Sony Xperia Tablet Z Unboxing: Razor-thin and Specced Out Android Tablet

Sony Xperia Tablet Z Unboxing: Razor-thin and Specced Out Android Tablet

Time to unbox the Sony Xperia Tablet Z!
Time to unbox the Sony Xperia Tablet Z!

Sony Xperia Tablet Z… Unboxed!

We first met and had a hands-on encounter with the Sony Xperia Tablet Z way back in February during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. It’s been a few months since then but we finally have the device here in the Unbox HQ. This is a pretty special product as it is one of the most specced out and radically designed Android tablets to hit the local market. It is also the first LTE-enabled Android tablet here in the PH (unfortunately the model we have is just WiFi but we’re working on getting the LTE variant). We’ll do a full review soon for you guys but for now allow us to share with you our unboxing experience.

Just as always though let’s kick things off by having a refresher on the technical specs of this gadget.

Sony Xperia Talbet Z Spec Sheet

  • 1.5GHz Quad-core Krait Qualcomm Snapdragon APQ8064
  • Adreno 320 GPU
  • 2GB RAM
  • 16GB Internal Storage, expandable up to 64GB via microSD Card
  • 10.1-inches LED-backlit LCD capacitive touchscreen
  • 1920×1200 resolution, 224 pixels per inch
  • 8.1-megapixels rear-facing camera with autofocus, HDR, 16x Digital Zoom
  • Can record video 1080p@30fps HDR
  • 2.2-megapixels front facing camera
  • WiFi a/b/g/n, WiFi Hotspot, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS with A-GPS Support and GLONASS
  • 3G, HSPA+, HSDPA, LTE Connectivity
  • Android 4.2 Jelly Bean
  • 6,000mAh Battery

As you can see, it ain’t no slouch.

Packaging

Typical Sony box
Typical Sony box

The Sony Xperia Tablet Z, just like the Sony Xperia ZR, comes in the same box style as the Sony Xperia Z. We have a white carton box with the product shot up front and specifications and other details at the back. We got the box wrapped in plastic and with tape on the sides. Unboxing was very straightforward – we removed the plastic and the tape and pulled the top lid open.

>>> SEE ALSO: Sony Xperia ZR Unboxing and Initial Review

Officially unboxed!
Officially unboxed!

We were immediately greeted by the solid black slate of the Xperia Tablet Z. It was initially wrapped in plastic and had some sort of screen protector on it. The real beauty of the industrial design and engineering behind the Xperia Tablet Z really caught our attention though when we touched it and lifted it for the first time. We’ll get into this in detail during the hardware check section of this post but we can definitely say that the Xperia Tablet Z is the best designed Android tablet to date. It is simply a work of art.

What else is in the box?
What else is in the box?

Moving on, other than the tablet we also found the usual accessories and peripherals inside the box. We got the charger, USB to micro USB cable, manuals, and other related certificates.

Random thought: the first manufacturer that bundles cleaning cloth with their tablets gets major pogi points from us. Simple gesture that a lot of customers (and even reviewers like us) will greatly appreciate.

>>> CHECK THIS OUT: Sony Xperia Z Full Review

Hardware Check: Best Designed Android Tablet

Stunning design
Stunning design

Okay now we get to the best thing about the Sony Xperia Tablet Z — the hardware. It is stunning. It is “sexy-tech” defined and personified. Seriously… if the first wave of Android tablets were this good then Android would have a much bigger share in the tablet market today, lol.

At the front we have the gorgeous 10.1-inches LED-backlit LCD capacitive touchscreen. The buttons and controls are neatly located in chrome on the sides, very similar to the design philosophy that we first saw with the Sony Xperia Z. At the back we have an elegant finish (not glass) which is good for grip and enhances the over-all look and feel.

CRAZY thin!
CRAZY thin!

What makes the Sony Xperia Tablet Z even more astonishing is its thinness. It is the thinnest Android tablet we’ve ever seen and what makes it even more impressive is that not only does it pack monstrous specifications but it’s made from premium materials as well (not plastic).

Very light.
Very light.

While the device feels solid, compact, and sturdy, it doesn’t compromise the weight. The Sony Xperia Tablet Z is very light, much lighter than a lot of Android tablets in the market today. Again this is amazing considering the quality of the materials and the specs inside it.

Over-all we’re very happy and impressed with the hardware of the Sony Xperia Tablet Z. This is one for the industrial design books folks.

Software Check: The Android 4.2 Jelly Bean Experience

Android 4.2 Jelly Bean on the Sony Xperia Tablet Z
Android 4.2 Jelly Bean on the Sony Xperia Tablet Z

The Sony Xperia Tablet Z runs on Android Jelly Bean 4.2. We were actually hoping for a buttery smooth Android tablet experience but there are still noticeable lags and slight delays with the Xperia Tablet Z. It’s not really something that a lot of people will consider a deal breaker but hopefully Google will be able to fully optimize the Android tablet experience soon. They’re already buttery smooth on smartphones and we want to see that same level of fluidity and seamlessness in their tablets.

We’ll talk more about the software and the performance of the Sony Xperia Tablet Z in our full review (which should be next week).

Initial Verdict

Two thumbs up!
Two thumbs up!

As far as initial impressions are concerned, we’re giving the Sony Xperia Tablet Z two thumbs up. If design counts for something then you definitely have to take a look at this device. Add to that the specs and water resistance and you have a winning proposition.

Watch out for our full review of the Sony Xperia Tablet Z soon.

The Sony Xperia Tablet Z is already out in the market with the 16GB LTE model having an SRP of Php35,990 (but Sony stores, specifically the one in SM Megmall, sells it for Php37,990). You can also get it from Widget City for Php30,990 (16GB + LTE).

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