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. | The 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) System on a chip (SoC) integrates various hardware components such as 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 shows 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 color components in a single pixel. Information about the maximum number of colors that the screen can display. | 24 bit 16777216 flowers |
| Screen area Approximate percentage of screen footprint 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 to transfer data over short distances 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 of 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) |
The second version of the tablet from Sony is a clear work on the bugs while maintaining the continuity of the best that was in the first edition. The Japanese have seriously improved battery life, added power, but left a cool and thin design. Do not forget that the tablet can be used in frost and cold, and even in the bathroom, where electronics, as usual, have no place. There was also a place for oddities in this device.
Equipment consists of the tablet itself, charger, sync 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 6.4mm) and light (439g).
The tablet is comfortable to hold, including with one hand, for quite a long time.
Taking the device out of the bag, flipping the screen orientation, you kind of juggle it and get a special buzz from it.
In my opinion, this is exactly what any manufacturer should achieve when creating their own device. Previously, solutions exclusively from Apple differed in this, now Sony is a full player in this role. Let's dwell on comparing the dimensions of the Z2 Tablet with its main competitors and its predecessor as well.
| Height | Width | Thickness | The 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 housing.
The IP55 standard means that the device will not burn out when a low-pressure water jet hits it, and IP58, in turn, tells us that the device is able to stay under water at a depth of up to 1.5 meters for up to 30 minutes. Sony stubbornly continues to bend its line and hints that the Z2 Tablet is the thinnest and lightest tablet with waterproof properties. And according to this wording, it really is.
Yes, there are wide frames here, which now look a bit clumsy. Still, the trend to reduce 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 peephole of the front camera and even more to the right is the ambient light sensor.
In the very right corner there is an LED indicator that reflects certain events. The touch buttons for system control 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 standard for devices from Sony - the power button. Lefties will love this. The right side is completely empty.
The upper face is rich in various elements. In the center is an infrared port, to the right of it is a microphone hole. On the left, there are two plugs that hide the microUSB connector, a slot for a memory card (microSD) and microSIM. It is inconvenient to take out both cards.
Simka is placed on a special substrate, which is easy to lose, break and hard to get if there are no long nails. The same applies to memory cards.
The underside 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 by 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 branded markings and a peephole of the main camera (there is no flash).
Soft-touch coating applied on the back. Yes, it is pleasant, but very easily soiled.
Oily fingerprints, dust and other obscenities just can't be brushed off.
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 discomfort, on the contrary, when using the tablet, you rather get an exceptionally positive user experience, even despite the easily soiled surface of the back of the device.
By the way, you can make calls through Z2 Tablet as well as from any smartphone. Of course, you do not need to bring the device to your ear. The built-in microphone picks up speech perfectly. The signal of the cellular network Z2 Tablet catches confidently. There is even a vibrating alert. Given all this, you can throw away your phone and use only a 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. It uses the same Bravia technology that you probably already know from the company's TVs. In addition, the manufacturer focuses on the transmission of truly realistic colors through Live Color LED technology. Indeed, the display of the Z2 Tablet is bright and rich in color reproduction. There is no lack of image contrast. A direct comparison of the Sony solution and, say, the iPad mini shows that the white color has a rather noticeable shade of pink. This is not very pleasant, but if you do not make a direct comparison with a competitor, you may not notice the 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, a big fan.
The display is covered with chemically tempered glass with an oleophobic coating.
There is no film here, which we have seen in previous solutions from Sony. And it's nice! The glass reduces the likelihood of an annoying grid of small scratches to a minimum, but you should still handle the tablet carefully. You should not keep any metal objects nearby, as well as put 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 up or reach for the power button.
Comparison of the screens of 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) @ 2.3 GHz
- Adreno 330
- RAM 3 GB
- built-in memory 16 GB (actually available 11.20 GB)
- memory expansion via microSD cards (up to 64 GB)
- 10.1″ display with a resolution of 1920×1200 (WUXGA)
- front camera 2.2 MP, base 8.1 MP (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
- OS version Android 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 top notch.
Absolutely no stuttering, stuttering, or other visible lag was noticed during the test. Applications launch very quickly, heavy browser pages open instantly, and there is absolutely no time to sit back while your favorite game is loading.
The synthetic glasses earned by the tablet can be evaluated independently from the following screenshots:
Modern games such as Injustice: gods among us, Asphalt 8, Godzilla Strike Zone can be played perfectly at maximum settings. Lags, long downloads and other unpleasant moments were not noticed.
Camera
A 2.2 megapixel Sony Exmor R module is installed on the front. The photo and video resolution is standard: 1920 × 1080 pixels.
Sony Exmor RS sensor is used as the main camera. As always, there is support for HDR (the resolution is reduced to 3104 × 2328 pixels), an image stabilizer (in video mode it is called SteadyShot) and other standard settings.
Sony are true to themselves, so they did not forget to pre-install a lot of additional shooting scenarios we already know: background defocusing, augmented reality effects (AR effect), Timeshift burst, panorama and so on. I analyzed 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 output 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 of the Sony Xperia Z Ultra: the device had room to grow, with regards to the photo part. What to say when it is better to ask for sample shots below:
Movies are recorded at 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 by examples:
During video recording, the object tracking mode is available. The focus stays the same on one particular subject, even as the distance from the subject changes. Alternatively, smile tracking can be activated in the settings.
Sound and video
Let's start with external sound. The manufacturer placed the speakers on the sides of the tablet from its front side. This was clearly not the best idea, since they just close with their palms. Interestingly, even in their own advertising brochures, the device is held by hands in this way. See for yourself (photo taken from Sonymobile.com):
So, if you want to hear a 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.
While playing content through external speakers, it is worth activating the setting xLOUD, which increases the maximum volume. It is not clear, however, why invent such chips when you can initially set a higher volume threshold in devices.
Function S-Force Front Surround is, in my opinion, 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 the headphones. To reveal the sound to the fullest, it is worth using third-party models of "ears". The sound is expectedly good: about the same level as in tablets / smartphones from competitors. Setting ClearAudio+ gives the sound an interesting character, but again, only in my purely subjective opinion, or rather hearing. Basically, you should try it yourself.
Sony says 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. It is worth understanding such a statement correctly: headphones without noise cancellation support will not remove the external background. With the Sony MDR NC31EM headset (the one from the Sony Xperia Z2 kit), the function works to the fullest.
The tablet is quite omnivorous in relation to music. So 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 handles 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 is enough for a long time: approximately 3-5 days, depending on the intensity of use. The device is capable of playing video via Wi-Fi interface for about 8 hours.
In the settings, you can activate the 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 for 5-6 hours.
In this case, the device gets very hot. There is no way out, you have to endure.
Accessories
Bought a tablet? Spending for you has not yet ended, as the Japanese have come up with a lot of all sorts of additional gadgets for your favorite device. Let's go over them all briefly.
Bluetooth speaker with charging function and more (BSC10)
It uses a 10-watt speaker that can play music through a Bluetooth connection. In addition, on the body of the column there are elements for managing calls, as a result, a kind of base is obtained, as is the case with radio telephones. Devices are paired via NFC, and the tablet itself can be installed 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 recharging function. The same magnetic port is used here. The accessory itself must be connected via microUSB to a regular wall outlet. The price does not go beyond the bounds of decency and is 1,490 rubles.
Bluetooth remote control and headset in one
That's what the headset was discussed in the main part of the review. There is no infrared port here, so control takes place only through the “blue tooth”. The gadget is charged from microUSB, has protection against moisture (IP57) and its own stand. The remote control is compatible only with devices of the Xperia series, and it also costs a lot - 3,990 rubles.
Wireless keyboard with case
Buying this Bluetooth keyboard, in addition, you also get a cover-stand. The input device is suitable for any other device, and the case, of course, is only for the Z2 Tablet. Connection can also occur via NFC. The final price is currently unknown, but it is expected that it will be above 6,000 rubles.
If you do not plan to print a lot on the tablet, then you can limit yourself to buying only a cover (SCR12). On sale there are two modifications: black and white cover-stand.
Outcome
In nature, there are several models of the Z2 Tablet: black and white modifications, with 16 or 32 GB of memory on board, costing 23,990 and 25,990 rubles, respectively. If you need LTE support, then only a model with 16 GB of internal storage is available. The latter will cost the same 25,990 rubles. You can choose a model to your liking and wallet. In my opinion, it is 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.
The purchase of an Apple iPad Air (24,990 rubles for the version with LTE) or a Samsung Galaxy Galaxy Tab Pro (24,990 rubles) will cost about the same money. The device from Sony is a thousand more expensive, but it outperforms 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 better and lasts longer, but some people don't like iOS. And only in this case, we can recommend a Japanese tablet for purchase.
Is the Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet a good buy?
I think yes. The tablet is very nice. Top-end iron, a moisture-resistant case, excellent design and dimensions are installed here. Yes, there are disadvantages. The speakers are poorly placed, the back cover gets noticeably dirty, the tablet takes a very long time to charge. What do you think, are these shortcomings critical? In my opinion, no.
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 you 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 implementation 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.
What are the modern flagship "devices", be it smartphones or tablets, from Sony? The answer is simple: they are devices with top technical stuffing and very elegant, concise design, which has almost no analogues in the world of Android. And if the designers of the Japanese company have more or less decided on the exterior of their devices - gadgets with the letter Z in the name are made in a similar style, then it’s impossible to choose hardware once and for all. Platforms that were considered the best some six months or a year ago have now become commonplace. And after a short period of time they will move into the category of “strong middle peasants”. Alas. Technologies are improving and developing at a very fast pace.
At the presentation of the Sony Xperia Z2, representatives of the company said the following: "We will release flagship devices as often as technology improvements allow." This phrase referred to smartphones, but it is likely that Sony's tablet division will borrow this motto. As it will be in reality - time will tell. In the meantime, we will take a closer look at the updated Sony tablet.
⇡ Appearance and ergonomics
Visually, the tablet is not much different from the previous model. The gadget is made in the corporate style of Sony - modern, strict, ascetic. Very solid, "adult", so to speak, exterior. The key feature of the novelty is to reduce the already small dimensions. Z2 Tablet has become thinner by half a millimeter: 6.4 versus 6.9 mm for its predecessor. In addition, the tablet dropped 55 grams: from 495 to 440 g. And the version without a built-in modem weighs only 425 grams! Agree, excellent characteristics for a full-sized tablet. The gadget does not take up much space in the bag, fits in many additional sections and hardly weighs down luggage.
Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet - front panel
No keys appeared on the front side of the tablet - all buttons, as usual, are touch-sensitive. The side frames around the display are a little too big - I wish they were a little narrower. However, this remark is from the category of "nitpicking". The front panel is covered with a protective glass resistant to scratches.
Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet with display on
The back panel is made of plastic with a soft-touch matte finish. This solution looks very cool ... until the tablet is in the hands. The "back" of the gadget is very easily soiled, it quickly gets dirty, which is why the Z2 Tablet loses a large part of its original charm. Getting rid of annoying fingerprints is not so easy, and most importantly, doing it is almost pointless: after a short period of time, the gadget will be covered with them again. In fairness, we note that such a coating causes a pleasant tactile sensation, and there is a practical benefit from it - the gadget does not slip out of your hands.
Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet - rear panel
The power and volume buttons have been moved closer to the middle of the left side. It turned out not very convenient: reaching the buttons without shifting the tablet in one hand is not easy. The buttons are pleasant to the touch, with a short and clear stroke. The connector for a wired headset is placed on the bottom end, which is why when watching a movie you have to turn the device upside down, since it is absolutely impossible to lean it, for example, against a table with headphones connected. Frankly, not the best design solution.
Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet - keys on the left side
Slots for microSD and micro-SIM cards are located on the upper end, under a common plastic cover. Next to them is an MHL interface that combines video output and microUSB 3.0, and an infrared port for controlling household appliances. The side faces, for the sake of greater resemblance to the Xperia Z2 smartphone, are decorated with metal - or “metal-like”, you won’t understand here - inserts.
Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet - connectors on the top
The body of the tablet, like all gadgets of the Xperia Z series, is dust and moisture resistant according to the IP58 class. That is, it can withstand not only jets of water, but also complete immersion to a depth of one and a half meters for half an hour. Note that the predecessor was able to "dive" only a meter. Of course, water protection is only guaranteed when the plugs are closed. And in order not to open them too often to connect to the charger, you can use the magnetic contact on the bottom and power the tablet from the docking station.
Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet - bottom end
The gadget is assembled well. Of course, the desire to reduce the weight as much as possible affected the rigidity of the structure - when the sides are squeezed, the case creaks a little, but we are already used to this. To achieve streaks on the display, you need to press hard on the front panel. For a tablet with such a thin body and surprisingly low weight, this is very good.
⇡ Specifications
| Sony Xperia Tablet Z | Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet | |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 10.1 inches, resolution 1920x1200 (WUXGA); IPS technology | |
| Touch screen | Capacitive, up to 10 simultaneous touches | |
| Air gap | Not | |
| Oleophobic coating | There is | |
| Polarizing filter | There is | |
| Platform | Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro APQ8064: four Qualcomm Krait (ARMv7) cores; frequency 1.51 GHz; process technology 28 nm LP | Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 MSM8974AC: four Qualcomm Krait-400 (ARMv7) cores; frequency 2.3 GHz; process technology 28 nm HPm |
| Graphics controller | Qualcomm Adreno 320, 450 MHz | Qualcomm Adreno 330, 578 MHz |
| RAM | 2 GB | 3 GB |
| Flash memory | 16/32 GB NAND Flash + microSD | |
| Connectors | 1 x micro-USB 2.0 (MHL) 1 x 3.5mm headset jack 1 x MicroSD 1 x Micro-SIM 1 x Magnetic charging connector |
|
| cellular | Modem Qualcomm MDM9x15M (external): 2G: GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 MHz 3G: DC-HSPA+ (42 Mbps) 850/900/2100 MHz 4G: LTE Cat. 3 (102 Mbps) band 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20 Micro-SIM |
Qualcomm MDM9x25 modem (built into processor): 2G: GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 MHz 3G: DC-HSPA+ (84 Mbps) 850/900/1700/1900/2100 MHz 4G: LTE Cat. 4 (150 Mbps) band 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20 Micro-SIM |
| WiFi | 802.11a/b/g/n, 2.4/5GHz + Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi Miracast | |
| Bluetooth | 4.0 | |
| NFC | There is | |
| IR port | There is | |
| Navigation | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou |
| Sensors | Accelerometer/gyroscope, digital compass, ambient light sensor | Accelerometer/gyroscope, digital compass, ambient light sensor, pedometer |
| Main camera | 8 MP (3264x2448) Sony Exmor R back-illuminated sensor Autofocus, no flash | 8 MP (3264x2448) Sony Exmor RS back-illuminated sensor Autofocus, no flash |
| Front-camera | 2.1 MP (1920x1080) Sony Exmor R back-illuminated sensor No autofocus, no flash |
|
| Food | Non-removable battery 22.2 Wh (6000 mAh, 3.7 V); STAMINA power saving mode |
|
| Dimensions, mm | 266x172 Case thickness 6.9 |
266x172 Case thickness 6.4 |
| Weight, g | 495 | 440 |
| Water and dust protection | IP55, IP57 (submersible up to 1 meter) | IP55, IP58 (submersible up to 1.5 meters) |
| Operating system | Google Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean) | Google Android 4.4 (KitKat) |
| recommended price | From 15 990 rubles | From 23 990 rubles |
Thinnest, lightest and waterproof are just a handful of adjectives that very accurately describe Sony's tablet, the 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