Review: Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact €419

Sony has been impressing with its compact Xperia phones, but its tablets are also worth a look. Like the phones, the Xperia Z line of tablets are built to be robust yet aimed at the premium end of the market. The Xperia tablets have stuck with the 10-inch models until now, but the Z3 Tablet Compact has changed all that.

Available in 16GB and 32GB versions, the tablet is offered in wifi only and 4G LTE versions. Powered by a 2.5Ghz Qualcomm Snapdragon quad core processor, with 3GB of RAM, the tablet runs Android KitKat. It's waterproof, dust tight and a bit more robust than your average tablet. And all in a slim, light package that comes with an 8-inch display.

That puts the Z3 Tablet Compact in competition with the likes of the iPad Mini and Samsung’s Tab S. But how does it stand up to the competition?

The good

First up is the aesthetics. Overall it’s a sleek-looking device. Sony has been working on creating a premium tablet and it seems the Z3 Tablet Compact is benefitting from that effort. Available in white or black, it has stainless steel corners that should take the brunt of any impact if you let it drop. Ports for charging and adding extras such as MicroSD cards are set snugly into the sides. Once these ports are covered properly, the device is protected from the elements.

The volume and power key are positioned on the side of the device, within easy reach but not in a place where you would accidentally trigger them.

The name may not trip off your tongue – Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact is a mouthful – but that’s all that is bulky about the device.It weighs in at a more-than-compact 280g. That translates as lightweight and easy on the wrists, so it can easily be used as an e-reader for long periods of time before it puts a strain on the wrists. At the same time, the screen is still large enough to comfortably type on if you need to send some emails or type up a few documents. There’s the option of a thumb keyboard or a mini keyboard – the thumb keyboard proved the more comfortable for extended typing sessions, while the mini keyboard was handy for one-handed input, such as web addresses and short messages.

There are a few standout features on the Z3 tablet outside of its design. If you’re a PlayStation 4 owner, good news: the Z3 Tablet Compact is compatible with the system. So you can connect your PS4 to your tablet and play games on the sharp display when you are on the same wifi network. That frees up the TV for everyone else without having to sacrifice your games time.

The bad

The camera is probably one of the weaker elements of the tablet, which, given the pedigree established with the Zeria Z phones, is slightly disappointing. It’s 8.1 megapixels, which is on a par with some smartphones, but the images left us disappointed. The tablet has the intelligent auto mode that is familiar from Sony’s Xperia phones, which means the tablet will choose the best settings for your photograph depending on what environment it detects. Although it has a similar megapixel count to the iPhone 6 Plus, for example, images on Apple’s device are sharper. Lower light photos seem a bit fuzzy around the edges, and there was a bit more noise in the pictures than we’d like.

However, it’s unlikely that you’ll be using this tablet as your primary camera. There’s also the option to switch to manual settings, allowing you to set your own ISO and white balance, which may solve some of the quality issues.

Also, while a lot of thought has gone into the design, we weren’t huge fans of the matte finish on the rear. That’s purely subjective, though; the matte finish is certainly easier to get a grip on, so it serves a purpose.

The rest

Sony has crammed the usual screen technology in there, such as a triluminos display for mobile and X-reality; in essence it means that the screen is bright and sharp. That’s good for taking advantage of the HD video camera, or for watching movies. The viewing angle is impressive, too, and even in bright sunlight - a rarity on these shores, but still – you can see clearly.

The tablet also includes high-resolution audio and digital noise-cancelling, but the latter requires extras such as Sony’s compatible headphones to take advantage of it.

Although the capacity is limited to 32GB on board, the MicroSD slot means that you can add up to 128GB of memory if you wish. That’s more than enough to store hours of movies and songs, turning your tablet into a full entertainment device.

The verdict

HHHH

It may not quite challenge the iPad Mini yet, but Sony is creeping closer.