Sony Xperia Tablet Z review

The Sony Xperia Tablet Z is a super-light device designed to take on the iPad with a quality screen and innovative features - but is the price too high?

But when it comes to tablets, the world of Android is a funny old place.. There have been plenty of pretenders, but not really one that stands out when it comes to market share in the way the iPad does. And it's a wrong Sony is determined to put right with the Xperia Tablet Z.

Sony has tried before - the Xperia Tablet S, Sony's most recent foray, was a decent if uninspiring effort. But as with others, it failed to stand out in a world full of challengers. Time for the Sony Xperia Tablet Z to improve on this.

The first thing we noticed when we took the Sony Xperia Tablet Z out of its box was how beautiful it was. We don't want to sound gushing, but as gadget lovers, we have unboxed a lot of devices. Yet it's on only a few occasions that we've taken something out of its box and instantly been smitten with it.

We're thinking of the way we felt with the first iPhone (and the iPhone 4), theNexus One, the iPad 2 and the HTC One. Certain devices just have the power to evoke a strong reaction that makes you feel instantly transfixed. The Sony Xperia Tablet Z definitely comes under that category.

And the accessories (like the official case/stand, for example, if you have more money than sense) won't be available until-mid June. Unsurprisingly, Sony says this is its most pre-ordered tablet yet.

But it won't come cheap. The 16GB Wi-Fi-only model will set you back £399/US$499.99/AU$539, the 32GB Wi-Fi version costs £449/US$599.99/AU$649 and the 16GB LTE/4G model is priced at £499/AU$679 (US price not currently available).

That's exactly the same as the equivalent iPad 4, and roughly what you'll pay for a Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1. Make no mistake, Sony is making a statement here: "Our products are just as good as Apple's, so don't expect them to be cheaper."

There are several reasons why we became instant fans. Firstly, looks: the Sony Xperia Tablet Z doesn't try too hard. There are no uber fancy bells and whistles here. To all intents, it's a simple black rectangle. But what a rectangle it is. Highly glossy glass on the front made from toughened, scratch-resistant glass.

It looks (intentionally) like a larger version of Sony's already stonking Xperia Zphone with one minor difference - the back of the tablet isn't glass like the phone, but a more matt-style polycarbonate makeup. And aside from the standby and power buttons on the side, there are no others. As per Google's direction, all navigation is done via the screen's software buttons.

Then there's the thickness. Or, rather, the lack of. This is currently the thinnest tablet on the market - and it really shows. If you think the iPad 4 is respectable at 9.4mm (0.37 inches), then you'll really be blown away at the Sony Xperia Tablet Z's 6.9mm (0.27 inches).

In terms of overall footprint, it's slightly different, clocking in at 266mm x 172mm (10.5 x 6.8 inches) compared to the Apple offering's 241.2mm x 185.7mm (9.5 x 7.3 inches). But the other thing you'll notice is just how light it is.

Weight is one of the tricky ones, with frequent complaints that tablets such as the iPad become too heavy to hold for long periods of time. The iPad 4 tips the scales at 662g (1.46lbs) and even the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 is no feather at 600g (1.32lbs). The Sony Xperia Tablet Z trumps them both at 495g (1.09lbs).

This really is one of those devices you have to experience to appreciate. Pictures and YouTube videos just don't do it justice.

Added to that is the fact that the Sony Xperia Tablet Z, like the Sony Xperia Z phone, is water and dust resistant.

This is a tablet you can comfortably take into the bath and not worry about. It's slightly disconcerting doing so, since every fibre of your being is telling you not to dunk it in the water, but provided you make sure the waterproof plugs are in the sockets, you'll be fine.

In fact, the only way this doesn't work is when trying to swipe underwater. The screen registers all kinds of movements, so you have to take it out and dry the screen to really get it to register screen taps. Mind you, if you're likely to be playing Fruit Ninja underwater, you probably need to have a word with a doctor. For watching movies in the bath or at the bus stop in the rain, you'll be fine.

If you try and run water on the display, get ready for a panic, as it registers a million taps and opens every app under the sun, making you worry that the tablet has a plug open and water is getting inside. It's not, stay cool.

However, we do wonder if waterproofing this tablet is anything more than a gimmick. Yes, you can use it in the bath without worrying, or get egg on it while cooking. It makes it feel more rugged, indeed.

But do you need a tablet to do that? Without the covers it might feel like a more slick product, and that's something we would love to see. It could possibly do away with the angular corners too, which is a real design problem in our eyes.