Review of Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet: the right Japanese tablet. Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet: reviews, technical specifications Appearance and ease of use

The thinnest, lightest and waterproof are just a small list of adjectives that very accurately describe the tablet from Sony, namely the Xperia Tablet Z2. In this whole series there is one more phrase - the most expensive, or almost the most expensive of all tablets on the market. And of course, perhaps one of the best tablets of 2014. Is this really true and is its price justified?
Specifications:

• Case materials: glass, aluminum, plastic
• Case 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, there may be variations depending on versions
• Processor: quad-core Qualcomm MSM8974AB Snapdragon 801, 2.3 GHz
• RAM: 3 GB
• Storage memory: 16 GB + Micro SD (up to 64 GB)
• 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: 266x172x6.4 mm
• Weight: 439 g
• Device price: 26,000 rub. / 8500 UAH.

Equipment

The box is made in the standard Sony style.

Equipment:

• Charger
• microUSB 2.0 cable
• Set of instructions and warranty card
• Depending on the model, a headset may be included

Despite the premium and high cost of the device, the equipment included in the test device turned out to be very meager; a headset included in the kit could have changed the situation. Standard charging produces a current of 1.5 amperes; accordingly, the tablet battery, when completely discharged, charges in about four hours.

Appearance and ease of use

Sony remains true to its style and the Xperia Tablet Z2 easily recognizes the features of any flagship of the Japanese company. The tablet's skeleton is made of aluminum, which allows the device to be so lightweight. By the way, in comparison with its predecessor, the device has become 50 grams lighter. In addition to its light weight, only 439 grams, the thickness of the device is also surprising - 6.4 mm, which is a millimeter, and sometimes even slightly smaller than that of all competitors.

The tablet looks absolutely amazing. The use of soft-touch plastic on the back panel was a slight departure from the OmniBalance style, which usually used glass, but this did not harm the appearance at all.

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. It's actually very light and thin, and without using the trick of rounded edges to hide the real thickness of the body, the Z2 has nothing to hide.

The front panel houses a 10-inch TFT display, protected by Sony's own shockproof glass. The coating is very scratch-resistant. The frames around the screen are unusually wide, so visually the screen appears smaller than it actually 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 slits; these are stereo speakers.

On the top edge of the device you can see a black insert with rounded edges - this is an IR port for controlling household appliances. Next to it there is a hole for an additional microphone and a couple more plugs.

Under the plugs there is 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 a cable. To do this, you will need a special docking station and a connector, which is located on the bottom edge of the device.

In addition, at the bottom there is a 3.5 mm jack for connecting a headset. It clearly doesn’t belong there; when 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 back panel is the company logo, in the upper right corner is the 8 MP main camera, and a little lower from 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 immersed 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 number of dots per inch is 224, which is less than that of the iPad Air (264) or Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1 (299). The screen clarity is sufficient, but from a marketing point of view it is no longer sufficient, because the previous generation of the device uses exactly the same resolution.

When creating the screen, Triluminos and X-Reality Engine technologies were used, migrated from Sony Bravia TVs. Of course, according to the company, there is the best color rendition, as close to reality as possible. Triluminos is responsible for improved color depth, and X-Reality analyzes photos and videos and automatically adjusts to them.

The color rendition here is really at its best; for those who may not find it so good, you can adjust the white balance in the tablet settings. The viewing angles are maximum, while the screen does not dim or change shades.

Of course, there is an oleophobic coating that is designed to repel greasy fingerprints and make the screen easier to wipe. There is also an anti-reflective coating here, but it does not cope with its task perfectly. In direct sunlight, the screen seems too glossy, and due to the large amount of glare, it becomes difficult to read from the tablet.

The brightness range is very wide, which allows you to comfortably 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 are looking at it.

Multi-touch supports 10 simultaneous touches, works quickly and without flaws.

System

Sony Xperia Tablet Z2 runs Android version 4.4.2 KitKat. The manufacturer promised that firmware for the recently released Android 5.0, which is currently only available in the Developer Preview version, will soon appear.

The tablet interface has a proprietary look, but it is worth saying that the changes compared to the stock version are minimal. The company limited itself to redrawing standard elements and using its own font and keyboard. In terms of “purity” of the system, Sony is perhaps second only to Motorola, which supplies its smartphones with stock Android.

The biggest difference will be the presence of a right panel in the main menu, by “pulling out” which you can customize the sorting and appearance of this menu.

Sony's proprietary 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 brother of the Snapdragon 800 with 30% increased graphics performance. The amount of RAM is 3 GB. These characteristics are sufficient for the most demanding games with maximum graphics settings. At the moment, there are simply no games that can fully unleash 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: 21.392 sec
BenchmarkPi 1.11: 154 ms
Linpack 1.2.8: 714.689 MFlops
Sunsiped Chrome 1.0.2: 1017.8 ms
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

The battery capacity of the Sony Xperia Tablet Z2 is 6000 mAh, which is about 30% less than that of its competitors. Despite this, the power management system is designed to get the most out of the battery and use it as efficiently as possible.

Optimization of the system allowed it to outstrip all competitors in terms of battery life. Our tests showed that when surfing the web via Wi-Fi, the tablet can 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 the interface of the company's top smartphones. In the settings you can change ISO, white balance and other settings.

In addition to the usual shooting modes, such as panorama, series, 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 well, although sometimes it gets stuck;

Augmented reality - adds some objects to the frame. The program is constantly being improved and many new templates are being added;

Social streaming - allows you to broadcast videos directly to your Facebook profile;

Timeshift is something like serial shooting, but in just 2 seconds we get 61 photos, then you can choose the best one.

The camera app now allows you to directly connect various apps such as Vine, Evernote, PDF scanner, and more.

Bluetooth 4.0 with A2DP supports ANT+ ultra-low power mode, which is commonly used for various sports accessories and the like.

The Xperia Z2 Tablet supports the NFC standard, which is now just gaining popularity. The IR port allows you to control any home equipment, from an air conditioner and TV, to the most fashionable and sophisticated audio systems. The application has a really huge catalog of devices.

The tablet supports the standard PlayStation 3 joystick - Dualshock 3.

Bottom line

Sony has a lot of experience in designing great devices and the Sony Xperia Tablet Z2 is an example of this. The article repeatedly repeated the words “thin” and “light” - this is perhaps the most striking distinguishing feature of this tablet. Coupled with its excellent design, the Xperia Tablet Z2 creates the same 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 was sacrificed in the pursuit of reducing the thickness of the body.

Without a doubt, the tablet will be a good buy and is well worth its price.

Pros:

• Waterproof case
• Weight and design
• Battery life
• Wide functionality

Minuses

• Average camera quality
• Imperfect anti-slip coating
• High price

The device was provided by the Sony representative office in Ukraine.

The second version of the tablet from Sony is a clear work on bugs while maintaining the continuity of what was best in the first edition. The Japanese have seriously improved battery life, added power, but kept the cool and thin design. Don’t forget that the tablet can be used in cold weather, and even in the bathroom, where electronics, as usual, have no place. There was also room for oddities in this device.

Equipment consists of the tablet itself, charger, synchronization cable and headset. Everything is simple and standard.

The main advantages of the tablet, first of all, are its weight and size characteristics. It is very thin (only 6.4 mm) and light (439 g).

The tablet is comfortable to hold, even with one hand, for quite a long time.

When you take your device out of your bag and flip the screen orientation, you seem to juggle it and get a special thrill from it.

In my opinion, this is exactly what any manufacturer should strive to achieve when creating their device. Previously, this was the difference between solutions exclusively from Apple, now Sony is a full-fledged player in this role. Let's look at the comparison of the dimensions of the Z2 Tablet with its main competitors and its predecessor as well.

	Height	Width	Thickness	Weight
Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet
Sony Xperia Tablet Z
Apple iPad Air	169,5			469 (with LTE module 478)
Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1 (	171,4

The second positive property of the device is its tightness. The tablet has a dust- and moisture-proof casing.

The IP55 standard means that the device will not burn if a low-pressure water jet hits it, and IP58, in turn, tells us that the device is capable of being under water at a depth of 1.5 meters for up to 30 minutes. Sony stubbornly continues to stick to its line and hints that the Z2 Tablet is the thinnest and lightest tablet with waterproof properties. And following this formulation, this is indeed so.

Yes, there are wide frames, which now look somewhat tacky. Still, the trend towards reducing the width of the empty area around the display has gained momentum. However, due to them, accidental clicks on the display are excluded. In the upper right corner is the Sony logo, then in the center is the front camera eye and further to the right is the ambient light sensor.

In the very right corner there is an LED indicator reflecting certain events. Touch control buttons for the system have been moved to the display.

All corners of the case are beveled, and there are metal inserts around the perimeter. It looks decent.

The left side of the tablet contains a volume rocker key and a power button, standard for Sony devices. Lefties will love this. The right side is completely empty.

The top edge is rich in various elements. The infrared port is located in the center, with a microphone hole to the right of it. On the left there are two plugs hiding the microUSB connector, a slot for a memory card (microSD) and microSIM. It is inconvenient to remove both cards.

The SIM card is placed on a special backing that is easy to lose, break, and difficult to get out if you don’t have long nails. The same applies to the memory card.

The bottom side of the tablet has a connector for connecting to a docking station, which can also charge the device. Here in the left corner there is a 3.5 mm audio output. The latter is not closed with any plugs, because it itself has a sealed design. However, the manufacturer warns that you should not connect the headset within an hour and a half after bathing the tablet. Everything must dry first. Of course, you can use cotton swabs to speed up the drying process.

The back side of the device has brand markings and a peephole for the main camera (there is no flash).

The back has a soft-touch coating. Yes, it is pleasant, but very dirty.

Greasy fingerprints, dust and other obscenities cannot be simply brushed away.

In general, 10.1 inches is a lot for the diagonal of a portable device, but here they are not felt at all. This does not cause any discomfort; on the contrary, when using the tablet you get an extremely positive user experience, even despite the easily soiled surface of the back of the device.

By the way, you can make calls through the Z2 Tablet just like from any smartphone. Of course, you don’t need to bring the device to your ear. The built-in microphone perfectly picks up speech. The Z2 Tablet receives a cellular network signal confidently. There's even a vibration alert. Considering all this, you can throw away your phone and use only your tablet plus a wireless headset. The latter is sold as a separate accessory, but more on that later.

The tablet has a screen based on an IPS matrix with a diagonal of 10.1 inches and a resolution of 1920 × 1200 pixels. The same Bravia technology is used here, which is probably already familiar to you from the company’s TVs. In addition, the manufacturer focuses on transmitting truly realistic colors through Live Color LED technology. Indeed, the Z2 Tablet display is distinguished by its bright and rich color reproduction. There is no lack of image contrast. A direct comparison between Sony's solution and, say, the iPad mini shows that the white color has a fairly noticeable tint of pink. This is not very pleasant, but if you do not make a direct comparison with a competitor, you may not notice the shift to a pink tint.

The proprietary X-Reality setting, which in theory is designed to optimize the image when watching videos, only spoils it: the picture becomes very contrasty and sharp. In general, not for everyone.

The display is covered with chemically tempered glass with an oleophobic coating.

There is no film here, which we saw in previous solutions from Sony. And that's nice! Glass reduces the likelihood of an annoying network of small scratches to a minimum, but you should still handle the tablet carefully. You should not keep any metal objects nearby, nor should you place the tablet face down!

To wake up the tablet, double tapping on the screen is used, which is very convenient when the device is lying on a table nearby. No need to pick it up or reach for the power button.

Screen comparison between Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet (pictured above) and iPad mini (first generation):

At an angle
Colors

At an angle

Specifications and performance

• Qualcomm processor (MSM8974AB, 4 cores) with a frequency of 2.3 GHz
• Adreno 330
• RAM 3 GB
• built-in memory 16 GB (11.20 GB actually available)
• memory expansion using microSD cards (up to 64 GB)
• 10.1″ display with a resolution of 1920×1200 (WUXGA)
• front camera 2.2 megapixels, base 8.1 megapixels (photo resolution 3264 × 2448 pixels)
• sensors: accelerometer, gyroscope, light sensor, magnetometer
• connectors: 3.5 mm with digital noise reduction, microUSB (2.0)
• battery 6000 mAh
• Android OS version 4.4.2 (KitKat)

• UMTS HSPA+
• GSM GPRS/EDGE
• Wi-Fi (a/b/g/n/ac), Bluetooth 4.0, FM radio, DLNA, NFC, Miracast
• aGPS, Glonas
• SIM card form factor: micro

The performance of the Z2 Tablet is at the highest level.

Absolutely no stuttering, stuttering or other visible delays were noticed during the test. Applications launch very quickly, heavy browser pages open instantly, and there is absolutely no time to sit comfortably while your favorite game is loading.

You can evaluate the synthetic points that the tablet has earned yourself using the following screenshots:

Modern games such as Injustice: gods among us, Asphalt 8, Godzilla Strike Zone can be played perfectly on maximum settings. No lags, long loading times or other unpleasant moments were noticed.

Camera

A 2.2 megapixel Sony Exmor R module is installed on the front. Photo and video resolution is standard: 1920 × 1080 pixels.

The main camera uses a Sony Exmor RS sensor. As always, there is support for HDR (the resolution is reduced to 3104 × 2328 pixels), image stabilizer (in video mode it is called SteadyShot) and other standard settings.

Sony are true to themselves, so they did not forget to preinstall many additional shooting scenarios that are already familiar to us: background defocusing, AR effects, Timeshift burst, panorama, and so on. I examined the most interesting of them in the review. I especially recommend reading about the Timeshift burst mode.

In addition, as always, ready-made settings for various shooting conditions are available: landscape, night scene, snow, fireworks, and so on.

The resulting photos do not shine with quality and cannot be compared with the cameras of the latest smartphones.

The module installed in the Z2 Tablet reminded me of that from the Sony Xperia Z Ultra: the device had room to grow, with regards to the photo part. What to say when it’s better to ask for examples of pictures below:

Videos are recorded in resolutions up to 1920×1080 pixels. The HDR video setting is only available for the rear camera. It also has its own not so numerous shooting scenarios.

You can evaluate the quality of video recording yourself using the following examples:

During video recording, object tracking mode is available. The focus remains the same on one specific subject, even if the distance from the object changes. Alternatively, you can activate smile tracking in the settings.

Sound and video

Let's start with external sound. The manufacturer placed the speakers on the sides of the tablet on its front side. This was clearly not the best idea, since they are just covered with their palms. Interestingly, even in their own advertising brochures, the device is held by hand in this way. Take a look for yourself (photo taken from Sonymobile.com):

So, if you want to hear normal sound, then you can’t hold the device like that!

There are two ways out: turn the device 180% and put up with the fact that the Sony logo is upside down, or, of course, just get the hang of not covering the speakers with your palms.

When playing content through external speakers, it is worth activating the setting xLOUD, which increases the maximum volume. It’s not clear, however, why come up with such tricks when you can initially set a higher volume threshold in devices.

Function S-Force Front Surround, in my opinion, is useless. When activated, the sound deteriorates noticeably. The same applies to Clear Phase, which makes the sound noticeably worse, so I would not recommend using this setting while listening to music through external speakers.

Now about the sound in headphones. To reveal the sound to its fullest, it is worth using third-party ear models. The sound is expectedly good: approximately at the same level as in tablets/smartphones from competitors. Settings ClearAudio+ gives the sound an interesting character, but again only in my purely subjective opinion, or rather hearing. In general, you have to try it yourself.

Sony claims that the Z2 Tablet is also unique in that digital noise reduction technology is built into the tablet itself. According to the company, up to 98% of extraneous sounds are cut off. This statement should be understood correctly: headphones without noise reduction support will not remove the external background. With the Sony MDR NC31EM headset (the one included with the Sony Xperia Z2), the function works fully.

The tablet is quite omnivorous in relation to music. The following formats are supported: AAC, AMR, 3GPP, FLAC, MIDI, MP3, WAV, OGG, WMA. The same cannot be said about video capabilities. The list of codecs is as follows: MPEG-4, H.263, H.264, VP8, VP9.

The standard player copes with FullHD video playback very well. There are no brakes even in dynamic scenes.

Battery life

The tablet has a non-removable battery with a capacity of 6,000 mAh. One battery charge lasts for a long time: approximately 3-5 days depending on the intensity of use. The device is capable of playing video via Wi-Fi for about 8 hours.

In the settings you can activate Stamina mode, which seriously extends battery life, but only in standby mode.

In terms of charging the tablet, there is some strangeness.

From the mains power supply (1.5 mA), the device charges in 5-6 hours.

In this case, the device becomes very hot. There is no way out, you will have to endure.

Accessories

Have you bought a tablet? The expenses for you are not over yet, as the Japanese have come up with a lot of additional gadgets for your favorite device. Let's briefly go over them all.

Bluetooth speaker with charging function and more (BSC10)

It uses a 10-watt speaker that can play music through a Bluetooth connection. In addition, elements for managing calls are located on the speaker body, resulting in a sort of base, as is the case with radiotelephones. Devices are paired via NFC, and the tablet itself can be placed on a magnetic connector to recharge it. For such convenience you will need to pay 5,990 rubles. Cool, isn't it?

If the additional functionality discussed above is not needed, then you can only purchase a stand with a charging function. The same magnetic port is used here. The accessory itself must be connected via microUSB to a regular power outlet. The price does not go beyond the bounds of decency and is 1,490 rubles.

Bluetooth remote control and headset in one bottle

This is the headset we were talking about in the main part of the review. There is no infrared port here, so control occurs only through the “blue tooth”. The gadget is charged via microUSB, has moisture protection (IP57) and its own stand. The remote control is compatible only with Xperia series devices, and it also costs a lot - 3,990 rubles.

Wireless keyboard with case

When you buy this Bluetooth keyboard, you also get a stand case. The input device is suitable for any other device, but the case, of course, is only for the Z2 Tablet. The connection can also be made via NFC. The final price is currently unknown, but it is expected to be above 6,000 rubles.

If you don’t plan to print a lot on the tablet, you can limit yourself to purchasing only a cover (SCR12). There are two modifications on sale: black and white stand case.

Bottom line

In nature, there are several models of the Z2 Tablet: black and white versions, with 16 or 32 GB of memory on board, costing 23,990 and 25,990 rubles, respectively. If you need LTE support, then only the model with 16 GB of internal storage is available. The latter will cost the same 25,990 rubles. You can choose a model to suit your liking and wallet. In my opinion, it’s worth paying attention to the version with a SIM card. The difference of 2,000 rubles is small, but there is much more freedom from Wi-Fi.

It will cost about the same money to buy an Apple iPad Air (24,990 rubles for the version with LTE) or a Samsung Galaxy Galaxy Tab Pro (24,990 rubles). The device from Sony is a thousand more expensive, but it beats Samsung due to its design, more convenient dimensions and the absence of even the slightest brakes. The situation with Apple is clear. The iPad Air looks more interesting and has longer battery life, but some people don't like iOS. And only in this case can we recommend a Japanese tablet for purchase.

Is the Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet a good buy?

I think yes. The tablet turned out to be very nice. It has top-of-the-line hardware, a moisture-resistant case, excellent design and dimensions. Yes, there are disadvantages. The speakers are poorly placed, the back cover is noticeably dirty, and the tablet takes a very long time to charge. Do you think these are critical shortcomings? In my opinion, no.

• Tablet
• power unit
• USB cable
• Headset (depending on version)
• Documentation

Sony's new tablet: light, thin, with LTE support, an interesting design, now without films, and everything would be fine, but there are also shortcomings typical for the company. Strange display, strange, easily soiled black plastic, everything happens rather strangely with the included power supply, strange price. But Sony fans will still be very happy, 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 best” is constantly going on in the market, and no one forbids coming up with 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, dimensions are 172 x 266 x 6.4 mm, weight - 426 grams for the version with Wi-Fi, the model with Wi-Fi Fi + LTE weighs 439 grams. Almost the entire front panel is occupied by the display, although the frames are wide – apparently this is a price to pay for the minimal thickness of the device. The back is made of matte black plastic, marks are very noticeable, there is also a white version, I would recommend buying that one. It's all about the fingerprints; they are invisible on the white body. At the end there is a power button, the same as on smartphones, made of aluminum. Under the covers there are microUSB connectors (MHL supported), a slot for memory cards and a SIM card (microSIM) in the LTE version. The 3.5 mm connector is without a plug; apparently, a new five-pin connector is also used here. At the back is the camera lens, there is no flash, under the lens is the NFC area. On the case there is both an IR port for controlling home appliances and a magnetic connector, I recommend immediately buying such a cradle somewhere.

I would like 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 this indicator for a reason. The only question is, for whom might this be important? Probably, for those who often carry their equipment in a bag, are used to saving every hundred grams - it’s difficult to imagine such a person, but who knows, maybe such consumers exist.

In addition, the Sony Xperia Tablet Z2 is protected from water (meets IP55/58 standards) and can withstand immersion in a bath or sea. In Japan, the cult of the bathroom, the desire to obtain such protection is understandable. The situation in Russia is different, so protecting a tablet 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 is nothing else to look at among tablets with Android - in the sense that I personally find the Sony Xperia Tablet Z2 very, very pleasant to look at.

Here's some official data about the tablet's protection: “In accordance with IP55 and IP58 standards, Xperia is protected from dust and moisture. Provided all ports and compartments are tightly sealed, the tablet can withstand exposure to 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 tablet is not designed for use on the surface or under water unless it meets the conditions of the IP55 or IP58 standards. Otherwise, failure due to non-compliance with standards will not be covered by the warranty.”

The tablet bends a little, take this into account when you carry the device in a bag with other things. Lightness really does matter, I was pleased to use the Tablet Z2 precisely because of this indicator, you don’t feel it in your backpack, or in your hand either, but from the first minutes of use you want to hide the tablet in a case.

It uses two speakers, they are located on the sides of the display, the volume cannot be called prohibitive - you can watch a movie comfortably, listen to music, there is a stereo effect. It seemed to me that the volume was 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 talks about this in more or less detail). 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 or back, at least I couldn't see. Tempered glass protects the display from scratches and does not require 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, the Tablet Z2 very much resembles a photo frame. The display is well suited for watching movies, photos, and working with websites - for example, layout in WordPress. Viewing angles are not bad, but the whites are slightly yellow, and adjusting the white balance cannot correct this. Moreover, sometimes the screen turns 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 is 9.7 inches, the Tablet Z2 is 10.1 inches), but the overall perception. If you suddenly decide to buy the Z2 because it has a larger diagonal, look at both devices in the store. I'm sure you'll also think that the size on the Air side is all about the aspect ratio; for the Tablet Z2 it's really quite strange. It is because of this that I do not recommend buying the device blindly; twirl it in your hands in the store, then make a decision.

Performance

The Qualcomm APQ8074+MSM8974AB platform is used, a quad-core processor clocked at 2.3 GHz. 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 desired, you can make a call or send a message. 16 or 32 GB of memory are installed, memory cards with a capacity of up to 64 GB are also supported, not bad for those who want to watch video on the tablet, since the display is conducive to this.

Among the features - it supports exiting 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 on one side and the other: on the one hand there are notifications, 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 unpronounceable names are 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, the tablet with LTE also comes with a headset, 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. Nobody bothers you to turn on the Sony Xperia Z2 as a hotspot, connect the Tablet Z2 and do everything you need to do on the big screen.

I’ll also say about accessories, again a bunch of different additions, this is a Bluetooth speaker with a stand, a stand with a remote control for watching movies, a snap-on keyboard - a BKC-50 case.

You can connect a controller from PS3 to the tablet, this is discussed separately - also an interesting feature, but why not connect a joystick from PS4? It also supports working with accessories for the new 3.5 mm jack, these are headphones with noise reduction implemented on the device side, and an STM-10 microphone. By the way, it will be very convenient to watch videos on an airplane, the “noise reduction” perfectly suppresses the sounds around you, I tested the operation of the headphones with both the Z2 smartphone and a tablet.

Nutrition

It’s interesting that Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 technology is used here; let me remind you that the previous tablet needed to be charged for about five hours (or even longer, I don’t remember exactly). Here, as written in the release, the operating time has been increased by 75 percent. A 6000 mAh battery is installed, according to the company, the tablet can last 10 hours in video playback mode or 100 hours in music playback mode. In reality, the tablet behaves approximately like the iPad Air, but subjectively discharges faster. Alas, the tablet takes a long time to charge from the included power supply unit, about five hours; it is better to use a magnetic docking station, charging time is reduced by thirty percent (subjective opinion, the test was a prototype).

Camera

The main camera is 8.1 MP, uses a proprietary Exmor RS module, and supports HDR mode. Front camera – 2.2 MP. Many functions from Sony Xperia smartphone cameras are used, some of which can be seen in the video. In particular, these are augmented reality effects, fairy tales, science fiction and others; I have liked them since the days of the Sony Xperia Z1.

conclusions

Retail prices are approximately 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, 16 or 32 GB. I would like to remind you that the not 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 turn a blind eye to Samsung’s competing products, but you can’t turn a blind eye 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 about 20,000 rubles, but for the older version - 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 and study demand. I am glad that the company is now very careful about continuations and further development of certain categories. Previously, Sony could afford to create all sorts of strange gadgets like the Sony Tablet P, a folding tablet with two screens. It's a different time now. And that is why the Sony Xperia Tablet Z2 is pleasant to deal with, it is lighter than its predecessor, charges faster when using a magnetic docking station, is protected from water, has a better camera, and produces less heat during use (this is subjective). What's left to overcome? Stainless black plastic, it is quite possible to install a better quality display, 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'll see that you'll be able to take some noticeable place in the tablet market - by the way, in Russia many people love such Sony devices and buy them almost in the first days of sales.

In conclusion, one thing I can say is that the Z2 has become better. If you need a brighter screen and 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 Sony fan, then the Z2 is worth buying, despite the price and shortcomings.

Powerful hardware, a good display, a high-quality camera and bright colors are combined with a significantly lower price - 20,000 rubles. But the Nokia tablet is one and a half times heavier.

conclusions

Sony has once again released an excellent device. The Xperia Z2 Tablet can easily compete with Samsung's flagship tablets and outperforms them in almost every way. Since there is no competition at the hardware level (judge for yourself - the same Qualcomm Snapdragon processors are used within the same price category), manufacturers are trying to focus on screen quality, design and a number of proprietary features. In the case of Sony, the main feature is the waterproof case.

Diving into transparent glasses is typical marketing window dressing. You wouldn't actually use your tablet underwater. And even if you want to, you’re unlikely to succeed - the touch screen stops working underwater. Much more important in this case is that the Xperia Z2 Tablet can be used with slight carelessness. Rain is coming? It's OK. Dropped in the bathtub? Nothing, it happens. Did your child knock over a glass of juice? Just think! The tablet ceases to be a special device that needs to be taken care of and becomes a utilitarian item. It's strange that no one except Sony thinks about this.

Well, besides the emotional component, the bottom line is excellent performance, a wonderful screen, a good camera, a compact and lightweight body and not the best battery life. However, it should be noted that the Z2 Tablet lasts longer than last year's model.

Information about the make, model, and alternative names of the specific device, if available.

Design

Information about the dimensions and weight of the device, presented in different units of measurement. Materials used, colors offered, 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 (feet) 10.47 in (inches)
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 (feet) 6.77 in (inches)
Thickness Information about the thickness of the device in different units of measurement.	6.4 mm (millimeters) 0.64 cm (centimeters) 0.02 ft (feet) 0.25 in (inches)
Weight Information about the weight of the device in different units of measurement.	439 g (grams) 0.97 lbs 15.49 oz (ounces)
Volume The approximate volume of the device, calculated based on the 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 called a 2G mobile network. It is improved 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 an abbreviation 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 providing greater speed and spectral efficiency thanks to 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 a 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 technology development 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 communication technologies and data transfer speeds

Communication between devices on mobile networks is carried out using technologies that provide different data transfer rates.

Operating system

An operating system is a system software that manages and coordinates the operation of hardware components in a device.

SoC (System on Chip)

A system on a chip (SoC) includes all the most important hardware components of a mobile device on one chip.

SoC (System on 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 manufactured. Nanometers measure half the distance between elements in the processor.	28 nm (nanometers)
Processor (CPU) The primary function of a mobile device's processor (CPU) is to interpret and execute instructions contained in software applications.	Krait 400
Processor size The size (in bits) of a processor is determined by the size (in bits) of the registers, address buses, and data buses. 64-bit processors have higher performance compared to 32-bit processors, which in turn are more powerful than 16-bit processors.	32 bit
Instruction Set Architecture Instructions are commands with 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 L0 (level 0) cache, which is faster to access than L1, L2, L3, etc. The advantage of having such memory is not only higher performance, but also reduced power consumption.	4 kB + 4 kB (kilobytes)
Level 1 cache (L1) Cache memory is used by the processor to reduce access time to more frequently used data and instructions. L1 (level 1) cache is small in size and works 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 it in the L2 cache. On some processors, this search is performed simultaneously in L1 and L2.	16 kB + 16 kB (kilobytes)
Level 2 cache (L2) L2 (level 2) cache is slower than L1 cache, but in return it has a higher capacity, allowing it to cache more data. 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 in RAM memory.	2048 kB (kilobytes) 2 MB (megabytes)
Number of processor cores The processor core executes software instructions. There are processors with one, two or more cores. Having more cores increases performance by allowing multiple instructions to be executed in parallel.	4
CPU 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 most often used by games, consumer interfaces, video applications, etc.	Qualcomm Adreno 330
Number of GPU cores Like a CPU, a GPU is made up of several working parts called cores. They handle graphics calculations for various applications.	4
GPU clock speed Running speed is the clock speed of the GPU, measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz).	578 MHz (megahertz)
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 after 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 mean higher data rates.	Dual channel
RAM frequency The frequency of RAM determines its operating speed, more specifically, the speed of reading/writing data.	933 MHz (megahertz)

Built-in memory

Each mobile device has built-in (non-removable) memory with a fixed capacity.

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 quality of the information image directly depends.	TFT
Diagonal For mobile devices, screen size is expressed by the length of its diagonal, measured in inches.	10.1 in (inches) 256.54 mm (millimeters) 25.65 cm (centimeters)
Width Approximate screen width	8.56 in (inches) 217.55 mm (millimeters) 21.75 cm (centimeters)
Height Approximate screen height	5.35 in (inches) 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 shows the number of pixels vertically and horizontally on the screen. Higher resolution means clearer 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 displayed on the screen with clearer detail.	224 ppi (pixels per inch) 88ppcm (pixels per centimeter)
Color depth Screen color depth reflects the total number of bits used for color components in one pixel. Information about the maximum number of colors that the screen can display.	24 bit 16777216 flowers
Screen area Approximate percentage of screen area occupied by the screen on the front of the device.	64.86% (percent)
Other characteristics Information about other screen features and characteristics.	Capacitive Multi-touch 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 a mobile device can recognize.

Rear camera

The main camera of a mobile device is usually located on its back panel and may be combined with one or more secondary cameras.

Sensor model Information about the manufacturer and model of the sensor used by the camera.	Sony Exmor RS
Sensor type Information about the camera sensor type. Some of the most widely used types of sensors 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, indicating the 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 speed (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.	30fps (frames per second)
Characteristics Information about additional software and hardware features of the rear (rear) camera.	Autofocus Continuous shooting Digital zoom Digital image stabilization Geographical tags Panoramic photography 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 rotating camera, a cutout or hole in the display, an under-display camera.

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 the navigation and location technologies supported by your device.

WiFi

Wi-Fi is a technology that provides wireless communication for transmitting data over close distances between various devices.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth is a standard for secure wireless data transfer between various devices of different types over short distances.

Version There are several versions of Bluetooth, with each subsequent one improving communication speed, coverage, and making devices easier to discover and connect. Information about the Bluetooth version of the device.	4.0
Characteristics Bluetooth uses different profiles and protocols that provide faster data transfer, energy savings, improved device discovery, etc. Some of these 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 exchange data.

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, 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 your device.

Browser

A web browser is a software application for accessing and viewing information on the Internet.

Browser Information about some of the main characteristics and standards supported by the device's browser.

HTML HTML5

Audio file formats/codecs

Mobile devices support different audio file formats and codecs, which respectively store and encode/decode digital audio data.

Video file formats/codecs

Mobile devices support different video file formats and codecs, which respectively store and encode/decode digital video data.

Battery

Mobile device batteries differ from each other in their capacity and technology. They provide the electrical charge necessary for their functioning.

Capacity A battery's capacity indicates the maximum charge it can hold, measured in milliamp-hours.	6000 mAh (milliamp-hours)
Type The type of battery is determined by its structure and, more precisely, the chemicals used. There are different types of batteries, with lithium-ion and lithium-ion polymer batteries being the most commonly used batteries in mobile devices.	Li-polymer
2G latency 2G standby time is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged when the device is in stand-by mode and connected to a 2G network.	1240 h (hours) 74400 min (minutes) 51.7 days
3G latency 3G standby time is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged 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 characteristics of the device's battery.	Fixed
	Battery life - up to 13 h

Specific Absorption Rate (SAR)

The SAR level refers to the amount of electromagnetic radiation absorbed by the human body while using a mobile device.

Body SAR level (EU) The SAR level indicates the maximum amount of electromagnetic radiation to which the human body is exposed when holding a mobile device at hip level. The maximum permissible SAR value for mobile devices in Europe is 2 W/kg per 10 grams of human tissue. This standard has been established by the CENELEC Committee in compliance with the ICNIRP 1998 guidelines and IEC standards.	1.806 W/kg (Watt per kilogram)
Body SAR level (US) The SAR level indicates the maximum amount of electromagnetic radiation to which the human body is exposed when holding a mobile device at hip level. The highest permissible SAR value in the USA is 1.6 W/kg per 1 gram of human tissue. This value is set by the FCC, and the CTIA monitors mobile devices' compliance with this standard.	1.26 W/kg (Watt per kilogram)