Speaker
- Technology: GSM / HSPA / LTE
- Dimensions: 254 x 167 x 6.1 mm
- Weight: 393 g
- Display: IPS LCD 10.1 inches
- Resolution: 2560 x 1600
- OS: Android OS, v5.0 (Lollipop)
- Chipset: Snapdragon 810
- CPU: Octa-core
- Internal: 32 GB, 3 GB RAM
- Camera: 8.1 MP - 5.1 MP
The Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet faces the daunting task of flying the Z4 banner, when the Xperia Z4 smartphone is just an incremental update limited to the Japanese market. The 10.1-inch tablet seems up for the task however with contemporary specs, attractive styling and razor-thin profile.
The Xperia Z4 Tablet builds on the virtues of the Z2 Tablet from a year ago and the improvements are much easier to spot than in the Xperia smartphone range where Sony's twice-a-year release cycle has meant more gradual evolution.
We weren't particularly satisfied with the low 224ppi of the predecessor, rather thin even by last year's standards and we're happy to note that the tablet's display resolution has been brought up to date and is now 2,560 x 1,600 pixels.
Sony's design language has remained unchanged for a while, and while it may be getting a bit tired, it's stylish nonetheless. A few excess millimeters have been trimmed off the footprint, while thickness has been brought down to match the Apple iPad Air 2 at 6.1mm. And perhaps most importantly, an IP68 certification means you can submerge it in water for up to 30min and 1.5m in depth, without fearing for its life.
Most impressively, the tablet weighs just 393g, a good 10% lighter than both the predecessor and the Cupertino rival. Meanwhile, battery capacity hasn't been sacrificed and has remained at 6,000mAh, but will that be enough to power 80% percent more pixels and more capable chipset?
Speaking of chipsets, a whole year warrants an improvement in the innards and the Snapdragon 810 has replaced the S801 of the Xperia Z2 Tablet. We're only left to hope that Sony has managed to leverage the large surface area to benefit the heat dissipation and we finally the Snapdragon live up to its potential.
We have the LTE version of the tablet which comes with the added benefit of cellular connectivity. There's also a WI-Fi only model, but our findings should apply equally well to that one too. For the sake of simplicity we'll drop the LTE abbreviation for the rest of this review.
- Technology: GSM / HSPA / LTE
- Dimensions: 254 x 167 x 6.1 mm
- Weight: 393 g
- Display: IPS LCD 10.1 inches
- Resolution: 2560 x 1600
- OS: Android OS, v5.0 (Lollipop)
- Chipset: Snapdragon 810
- CPU: Octa-core
- Internal: 32 GB, 3 GB RAM
- Camera: 8.1 MP - 5.1 MP
The Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet faces the daunting task of flying the Z4 banner, when the Xperia Z4 smartphone is just an incremental update limited to the Japanese market. The 10.1-inch tablet seems up for the task however with contemporary specs, attractive styling and razor-thin profile.
The Xperia Z4 Tablet builds on the virtues of the Z2 Tablet from a year ago and the improvements are much easier to spot than in the Xperia smartphone range where Sony's twice-a-year release cycle has meant more gradual evolution.
We weren't particularly satisfied with the low 224ppi of the predecessor, rather thin even by last year's standards and we're happy to note that the tablet's display resolution has been brought up to date and is now 2,560 x 1,600 pixels.
Sony's design language has remained unchanged for a while, and while it may be getting a bit tired, it's stylish nonetheless. A few excess millimeters have been trimmed off the footprint, while thickness has been brought down to match the Apple iPad Air 2 at 6.1mm. And perhaps most importantly, an IP68 certification means you can submerge it in water for up to 30min and 1.5m in depth, without fearing for its life.
Most impressively, the tablet weighs just 393g, a good 10% lighter than both the predecessor and the Cupertino rival. Meanwhile, battery capacity hasn't been sacrificed and has remained at 6,000mAh, but will that be enough to power 80% percent more pixels and more capable chipset?
Speaking of chipsets, a whole year warrants an improvement in the innards and the Snapdragon 810 has replaced the S801 of the Xperia Z2 Tablet. We're only left to hope that Sony has managed to leverage the large surface area to benefit the heat dissipation and we finally the Snapdragon live up to its potential.
We have the LTE version of the tablet which comes with the added benefit of cellular connectivity. There's also a WI-Fi only model, but our findings should apply equally well to that one too. For the sake of simplicity we'll drop the LTE abbreviation for the rest of this review.
- Technology: GSM / HSPA / LTE
- Dimensions: 212.8 x 125.6 x 6.6 mm
- Weight: 298 g
- Display: Super AMOLED 8.4 inches
- Resolution: 1600 x 2560
- OS: Android OS, v4.4.2 (KitKat)
- Chipset: Snapdragon 800
- CPU: Quad-core 2.3 GHz
- Internal: 16/32 GB, 3 GB RAM
- Camera: 8 MP - 2.1 MP
Ever since the 2011 unveiling of the Galaxy Tab 7.7 we've been waiting for the next generation of Super AMOLED tablets. Three years later they have arrived - the Samsung Galaxy Tab S duo comes in 10.5" and 8.4" sizes and like the Tab 7.7 before them, they are stunningly thin.
Separate from the Galaxy Tab and Galaxy Note lines, the Galaxy Tab S tablets still share a lot with them. The powerful hardware platform, combined with proprietary TouchWiz features like Multi Window, instantly put the two at the forefront of functionality. Just look at that specs sheet.
- Technology: GSM / HSPA / LTE
- Dimensions: 212.8 x 125.6 x 6.6 mm
- Weight: 298 g
- Display: Super AMOLED 8.4 inches
- Resolution: 1600 x 2560
- OS: Android OS, v4.4.2 (KitKat)
- Chipset: Snapdragon 800
- CPU: Quad-core 2.3 GHz
- Internal: 16/32 GB, 3 GB RAM
- Camera: 8 MP - 2.1 MP
Ever since the 2011 unveiling of the Galaxy Tab 7.7 we've been waiting for the next generation of Super AMOLED tablets. Three years later they have arrived - the Samsung Galaxy Tab S duo comes in 10.5" and 8.4" sizes and like the Tab 7.7 before them, they are stunningly thin.
Separate from the Galaxy Tab and Galaxy Note lines, the Galaxy Tab S tablets still share a lot with them. The powerful hardware platform, combined with proprietary TouchWiz features like Multi Window, instantly put the two at the forefront of functionality. Just look at that specs sheet.
- Technology: GSM / HSPA / LTE
- Dimensions: 256.2 x 167.9 x 6.7 mm
- Weight: 510 g
- Display: IPS LCD 10.1 inches
- Resolution: 1200 x 1920
- OS: Android OS, v6.0.1 (Marshmallow)
- Chipset: Snapdragon 617
- CPU: Octa-core
- Internal: 32 GB, 2 GB RAM
- Camera: 5 MP - 5 MP
- Technology: GSM / HSPA / LTE
- Dimensions: 256.2 x 167.9 x 6.7 mm
- Weight: 510 g
- Display: IPS LCD 10.1 inches
- Resolution: 1200 x 1920
- OS: Android OS, v6.0.1 (Marshmallow)
- Chipset: Snapdragon 617
- CPU: Octa-core
- Internal: 32 GB, 2 GB RAM
- Camera: 5 MP - 5 MP
- Technology: GSM / HSPA / LTE
- Dimensions: 247 x 179 mm
- Weight: 637 g
- Display: IPS LCD 10.1 inches
- Resolution: 1600 x 2560
- OS: Android OS, v6.0.1 (Marshmallow)
- Chipset: Snapdragon 625
- CPU: Octa-core
- Internal: 32 GB, 3 GB RAM
- Camera: 13 MP - 5 MP
- Technology: GSM / HSPA / LTE
- Dimensions: 247 x 179 mm
- Weight: 637 g
- Display: IPS LCD 10.1 inches
- Resolution: 1600 x 2560
- OS: Android OS, v6.0.1 (Marshmallow)
- Chipset: Snapdragon 625
- CPU: Octa-core
- Internal: 32 GB, 3 GB RAM
- Camera: 13 MP - 5 MP
- Technology: GSM / HSPA
- Dimensions: 191.8 x 107 x 8.5 mm
- Weight: 2783 g
- Display: IPS LCD 7.0 inches
- Resolution: 600 x 1024
- OS: Android OS, v4.4.2 (KitKat)
- Chipset: Spreadtrum SC7731G
- CPU: Quad-core 1.2 GHz
- Internal: 8 GB, 1 GB RAM
- Camera: 2 MP
- Technology: GSM / HSPA
- Dimensions: 191.8 x 107 x 8.5 mm
- Weight: 2783 g
- Display: IPS LCD 7.0 inches
- Resolution: 600 x 1024
- OS: Android OS, v4.4.2 (KitKat)
- Chipset: Spreadtrum SC7731G
- CPU: Quad-core 1.2 GHz
- Internal: 8 GB, 1 GB RAM
- Camera: 2 MP
- Technology: GSM / HSPA / LTE
- Dimensions: 205.4 x 136.4 x 7.6 mm
- Weight: 320 g
- Display: IPS LCD 7.9 inches
- Resolution: 1536 x 2048
- OS: Android OS, v6.0 (Marshmallow)
- Chipset: Snapdragon 650
- CPU: Hexa-core
- Internal: 32 GB, 4 GB RAM
- Camera: 8 MP - 2 MP
- Technology: GSM / HSPA / LTE
- Dimensions: 205.4 x 136.4 x 7.6 mm
- Weight: 320 g
- Display: IPS LCD 7.9 inches
- Resolution: 1536 x 2048
- OS: Android OS, v6.0 (Marshmallow)
- Chipset: Snapdragon 650
- CPU: Hexa-core
- Internal: 32 GB, 4 GB RAM
- Camera: 8 MP - 2 MP
- Technology: GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE
- Dimensions: 305.7 x 220.6 x 6.9 mm
- Weight: 713 g
- Display: LED-backlit IPS LCD 12.9 inches
- Resolution: 2048 x 2732
- OS: iOS 9
- Chipset: Apple A9X
- CPU: Dual-core 2.26 GHz
- Internal: 32/128/256 GB, 4 GB RAM
- Camera: 8 MP - 1.2 MP
Circulating in the rumor mill for two years, with a probability of near zero for the better part thereof, the iPad Pro was made official in September 2015 and is shipping worldwide as we speak. Guess we already know what's been going on under the surface but the bottom line is Apple lets you decide about the optional pencil and keyboard.
At 12.9 inches of display diagonal, the iPad Pro is Apple's largest tablet and largest handheld device running iOS, considering there are a couple of smaller MacBooks.
But while size quite obviously matters, there's more to the giant iPad than its sheer scale. A couple of firsts for Apple are also part of the package, though they naturally come at an extra cost.
First up is the Pencil. It's an easy target of ridicule, given Steve Jobs' abhorrence of the stylus, expressed at the original iPhone's launch. However, the Pencil here serves a fundamentally different purpose to a stylus on a smartphone, and the jokes are mostly groundless. The Pencil is an active battery powered device and houses all the tech needed for precise measurement of not only different levels of pressure, but also tilt, so that it's able to reproduce your drawing digitally with all its nuances as you would expect from say, a specialized Wacom tablet.
It's the Smart Keyboard that's more entertaining, however, at least for us. Well, depending on which side of the line you are in the so-called Surface tension. If you need it to, the iPad Pro can be equipped with a foldable keyboard dock/kickstand, which you can buy separately, just like you would the Apple Pencil.
Done with the trivia, the iPad Pro is a seriously capable machine with a huge display, a formidable A9X chip and 4GB of RAM, all powered by an extra large battery.
- Technology: GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE
- Dimensions: 305.7 x 220.6 x 6.9 mm
- Weight: 713 g
- Display: LED-backlit IPS LCD 12.9 inches
- Resolution: 2048 x 2732
- OS: iOS 9
- Chipset: Apple A9X
- CPU: Dual-core 2.26 GHz
- Internal: 32/128/256 GB, 4 GB RAM
- Camera: 8 MP - 1.2 MP
Circulating in the rumor mill for two years, with a probability of near zero for the better part thereof, the iPad Pro was made official in September 2015 and is shipping worldwide as we speak. Guess we already know what's been going on under the surface but the bottom line is Apple lets you decide about the optional pencil and keyboard.
At 12.9 inches of display diagonal, the iPad Pro is Apple's largest tablet and largest handheld device running iOS, considering there are a couple of smaller MacBooks.
But while size quite obviously matters, there's more to the giant iPad than its sheer scale. A couple of firsts for Apple are also part of the package, though they naturally come at an extra cost.
First up is the Pencil. It's an easy target of ridicule, given Steve Jobs' abhorrence of the stylus, expressed at the original iPhone's launch. However, the Pencil here serves a fundamentally different purpose to a stylus on a smartphone, and the jokes are mostly groundless. The Pencil is an active battery powered device and houses all the tech needed for precise measurement of not only different levels of pressure, but also tilt, so that it's able to reproduce your drawing digitally with all its nuances as you would expect from say, a specialized Wacom tablet.
It's the Smart Keyboard that's more entertaining, however, at least for us. Well, depending on which side of the line you are in the so-called Surface tension. If you need it to, the iPad Pro can be equipped with a foldable keyboard dock/kickstand, which you can buy separately, just like you would the Apple Pencil.
Done with the trivia, the iPad Pro is a seriously capable machine with a huge display, a formidable A9X chip and 4GB of RAM, all powered by an extra large battery.
- Technology: GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE
- Dimensions: 240 x 169.5 x 6.1 mm
- Weight: 437 g
- Display: LED-backlit IPS LCD 9.7 inches
- Resolution: 1536 x 2048
- OS: iOS 8.1
- Chipset: Apple A8X
- CPU: Triple-core 1.5 GHz Typhoon
- Internal: 16/32/64/128 GB, 2 GB RAM
- Camera: 8 MP, f/2.4 - 1.2 MP, f/2.2
Another millimeter thinner, the new iPad Air 2 has a body that's even more befitting the ethereal moniker the iPad bears second year in a row. Outside of that little fact however, the changes may not be as easy to spot. And that's hardly a surprise.
Apple's laser focus on making the ultimate tablet keeps the entire tablet industry moving forward. But in their camp, large strides are usually followed by baby steps and not all products end up as the breakthroughs we would have liked to see. One thing's for sure though, Apple certainly likes to keep us on the edge of our seats when it comes to what their next gen devices would look or feel like.
This year, the Air 2 is hardly hitting like an airstrike, but it still does a mighty fine job of keeping up the alpha male image. True, besides the slimmer profile the changes are hard to see. A nice exception is the screen, where the specs may sound the same on paper, but improvements are visible to the naked eye in terms of reflectivity and outdoor legibility.
The iPad Air 2 also has a better camera, an 8 megapixel auto focus unit, for what it's worth on a ten-incher, and as usual, Apple's latest and greatest chipset to make sure things are running faster than ever before.
So that about sums up the noteworthy things the iPad Air 2 brings to the table. But here's the cheat sheet of its key specs anyway and what we didn't quite like at first glance.
- Technology: GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE
- Dimensions: 240 x 169.5 x 6.1 mm
- Weight: 437 g
- Display: LED-backlit IPS LCD 9.7 inches
- Resolution: 1536 x 2048
- OS: iOS 8.1
- Chipset: Apple A8X
- CPU: Triple-core 1.5 GHz Typhoon
- Internal: 16/32/64/128 GB, 2 GB RAM
- Camera: 8 MP, f/2.4 - 1.2 MP, f/2.2
Another millimeter thinner, the new iPad Air 2 has a body that's even more befitting the ethereal moniker the iPad bears second year in a row. Outside of that little fact however, the changes may not be as easy to spot. And that's hardly a surprise.
Apple's laser focus on making the ultimate tablet keeps the entire tablet industry moving forward. But in their camp, large strides are usually followed by baby steps and not all products end up as the breakthroughs we would have liked to see. One thing's for sure though, Apple certainly likes to keep us on the edge of our seats when it comes to what their next gen devices would look or feel like.
This year, the Air 2 is hardly hitting like an airstrike, but it still does a mighty fine job of keeping up the alpha male image. True, besides the slimmer profile the changes are hard to see. A nice exception is the screen, where the specs may sound the same on paper, but improvements are visible to the naked eye in terms of reflectivity and outdoor legibility.
The iPad Air 2 also has a better camera, an 8 megapixel auto focus unit, for what it's worth on a ten-incher, and as usual, Apple's latest and greatest chipset to make sure things are running faster than ever before.
So that about sums up the noteworthy things the iPad Air 2 brings to the table. But here's the cheat sheet of its key specs anyway and what we didn't quite like at first glance.