Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet LTE - Specifications. Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet Review: The Right Japanese Tablet Xperia Z2 Tablet
- Tablet
- Power Supply
- USB cable
- Headset (depending on version)
- Documentation
New Sony tablet: light, thin, with LTE support, interesting design, now without films, and everything would be fine, but there are also some disadvantages typical for the company. Strange display, strange soiled black plastic, everything happens rather strangely with the complete power supply unit, strange price. But Sony fans will still be very happy, that's for sure!
Design, construction
The company claims that this is the thinnest and lightest water-resistant tablet on the market - well, the war of the "best" is on the market all the time, and no one forbids coming up with new categories. However, words are words, but when I took it in my hands for the first time Sony Xperia Tablet Z2 was surprised, the device is really weightless, the dimensions are 172 x 266 x 6.4 mm, the weight is 426 grams for the version with Wi-Fi, the model with Wi-Fi + LTE weighs 439 grams. Almost the entire front panel is occupied by the display, although the bezels are wide - apparently, this is a payback for the minimum thickness of the device. The back is made of matte black plastic, the marks are very noticeable, there is also a white version, I would recommend buying it. It's all about the prints, they are invisible on the white case. At the end there is a power button, the same as for smartphones, made of aluminum. Under the caps there are microUSB connectors (MHL supported), a slot for memory cards and a SIM card (microSIM) in the LTE version. A 3.5 mm jack without a cap, apparently, a new five-pin connector is also used here. On the back is the camera lens, there is no flash, under the lens is the NFC area. On the case there are both an infrared port for controlling home appliances and a magnetic connector, I recommend immediately buying such a cradle somewhere.
I want to note that after the appearance of the iPad Air, a new bar has been set for all manufacturers, first of all, we are talking about weight - Sony took this indicator for a reason. The only question is, for whom might it be important? Probably, for those who often carry their equipment in a bag, they are used to saving every hundred grams - it is difficult to imagine such a person, but who knows, maybe such consumers exist.
In addition, the Sony Xperia Tablet Z2 is water resistant (complies with IP55 / 58 standards), withstands immersion in the bath or the sea. In Japan, there is a cult of the bathroom, the desire to obtain such protection is understandable. In Russia, the situation is different, so tablet protection is not a serious marketing advantage - all this is just my subjective opinion. But what is the advantage is the appearance of the device. If you don't like Samsung, then there is nothing to look at among Android tablets - in the sense that I personally look very, very pleased to watch the Sony Xperia Tablet Z2.
Here are some official data on the protection of the tablet: “In accordance with IP55 and IP58 standards, the Xperia is protected from dust and moisture. Provided all ports and compartments are tightly closed, the tablet can withstand low pressure jets of water at any angle in accordance with the IP 55 standard; can stay in fresh water at a depth of 1.5 m for 30 minutes in accordance with the IP 58 standard. The tablet is not designed to be on the surface or under water if it does not meet the conditions of IP55 or IP58 standards. Failure to do so is not covered by the warranty for failure to comply with standards. ”
The tablet bends a little, keep this in mind when you carry the device in a bag with other things. Lightness really matters, I was pleased to use the Tablet Z2 just because of this indicator, it is not felt in a backpack, in the hand too, but from the first minutes of use I want to hide the tablet in a case.
Two speakers are used here, they are located on the sides of the display, the volume cannot be called prohibitive - you can watch a movie with comfort, listen to music, the stereo effect is present. It seemed to me that the volume is higher than that of the first generation tablet. By the way, you can watch AVI without conversion, there is support for such files by default.
Display
The TRILUMINOS IPS display is used, the same technology as in the Sony Xperia Z2 smartphone (I recommend watching the video, there it is described in more or less detail). It looks good indoors, good viewing angles, brightness. The diagonal is 10.1 inches, the resolution is 1920 x 1200 pixels. There are no films on the front and back, at least I could not see it. Tempered glass protects the display from scratches and does not need films, I talked about this for a long time.
The unusual aspect ratio of the display also affects the perception of the tablet, one friend asked the question - is this a new photo frame? Indeed, the Tablet Z2 is very much like a photo frame. The display is well suited for watching movies, photos, working with sites - for example, layout in WordPress. The viewing angles are okay, but the white is slightly yellow and the white balance won't fix that. Moreover, sometimes the screen turns a little yellow, and sometimes it seems pinkish.
In the video, I say that the Tablet Z2 has the same display as the iPad Air, I did not mean the actual data (the Air has 9.7 inches, the Tablet Z2 has 10.1 inches), but the perception in general. If you suddenly decide to buy the Z2, because it has a larger diagonal, look at both devices in the store. I'm sure you will also have the thought that the size on the Air side is all about the aspect ratio, the Tablet Z2 is really rather strange. It is because of this that I do not recommend buying the device blindly, twirl it in your hands in the store, then make a decision.
Performance
Uses Qualcomm APQ8074 + MSM8974AB platform, 2.3GHz quad-core processor. Operating system Android 4.4, 3 GB of RAM, adapter Adreno 330. Supported by LTE, and, judging by the words of colleagues, this tablet can work as a smartphone, if you want, you can make a call, send a message. Installed 16 or 32 GB of memory, memory cards up to 64 GB are also supported, not bad for those who want to watch video on a tablet, since the display has this.
Of the features - it supports exiting sleep mode by double tapping on the display, has its own wallpapers and themes, many icons are redrawn, the notification menu looks different, it opens on one side and the other: on the one side of the notification, on the other - access to quick settings. Among the applications - a number of additional ones, this is Evernote, "Sketch" for drawing with a stylus, Social Live, Track ID and so on, you can look at the screenshots. There is also a program for remote control of equipment, it works, but I usually do not use such software - why?
Modifications
So far, three modifications with difficult-to-pronounce names are being sold, such as SGP511RU, two versions with Wi-Fi (16 and 32 GB), a model with Wi-Fi + LTE with only 16 GB of memory. Two colors, black and white, in terms of functionality and characteristics, a headset is included with the LTE tablet, with the rest - only a power supply and a USB cable. In my opinion, you can buy any one, especially if you have a smartphone with LTE support. Nobody bothers to turn on the Sony Xperia Z2 as an access point, connect the Tablet Z2 and do everything that needs to be done on the big screen.
I’ll also say about accessories, again a bunch of various additions, this is a Bluetooth speaker with a stand, a stand with a remote control for watching movies, a snap-on keyboard - a BKC-50 case.
You can connect a PS3 controller to the tablet, this is discussed separately - also an interesting feature, but why not connect a PS4 joystick? Here, too, work with accessories for the new 3.5 mm jack is supported, these are headphones with noise canceling implemented on the device side, an STM-10 microphone. By the way, it will be very convenient to watch the video on the plane, the “noise control” perfectly crushes the sounds around, I checked the operation of the headphones with both the Z2 smartphone and the tablet.
Nutrition
It is curious that Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 technology is used here, let me remind you that the previous tablet had to be charged for about five hours (or even longer, I don't remember exactly). Here, as it is written in the release, the operating time is increased by 75 percent. The battery is installed with a capacity of 6000 mAh, according to the company, the tablet can work 10 hours of video playback or 100 hours of music playback. In reality, the tablet behaves much like the iPad Air, but subjectively it discharges faster. Alas, the tablet takes a long time to charge from the complete power supply unit, about five hours, it is better to use a magnetic docking station, the charging time is reduced by thirty percent (subjective opinion, there was a prototype on the test).
Camera
The main camera is 8.1 MP, the proprietary Exmor RS module is used, the HDR mode is supported. Front camera - 2.2 MP. Many functions from the cameras of Sony Xperia smartphones are used, some can be seen in the video. In particular, these are augmented reality effects, fairy tale, fantasy and others, I like them since the days of Sony Xperia Z1.
conclusions
In retail, prices are approximately the following: the version with Wi-Fi and LTE costs about 27,990 rubles, models with Wi-Fi cost 23,990/25,990 rubles, depending on the memory, it is 16 or 32 GB. I want to remind you that the not outdated iPad Air with LTE and 32 GB of memory costs 28,990 rubles. It seems to me that Sony was setting the price for Russia in a somewhat chaotic way, you can turn a blind eye to Samsung's competitors, but you cannot turn a blind eye to the most popular gadgets in the category. It seems to me that for the version with Wi-Fi and 16 GB of memory one could ask for about 20,000 rubles, but for the older one - about 25,000 rubles, such a price tag could be adequate.
On the other hand, Sony may not count on serious sales, it is more important to have such a device in its assortment, to study the demand. I am glad that the company is now very careful about the sequels, further development certain categories. Previously, Sony could afford to create all sorts of weird gadgets like the Sony Tablet P, a dual-screen folding tablet. Now is a different time. And that is why it is pleasant to deal with the Sony Xperia Tablet Z2, it is lighter than its predecessor, it charges faster when using a magnetic docking station, there is protection against water, a better camera, less heating during use (this is subjective). What is left to overcome? Soiled black plastic, it is quite possible to put a display of better quality, change the aspect ratio, looking at Apple, make two versions, mini and maxi. The gadget already has its own face, its own unique features, so the general approach must be copied. You look, and it will turn out to take some noticeable place in the tablet market - by the way, in Russia many people like such Sony devices, they buy them almost in the first days of sales.
In conclusion, I can say one thing, the Z2 has become better. If you want a brighter screen, pen support, then look towards Samsung. If you just need good tablet Better buy an iPad. Well, if you're a Sony fan, then the Z2 is worth buying, despite the price and disadvantages.
There was no future for tablets until Apple announced them loudly. Since then, a lot of water has flowed under the bridge, but no matter what tablet comes out, one way or another, sooner or later it is still compared to the iPad. Our subject is being compared to the iPad Air for a reason. It was the "airy" tablet that was called the lightest and most graceful before the appearance of the Sony Xperia Tablet Z2. We now have a huge 10.1-inch tablet with water and dust resistance in our hands, which has earned the title of the thinnest and lightest tablet ever. Impressive?
Sony Xperia Tablet Z1 was voted the best tablet in Europe. This is not a very sour start. The bar was raised high from the very beginning. The girls filmed reviews about him in the bathroom, the men bathed him in the Dnieper, in general, everyone liked him. Although there was something to complain about - the rigidity of the device, for example, left much to be desired. And at IFA 2014 in Barcelona, they presented the continuation of this beauty, calling it simply the Sony Xperia Tablet Z2. And what did they do?
Design and ergonomics
The tablet at first glance resembles plasma TV perfect size if you are going to carry it in a backpack. Or a thin university notebook for all subjects. It is practically A4 size and is easily lost among papers, folders and books. I especially like the fact that despite the dominance of tablets in the market, the Tab Z2 is not like any of them. It is strict, conservative, straight lines, sharp angles, the perfect match with the flagship.
Thin, light and graceful - I never get tired of repeating this, it seems, never. Because everyone who at least once picked up a tablet was very surprised that it weighs practically nothing. It seems that the Japanese were inspired by a piece of paper.
There is something to see here. The edges are covered with a variety of ports, connectors and buttons. Above - two plugs. Under the first long one there are slots for a micro-SIM card and microSD, under the second - a slot for microUSB. Actually, these are the two topics that must be kept dry at all times, otherwise the tablet will simply stop working.
Nothing was placed on the right side, and on the bottom there are sensors for connecting the docking station and audio jacks.
On the left side there is a volume swing and a small lock button. Since there was no double-tap unlock function, get used to its diminutiveness and location. This is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance.
The front part is completely covered with protective tempered glass, and the back is covered with a pleasant soft touch plastic. It has a plus and a minus. Plus - tactile sensations. Nice and tenacious. Minus - easily soiled. Very easily soiled. And to wipe it off, you need to make a lot of effort.
On the lid are the Sony logos, below - Xperia, and in the upper corner - the main camera's 8.1 MP peephole and under it the NFC icon.
The top frame around the display houses the company's logo, a 2.2MP front camera and an event indicator.
You yourself understand that such a bandura will not fit into a small handbag. No magic can put her in a clutch. So your girlfriend, who appreciates mobility, small handbags and small dogs, may not like such a pill and will lie on the bedside table. For everyone else who does not take a steam bath and walks with a backpack and a bigger bag, the tablet will be convenient to use. Due to the parameters, it fits perfectly into the laptop compartment instead of a laptop, and also weighs two, or even three to four times lighter than your laptop. And due to the parameters and the "smart" keyboard, the Sony Xperia Tab Z2 can easily replace it, unless, of course, you are going to download it like a gaming laptop. As not a fan of tablets, I can say with confidence that a 10-inch device as an intermediate between a smartphone and a computer is the most logical option for using a tablet.
Display
At first glance, the screen looks very cool. 10.1 inches, capacitive IPS display with TRILUMINOS technology with excellent oleophobic coating. And then you discover that it also has a glossy finish. And that its resolution is rather strange - 1920 x 1200. And that the maximum brightness in the sun is not comfortable enough. That is, the text is readable, but when we filmed the video review, nothing could be seen through the lens.
But indoors the display has good viewing angles, the brightness is sufficient, the juiciness and contrast of the picture are at a decent level. Sitting in a room with normal lighting, watching a movie on such a display is a thrill. The only thing is that at an angle the white color turns slightly pink, at a different angle it turns a little yellow - this is how unpredictable it is.
At first glance, huge frames are actually the ideal size, if you still use the tablet, and did not buy it, so that it stands beautifully in the docking station. Such a large tablet is hardly purchased for portability, but rather for practicality. Therefore, frames are needed so that there is where to put your hands. With this width, the tablet is comfortable to operate in both horizontal and vertical orientations. Just now, virtual buttons are still "eating" part of the display ... And thanks to the black fields, the tablet can resemble a frame for photos. But this is definitely a subjective question.
But there is definitely one advantage over the previous tablet - Sony Tablet Z2 lacks films! That is, the developers have finally come to the realization of the fact that the protective glass does not need branded protective films, which you just cannot remove, even if you really want to. Excellent tempered glass with an oleophobic coating. This is beauty! For working with texts, surfing the Internet and watching a movie - ideal. But if you want to see something on the display in direct sunlight, then do not forget to take off your sunglasses, but rather look for a shade.
Cameras
There are two of them, and they are of quite good quality. Unless you have a bad habit of comparing cameras between smartphones and tablets. The main camera received 8.1 MP and a bunch of useful and not very software. The camera can shoot panoramas, HDR photos and videos, carry out multi-burst shooting, has an 8x digital zoom and LED backlight. The quality of the frames is not bad, but there will be problems with detailing. And even under artificial or insufficient lighting, the resulting image will not delight you.
The menu has as many as nine shooting modes: super auto, manual settings, defocusing the background, fabulous effects, arts, timeshift butst (when you have the opportunity to choose the best shot from before and after pressing the shutter), social life (for people who constantly post photos to Facebook and want to share them with friends there) , panoramic view and evernote, with which photos can be saved to your account.
There is no separate button to launch the camera, but this function is available from the unlock screen. In the lower left corner, you will find a small menu where you can choose the resolution and shooting ratio. Above it is the icon for switching to the front camera, which received 2.2 MP. You should not expect something supernatural from her. There is a "cleaning" function of the face, which is usually called "smoothing".
The main problem that I personally have with cameras is the size of the tablet. It is very inconvenient to photograph with such a huge pill. It is at this moment that it seems that the tablet is bulky, it turns out that at the concert you close everyone's view, and they look at you in surprise and condemnation. If two aspects - the convenience and attitude of others - do not float you, then feel free to photograph everything.
Sound
The speakers are placed favorably. They are small, the first time I did not find them, it seems that the sound is coming from somewhere inside. In fact, these are two short stereo speakers that are located at the bottom of the display.
But given the fact that when watching a video, you hold the tablet with both hands, most often I turned the tablet over, and the speakers were located on top of my fingers. The volume is adequate, the clarity is average, and in general, if you forgot your headphones at home and want to watch a TV show with sound, the sound of the speakers will not disappoint you. In nature or in places of rest, it will be heard well.
Specifications
The tablet received technical characteristics megaprogressive, like a flying saucer. Quad-core Krait 400, Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8974-AB 2.3GHz processor, Adreno 330 graphics and 3GB of RAM. In tests, the tablet goes ahead of the rest of the planet, which is what you hope when you pay such money for such iron. All toys are running at maximum settings, everything looks beautiful. The interface is responsive, animations are fluid and everything looks pretty good. And in general, well, what can I say if everything is fine? At maximum loads, the tablet still heats up, a little closer to the left edge in the center. And so, yes, the speed of the device is steep. These are tremendous advantages of the device. The tablet does not slow down and flies directly.
- Dimensions: 172 x 266 x 6.4mm.
- Weight: with Wi-Fi support - 426 g, with LTE support - 439 g.
- Operating system: Android 4.4 KitKat with a proprietary shell from Sony.
- Processor: four cores Krait 400 Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8974-AB with a frequency of 2.3 GHz.
- Graphics: Adreno 330.
- Display: capacitive IPS, 10.1 inches, 1920 x 1200, glossy.
- Memory: 16/32 GB + microSD up to 64 GB.
- RAM: 3 GB.
- Camera: main camera - 8.1 MP, Exmor RS matrix, 8x digital zoom, HDR, burst mode, FullHD video recording, LED flash; front - 2.2 MP, video recording in HD.
- Wireless technologies: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, GSM, HSDPA, GPS, NFC, DLNA, optional LTE.
- Interface connectors: 3.5mm headphone jack, MicroUSB, docking station connector.
- Battery: Li-Ion battery 6000 mAh.
Software
The device runs Android 4.4 KitKat. Sony firmware is always for everyone. Flying waves appearance, oh-oh. The opinion is subjective, personal, there are people who like this whole appearance. But! I repeat myself not for the first time - the number of preinstalled programs on the fly is such that I least of all sit in PlayMarket with devices from this company.
Here are all popular social networks, a folder with tools, branded navigation, news from Sociallife, SonySelect and Whats New, where the company recommends interesting applications, TrackID, remote control of home appliances via infrared, Smart Connect, which helps to connect the tablet and devices with one touch. In general, a lot of useful things, but also a lot of nonsense that clogs the device's memory. And on a 16 GB tablet, about 11 GB is available on the go. There is also a 32GB variation. Whichever option you choose, there is always the option to install microSD up to 64GB.
Protection
This has become a good form for flagship devices. And if once protection from water and dust was perceived as something that adds great advantages to the device, now it is so in the order of things that the absence of a function causes indignation and bewilderment. The housing is protected from water and dust according to IP 55/58 standards. That is, you can easily wallow on a sandy beach near a river or pool without fear of grains of sand.
And if you hunt with a tablet to swim, then you can do it for 30 minutes in fresh water at a depth of up to 1.5 meters, and only if all the plugs are closed. There are only two of them, so take the trouble to check that they are tightly sealed. Otherwise, no guarantee will save the device.
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, multitouch, glossy, 264 ppi |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 2.3 GHz Quad Core |
| GPU | Adreno 330 |
| RAM | 3 GB |
| Flash memory | 16 and 32 GB |
| Memory card support | microSDHC (up to 32GB) |
| 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 mobile networks LTE / 4G, GSM, EDGE, HSCSD, HSDPA, GPRS, HSUPA, HSPA +) |
| lithium polymer battery, 6000 mAh | |
| Additionally | accelerometer, QWERTY keyboard, FM radio with RDS, MHL and DLNA support, moisture and dustproof housing |
| Dimensions (edit) | 266 x 172 x 6.4 mm |
| Weight | 424 g |
| Price | $529 |
Contents of delivery
Like all models of tablets from the Japanese company Sony, it comes in a fairly simple package, erroneously suggesting "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 finished with metal, the speakers were transferred from them to the front of the gadget.
The device "lost" 60 grams, apparently due to the 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 comfortable to hold, the brush does not get tired at all.
The body 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. With the white version, it is simpler, on it traces of use are visible much worse .
Quality finishing waterproof tablet case, as always, the Japanese are at their best... Visually, the thinnest gadget in the world, as the manufacturers position it, leaves a pleasant impression, the review will confirm this. Well, if you also take into account the fact that even divers can use it under water, however, shallow, up to 1.5 meters, we can say with confidence - the tablet is perfect for those who love the process of reading in a warm bath.
Screen
The Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet will communicate with its owner via a 10-inch display with IPS-matrix, which provides a good viewing angle. However, with a strong deviation, users notice a noticeable drop in brightness - the same problem was 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 indicators of clarity and contrast have been increased.
In this model, the manufacturers did not use a protective film. Instead, an oleophobic coating and scratch-resistant glass have been applied.
In addition, 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 get a bright, detailed, juicy image.
Performance
Qualcomm, which, as before, supplies processors for Sony gadgets, introduced a Snapdragon 801 chip with a high clock speed of 2.3 GHz in this model. The 4-core chip is supported by 3 GB of RAM and the excellent Adreno 330 graphics engine, which together provide an impeccable tablet speed.
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 efficient. Taken together, the characteristics allow not only to work with several "serious" applications at once, but also have a beneficial effect on the charging time.
Multimedia capabilities
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 settings for brightness, contrast, substitute frames, 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 well-known to all Sony fans, with a huge number of equalizers, recognizers, sortings, sound enhancers, visual effects and other gadgets. Built-in speakers proved to be a solid four, although at full volume back cover 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 run time
In this tablet model, the developers have introduced fundamentally new modes of battery operation. The non-removable capacity is 6000 mAh, which guarantees its uninterrupted operation for 10 hours of using the Internet and about 100 hours in standby mode. This duration is achieved through the introduction of STAMINA mode, which identifies unclaimed applications and disables them the next time the tablet is started. It is stated that with its help, the charge savings reaches 40%.
Cameras
Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet is equipped with rear and front cameras of 8.1 megapixels and 2.2 megapixels, respectively. An Exmor RS matrix is built into the rear camera, which fans of the Japanese brand are already familiar with from smartphones. With its help, pictures will be vivid and of high quality even in a dark room. However, she does not always succeed in small details. Apparently, the problem is not quite high-quality optics, which for some reason the Japanese prefer to save on.
Operating system and programs
This model has the most up-to-date 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 preinstalled programs, we will single out the most necessary and useful ones:
- FM-Radio;
- Wi-Fi check (checks the signal quality);
- OfficeSuite Pro (editor for documents);
- 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 contender for the Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet is the iPad Air. In addition to the "apple", we must not forget about Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 and another flagship - Asus Transformer Pad Infinity.
Having reviewed 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 user-friendly, it has the largest storage capacity.
Among the weaknesses of the tablet are the small battery capacity, the small size of the maximum memory card and the lowest ppi.
pros
Convenient and thin, waterproof and dustproof, efficient, fast in operation, long battery life, build quality.
Minuses
The quality of the camera, the presence of "prints" after a short work, a small volume of the installed flash card.
Conclusions and conclusions
To summarize, I must say that the tablet is an excellent continuation of the Xperia Z series. Beautiful, thin, light, fast, but quite expensive. In comparison with its competitors, which have a lower cost with comparatively similar characteristics. The Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet will only be preferred by a true fan of the Japanese brand or a person for whom waterproof and dustproof are decisive factors.
Last year, Sony unveiled a very successful line of smartphones and tablets Xperia Z. The main feature of the models in this series was the excellent design: both the Xperia Z smartphone and the Xperia Z Tablet not only looked great, but also had protection from moisture and dust. Since then, Sony has released several more Xperia Z: Z Ultra and Z1 Compact smartphones. But the tablet was left without updates.
But finally, the time has come to change the tablet: a new product called Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet was first shown at Mobile World Congress 2014, and in April it went on sale.
There are no significant innovations in the field of tablets now, but the competition is still very high: manufacturers compete in the thickness of devices, screen resolution, power and battery life.
Let's take a look at the technical characteristics of the new item.
Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet Specifications
- SoC Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 (8074AB / 8974AB) @ 2.3GHz (4 Krait 400 cores)
- GPU Adreno 330 @ 578 MHz
- RAM 3 GB
- Flash memory 16 GB
- Operating system Android 4.4.2 (KitKat)
- Touchscreen display on a matrix IPS, 10.1 ″, 1920 × 1200 (224 ppi), capacitive, multitouch
- Cameras: front (2.2 megapixel, 720p video transmission) and rear (8.1 megapixel, 1080p video)
- Wi-Fi 802.11b / g / n / ac (2.4GHz and 5GHz)
- Support for microSD memory cards (up to 128 GB)
- Bluetooth 4.0
- 3.5mm headphone and microphone jack, dock connector, Micro-USB with OTG and MHL support
- Li-polymer battery 6000 mAh
- Accelerometer
- FM radio
- GPS (with A-GPS support)
- Glonass
- Gyroscope
- Compass
- Dimensions 266 × 172 × 6.4 mm
- Weight (version without 3G / LTE) 424 g
Naturally, the main competitor of the novelty should be considered the iPad Air, but in addition it must be compared with the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 and the Asus Transformer Pad Infinity (2013).
| Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet | iPad Air | Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014 Edition) | Asus Transformer Pad Infinity (2013) | |
| Screen | IPS, 10.1 ″, 1920 × 1200 (218 ppi) | IPS, 9.7 ″, 2048 × 1536 (264 ppi) | PLS, 10.1 ″, 2560 × 1600 (299 ppi) | IPS, 10.1 ″, 2560 × 1600 (299 ppi) |
| SoC (processor) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 @ 2.3 GHz (4 core Krait 400) | Apple A7 1.3 GHz 64 bit (2 cores, Cyclone architecture based on ARMv8) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 @ 2.3 GHz (4 core Krait 400) or Samsung Exynos 5 Octa | Nvidia Tegra 4 @ 1.8 GHz (4 cores + 1, ARM Cortex-A15) |
| GPU | Adreno 330 | PowerVR G6430 | Adreno 330 / Mali-T628 MP6 | Nvidia GeForce |
| Flash memory | from 16 to 32 GB | from 16 to 128 GB | from 16 to 64 GB | 32GB + 5GB in cloud storage Asus Webstorage |
| Connectors | Lightning dock connector, 3.5mm headphone jack | Micro-USB (with OTG and MHL support), 3.5mm headphone jack | dock connector, Micro-HDMI, 3.5 mm headphone jack (on tablet), USB 3.0 (on docking station) | |
| Memory card support | microSD (up to 128GB) | No | microSD (up to 64 GB) | microSD (tablet, up to 64GB), SD (dock) |
| RAM | 3 GB | 1 GB | 3 GB | 2 GB |
| Cameras | front (2.2 Mp, 1080p video transmission) and rear (8.1 Mp; 1080p video) | front (1.2 Mp, 720p video over FaceTime) and rear (5 Mp, 1080p video) | front (2 MP, 1080p video transmission) and rear (8 MP, 1080p video) | front (1.2 Mp, 720p video support) and rear (5 Mp, 1080p video) |
| Internet | Wi-Fi (optional 3G and LTE) | Wi-Fi (optional 3G and LTE) | Wi-Fi (optional 3G and LTE) | Wi-Fi |
| Battery capacity (mAh) | 6000 | 8827 | 8220 | 8378 |
| Operating system | Google Android 4.4 | Apple iOS 7.0 | Google Android 4.3 | Google Android 4.3 |
| Dimensions * (mm) | 266 x 172 x 6.4 | 240 x 170 x 7.5 | 243 × 171 × 7.9 | 263 x 181 x 8.9 |
| Weight (g) | 424 | 469 | 544 | 580 |
| Average price** | T-10728784 | T-10548616 | T-10498168 | T-10549018 |
| Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet Offers ** | L-10728784-10 | |||
* according to the manufacturer's information
** for the version with a minimum of flash memory and communication capabilities
The table clearly shows the main advantages of the Z2 Tablet compared to its competitors: the weight and thickness are less, and the memory, on the contrary, is more (than the iPad Air and Asus Transformer Pad Infinity; Samsung has the same memory).
But the weaknesses of the Sony product are also obvious: the battery with the smallest capacity, the maximum internal memory of only 32 GB, the screen with the lowest pixel density per inch.
But let's see how all this is essential in real testing and using the device.
Equipment
The tablet comes in a rather thin box that emphasizes the dimensions of the tablet itself.
Inside the box we will find a charger, Micro-USB cable, a quick user's guide in several languages (there is also a Russian version), as well as a warranty card and a flyer.
Design
The design of the tablet has kept the continuity in relation to last year's model: at first glance, it is even difficult to distinguish them from each other.
Like the first Z Tablet, the novelty does not have a narrowing of the case to the edges, and the edges themselves are straight and at the junction with the front and back surfaces, they are rubberized, which, on the one hand, protects them from chips, on the other hand, it makes it more convenient to hold the tablet in hands, and on the third hand, provides protection against moisture and dust.
This indicator for the Z2 Tablet is even slightly better than that of the Z Tablet - the new product complies with the IP58 standard (submersion in water up to 1.5 meters for half an hour is permissible) instead of IP57 for the Z Tablet (submersion in water for 1 meter up to half an hour is acceptable).
As befits a protected device, the microSD card slot is covered with a lid. It is located on the top edge. Nearby is a Micro-USB connector (with OTG and MHL support), also protected by a cap.
Slightly to the right on the same edge is an infrared transmitter and a built-in microphone.
On the bottom, we see a 3.5 mm jack for a headset and a dock connector for connecting accessories. Interestingly, there are no plugs here anymore: apparently, the contacts of the headset jack and the dock connector are stainless.
The right side of the device is free of any controls or connectors. And on the left side we see the power button and a thin volume rocker, moderately tight and, due to its thickness, not very pleasant to press.
The power button is made of metal (this is the most recognizable design detail of the entire Xperia Z series). But unlike the previous model, the button is not even, but as if it consists of two parts: the inner one is slightly higher, and the rim around it is slightly lower.
All other elements of the case are made of plastic, however it doesn't look cheap. On the contrary: the appearance of the tablet evokes extremely positive emotions and even admiration.
The back surface of the tablet, like the edging of the edges, is covered with rubberized plastic, which allows you to hold the device more firmly in your hands without fear of slipping out. In addition, the soft-touch coating is less vulnerable to minor scratches, but collects greasy fingerprints, which are then clearly visible on a dark solid surface.
Screen
As already noted, Sony did not equip their flagship tablet with a 2560 × 1600 screen, like Samsung and Asus, but limited themselves to the already familiar Full HD. That is, judging by the characteristics, the screen of the Z2 Tablet is no better than the Z Tablet. On the other hand, as we recall, the Z Tablet had some rather significant drawbacks. Did you manage to avoid them here? Our detailed testing will give the answer.
To begin with, the tablet doesn't seem to have the traditional Sony protective film with low oleophobic properties and quickly covered with scratches. The front surface of the screen is made in the form of a glass plate with a mirror-smooth surface, resistant to scratches. Judging by the reflection of objects, there is a very effective antiglare filter, which is superior to the Google Nexus 7 (2013) screen filter (hereinafter simply Nexus 7) in reducing the brightness of reflection. For clarity, we present a photo in which a white surface is reflected in the off screens of both tablets (Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet, as it is not difficult to determine, is on the left, then they can be distinguished by their size):
Both screens are dark, but the Sony screen is still darker (its brightness in the photo is 77 versus 84 for the Nexus 7). The tripling of reflected objects in the Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet screen is very weak, which indicates that there is no air gap between the outer glass (aka touch sensor) and the matrix surface (OGS-type screen - One Glass Solution). Due to the smaller number of boundaries (such as glass-air) with greatly different refractive indices, all other things being equal, such screens look better under strong ambient light, but their repair in case of cracked outer glass is much more expensive, since the entire screen has to be changed. On the outer surface of the screen there is a special oleophobic (grease-repellent) coating (very effective, no worse than that of the Nexus 7), so fingerprints are much easier to remove, and appear at a slower rate than in the case of ordinary glass.
With manual brightness control, its maximum value was about 400 cd / m², and the minimum was 12 cd / m². The maximum value is quite high, and given the good anti-glare properties, the image on the screen should be clearly visible in bright daylight. In complete darkness, the brightness can be lowered to a comfortable level. Automatic brightness control works according to the light sensor (it is located to the right of the front camera eye). V automatic mode when the ambient light conditions change, the screen brightness both increases and decreases. The operation of this function depends on the position of the brightness adjustment. If it is at the maximum, then in complete darkness the auto-brightness function reduces the brightness to 104 cd / m2 (too much), in an office illuminated with artificial light (about 400 lux) it sets at 210-220 cd / m2 (normal), in a very bright environment ( corresponds to outdoor lighting on a clear day, but without direct sunlight - 20,000 lux or slightly more) increases to a maximum of 400 cd / m2. If the brightness slider is about half the scale, then the screen brightness for the three conditions above is 73, 128 and 400 cd / m² (suitable values). If the dimmer is set to minimum - 16, 66-110, 400 cd / m². Judging by the obtained values, the automatic brightness adjustment function works more or less adequately, but it has a defect - the brightness does not increase when switching from conditions of complete darkness to conditions of a lighted office. At any brightness level, there is practically no significant backlight modulation, so there is no screen flickering either.
This tablet uses an IPS type matrix. The micrographs show the typical IPS subpixel structure:
For comparison, you can see the gallery of photomicrographs of screens used in mobile technology.
The screen has good viewing angles without inverting tints and without significant color shift, even with large gaze deviations from the perpendicular to the screen. For comparison, here's a photo where Nexus 7 and Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet display the same images, with the brightness of both screens set to about 200 cd / m². White field perpendicular to the plane of the screens:
The uniformity is good, but the color tone is noticeably different from the screen tone of the Nexus 7 (when photographing, the color balance on the camera is forcibly set to 6500 K). And the test picture:
The picture is in trouble. The fact that the peppers and tomatoes turned redder on the Z2 screen is still nonsense, but the carrot-red complexion and reddish hair are no longer welcome at all. Sony has something wrong with color balance and / or color saturation. Now at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the plane and to the side of the screen:
It can be seen that the colors did not change much on both screens, but the contrast at an angle in the case of the Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet decreased due to the increase in the brightness of the black field. And white box:
The brightness at an angle for both tablets has noticeably decreased (at least 4 times, based on the difference in exposure), but in the case of the Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet, the brightness drop is less (the brightness in the photos is 231 versus 211 for the Nexus 7). At the same time, the color tone changed slightly. When deviated diagonally, the black field is lightened strongly and acquires a violet or red-violet tint. The photos below demonstrate this (the brightness of the white areas in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the screens is the same for the screens!):
And from a different angle:
With a perpendicular view, the uniformity of the black field is good (moiré is a consequence of interference with the pixels of the camera matrix, and therefore it does not need to be taken into account):
The contrast ratio (approximately in the center of the screen) is good - about 930: 1. The response time for the transition black-white-black is 20 ms (11 ms on + 9 ms off). The transition between gray tones of 25% and 75% (based on the numerical value of the color) and back takes 32 ms in total. Constructed from 32 points with equal intervals by the numerical value of the shade of gray, the gamma curve did not reveal a blockage in either highlights or shadows, and the exponent of the approximating power function turned out to be 2.36, which is higher than the standard value of 2.2, while the real gamma curve strongly deviates from the power dependence:
Due to the aggressive dynamic adjustment of the backlight brightness in accordance with the nature of the displayed image (on light images, the brightness increases markedly, on dark images it decreases), the obtained dependence of brightness on hue (gamma curve) does not correspond to the gamma curve of a static image, since the measurements were carried out at sequential output of shades of gray on almost the entire screen. For this reason, we carried out a number of tests for determining the contrast and response time, comparing the black illumination at angles when displaying special templates with invariably average brightness, and not single-color fields across the entire screen. In general, such and non-switchable brightness correction does nothing but harm, since in the case of dark images in ambient light conditions, on the contrary, you want to raise the brightness a little in order to improve the detail in the shadows. But in this case it goes down ... Besides, the constant change of the screen brightness can cause some discomfort. But such a correction successfully fulfills its main function - deceiving the consumer - since it masks the screen imperfections (strong highlighting of black at the corners), which appear when displaying dark images.
The color gamut is noticeably wider than sRGB:
We look at the spectra:
They are very atypical. However, Sony writes in black and white that this tablet uses LEDs with a blue emitter and a green and red phosphor (usually a blue emitter and a yellow phosphor), which, in combination with special matrix light filters, allows you to obtain a wide color gamut. Unfortunately, as a result, the colors of images - drawings, photographs and films - oriented to the sRGB space (and there are the overwhelming majority of them) have an unnatural saturation. This is especially noticeable on recognizable shades, such as skin tones. The result is shown in the photo above. But again, oversaturated colors perform their main function - deceiving the consumer - since this tablet will look brighter on the showcase when it is turned on, which will attract attention and, thereby, will contribute to the growth of sales.
The grayscale balance is good, as the color temperature is close to the standard 6500 K and the deviation from the black body spectrum (ΔE) is less than 10, which is considered acceptable for a consumer device. At the same time, the variation in color temperature and ΔE is small, which also has a positive effect on the visual perception of color balance. (The dark areas of the gray scale can be ignored, since there the color balance does not have of great importance, and the error in measuring color characteristics at low brightness is large.)
This tablet has the ability to correct the color balance by adjusting the intensities of the three primary colors.
Which is what we tried to do, the result is data signed as Corr. in the graphs above. As a result, we slightly reduced ΔE and brought the white point a little closer to 6500 K. At the same time, judging by the reduced red intensity, the image became slightly less red. However, such a correction did not reduce the oversaturation of colors.
If the image on the screen of this tablet still seems not bright enough to someone, then you can turn on the proprietary mode X-Reality for mobile... The result is shown below:
Saturation and peaking are programmatically enhanced. Learn more about saturation. X-Reality for mobile off:
And included:
There is a strong decrease in the gradation of shades in the area of saturated colors. But the picture - yes, it became brighter.
Let's summarize. The brightness adjustment range of this screen is wide, and the anti-glare filter is very effective, which allows you to comfortably use the tablet both on a clear day outside and in complete darkness. It is permissible to use a mode with automatic brightness adjustment, which works more or less adequately. The advantages also include an effective oleophobic coating, no flicker and no air gap in the layers of the screen, high contrast and good color balance. It is disappointing to see strong black highlighting even with a not very large deviation of the gaze from the perpendicular to the screen surface. Annoying non-switchable dynamic brightness correction. Oversaturated colors frustrate. However, the manufacturer presents the last drawback as the main advantage of the screen, and who are we to argue with Sony.
Operating system and software
The tablet comes with Google Android 4.4.2 (KitKat) operating system. This is the most current version of Android at the moment.
As in all mobile devices ah Sony, the appearance of the desktop has been slightly modified here: icons and widgets are aligned in the center, icons of Sony branded applications have a round shape, in the application menu on the left you can pull out an additional menu that allows you to select the principle of sorting applications, as well as delete unnecessary ones.
In general, everything is quite clear and convenient, you get used to it quickly, even if you have used another Android device before.
Among the pre-installed applications (there are quite a few of them and, alas, not all of them can be removed), we note the most useful ones: FM-Radio (you can listen to FM-radio through headphones), Wi-Fi-check. (utility for checking the quality of the Wi-Fi signal), office suite OfficeSuite Pro ( full version, where you can create and edit documents), Remote control (utility that turns your tablet into a universal remote control), File Commander (convenient file manager), Sketch (drawing application).
In general, in terms of OS and software, the Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet made us very happy.
Platform and performance
As befits the flagship mobile device of the second quarter of 2014, the Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 SoC. But only the modification here is the younger one, 8074AB (in the version with 3G / LTE - 8974AB). It differs from the more advanced 8074AC used, in particular, in the Samsung Galaxy S5, with a slightly reduced frequency (2.36 GHz versus 2.45 GHz).
The CPU-Z utility detects the frequency of the CPU cores as even lower: 2.27 GHz. That is, formally, the 2.3 GHz indicated on the Sony website can be considered a rounding off, but in fact it turns out that the frequency of the CPU cores in the Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet is almost 200 MHz lower than that of the Samsung Galaxy S5 (which has CPU-Z defines the frequency as 2.46 GHz). Probably, Sony decided to sacrifice a little the maximum performance of the CPU in order to increase the battery life (and this is not such a wrong decision, considering that only a 6000 mAh battery fits in the super-thin tablet case).
But let's see how the Z2 Tablet performs in the benchmarks. Let's start with the browser benchmarks: SunSpider 1.0, Octane Benchmark, and Kraken Benchmark. In all cases, we used google browser Chrome except iPad, which used Safari.
As you can see, the only relatively modern tablet that the Z2 Tablet managed to overtake is the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition (it was released last fall). The Asus Transformer Pad Infinity and iPad Air performed better. The Sony Xperia Z Tablet, of course, is also behind, although its result in SunSpider does not look so bad when you consider that the tablet was released a year ago.
The next in our program will be the Android test - MobileXPRT 2013. Its peculiarity is that it simulates real user actions (applying filters to photos, scrolling Internet pages, creating slideshows), so its results directly indicate how smoothly the tablet works in daily operations.
And again, the novelty, albeit a little, but behind the main competitors.
Let's move on to the comprehensive Android benchmark AnTuTu Benchmark 4.
Here the situation is different: the new product slightly bypasses both Asus and Samsung. However, the difference is so small that it can be attributed to an error.
Now let's move on to another multi-platform benchmark: Geekbench 3. It shows the performance of the CPU and RAM.
In multi-core mode, the Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet leaves behind all competitors, including the iPad Air. But in single-core mode, on the contrary, the novelty is behind everyone else (and especially the loss is noticeable compared to the iPad Air). What does it mean? That if the application can use all four cores, then the tablet will demonstrate impressive performance. But if the application uses fewer cores, then Sony will no longer look so advantageous.
The last group of benchmarks is dedicated to GPU performance testing. We used Epic Citadel, GFX Bench, Bonsai Benchmark, and 3DMark.
Let's start with Epic Citadel.
In Ultra High Quality mode, that is, with maximum quality settings, the tablet showed a performance of 53.4 fps, significantly outperforming its competitors.
| Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet (Qualcomm Snapdragon 801) | (Nvidia Tegra 4) | (Samsung Exynos 5 Octa) |
|
| Epic Citadel (Ultra High Quality Mode) | 53.4 fps | 30.4 fps | 26.0 fps |
Now let's look at the results in GFXBench.
Since the benchmark has been updated (we tested the previous tablets on version 2.7), and the data is now displayed in a completely different way, it is difficult to compare, but two things can be said for sure. Firstly, neither the Asus Transformer Pad Infinity 2013 nor the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition reached 27 fps in the T-Rex scene in any of the modes, so the novelty is in any case the leader among Android tablets and at least maintains parity with iPad Air (which had 27 fps C24Z16 Offscreen mode in this scene).
| Asus Transformer Pad Infinity 2013 (Nvidia Tegra 4) | Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition (Samsung Exynos 5 Octa) | Apple iPad Air (Apple A7) |
|
| GFXBench 2.7.2 T-Rex HD (C24Z16 Offscreen) | 21 fps | 23 fps | 27 fps |
| GFXBench 2.7.2 T-Rex HD (C24Z16 Onscreen) | 13 fps | 14 fps | 21 fps |
| GFXBench 2.7.2 T-Rex HD (C24Z16 Offscreen Fixed Timestep) | 20 fps | 21 fps | 25 fps |
| GFXBench 2.7.2 T-Rex HD (C24Z16 Onscreen Fixed Timestep) | 13 fps | 13 fps | 20 fps |
| GFXBench 2.5 Egypt HD (C24Z16) | 34 fps | 41 fps | 63 fps |
| GFXBench 2.5 Egypt HD (C24Z16 Offscreen) | 56 fps | 60 fps | 49 fps |
And secondly, even the Z2 Tablet has not yet reached the threshold of playability in this scene (i.e. 30 fps).
The next GPU benchmark is 3DMark. Here are the results for two modes: Ice Storm Extreme and Ice Storm Unlimited.
And here the Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet is the undisputed leader.
Finally, let's look at the tablet's results in two new (in our methodology) benchmarks - Bonsai and Basemark X. Before we did not test 10-inch tablets in it, so the comparison will be with devices of other diagonals, but with similar resolution and SoC class.
As you can see, the Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet even slightly outperformed the Samsung Galaxy S5, although in two tests out of three it was just as slightly inferior. iPad mini Retina. Anyway, the result in Bonsai is quite eloquent in itself: the Z2 Tablet successfully passed this benchmark, showing a more than decent performance of 53.8 fps.
To summarize: if in CPU benchmarks the tablet often lagged slightly behind competitors or showed parity, then in GPU tests it proved to be the undisputed leader, leaving behind Android tablets and performing on a par with iPad Air and iPad mini (somewhere slightly ahead of , but somewhere a little behind)! By slightly underestimating the frequency of CPU cores, Sony did not limit the performance of the GPU, so the tablet shows excellent results in 3D applications!
Here, of course, do not forget that it is in graphic applications that the screen resolution becomes fundamental (the larger it is, the more resources are required to render the picture, and the lower the performance). Therefore, the Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet's advantage is largely due to the lower resolution than the competition. But, on the other hand, this does not negate the fact that modern games will run perfectly smoothly on it.
We have tested the compatibility of this SoC with a number of popular games.
The result is almost excellent: all the games from our test method started on the tablet, and only in one (the new Assassin's Creed Pirates) there were some problems, namely, incorrect rendering of the sky (it is in the game of unnatural, acid colors - see the penultimate screenshot). Here are screenshots of the games in the order in which they appear in the table.
Video playback
Additionally, the MHL interface was tested. To test it, we used the LG IPS237L monitor, which supports direct MHL connection using a passive micro-USB to HDMI adapter cable. In this case, the MHL output was carried out at a resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels with a frequency of 30 fps. Additionally, we tested with an MHL adapter, which provided output at a lower resolution (720p), but at 60 fps. Regardless of the actual orientation of the tablet, the display of the image on the screens of the tablet and monitor is carried out only in landscape orientation with the connector on the tablet facing up. In this case, the image on the monitor is inscribed in the height of the screen, and narrow black fields are displayed on the sides to maintain the correct proportions.
MHL sound is output (in this case, the sounds were heard through the headphones connected to the monitor, since there are no speakers in the monitor itself) and has good quality... At the same time, sounds are not output through the loudspeaker of the tablet itself, and the volume is not regulated by the buttons on the tablet case, but is turned off. In our case, the tablet with the MHL adapter connected, judging by the charge indicator, was charging.
Then, using a set of test files with an arrow and a rectangle moving one division per frame (see "Testing methods for video playback and display devices. Version 1 (for mobile devices)"), we checked how the video is displayed on the tablet itself. Screenshots with a shutter speed of 1 s helped to determine the frame output of video files with various parameters: the resolution was 1280 by 720 (720p), 1920 by 1080 (1080p) and 3840 by 2160 (4K) pixels and the frame rate was 24, 25, 30, 50 and 60 fps. In our tests we used the MX Player video player in the "Hardware +" mode. The results of this (block labeled "Tablet Screen") and the following test are tabulated:
| File | Uniformity | Skips | ||||||||||||||||
| Tablet screen | ||||||||||||||||||
| 4K / 30p | Great | No | ||||||||||||||||
| 4K / 25p | Great | No | ||||||||||||||||
| 4K / 24p | Great | No | ||||||||||||||||
| 1080 / 60p | Great | No | ||||||||||||||||
| 1080 / 50p | OK | No | ||||||||||||||||
| 1080 / 30p | Great | No | ||||||||||||||||
| 1080 / 25p | Great | No | ||||||||||||||||
| 1080 / 24p | OK | No | ||||||||||||||||
| 720 / 60p | Great | No | ||||||||||||||||
| 720 / 50p | OK | No | ||||||||||||||||
| 720 / 30p | OK | No | ||||||||||||||||
| 720 / 25p | Great | No | ||||||||||||||||
| Red marks indicate possible problems with the playback of the respective files. According to the criterion for outputting frames, the quality of video files playback on the screen of the tablet itself is high, since frames (or groups of frames) can be displayed with more or less uniform alternation of intervals and without frame drops. However, uniform frame interleaving is a relatively unstable state, since some external and internal background processes sometimes lead to periodic failure of the correct interleaving of intervals between frames and even (very rarely) to the skipping of individual frames. The displayed range of brightness is equal to the standard range of 16-235, that is, in the shadows and in the highlights, all gradations of shades are displayed. When playing video files with a resolution of 1080p (1920 x 1080 pixels), the image of the video file itself is displayed exactly to the width of the screen in the original Full HD resolution. When watching movies, one cannot fail to note good stereo sound for the built-in speakers. With a monitor connected via MHL, during video playback, the monitor displays exact copy tablet screen, that is, with interpolation and reduced clarity. There is no question of any true Full HD resolution. The brightness range displayed on the monitor is equal to the standard range of 16-235, that is, in the shadows and in the highlights, all gradations of shades are displayed. The results of the monitor output tests are shown in the table above in the "MHL (monitor output)" block. For files with 50 and 60 fps, we used external adapter, which provided output at 60 fps. The output quality is very good. The conclusion is typical - an MHL connection can be used for games, watching movies, displaying web pages, and other activities that benefit from increasing screen size. True, you have to come to terms with black bars and reduced resolution. Even when watching a video, since Sony did not provide a special mode for this case. Autonomous work and ergonomicsAfter meeting with Sony specifications The Xperia Z2 Tablet's main concern was the battery life, since the battery capacity of the tablet is relatively small: only 6000 mAh. However, testing has shown that the fears were in vain, and the duration of work without recharging the Z2 Tablet is not only not a weak point, but, on the contrary, is one of the main advantages of the device. As you can see from the table, the Sony Z2 Tablet has outperformed the two main Android competitors. And the iPad Air is a little behind. We would like to emphasize that during testing we did not use power-saving modes. What is the reason for this energy efficiency? First of all, do not forget that the screen resolution of the Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet is lower than that of competitors, and therefore, when playing games, the load on the GPU is less. Therefore, in the benchmark on the Unreal engine, the tablet showed such a good result. The second reason, perhaps, lies in the merits of the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 SoC, as well as in the lowered CPU frequency (although there will be no maximum load in the read and video playback modes on the CPU). CamerasThe tablet is equipped with two video cameras - front (2.2 Mp) and rear (8.1 Mp). The front camera works well and is intended for video communication (tested on Google Hangout). The rear camera lacks a flash, but its resolution is good (although not a record one). Let's see what she is capable of. The author of the text is Anton Soloviev.
It looks like Sony is saving on tablet cameras or not considering installing good modules. Although, it would seem, many manufacturers have already decided that the camera in the tablet should not be just for show. The camera in this tablet, of course, is not the worst, but it leaves much to be desired. Many images show erratic sharpness. Some photos even look like the result of clumsy interpolation. Although sometimes the camera succeeds in taking good pictures, this instability is a little upsetting: if the camera can shoot well, but often does it badly, then shooting turns into a lottery. Nevertheless, the camera works well without fine details. Perhaps the main problem is not very high-quality optics and rough software processing, due to which various artifacts appear around small objects, reminiscent of the rough JPEG compression algorithm. However, the noise in the shadows is practically invisible, which means that the noise reduction is doing well. In general, the camera is not outstanding and is suitable for not too demanding art or documentary photography. But it's worth looking to see if an important detail has fallen into the blur zone. The camera can shoot video in Full HD format. An example video is shown below. The camera is not so bad at shooting video, but the video is not very clear, besides, small artifacts are noticeable even with not very dynamic shooting. conclusionsSumming up, we note that Sony has received a worthy update to last year's successful model. The novelty has an even thinner and lighter body, excellent appearance, advanced performance and ... alas, a very high price tag. Official cost per junior Sony model Xperia Z2 Tablet (16 GB, without 3G / LTE) in Russia is 24 thousand rubles. In our opinion, this is not justified, since the iPad Air in a similar configuration costs 4 thousand less, and the Asus Transformer Pad Infinity with 32 GB internal memory and a keyboard docking station in the kit can be bought for 2 thousand cheaper. However, both competing models have better screens than Sony. So it all comes down to the importance for you personally of having protection against water and dust, as well as subjective ideas about design. Yes, the Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet looks great. But I wouldn't say the iPad Air looks worse, and the Asus Transformer Pad Infinity is not bad either. Therefore, if you do not plan to use the tablet on the seashore, in the pool, in the desert or in the rain, then we see no compelling reason to choose the Z2 Tablet. If waterproofness and dust protection are really important to you, then while the prices for the Z2 Tablet do not fall, it makes sense to take a closer look at last year's Z Tablet model: its basic user characteristics are practically not inferior to the new product (with the exception of performance), and the price is already 6 thousand below. Yes, of course, in a year there will be games that will not run at all or will not work so smoothly on the Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro used in the first Sony Xperia Z Tablet, but by that time new flagships will already arrive ... eternal problem. One thing is for sure: owners of the first Sony Xperia Z Tablet shouldn't worry about updating their device right now. In conclusion, we suggest you watch our video review of the Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet: For design excellence, we honor the Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet with our Original Design editorial award. | ||||||||||||||||||
It has become even thinner and lighter, received a fresh top-end Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor with Adreno 330 graphics and 3 GB of RAM. The design and characteristics of the Full HD screen remain the same, as well as the ability to choose between black and white versions of the design, two options for built-in memory and the presence of an LTE modem with support for voice calls.
Sony Tablet The Xperia Tablet Z2 comes in a calmly designed cardboard box, which contains not only the accompanying documentation and a 7.5W charger with detachable USB cable, but also a complete wired headset. When buying a tablet, you can choose a black or white version of the design, a modification for 16 or 32 GB, as well as a “Wi-Fi only” version or with a built-in 4G / LTE modem with support for voice calls.
Traditionally, a huge number of branded accessories are offered, which, if desired, can be purchased separately: several types of docking stations, including those with acoustics and a built-in charger, a regular stand case and a stand case with an integrated keyboard; remote control combined with a headset; DUALSHOCK 3 game controller; as well as a classic wired headset and a detachable stereo microphone.
Design, connectors
Externally, the second generation of the Z-series is almost indistinguishable from the first - it uses the same airy OmniBalance design with an emphasis on symmetry, miniaturization and tactile user experience. Believe it or not, the Sony Xperia Tablet Z2 has become even lighter and thinner than its predecessor, now weighing in at about 440 grams and only 6.4 mm thick.
The case is still protected from dust and water penetration in accordance with the requirements of IP55 / 58 standards, which allows you to easily take the tablet to a sandy beach, swim with it in fresh water for up to 30 minutes and dive to a depth of 1.5 meters for underwater shots ... The only condition is that all connectors and slots must be tightly covered with appropriate plugs, only the audio port cost without additional protection.
The main panel of the Sony Xperia Tablet Z2 is covered with durable tempered glass with an oleophobic coating. Its upper part contains the manufacturer's logo, a 2.2-megapixel front camera, a light indicator and an indicator that is invisible in passive mode, which displays the battery charge level and signals missed system events. In the two lower corners of the panel there are narrow slots of the stereo speakers. When the screen is turned on, a solid width of the matrix bezel catches your eye, such a solution is perhaps not very elegant, but it allows you not to worry about false clicks with any type of grip.
The back panel made of soft-touch plastic is absolutely flat, here you can find the name of the Sony brand and the Xperia family, as well as the mark of the NFC module and the main 8 megapixel camera with a proprietary Exmor RS matrix.
All available controls and connectors of the Sony Xperia Tablet Z2 are placed on the thin silver edges of the case. In the middle of the left side you can find a metal power button and a volume rocker, but the opposite side is empty. On the bottom edge there is a combined audio port and a proprietary connector for connecting to docking stations.
And finally, hidden under the covers are slots for a MicroSIM phone card and a MicroSD memory card, as well as the main micro-USB connector. An infrared sensor and a microphone slot can also be found here.
Functionality, interface
The Sony Xperia Tablet Z2 is equipped with a proprietary 10-inch TRILUMINOS IPS-matrix with a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels and technologies to improve the quality of Live Color and X-Reality. The backlight brightness is adjusted automatically or manually, in the range from 10 to 370 cd / m2, and you can also adjust the white balance. The capacitive touch layer supports up to 10 simultaneous touches.
The Sony Xperia Tablet Z2 model is based on a powerful hardware platform consisting of a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor with an operating frequency of 2.3 GHz, top-end graphics Adreno 330 and 3 GB of RAM. As a result, system and gaming performance is off the charts, making it one of the fastest Android tablets available today.
For data storage, 16 or 32 GB of memory is available, plus the capacity of a microSD card. In addition to standard Bluetooth and Wi-Fi tablet Equipped with a GPS module, an NFC sensor and an optional LTE modem with support for voice calls. From a full charge of the 6000 mAh battery, the tablet can work 4-5 hours under maximum load and about 10 hours in casual use (reading, browsing, video).
Battery life
| Mode | Battery discharge in 2 hours |
Estimated working time (from 100% to 0%), h: min |
| Music | 1% | 200:00 |
| Reading | 21% | 9:30 |
| Navigation | 26% | 7:40 |
| HD video viewing | 14% | 14:15 |
| Watching HD Videos from Youtube | 20% | 10:00 |
| 549 points | 3:46 | |
| Game (GFXBench) | 1509 points (27.0 fps) | 5:43 |
The% value displays the percentage of the battery discharged during 2 hours of testing, the approximate operating time is obtained by linear extrapolation based on 2 hours of operation in this mode. You can read more about the testing methodology here -.
Playing video files
| Codec \ Name | UltraHD4K.mp4 | Neudergimie.mkv | GranTurismo.mp4 | Spartacus.mkv | ParallelUniverse.avi |
| Video | MPEG4 Video (H264) 3840 × 2160 29.92fps, 19.4 Mbit / s | MPEG4 Video (H264) 1920 × 816 23.98fps, 10.1Mbit / s | MPEG4 Video (H264) 1920 × 1080 60fps, 19.7Mbit / s, 20 Mbit / s | MPEG4 Video (H264) 1280 × 720 29.97fps, 1.8 Mbit / s | MPEG4 Video (H264) 1280 × 536 24.00fps 2.8 Mbit / s |
| Audio | AAC 44100Hz stereo 124kbps | MPEG Audio Layer 3 44100Hz stereo | AAC 48000Hz stereo 48kbps | Dolby AC3 44100Hz stereo | MPEG Audio Layer 3 44100Hz stereo 256kbps |
The tablet is operated by an operating room Android systems 4.4, supplemented by a nice software shell and pre-installed proprietary applications. Despite the updated interface, the control logic remains the same, so you won't have to get used to controlling the tablet for a long time.
Video review of the tablet Sony Xperia Tablet Z2
Outcomes
All in all, the Sony Xperia Tablet Z2 is a stylish, thin and light 10-inch tablet with a highly productive hardware platform, the protected case of which will allow you to feel equally confident in your home living room or on the waterfront.
The product was provided for testing by Sony, www.sony.ua
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Sony Xperia Tablet Z2 16GB LTE / 4G (White) SGP521 Notify when on sale |
| Type of | Tablet |
| Screen diagonal, inches | 10,1 |
| Matrix | IPS |
| Screen cover type | glossy |
| Screen resolution | 1920x1200 |
| Touch Panel Type | capacitive |
| Multi touch | + (10 point touch) |
| CPU | Qualcomm MSM8974-AB |
| Kernel type | Krait 400 |
| Frequency, GHz | 2,3 |
| Number of Cores | 4 |
| Graphics | Adreno 330 |
| Pre-installed OS | Android 4.4 |
| RAM, GB | 3 |
| Built-in memory, GB | 16 |
| External ports | |
| Card reader | microSD / SDHC |
| Front-camera | 2.2MP |
| Rear camera | 8.1MP |
| Orientation sensor | + |
| Built-in speakers | + (stereo) |
| Dock station | — |
| Stylus included | — |
| Ethernet | — |
| Wi-Fi | 802.11 b / g / n |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 4.0 |
| 3G / 4G module (LTE) | + |
| GSM / 3G / 4G (LTE) standards | GSM 850/900/1800/1900, UMTS 850/900/1700/1900/2100, LTE (Band I, II, III, IV, V, VII, VIII, XIII, XVII, XX) |
| Voice communication in GSM / 3G networks | — |
| Gps | + (GLONASS) |
| NFC | + |
| Battery capacity, mAh | 6000 |
| Weight, g | 439 |
| Dimensions, mm | 172x266x6.4 |
| Other | |
| Body color | White |
| Bezel color | black |
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