The Apple iPad Air might be a slick piece of design, but dunk it in the bath and it'll quickly turn into a lifeless slab. Enter the Sony Xperia Z2 tablet -- a 10.1-inch slate that is completely waterproof. It replaces Sony's existing Xperia Tablet Z, but packs in a new quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor clocked at 2.3GHz, adds the latest Android KitKat software and slims the design down to only 6.4mm thick.
In what Sony suggests is the world’s first (larger than 8-inch) waterproof tablet, the Xperia Z2 Tablet is born. This machine works with a 10.1-inch Full HD (1080p) display with Triluminous for mobile technology and Live Color LED powered by an X-Reality for mobile engine. Needless to say, this is Sony’s most powerful and strangest tablet to date.
What you’re seeing here is a tablet with S-Force Surround Sound technology as well as Digital Noise Canceling - similar to what we’re seeing in the Xperia Z2 smartphone. This technology works with Sony’s MDR-NC31EM Noise Canceling headset to "reduce ambient noise by up to 98%."
Sony says that this is the slimmest and lightest waterproof tablet ever made. They back this up with a 6.4mm body, 426g (or 439g if you want LTE/3G) for weight, and IP55/IP58 waterproofing.
Inside you’ll find the same processor as exists in the Sony Xperia Z2 smartphone with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801. This is a 2.3GHz quad-core processor with Adreno 330 GPU - both devices also include Sony’s "Stamina Mode" for long-lasting battery life. The battery under the hood here is a massive 6000mAh to boot. You’ll be rolling with 3GB of RAM, too.
Display
The 10.1-inch display boasts a Full HD resolution, making it well equipped to tackle glossy, high definition shows on Netflix. It's not quite matching the iPad Air's whopping 2048x1536-pixel resolution, although side-by-side, I doubt you'd notice much difference.
Sony explained that the tablet uses some of the same 'Triluminous' display technology from its line of TVs, which promise brighter, bolder colours. In my hands on time, I definitely found the display to look good, but I wasn't able to do my usual tests, so I shall reserve my judgement for the final review. I'm confident that it is at least as good as its predecessor's, which was itself a rather impressive screen.
Features
Stuffed into that skinny frame is a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor, clocked at an impressive 2.3GHz, backed up by 3GB of RAM. That's a seriously burly lineup of specs. I haven't been able to run my usual set of benchmark tests, but given that the Xperia Z1 phone was able to put in an astonishing performance with a slightly lesser processor, I'm confident that the Z2 Tablet will be able to deliver the goods.
Better yet, it comes running the latest version of Android known as 4.4.2 KitKat. Sony isn't brilliant when it comes to updating its products with Android updates -- we're still waiting for KitKat on last year's Z1 -- so it's good to see the latest version on board at launch. You'll also find Sony additions like its Music and Video Unlimited streaming services and access to the PlayStation Mobile store -- you can also hook up a PS3 controller to play games.
Sony also has a few accessories you can buy separately including a charging dock and, more interestingly, a remote control that lets you control your media without having to get up out of your chair. On the back of the tablet is an 8-megapixel camera which should be at least good enough for some Instagram shots of whatever you've cooked that evening.
Outlook
The Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet isn't a massive overhaul from its predecessor, but that's no bad thing. Its waterproof design will help you watch movies in the bath -- or in the kitchen, around food-- while its quad-core processor should give plenty of juice for anything you throw at it. Android KitKat is a welcome addition too and its lightweight frame will no doubt help if you're taking it travelling.
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