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Hands-on: Sony’s new tablet is a powerful, slim and light Android beast

Updated Dec 19th, 2018 8:57PM EST
Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet
Image: Chris Smith, BGR

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Sony on Monday at MWC 2015 unveiled the Xperia Z4 Tablet, its slickest Android tablet yet, and quite possibly one of the most interesting Android tablets supposed to hit stores soon. The device isn’t just the slimmest tablet in the world, it’s also a powerful beast, ready to offer impressive performance.

FROM EARLIER: Check out Microsoft’s brand new Windows 10-ready affordable Lumia phones

The Xperia Z4 Tablet is just 6.1mm thin, weighing up to 393g (the LTE version), yet it packs impressive technology. The device has a 10.1-inch display with 2K resolution, an octa-core 64-bit 2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor, and “industry leading battery life” that should offer users up to 17 hours of battery life on a single charge.

And you definitely will need as much battery life as you can get from it, as the device is incredibly comfortable to hold, whether it’s for work and fun. Considering that it also packs a gorgeous 2K display, and comes with PS4 Remote Play support that lets you continue your gaming sessions on mobile devices, the Xperia Z4 Tablet should be on your list of Android tablets to look at if you’re planning to buy one such device soon.

Additionally, the tablet packs 32GB of storage, microSD support, 8.1-megapixel camera, 5.1-megapixel front-facing camera, 6,000 mAh battery, and comes with Android 5.0 Lollipop out of the box.

The tablet also comes with a special BKB50 Bluetooth Keyboard accessory, and Xperia Lounge Gold preloaded out of the box (that offers quick access to movies, TV shows, music and new apps).

The company says the tablet has been crafted “with premium stainless steel metal corners and mineral glass,” and, while you won’t necessarily care for that, it’s certainly a pleasure to hold. Also, as expected for a Sony gadget, the tablet is waterproof and dust-proof (IP68 certification), in case you plan to take it with you in the tub.

The device will be available in stores this June, but unfortunately, prices aren’t available at this time, a crucial detail for this gadget’s success. After all, even though the Xperia Z4 looks perfect both on paper, and in real life, that might not be enough to make it a must-have device.

More images and the full press release follow below.

Looking for more coverage from MWC? Be sure to check out our MWC 2015 hub!

Tablet entertainment perfected with Sony’s new Xperia™ Z4 Tablet
Enjoy a superb viewing experience on the world’s brightest 10.1 inch 2K display of the leading tablets1
Incredibly fast performance with industry leading battery life (up to 17 hours video playback) and the ultra fast Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 810 octa-core 64 bit processor Sets the new standard in tablet design – the world’s lightest (389g Wi-Fi / 393g LTE) and slimmest (6.1mm) 10” tablet2
Innovative accessories and features for a unique laptop style experience

Barcelona, 2nd March 2014 – Sony Mobile Communications (“Sony Mobile”) today announced the world’s lightest and slimmest 10” tablet2 – Xperia™ Z4 Tablet. Delivering a best in class entertainment experience thanks to the world’s brightest 10.1 inch 2K display of the leading tablets1 and long battery life (up to 17 hours of video playback), the beautifully crafted Xperia Z4 Tablet is an impressively powerful Android tablet that delivers all the portable performance you need for an entertaining and busy lifestyle.

“Building on the success of its predecessor, we wanted to take all of the qualities that consumers loved most in Xperia Z2 Tablet and enhance them for Z4 Tablet,” says Dennis van Schie, SVP of Sales & Marketing at Sony Mobile. “Consumers appreciate innovation most when it can bring real value to their lives, so we have carefully crafted and considered every aspect of Z4 Tablet to meet even the most demanding lifestyle. Sleek and lightweight, yet incredibly powerful, with standout entertainment and smart productivity features, Xperia Z4 Tablet is an extraordinary tablet that fits perfectly into your day-to-day life.”

Enhanced entertainment experiences, wherever you are
Xperia Z4 Tablet boasts best-in-class Sony technologies and experiences to ensure you enjoy unrivalled entertainment on the go, with no compromises. Featuring the world’s brightest 10.1 inch 2K display of the leading tablets1, Z4 Tablet delivers a superb viewing experience, even outdoors in direct sunlight, allowing you to enjoy your favourite movies and most memorable video clips in crystal clear clarity, wherever you want.

Great picture quality demands great audio to match, so Xperia Z4 Tablet includes powerful front stereo speakers for an immersive surround sound effect. When you’re on the go and plug in your headphones, Xperia Z4 Tablet senses the type and style of headset, automatically adjusting the settings accordingly for optimum sound.

Sony’s leading audio technologies ensure you never miss a beat. High-Res Audio reproduces high frequency sound in amazing detail for a studio quality experience. DSEE HXTM processing upscales the audio fidelity of tracks to near High-Res Audio quality. Xperia Z4 Tablet supports digital noise cancelling for those times when you need to block out background noise. And for high quality wireless music listening, Sony’s new LDACTM codec transmits data three times more efficiently than Bluetooth.

Xperia Z4 Tablet comes loaded with a 8MP main camera, featuring Sony’s leading technologies for great shots in all lights, and a high quality 5.1MP wide-angle front camera, great for selfies and video calls, that ensures you stay in shot.

Keep playing your favourite PlayStation® 4 games wherever you are in the home with PS4™ Remote Play3. Simply connect your Xperia Z4 Tablet to your PS4 via home Wi-Fi and use the DUALSHOCK®4 Wireless Controller to ensure you never miss a minute of the action – whatever room you are in.

And to keep you entertained, all Xperia Z4 Tablet users will benefit from access to Xperia Lounge Gold – delivering the world of Sony entertainment at your fingertips. Get access to exclusive competitions and offers; be among the first to try out new apps; and enjoy the latest movies, TV episodes and music included with your device.

High speed and performance
Xperia Z4 Tablet comes packed with the ultra fast Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 810 octa-core 64 bit processor5, so you can browse faster and get the optimal graphics experience on a stunning 2K display. Whether using Wi-Fi or 4G LTE, multi-tasking on the move is made easy – download email attachments in seconds and enjoy video streaming with no delays or unwanted buffering. And with 32GB internal memory, there is plenty of storage space for those all important files.

Whether for work or play, Xperia Z4 Tablet offers powerful performance that goes the distance. Its stamina is sure to impress with up to 17 hours of video playback, you can travel half way around the world watching movies on a single battery charge. Get even more out of the 6,000mAH battery with Sony’s Battery STAMINA Mode, which turns off background functions when you’re not using them to help extend your battery life, so you can comfortably spend the day emailing, browsing the web and running as many apps as you want with no need to worry about losing battery power.

Superior security and productivity
Escape the office and take your business on the move with the lightweight BKB50 Bluetooth Keyboard featuring a dedicated slot for Xperia Z4 Tablet and docking detection, sleek ergonomics with 0-130 degree tilt for adjustable comfort, efficient text input and laptop style touchpad. Additionally Xperia Z4 Tablet also features printer and projector outputs to complete the ultimate laptop-style experience. Use with the slim and light SCR32 perfect fit cover with two variable angles for comfortable typing or viewing on your tablet. Work from anywhere with the advanced Xperia Email, Calendar and Contacts apps, which can be synced using Microsoft® Exchange ActiveSync® (EAS) and use your favourite business apps from the Android community. Xperia Z4 Tablet features proven device security mechanisms to keep your confidential data secure, with adherence to acclaimed and effective Internet, VPN and Wi-Fi security protocols. To complete your road warrior set up, the BSP60smart speaker with one-touch connectivity is the ideal portable companion for making conference calls, getting information and receiving phone notifications, all with the use of voice commands, helping you multi-task with ease.

Slim, sleek and supremely lightweight design
Expertly designed with true Sony craftsmanship and attention to detail, Xperia Z4 Tablet is the world’s slimmest and lightest 10” tablet1. At just 6.1mm slim and weighing less than 393g (389g Wi-Fi / 393g LTE), Xperia Z4 Tablet is incredibly light and portable, making it easy to carry comfortably with you all day and slip into your bag with ease. Crafted with premium stainless steel metal corners and mineral glass, Xperia Z4 Tablet looks as good as it performs.

Xperia Z4 Tablet’s IP68 waterproof and dust-tight4 rating ensures reassuring durability making it ideal for everyday use in all conditions – whether caught out in the rain between meetings or lounging by the pool. As a further design refinement, the USB connector is capless – making it both quick and convenient to connect and charge your device.

Xperia Z4 Tablet will launch globally, in 4G LTE and Wi-Fi variants, from June 2015.
For the full specifications of Xperia Z4 Tablet, please visit: http://www.sonymobile.com/global-en/products/tablets/xperia-z4-tablet/specifications

1 Based on the results of display brightness testing of Sony Xperia™ Z4 Tablet compared with leading 2K display tablets : Amazon Kindle Fire HDX (8.9″), Apple iPad Air 2, Microsoft Surface Pro 3, Samsung Galaxy Tab S (10.5″) and Samsung Galaxy Tab S (8.4”). These were determined by Strategy Analytics to be the leading 2K display (resolution of at least 2048 x 1080 Pixels) tablets, with a display size of greater than 8 inches and less than 11 inches. Research was conducted by Strategy Analytics on the 29th January 2015. For more information, go to: http://www.sonymobile.com/testresults/
2 Based on the published specification for over 630 tablets with 10-10.999 inch displays. Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet is 6.1mm thick and weighs just 389g (WiFi Only) or 393g (connected/LTE). Specifications verified by Strategy Analytics’ SpecTRAX Service as of 23rd January 2015, for more information on Strategy Analytics results go to: http://www.sonymobile.com/testresults
3 Functionality available on Sony Xperia Z3, Z3 Compact, Z3 Tablet Compact and Z4 Tablet. PS4 System, DUALSHOCK®4, Sony Entertainment Network account and high speed internet connection required. Some games may not support this feature
4 Xperia Z4 Tablet is waterproof and protected against dust as long as you follow a few simple instructions: all attached covers are firmly closed; you can’t take the tablet deeper than 1.5m of water and for longer than 30 minutes; and the water should be fresh water. Casual use in chlorinated pools is permitted provided it’s rinsed in fresh water afterwards. No seawater and no salt water pools. Abuse and improper use of device will invalidate warranty. The phone has an Ingress Protection rating of IP65 and IP68. To see what this means and for more information see http://www.sonymobile.com/durability. Do note that the Xperia Z4 Tablet has a capless USB port to connect and charge your tablet. The USB port needs to be fully dried up before charging if the tablet has been exposed to water.
5 The Snapdragon 810 processor is a product of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.

Chris Smith Senior Writer

Chris Smith has been covering consumer electronics ever since the iPhone revolutionized the industry in 2008. When he’s not writing about the most recent tech news for BGR, he brings his entertainment expertise to Marvel’s Cinematic Universe and other blockbuster franchises.

Outside of work, you’ll catch him streaming almost every new movie and TV show release as soon as it's available.