The tab is one of the lightest and thinnest you’ll ever see

Apr 17, 2015 13:33 GMT  ·  By

Sony is traversing a period of turmoil. The company has announced that it is expecting to lose money in 2015 on a net basis for the sixth time in the last seven years.

So in order to do some damage control, the Japanese phone maker is looking to shift its focus to PlayStation and camera sensor development.

At least for the next three years, Sony will be working based on this strategy, and if its pays off, the company hopes to see its operating profit increase by 2500% over the period.

That means Sony is looking to take a step back from its mobile business (including tablets and smartphones) and focus on what’s actually driving in profit.

Last year, Sony decided it was in its best interest to concentrate on growing its mobile portfolio, so it sold off the VAIO laptop division and exited the US ebook reader market. However, it appears this strategy didn’t provide the best results.

Sony always managed to do a good job with its Xperia line of smartphones, but they never really amounted to something really special, so they easily got lost in the myriad of handsets made available by the competition.

However, the device maker does have some hidden jewels in its mobile portfolio, and one of them is the Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact, which got unveiled at IFA 2014 back in September.

It’s actually the only device that comes equipped with PlayStation 4 support, so gamers will certainly find themselves drawn to the new model, but we’re going to talk about that later on.

What the tablet looks like

The Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact arrives with an 8-inch IPS LCD display offering 1920 x 1200 pixel resolution with 283 ppi pixel density.

As is customary for Sony, the company has bestowed some of the company's proprietary display technologies on the slate, including Triluminous and X-Reality, to make the colors richer and the images sharper.

What you’ll probably notice right off the bat is that the tablet is extremely skinny, and by all means, it is one of the thinnest Android tablets ever produced, boasting a 6.4mm / 0.25 inch profile. It has a 16:9 aspect ratio, which means it’s slightly elongated. By comparison, the iPad mini has a 4:3 ratio, so it looks more like a square.

If you look at the tablet’s edges, you’ll encounter a 3.5mm headphone jack, the charging port (hidden beneath a waterproof flap at the bottom), and a microSD card slot (lives under a flap on the side).

The waterproof flaps ensure the Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact maintains its waterproof status. The slate is IP65 and IP68 certified, so it can survive being in 1.5 m / 4.9 ft of water for up to 30 minutes. So if you’re the clumsy type prone to spilling your coffee on expensive pieces of gadgetry, the Xperia Z3 might be the perfect match for you.

How the tablet feels

After handling this device for a few weeks, we can say that 8-inch might be the perfect form factor for a tablet. The Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact can easily be used with one hand, and given that it’s very skinny and light, it doesn't put a toll on your wrist.

It’s made of plastic, so it’s not that fancy as the aluminum-made iPad 3, which can be considered a minus. Even so, it’s easy to grip and you won't find it slipping out of your hand.

Sony has added a bunch of metal insertions on each corner to try to protect the internals of the device in case something disastrous happens to it.

Getting to know the tablet

One of the negative aspects as far as the Z3 Tablet Compact is concerned is that Sony cluttered the interface with tons of its own entertainment software.

Yes, the device is great for media consumption, but even so, the Japanese company should have toned down its "enthusiasm" a little bit.

Nevertheless, you can seemingly watch movies in landscape mode and the viewing angles are great, so you can invite friends over and you can all watch the latest TV shows. Sunlight readability is excellent too, so you can even enjoy the companionship of the tablet while out and about in the park.

When too much is too much

But what’s the deal with all the different gallery apps and different music and movie players? The abundance of such programs proves to be extremely confusing at some point.

What's more, you should expect to find on board applications like the home-grown Video Unlimited, Lifelog activity tracker, PlayStation app, but also third-party ones like OfficeSuite, AVG antivirus, Kobo, QR code reader, and Garmin navigation.

Luckily, these apps can be uninstalled pretty easily, so they can be scraped off if you want them out of your sight and mind.

But wait, there's more, the app drawer is horribly cluttered, but unfortunately this is something you will need to adapt to if you want to develop a stable relationship with the Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact.

Now for some positive aspects: users are allowed to customize how the screen looks. For starters, one can tweak the white balance by virtue of RGB sliders, but the setup is not completely intuitive, so you might have a few problems getting to where you want to go.

Image enhancing options are also available, like X-Reality, which allows increasing contrast and coloring saturation, if you’re into that kind of thing.

The slate runs Android 4.4.4 KitKat out of the box, but Sony has already started pushing Android 5.0 Lollipop for it, just like it promised it would.

Anyway, while using the tablet, you’ll probably notice some Sony-specific elements like for example the fact that when you’re swiping left-to-right on the apps page, you will be presented with a menu from which you can delete and arrange the apps.

Some thoughts on performance

Generally talking, Sony’s own interface is a tad snappier than Samsung’s TouchWiz, which often stutters if it is overwhelmed by multiple apps working in tandem.

The Snapdragon 801 CPU clocked at 2.5GHz and fitted with 3GB of RAM does a decent job at supporting whatever you need to do, and even after prolonged game play, the tablet is still pretty responsive and you can continue working on it in good conditions.

The chip carries most of the power that is needed for the vast majority of content you’ll find available in Google Play, although the Snapdragon 810 is already out and about.

However, the Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact does tend to get a little warm if you engage in strenuous activities like playing a top-end game such as Dead Trigger 2 or Asphalt 8.

But stuttering or performance slow-down can be spotted if a number of applications are minimized in the background.

After using the tablet on a daily basis, we noticed that the general contrast and black levels are a tad worse than on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5, which uses a Super AMOLED display. But this is no surprise, since most OLED displays are better when it comes to black reproduction in comparison to LCD screens, and Samsung has clearly done a very good job with the Galaxy Tab S family.

Things you can do with the tablet

The Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact is the only tablet you can actually hook up to a PlayStation 4, so at least in this respect, it is pretty unique.

The idea is that, in case your partner or your kids want to have some TV time and you can’t play your favorite games because of it, you’re free to stream the content right onto your tablet and you can even take it to bed.

PS4 support for endless play

Setting up the feature is pretty simple, as you get to do that via the PS4 Link app which comes pre-installed on the slate. Next up, the app will search for your console on your network and you’ll need to hook up a PS4 controller to the tablet (with the help of Bluetooth), and that’s it.

But what sounds good in theory doesn't always translate into a problem-free real-life scenario. While playing on the tablet, you might experience connection drops or gameplay freezing for a second or two.

So if you’re a hardcore gaming fan, you probably won’t be satisfied by the imperfect gaming experience. Obviously, Sony needs to perfect this, and maybe it will with future iterations.

Photography

Naturally, you can also snap pictures with the new Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact, and Sony has bundled the tablet with a bunch of extra modes meant to make photo shooting more fun for users.

The slate has an 8.1MP main camera with an Exmor RS backside-illuminated sensor, while up in front lives an unimpressive 2.2MP shooter, which Sony hasn't bothered upgrading since the Xperia Z2 Tablet. But we guess it would suffice for making a few Skype calls, although if you’re an enthusiastic selfie photographer, you will certainly be disappointed.

Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet photo sample with effect
Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet photo sample with effect
Anyway, Sony offers a great deal of features with its camera app. For example, users are given a bit of control over how they want to shoot a particular piece of scenery, like the possibility to choose whether to use HDR or not.

However, the fun part comes with the ability to do photo collages, adding augmented reality, adding countless filters, and so on. You’ll probably get lost in trying out all the available options.

While the main camera can perform decently in natural lighting settings, although most of the shots come out pixelated, the shooter can’t really handle itself in artificial lighting environments, where it produces the blandest results.

The tablet can also shoot video at 1080p, and under good lighting conditions, the result is quite crisp and lifelike.

Phone calling

The 8-inch tablet can act like a phone too, if you have the LTE model, that is, which is not used only for apps and browsing on the move. Sony allows you to use the tablet for calls and text messages and has included these Android components within the UI just like it did in its lineup of Xperia smartphones.

Other features

As we told you above, the tablet can be used to make phone calls, so inside you’ll find a Nano SIM card slot and support for both 3G HSPA+ and 4G LTE across a wide range of bands.

Since the slate is of the premium category, Sony offers a lot of connectivity options, including MHL 3 A/V TV-Out, Wi-Fi Direct and NFC. There’s also Bluetooth 4.0, microUSB, A-GPS/GLONASS, dual-band Wi-Fi with Hotspot, and FM Radio.

How long does the tablet last?

Battery autonomy is one of the major strengths of this skinny tablet. The Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact bundles a 4500 mAh battery on the inside, which might not sound like much when we’re hearing of tablets taking advantage of 8000 mAh batteries, like the Lenovo Yoga bunch.

However, the Sony slate manages impress in this department, as it is able to sustain up to 15 hours of intense usage, including video playback and game play.

What’s most impressive is how well the tablet handles itself in standby mode. We ignored it for nights on end, and after five days, it was still running.


The Good

Much has been said about the perfect tablet form factor, but we believe Sony hit the right spot here with the Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact. The slate is light and thin, and you will barely feel it in your backpack or bag while carrying it around.

It should also be noted that the tablet is the first device to arrive with PS4 compatibility, so if you’re into gaming, you’ll certainly appreciate the feature, albeit Sony still has some perfecting to do while the overall system is concerned.

Moreover, the slate can be used as a phone, but only if you own the LTE model. Even more importantly, it can sustain a long battery life, which is very important especially if you’re traveling.

The Bad

Even if the tablet is supposedly a high-end model, the build materials and quality don't exactly live up to what one would expect from a Sony Xperia device. With the current slate, you have a thin plastic finish which feels a little tacky.

On top of that, the slate is riddled with unnecessary bloatware, but if you’re accustomed to Sony devices, you won’t probably be so bothered by this aspect.

Also, the price isn't exactly user-friendly. For example, you can currently pick up the unlocked device with LTE and 16GB of internal storage from Expansys for $489 / €452.

Conclusion

Sony is offering a very appealing product as far as specs, performance, display and battery life are concerned.

We also have to mention the very suitable form factor, which allows for one hand maneuvering, thus making the Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact a perfect device to take with you when you’re travelling the world.

However, in the software department, Sony couldn't help itself and over-cluttered the interface with useless apps and features that just make your head spin.

The build quality isn't too appealing either, but if you're somebody looking to purchase the Sony tablet for entertainment (including video gaming), it won't disappoint you.

Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact (69 Images)

Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact frontal view
Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact, close-up to the displaySony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact, pre-installed Google apps
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