet is started. It is stated that with its help the charge saving reaches 40%.
cameras
The Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet is equipped with a rear and front camera of 8.1 megapixels and 2.2 megapixels, respectively. The rear camera has a built-in Exmor RS matrix, which fans of the Japanese brand are already familiar with from smartphones. With its help, pictures even in a dark room will be lively and of high quality. However, she does not always succeed in small details. Apparently, the problem is not quite high-quality optics, on which the Japanese for some reason prefer to save.
Operating system and programs
This model is equipped with the most current version of the Android OS version 4.4.2 at the time of release of the tablet. Despite this, the model, as usual, is equipped with corporate design and system "programs" from the Japanese brand.
Among the pre-installed programs, we highlight the most necessary and useful:
- FM radio;
- Wi-Fi check (checks signal quality);
- OfficeSuite Pro (document editor);
- Remote control (tablet - remote control);
- File Commander;
- Sketch (graphic editor for drawing).
It should be noted that there are a lot of pre-installed offers, and, as always, not all of them can be uninstalled.
Competitors
By far, the biggest rival for the Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet is the iPad Air. In addition to the "apple" we must not forget about the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 and another flagship - Asus Transformer Pad Infinity.
After reviewing these models, we can highlight both the advantages and disadvantages of the Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet. In addition to being the thinnest, lightest and most comfortable, it has the largest storage capacity.
Among the weaknesses of the tablet, one can note the small battery capacity, the small amount of the maximum memory card and the lowest ppi.
pros
Comfortable and thin, waterproof and dustproof, productive, fast in operation, long battery life, build quality.
Minuses
The quality of the camera, the presence of "fingerprints" after a short work, the small volume of the installed flash card.
Findings and Conclusions
Summing up, it must be said that the tablet is an excellent continuation of the Xperia Z series. Beautiful, thin, light, fast, but quite expensive. Compare it with competitors that have a lower cost with relatively similar characteristics. Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet will be preferred only by a true fan of the Japanese brand or a person for whom water resistance and dust protection are a decisive factor.
- The tablet
- Power Supply
- USB cable
- Headset (depending on version)
- Documentation
The new Sony tablet: light, thin, with LTE support, interesting design, now without films, and everything would be fine, but there are also disadvantages typical for the company. A strange display, a strange easily soiled black plastic, everything is rather strange with the complete power supply, a strange price. But Sony fans will still be very pleased, that's for sure!
Design, construction
The company claims that this is the thinnest and lightest water-resistant tablet on the market - well, the war of the “most-most” is constantly on the market, and no one forbids inventing new categories. However, words are words, but when I picked up the Sony Xperia Tablet Z2 for the first time, I was surprised, the device is really weightless, the dimensions are 172 x 266 x 6.4 mm, the weight is 426 grams for the version with Wi-Fi, the model with Wi- Fi + LTE weighs 439 grams. Almost the entire front panel is occupied by the display, although the frames are wide - apparently, this is a retribution for the minimum thickness of the device. The back is made of matte black plastic, the traces are very noticeable, there is also a white version, I would recommend buying it. It's all about the prints, they are invisible on the white case. At the end there is a power button, the same as that of smartphones, made of aluminum. Under the plugs are microUSB connectors (MHL supported), a slot for memory cards and SIM cards (microSIM) in the version with LTE. A 3.5 mm connector without a plug, apparently, a new five-pin connector is also used here. Behind - the camera lens, no flash, under the lens - the NFC area. On the case there are both an infrared port for controlling home appliances and a magnetic connector, I recommend immediately buying such a cradle somewhere.
I want to note that after the appearance of the iPad Air, a new bar was set for all manufacturers, first of all, we are talking about weight - Sony took up this indicator for a reason. That's just the question, for whom it can be important? Probably, for those who often carry their equipment in a bag, they are used to saving every hundred grams - it is difficult to imagine such a person, but who knows, maybe such consumers exist.
In addition, Sony Xperia Tablet Z2 is water resistant (meets IP55/58 standards), can withstand immersion in a bath or sea. In Japan, the cult of the bathroom, the desire to get such protection is understandable. In Russia, the situation is different, so tablet protection is not a serious marketing advantage - all this is just my subjective opinion. But what is an advantage is the appearance of the device. If you don’t like Samsung, then there’s nothing else to look at among Android tablets - in the sense that it’s very, very pleasant for me to personally look at the Sony Xperia Tablet Z2.
Here is some official data on the protection of the tablet: “In accordance with IP55 and IP58 standards, Xperia is protected from dust and moisture. Provided that all ports and compartments are tightly sealed, the tablet will withstand low pressure water jets from any angle in accordance with the IP 55 standard; can be submerged in fresh water at a depth of 1.5 m for 30 minutes in accordance with the IP 58 standard. The design of the tablet does not allow it to be on the surface or under water, unless it meets the conditions of IP55 or IP58 standards. Failure to comply with standards will otherwise void the warranty."
The tablet bends a little, so keep this in mind when you carry the device in a bag with other things. Lightness really matters, I was pleased to use the Tablet Z2 just because of this indicator, it is not felt in a backpack, in my hand either, but from the first minutes of use I want to hide the tablet in a case.
Two speakers are used here, they are located on the sides of the display, the volume cannot be called exorbitant - you can comfortably watch a movie, listen to music, there is a stereo effect. It seemed to me that the volume is higher than that of the first generation tablet. By the way, you can watch AVI without conversion, there is support for such files by default.
Display
The TRILUMINOS IPS display is used, the same technology as in the Sony Xperia Z2 smartphone (I recommend watching the video, it is described in more or less detail). It looks good indoors, good viewing angles, brightness. The diagonal is 10.1 inches, the resolution is 1920 x 1200 pixels. There are no films on the front and back, at least I could not see it. Tempered glass protects the display from scratches and does not need films, I have been talking about this for a long time.
The unusual aspect ratio of the display also affects the perception of the tablet, one friend asked the question - is this a new photo frame? Indeed, Tablet Z2 is very much like a photo frame. The display is well suited for watching movies, photos, working with sites - for example, layout in WordPress. Viewing angles are not bad, but the white is slightly yellow, and adjusting the white balance will not fix this. Moreover, sometimes the screen is a little yellow, and sometimes it seems pinkish.
In the video, I say that the Tablet Z2 has the same display as the iPad Air, I didn't mean the actual data (the Air has 9.7 inches, the Tablet Z2 has 10.1 inches), but the perception as a whole. If suddenly you decide to buy Z2 because it has a larger diagonal, look at the store for both devices. I'm sure you'll also think that the size on the side of the Air is all about the aspect ratio, the Tablet Z2's is really quite strange. It is because of this that I do not recommend buying the device blindly, twist it in your hands in the store, then make a decision.
Performance
Uses Qualcomm APQ8074+MSM8974AB platform, 2.3GHz quad-core processor. Android 4.4 operating system, 3 GB of RAM, Adreno 330 adapter. LTE is supported, and, judging by the words of colleagues, this tablet can work as a smartphone, if you wish, you can make a call, send a message. 16 or 32 GB of memory is installed, memory cards up to 64 GB are also supported, not bad for those who want to watch videos on the tablet, since the display has this.
Of the features - it is supported to exit sleep mode by double tapping on the display, it has its own wallpapers and themes, many icons have been redrawn, the notification menu looks different, it opens from one side and the other: on the one side of the notification, on the other - access to quick settings. Among the applications there are a number of additional ones, these are Evernote, "Sketch" for drawing with a stylus, Social Live, Track ID and so on, you can see in the screenshots. There is also a program for remote control of equipment, it works, but I usually don’t use such software - why?
Modifications
So far, three modifications with hard-to-pronounce names are being sold, such as SGP511RU, two versions with Wi-Fi (16 and 32 GB), a model with Wi-Fi + LTE with only 16 GB of memory. Two colors, black and white, in terms of functionality and characteristics, a headset is included with a tablet with LTE, with the rest - only a power supply and a USB cable. In my opinion, you can buy any, especially if you have a smartphone with LTE support. No one bothers to turn on Sony Xperia Z2 as a hotspot, connect Tablet Z2 and do everything you need to do on the big screen.
I’ll immediately say about accessories, again a bunch of various additions, this is a Bluetooth speaker with a stand, a stand with a remote control for watching movies, a clip-on keyboard - a BKC-50 case.
You can connect a PS3 controller to the tablet, this is discussed separately - also an interesting feature, but why not connect a PS4 joystick? Here, too, work is supported with accessories for the new 3.5 mm jack, these are headphones with noise reduction implemented on the side of the device, the STM-10 microphone. By the way, it will be very convenient to watch the video on the plane, “noise canceling” perfectly crushes the sounds around, I checked the operation of the headphones with both the Z2 smartphone and the tablet.
Nutrition
It is curious that Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 technology is used here, let me remind you that the previous tablet had to be charged for about five hours (or even longer, I don’t remember exactly). Here, as it is written in the release, the operating time is increased by 75 percent. A 6000 mAh battery is installed, according to the company, the tablet can work 10 hours of video playback or 100 hours of music playback. In reality, the tablet behaves approximately like the iPad Air, but subjectively it discharges faster. Alas, the tablet takes a long time to charge from the bundled PSU, about five hours, it is better to use a magnetic docking station, the charging time is reduced by thirty percent (subjective opinion, there was a prototype on the test).
Camera
The main camera is 8.1 MP, the proprietary Exmor RS module is used, HDR mode is supported. Front camera - 2.2 MP. Many functions from the cameras of Sony Xperia smartphones are used, some can be seen in the video. In particular, these are augmented reality effects, fairy tale, fantasy and others, I like them since the days of Sony Xperia Z1.
findings
In retail prices are about the following: the version with Wi-Fi and LTE costs about 27,990 rubles, models with Wi-Fi cost 23,990/25,990 rubles, depending on the memory, this is 16 or 32 GB. I want to remind you that the outdated iPad Air with LTE and 32 GB of memory costs 28,990 rubles. It seems to me that Sony set the price for Russia somewhat chaotically, you can close your eyes to Samsung's competing products, but you can't close your eyes to the most popular gadgets in the category. It seems to me that for the version with Wi-Fi and 16 GB of memory you could ask for about 20,000 rubles, but for the older one - about 25,000 rubles, such a price tag could be adequate.
On the other hand, Sony may not be counting on serious sales, it is more important to have such a device in stock, to study demand. I am glad that the company is now very careful about the continuation, further development of certain categories. Previously, Sony could afford to create all sorts of strange gadgets like the Sony Tablet P, a clamshell tablet with two screens. Now is another time. And that is why the Sony Xperia Tablet Z2 is a pleasure to deal with, it is lighter than its predecessor, when using a magnetic docking station it charges faster, there is water protection, a better camera, less heat during use (this is subjective). What is left to overcome? Marked black plastic, it is quite possible to put a display of better quality, change the aspect ratio, looking at Apple, make two versions, mini and maxi. The gadget already has its own face, its own unique features, so you need to copy the general approach. You look, and it will turn out to take some prominent place in the tablet market - by the way, in Russia many people love such Sony devices, they buy them almost in the first days of sales.
In conclusion, I can say one thing, Z2 has become better. If you need a brighter screen, pen support, then you should look towards Samsung. If you just need a good tablet, it's better to buy an iPad. Well, if you are a fan of Sony, then it is worth buying Z2, despite the price and shortcomings.
Tablets had no future until Apple announced them loudly. Since then, a lot of water has flowed under the bridge, but no matter what tablet comes out, one way or another, sooner or later it is still compared to the iPad. Our test subject is compared with the iPad Air for a reason. It was the “airy” tablet that was called the lightest and most elegant before the advent of the Sony Xperia Tablet Z2. We now have a huge 10.1-inch water and dust resistant tablet on our hands that deserves the title of the thinnest and lightest tablet in existence. Impressive?
The Sony Xperia Tablet Z1 was voted the best tablet in Europe. It's not a very sour start. The bar was set high from the start. Girls filmed reviews about him in the bathroom, men bathed him in the Dnieper, in general, everyone liked him. Although there was something to complain about - the rigidity of the device, for example, left much to be desired. And at IFA 2014 in Barcelona, they presented the continuation of this beauty, calling it simply the Sony Xperia Tablet Z2. And what did they get?
Design and ergonomics
The tablet at first glance resembles a plasma TV, the perfect size if you're going to carry it in your backpack. Or a thin university notebook for all subjects. It is almost A4 format and is easily lost among papers, folders and books. I especially like the fact that despite the dominance of tablets on the market, the Tab Z2 is not like any of them. It is strict, conservative, straight lines, sharp corners, ideally combined with the flagship.
Thin, light and elegant - I never get tired of repeating it, it seems, never. Because everyone who has ever picked up a tablet was very surprised that it weighs practically nothing. It seems that the Japanese were inspired by a sheet of paper.
There is something to see here. The edges are strewn with a variety of ports, connectors and buttons. Above are two plugs. Under the first long are slots for a micro-SIM card and microSD, under the second - a slot for microUSB. Actually, these are the two topics that must always be kept dry, otherwise the tablet will simply stop working.
Nothing was placed on the right side, and on the bottom there are sensors for connecting a docking station and an audio jack.
On the left side there is a volume rocker and a small lock button. Since there was no double-tap unlock function, get used to its diminutiveness and location. This is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance.
The front part is completely covered with protective tempered glass, and the back part is covered with soft-touch plastic that is pleasant to the touch. He has a plus and a minus. Plus - tactile sensations. Pleasant and grippy. Minus - mark. Very brand. And to wipe it off, you need to make a lot of effort.
Sony logos are located on the lid, Xperia logos below, and in the upper corner there is an 8.1 MP main camera eye and an NFC icon below it.
On the top frame around the display is the company logo, a 2.2 MP front camera and an event indicator.
You understand that such a bandura will not fit into a small handbag. You can't stuff it into a clutch with any magic. So your girl who appreciates mobility, small handbags and small dogs may not like this tablet and will lie on the bedside table. For everyone else who does not worry and walks with a backpack and a larger bag, the tablet will be convenient to use. Due to the parameters, it fits perfectly in the laptop compartment instead of a laptop, and it also weighs two, or even three to four times lighter than your laptop. And due to the parameters and the “smart” keyboard, the Sony Xperia Tab Z2 can easily replace it, unless, of course, you are going to download it as a gaming laptop. As a non-tablet fan, I can say with confidence that a 10-inch device as an intermediate between a smartphone and a computer is the most logical way to use a tablet.
Display
At first glance, the screen seems very cool. 10.1 inch TRILUMINOS IPS capacitive display with excellent oleophobic coating. And then you find out that it also has a glossy finish. And that its resolution is rather strange - 1920 x 1200. And that the maximum brightness in the sun is not comfortable enough. That is, the text is readable, but when we shot a video review, nothing was visible through the lens.
But indoors, the display has good viewing angles, the brightness is sufficient, the richness and contrast of the picture are at a decent level. Sitting in a room with normal lighting, watching a movie on such a display is a thrill. The only thing is that at an angle the white color turns slightly pink, at a different angle it turns a little yellow - that's how unpredictable it is.
Huge at first glance, the frames are actually the perfect size if you still use the tablet, and did not buy it so that it stands beautifully in the docking station. Such a large tablet is hardly purchased for mobility, rather for practicality. Therefore, frames are needed so that there is where to put your hands. With such a width, the tablet is convenient to manage in both horizontal and vertical orientations. The virtual buttons just “eat up” part of the display… And thanks to the black fields, the tablet can resemble a photo frame. But this is definitely a subjective question.
But there is definitely one advantage over the previous tablet - the Sony Tablet Z2 does not have films! That is, the developers have finally come to the realization of the fact that the protective glass does not need branded protective films that you just can’t take off, even if you really want to. Excellent tempered glass with oleophobic coating. This is beauty! For working with texts, surfing the Internet and watching movies - ideal. But if you want to see something on the display in direct sunlight, then do not forget to take off your sunglasses, but rather look for a shadow.
cameras
There are two of them, and they are quite good quality. Unless you have a bad habit of comparing smartphone and tablet cameras. The main camera received 8.1 MP and a bunch of useful and not very software. The camera can shoot panoramas, HDR photos and videos, conduct multi-series shooting, has an 8x digital zoom and LED backlight. The shots are of very good quality, but there will be problems with detailing. And even with artificial or insufficient lighting, the resulting image will not delight you.
The menu has as many as nine shooting modes: super auto, manual settings, background defocus, fabulous effects, art, timeshift butst (when you have the opportunity to choose the best shot taken before and after pressing the shutter), social life (for people who constantly post photos on Facebook and want to share them with friends there), a panoramic view and evernote, with which photos can be saved to your account.
There is no separate button to launch the camera, but this function is available from the unlock screen. In the lower left corner you will find a small menu where you can select the resolution and shooting ratio. Above it is the icon for switching to the front camera, which received 2.2 MP. Do not expect anything supernatural from her. There is a facial "cleansing" feature, commonly referred to as "smoothing".
The main problem that I personally have with cameras is the size of the tablet. It’s very inconvenient to take pictures with such a huge tablet. It is at this moment that it seems that the tablet is bulky, it turns out that at the concert you close the view to everyone, and they look at you in surprise and condemnation. If two aspects - convenience and the attitude of others - do not soar you, then feel free to photograph everything in a row.
Sound
The speakers are well placed. They are small, the first time I did not find them, it seems that the sound comes from somewhere inside. In fact, these are two short stereo speakers that are located at the bottom of the display.
But given the fact that when watching a video you hold the tablet with both hands, most often I turned the tablet over, and the speakers were located on top of my fingers. The volume is adequate, the clarity is average, and in general, if you forgot your headphones at home and want to watch a series with sound, the sound of the speakers will not disappoint you. In nature or in places of rest it will be heard well.
Specifications
The tablet received mega-progressive technical characteristics, like a flying saucer. Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8974-AB Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8974-AB quad-core 2.3GHz, Adreno 330 graphics, 3GB RAM. In tests, the tablet is ahead of the rest, and you hope for this when you pay such money for such iron. All toys go at maximum settings, everything looks beautiful. The interface is responsive, the animations are smooth, and everything looks nice enough. And in general, well, what to say if everything is fine? At maximum loads, the tablet still heats up, a little closer to the left edge in the center. And so, yes, the speed of the device is cool. These are the great advantages of the device. The tablet does not slow down and flies straight.
- Dimensions: 172 x 266 x 6.4 mm.
- Weight: Wi-Fi enabled 426g, LTE enabled 439g
- Operating system: Android 4.4 KitKat with a proprietary shell from Sony.
- Processor: Four cores Krait 400 Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8974-AB with a frequency of 2.3 GHz.
- Graphics: Adreno 330.
- Display: Capacitive IPS, 10.1 inches, 1920 x 1200, glossy finish.
- Memory: 16/32 GB + microSD up to 64 GB.
- RAM: 3 GB.
- Camera: Primary - 8.1 MP, Exmor RS matrix, 8x digital zoom, HDR, burst mode, Full HD video recording, LED flash; front - 2.2 MP, video recording in HD.
- Wireless technologies: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, GSM, HSDPA, GPS, NFC, DLNA, optional LTE.
- Interface connectors: 3.5 mm headphone jack, MicroUSB, docking station connector.
- Battery: Li-Ion battery 6000 mAh.
Software
The device runs Android 4.4 KitKat. Firmware from Sony is always an amateur. Appearance with flying waves, ooh The opinion is subjective, personal, there are people who like this whole appearance. But! I repeat not for the first time - the number of programs pre-installed on the go is such that with the devices of this company I spend the least time in the Play Market.
All popular social networks are here at once, a folder with tools, branded navigation, news from Sociallife, SonySelect and Whats New, where the company recommends interesting applications, TrackID, remote control of home appliances via infrared, Smart Connect, which helps connect the tablet and devices with one touch. In general, a lot of useful things, but also a lot of all sorts of nonsense that clogs the device's memory. And on a 16 GB tablet, about 11 GB is available on the move. There is also a 32 GB version. Whichever option you choose, there's always the option to install a microSD up to 64GB.
Protection
This has become a good tone for flagship devices. And if once protection against water and dust was perceived as something that adds big pluses to the device, now it is so in the order of things that the absence of a function causes indignation and bewilderment. The case is protected from water and dust according to IP 55/58 standards. That is, you can easily wallow on a sandy beach near a river or pool without fear of grains of sand.
And if you want to swim with a tablet, then you can do this for 30 minutes in fresh water at a depth of up to 1.5 meters, and only if all the plugs are closed. There are only two of them, so take the trouble to check that they are tightly sealed. Otherwise, no warranty will save the device.
Information about the make, model, and alternative names of a particular device, if any.
Design
Information about the dimensions and weight of the device, presented in different units of measurement. Used materials, suggested colors, certificates.
| Width Width information refers to the horizontal side of the device in its standard orientation during use. | 266 mm (millimeters) 26.6 cm (centimeters) 0.87 ft 10.47in |
| Height Height information refers to the vertical side of the device in its standard orientation during use. | 172 mm (millimeters) 17.2 cm (centimeters) 0.56 ft 6.77in |
| Thickness Information about the thickness of the device in different units of measurement. | 6.4 mm (millimeters) 0.64 cm (centimeters) 0.02 ft 0.25in |
| The weight Information about the weight of the device in different units of measurement. | 439 g (grams) 0.97 lbs 15.49oz |
| Volume Approximate volume of the device, calculated from dimensions provided by the manufacturer. Refers to devices with the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped. | 292.81 cm³ (cubic centimeters) 17.78 in³ (cubic inches) |
| Colors Information about the colors in which this device is offered for sale. | Black White |
| Certification Information about the standards to which this device is certified. | IP55 IP58 |
SIM card
The SIM card is used in mobile devices to store data that certifies the authenticity of mobile service subscribers.
Mobile networks
A mobile network is a radio system that allows multiple mobile devices to communicate with each other.
| GSM GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) is designed to replace the analogue mobile network (1G). For this reason, GSM is often referred to as a 2G mobile network. It is enhanced by the addition of GPRS (General Packet Radio Services) and later EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution) technologies. | GSM 850 MHz GSM 900 MHz GSM 1800 MHz GSM 1900 MHz |
| UMTS UMTS is short for Universal Mobile Telecommunications System. It is based on the GSM standard and belongs to 3G mobile networks. Developed by 3GPP and its biggest advantage is to provide more speed and spectral efficiency with W-CDMA technology. | UMTS 850 MHz UMTS 900 MHz UMTS 1700/2100 MHz UMTS 1900 MHz UMTS 2100 MHz |
| LTE LTE (Long Term Evolution) is defined as fourth generation (4G) technology. It is developed by 3GPP based on GSM/EDGE and UMTS/HSPA to increase the capacity and speed of wireless mobile networks. The subsequent development of technologies is called LTE Advanced. | LTE 850 MHz (SGP521; SGP551) LTE 900 MHz (SGP521; SGP551) LTE 1700/2100 MHz (SGP521; SGP551) LTE 1800 MHz (SGP521; SGP551) LTE 1900 MHz (SGP521; SGP551) LTE 2100 MHz (SGP521; SGP551) LTE 2600 MHz (SGP521; SGP551) LTE 700 MHz Class 13 (SGP521) LTE 700 MHz Class 17 (SGP521) LTE 800 MHz (SGP521) |
Mobile technologies and data rates
Communication between devices in mobile networks is carried out through technologies that provide different data transfer rates.
Operating system
The operating system is the system software that manages and coordinates the operation of the hardware components in the device.
SoC (System on a Chip)
System on a chip (SoC) includes all the most important hardware components of a mobile device in one chip.
| SoC (System on a Chip) A system on a chip (SoC) integrates various hardware components such as a processor, graphics processor, memory, peripherals, interfaces, etc., as well as the software necessary for their operation. | Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 MSM8974AB v3 |
| Technological process Information about the technological process by which the chip is made. The value in nanometers measures half the distance between the elements in the processor. | 28 nm (nanometers) |
| Processor (CPU) The main function of the processor (CPU) of a mobile device is the interpretation and execution of instructions contained in software applications. | Krait 400 |
| Processor bit depth The bit depth (bits) of a processor is determined by the size (in bits) of registers, address buses, and data buses. 64-bit processors have higher performance than 32-bit processors, which, in turn, are more productive than 16-bit processors. | 32 bit |
| Instruction Set Architecture Instructions are commands by which the software sets/controls the operation of the processor. Information about the instruction set (ISA) that the processor can execute. | ARMv7 |
| Level 0 Cache (L0) Some processors have an L0 (level 0) cache that is faster to access than L1, L2, L3, etc. The advantage of having such a memory is not only higher performance, but also reduced power consumption. | 4 kB + 4 kB (kilobytes) |
| First level cache (L1) Cache memory is used by the processor to reduce access time to more frequently accessed data and instructions. L1 (level 1) cache is small and much faster than both system memory and other cache levels. If the processor does not find the requested data in L1, it continues to look for them in the L2 cache. With some processors, this search is performed simultaneously in L1 and L2. | 16 kB + 16 kB (kilobytes) |
| Second level cache (L2) L2 (level 2) cache is slower than L1, but in return it has a larger capacity, allowing more data to be cached. It, like L1, is much faster than system memory (RAM). If the processor does not find the requested data in L2, it continues to look for it in the L3 cache (if available) or RAM. | 2048 KB (kilobytes) 2 MB (megabytes) |
| Number of processor cores The processor core executes program instructions. There are processors with one, two or more cores. Having more cores increases performance by allowing many instructions to be executed in parallel. | 4 |
| Processor clock speed The clock speed of a processor describes its speed in terms of cycles per second. It is measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz). | 2300 MHz (megahertz) |
| Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) The graphics processing unit (GPU) handles calculations for various 2D/3D graphics applications. In mobile devices, it is used most often by games, consumer interface, video applications, etc. | Qualcomm Adreno 330 |
| Number of GPU cores Like the CPU, the GPU is made up of several working parts called cores. They handle the graphical calculations of different applications. | 4 |
| GPU clock speed Speed is the clock speed of the GPU and is measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz). | 578 MHz (megahertz) |
| The amount of random access memory (RAM) Random access memory (RAM) is used by the operating system and all installed applications. Data stored in RAM is lost when the device is turned off or restarted. | 3 GB (gigabytes) |
| Type of random access memory (RAM) Information about the type of random access memory (RAM) used by the device. | LPDDR3 |
| Number of RAM channels Information about the number of RAM channels that are integrated into the SoC. More channels means higher data rates. | dual channel |
| RAM frequency The frequency of RAM determines its speed, more specifically, the speed of reading / writing data. | 933 MHz (megahertz) |
Built-in memory
Each mobile device has a built-in (non-removable) memory with a fixed amount.
Memory cards
Memory cards are used in mobile devices to increase the storage capacity for storing data.
Screen
The screen of a mobile device is characterized by its technology, resolution, pixel density, diagonal length, color depth, etc.
| Type/technology One of the main characteristics of the screen is the technology by which it is made and on which the image quality of information directly depends. | TFT |
| Diagonal For mobile devices, the screen size is expressed in terms of its diagonal length, measured in inches. | 10.1in 256.54 mm (millimeters) 25.65 cm (centimeters) |
| Width Approximate Screen Width | 8.56in 217.55 mm (millimeters) 21.75 cm (centimeters) |
| Height Approximate Screen Height | 5.35in 135.97 mm (millimeters) 13.6 cm (centimeters) |
| Aspect Ratio The ratio of the dimensions of the long side of the screen to its short side | 1.6:1 16:10 |
| Permission Screen resolution indicates the number of pixels vertically and horizontally on the screen. Higher resolution means sharper image detail. | 1920 x 1200 pixels |
| Pixel Density Information about the number of pixels per centimeter or inch of the screen. Higher density allows information to be shown on the screen in clearer detail. | 224 ppi (pixels per inch) 88ppm (pixels per centimeter) |
| Color depth Screen color depth reflects the total number of bits used for the color components in a single pixel. Information about the maximum number of colors the screen can display. | 24 bit 16777216 flowers |
| Screen area Approximate percentage of screen space on the front of the device. | 64.86% (percentage) |
| Other characteristics Information about other functions and features of the screen. | capacitive Multitouch Scratch resistance |
| Sony Mobile BRAVIA Engine 2 chemical tempered glass OGS (One Glass Solution) Oleophobic (lipophobic) coating |
Sensors
Different sensors perform different quantitative measurements and convert physical indicators into signals that are recognized by the mobile device.
rear camera
The main camera of a mobile device is usually located on its rear panel and can be combined with one or more additional cameras.
| Sensor Model Information about the manufacturer and model of the sensor used by the camera. | Sony Exmor RS |
| Sensor type Information about the type of camera sensor. Some of the most widely used sensor types in mobile device cameras are CMOS, BSI, ISOCELL, etc. | CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) |
| Image Resolution One of the main characteristics of cameras is resolution. It represents the number of horizontal and vertical pixels in an image. For convenience, smartphone manufacturers often list resolution in megapixels, giving an approximate number of pixels in millions. | 3104 x 1746 pixels 5.42 MP (megapixels) |
| Video resolution Information about the maximum video resolution that the camera can record. | 1920 x 1080 pixels 2.07 MP (megapixels) |
| Video recording speed (frame rate) Information about the maximum recording rate (frames per second, fps) supported by the camera at maximum resolution. Some of the most basic video recording speeds are 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps, 60 fps. | 30 fps (frames per second) |
| Characteristics Information about additional software and hardware features of the rear (rear) camera. | autofocus Burst shooting digital zoom Digital Image Stabilization geo tags panoramic shooting HDR shooting Touch focus Face recognition Self-timer Scene Selection Mode |
Front-camera
Smartphones have one or more front cameras of various designs - a pop-up camera, a PTZ camera, a cutout or hole in the display, a camera under the display.
Audio
Information about the type of speakers and audio technologies supported by the device.
Radio
The radio of the mobile device is a built-in FM receiver.
Location determination
Information about navigation and location technologies supported by the device.
WiFi
Wi-Fi is a technology that provides wireless communication for short distance data transmission between different devices.
Bluetooth
Bluetooth is a standard for secure wireless data transfer between different types of devices over short distances.
| Version There are several versions of Bluetooth, with each subsequent one improving communication speed, coverage, making it easier to discover and connect devices. Information about the Bluetooth version of the device. | 4.0 |
| Characteristics Bluetooth uses different profiles and protocols for faster data exchange, energy savings, better device discovery, and more. Some of the profiles and protocols that the device supports are shown here. | A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile) AVRCP (Audio/Visual Remote Control Profile) DIP (Device ID Profile) GAP (Generic Access Profile) GATT (Generic Attribute Profile) HDP (Health Device Profile) HFP (Hands Free Profile) HID (Human Interface Profile) HSP (Headset Profile) MAP (Message Access Profile) OPP (Object Push Profile) PAN (Personal Area Networking Profile) SPP (Serial Port Protocol) |
USB
USB (Universal Serial Bus) is an industry standard that allows different electronic devices to communicate.
HDMI
HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) is a digital audio/video interface that replaces older analog audio/video standards.
Headphone jack
This is an audio connector, which is also called an audio jack. The most widely used standard in mobile devices is the 3.5mm headphone jack.
Connecting devices
Information about other important connection technologies supported by the device.
Browser
A web browser is a software application for accessing and viewing information on the Internet.
| Browser Information about some of the key features and standards supported by the device's browser. | HTML HTML5 |
Audio file formats/codecs
Mobile devices support various audio file formats and codecs that store and encode/decode digital audio data, respectively.
Video file formats/codecs
Mobile devices support various video file formats and codecs, which store and encode/decode digital video data, respectively.
Battery
Mobile device batteries differ from each other in their capacity and technology. They provide the electrical charge they need to function.
| Capacity The capacity of a battery indicates the maximum charge it can store, measured in milliamp-hours. | 6000 mAh (milliamp-hours) |
| Type The type of battery is determined by its structure and, more specifically, by the chemicals used. There are different types of batteries, with lithium-ion and lithium-ion polymer batteries being the most commonly used in mobile devices. | Li-polymer (Li-polymer) |
| 2G standby time The 2G standby time is the amount of time it takes for the battery to fully discharge when the device is in stand-by mode and connected to a 2G network. | 1240 h (hours) 74400 min (minutes) 51.7 days |
| 3G standby time The 3G standby time is the amount of time it takes for the battery to fully discharge when the device is in stand-by mode and connected to a 3G network. | 1200 h (hours) 72000 min (minutes) 50 days |
| Characteristics Information about some additional features of the device's battery. | Fixed |
| Battery life - up to 13 hours |
Specific Absorption Rate (SAR)
SAR levels refer to the amount of electromagnetic radiation absorbed by the human body while using a mobile device.
| Body SAR (EU) The SAR level indicates the maximum amount of electromagnetic radiation that the human body is exposed to when holding a mobile device at hip level. The maximum allowed SAR value for mobile devices in Europe is 2 W/kg per 10 grams of human tissue. This standard has been established by CENELEC following the 1998 ICNIRP guidelines and IEC standards. | 1.806 W/kg (watt per kilogram) |
| Body SAR (US) The SAR level indicates the maximum amount of electromagnetic radiation that the human body is exposed to when holding a mobile device at hip level. The highest acceptable SAR value in the US is 1.6 W/kg per gram of human tissue. This value is set by the FCC, and the CTIA controls whether mobile devices comply with this standard. | 1.26 W/kg (watt per kilogram) |
