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Sony has announced a new high-spec Android tablet, the Xperia Tablet Z. It offers up some meaty internals—but the most exciting news is the svelte package into which the hardware is crammed.
The 10.1-inch tablet packs a 1,920 x 1,200 screen, Qualcomm 1.5GHz quad-core APQ8064 processor, 2GB RAM, 32GB storage, 8.1-megapixel camera, NFC, LTE, and a microSD expansion slot. It’s also—curiously—waterproof and dustproof.
But what’s impressive here is that those guts are squeezed into a tiny frame: the tablet is just 6.9mm thick and weights 495g. That’s slimmer than the iPad mini, which is 7.2mm front-to-back, and actually the slimmest tablet that we can think of. At less than 500g, it also seems to be one of—if not the—lightest 10-inch tablet out there.
Impressive, then, especially if you’re a fan of super-slim devices. There are currently no details on pricing or availability. [Sony via Engadget]
Knowing Sony, the impressive hardware specs will be ruined by the fact that it’ll run Gingerbread.
It runs Jelly Bean.
Yeah – I read the Engadget article too. But will believe it when I see it.
Why believe any of the specs if you don’t believe the version of Android they say it is running?
Even my Xperia Tipo came with Ice Cream Sandwich, can’t see this thing not having the promised Jelly Bean goodness.
Let’s just say I’m not betting the house on the specs (hardware and software) being final production.
But I sincerely hope I’m proven wrong. I’m up for a new tablet, and this would fit the bill nicely.
Just have to wait for price and availability now!
Fair enough. Hopefully it will be specced as listed, really nice bit of kit.
Interesting, your move Apple
Looks beautiful, I hope consumers give this a chance!
disappointed as there is only a rear facing camera
Still don’t understand why most tablets don’t have good front facing cameras!
Because the bandwidth necessary to videochat with someone on a camera much better than 0.3MP is generally beyond realistic expectations. And there’s really little other use for a front-facing camera.
but if they’re going to go into overdrive on a rear facing camera on a 10inch tablet, why not include even a 0.3mp front facing
I’m guessing the only reason that camera is there is ‘cos Sony’s making noise about their camera software tacked onto Android.
Anyone that actually uses it deserves massive amounts of derision and/or having their shiny new tablet removed and given to me instead.
Sony are doing their damned best to tempt me for my money with this and their new phones.
But the price-levels look set to be pretty astronomical. I can’t see this being under £500, unfortunately.
Probably going to have a tiny battery too
6,000mAh, apparently.
That’s slightly lower than the iPad 2′s, a bit lower than the Nexus 10′s and supposedly quite a lot lower than the iPad 3′s.
So, yeah. Pretty much.
Wouldn’t bother me so long as a fair amount of use got me from one end of the day to the other, though.
It looks fantastic, I just hope it isn’t screwed by old OS and lack of future updates. I can’t wait to see the reviews, Sony could be on to a winner!
Looks great! As for OS updates etc. as long as some good developers get behind the device on XDA I don’t see that being an issue
Just a thought, by the time this comes out (knowing Sony’s previous release history), this could POTENTIALLY be running Key Lime Pie
Cost??
I’m looking for a tablet myself, this looks promising, but I’ll have to see it in person.