Sony has confirmed the existence of its rumoured Xperia Tablet Z, a waterproof slate with a quad-core processor and an 8.1-megapixel camera.
The Japanese tech giant divulged the details of its new toy on its Japanese site, detailing a 10.1-inch tablet running Android version 4.1 Jelly Bean. That's not the newest version of Android, so it misses out on features like Photo Sphere, but it's not too far behind.
Inside the Tablet Z -- which is a sequel to last year's Xperia Tablet S -- you'll find a 1.5GHz quad-core processor, which should make this gadget powerful enough to lay waste to graphically intensive games and cruise rapidly around Web pages.
Sony's squeezed this not-too-shabby tech into a frame that's a mere 6.9mm thick, making the Tablet Z thinner than the iPad, which is 9.4mm deep. At 495g it weighs less than Apple's 652g tablet too, so if nothing else it should be reasonably portable.
Like the Xperia Z smart phone, the tablet's design is waterproof and dustproof, so it should survive an unplanned trip down the toilet. Sony's also ditched the paperback-esque folded-over shape last spotted on the Tablet S, in favour of a sensible flat-rectangle design. Oh, and it comes in both black and white.
Sony says the Xperia Tablet Z is headed for Japan in the spring, but doesn't mention a UK release date. I asked Sony about the Xperia Z's British prospects and was told, "This product is currently only for the Japanese market. We cannot comment further on availability in other markets at this stage." Sony has put its last two tablets on sale in UK shops, however, so I wouldn't be surprised if this new model makes it over here eventually.
Would you buy this tablet? Let me know in the comments, or on our Facebook wall.
Image credit: ameblo.jp
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Comments 13
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Sergio Ortiz 21 January, 2013 10:23
So Sony makes its decidedly lackluster Tablet S available pretty much everywhere, and then brings a real player to the game and has no public plans to make it available worldwide? Does this make sense to anyone?
AppleRocks16 21 January, 2013 10:30
@Sergio Ortiz 21 January, 2013 10:23
A very valid point - It makes a little bit of sense, some businesses don't release a product to the wider markets immediately as they will want to see if it sells well in one area and if it does, then Sony may decide to expand it to the wider market.
Peter Hudson 21 January, 2013 10:45
I really want to see Sony and Samsung start to make some windows tablets with this spec and build quality
anonymous 21 January, 2013 10:51
Yeah I would say they want to see the potential demand for it before shipping worldwide. But I can imagine demand being pretty high for this bad boy, I know I want to try it out.
AppleRocks16 21 January, 2013 11:13
It definitely looks nice - nice design and good specs as well. I'd like to see it come to the Uk.
Damien2501 21 January, 2013 11:15
Sony is different from other Android and Windows tablet OEMs. It is involved heavily in the media industry and for its products to be a success it should offer hundreds of PlayStation games and films and TV shows that it holds the right to for free to everyone that buys their products. It also needs to price it's devices competitively, there is no point making your product cost higher than an iPad.
anonymous 21 January, 2013 13:12
@AppleRocks16
True, companies will try to gauge market response (er... except Google, which makes a brilliant Nexus 4 and then only produces a dozen of them, or Sony which withdraws a mediocre Xperia Tablet S from the market before returning just as it becomes obsolete!).
Personally, I don't think it will take a lot of research to demonstrate that the market wants (A) cheap, dispoable and easily portable 7" tablets for reading and media, and (B) high-quality 10" slates with HD screens for more involving stuff.
I hope Sony can bring this to the UK for less than £400. It'll be on my Easter list! :)
anonymous 21 January, 2013 13:35
pretty sure apple will sue for design. and i'm not a trolling a noob, im serious.
pablouk1 21 January, 2013 15:37
Unfortunately it's a Sony which means they will change its original operating specs a few months after release and then expect you to put up with it.
AppleRocks16 21 January, 2013 16:19
@anonymous 21 January, 2013 13:12
I agree with you entirely. The only unfortunate thing now is to wait and see if it comes to the UK......
coolcity 25 January, 2013 13:14
On what basis can apple sue for design? Given the thickness (or slimness if you prefer), if apple follow suit and make theirs just as slim it's surely going to be the other way around?
Personally I think it's a shame we live in a world where form is more important than function the paperback fold design of the Tablet S works perfectly but is ditched because people want ever thinner devices. I know specs get better with every new device but I'm not shelling out another several hundred quid to replace something that suits my needs perfectly no matter how good it is, and it won't be as comfortable to handle simply because of the design and that's quite sad really.
anonymous 25 January, 2013 16:06
I'd love to see someone try and drop a 10.1 inch TABLET down the toilet...I don't think it will be too much of a problem, since it wouldn't get anywhere near the water!
anonymous 4 March, 2013 17:36
This tablet looks amazing and so does the Xperia Z smartphone, I'd love both at this stage but I don't know what other companies will release. I haven't had many Sony products in the past apart from the PS3, but I like them and their products always look good, but other companies have always looked slightly better when it comes to phones and tabs.
Their new phone and tab look great though and although I'm a where that other companies with release similarly specced products, I might give Sony a try. Both the tab and phone have amazing screens and processors, and I know the camera's on Sony's products are always amazing. 13.1mp for phone and 8mp for the tab look incredible and better than most competitor out there. One plus point is they are both waterproof. I've never dropped any phone or tab in the water, but its reassuring to know they would be ok should I ever do so with these two devices. I always freak out putting my phones next to the sink or toilet, ill be ok with these though :P
So far in 2013, Sony are winning and I can only see Samsung knocking them away with the S4. Apple are long gone, and I'm not keen on HTC's One, looks confusing. The only thing I'm not keen on with the Xperia Z smartphone is the price - £524! It'll probably drop soon, but that's ludicrous! At least the tablet is supposed to be about £320