14 DAY TRIAL // Seeing as how the latest 10.1-inch Sony tablet has been appearing in online stores around the world, it was about time the product showed up on the website of the web store that caters to the needs of US customers.
We don't mean a retailer here. Instead, we have found the Xperia Tablet Z listed on Sony's very own web store.
The tablet won't ship before late May, since that is the ETA for the UK and the rest of the world will wait until the same day.
Until then, prospective customers can decide whether or not the hardware and software specifications are good enough for a purchase.
We doubt the price will have a bearing on appeal, since $499.99 / €499.99 is the so-called standard that 10.1-inch slates hold themselves to these days.
There is a $599.99 (€599.99) model as well, but that one has twice the storage amount: 32 GB versus 16 GB.
Which leads us to the technical details: the Sony Xperia Tablet Z relies on a Qualcomm APQ8064 (and MDM9215M) chipset.
It combines a quad-core ARM CPU of 1.5 GHz with Adreno 320 graphics and 2 GB of random access memory.
The LCD display has a native resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels (TFT) and, in addition to the above, hides S-Force Front Surround 3D, NFC, MHL, and a 6000mAh battery.
Furthermore, the Xperia Z is endowed with Universal IR Remote support and a pair of cameras: one of 2.2 megapixels on the front (for web chats and such) and an 8.1 megapixel one at the back (for photo and video capture).
Regardless of the internal storage, the Tablet will sell in either black or white cases, both water resistant.
Finally, the Android Jelly Bean-loaded item (Android 4.1 / 4.2) is one of the thinnest (6.9 mm / 0.27 inches) and lightest 10.1-inch tablets so far (495 grams / 1.09 pounds). Shipments are supposed to start on May 24.