The Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact is a beautiful, thin and consistently powerful product from Sony. Review of the tablet Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact: the best choice

Which we marked with the honorary medal "Editor's Choice". Sony tablets were like a breath of fresh air amid a general stagnation in the full-size tablet market. By and large, the only drawback of Sony tablets was the price - of course, rather big, like all devices in the hi-end category. On the other hand, the high cost was justified - an attractive appearance, top-end technical stuffing and a host of other advantages. At the moment, for the basic version of the ten-inch Z2 Tablet, they ask 26 thousand rubles (the prices for its devices have already been revised by the Russian division of Sony). It is noteworthy that the new Z3 Tablet Compact with a display of eight inches costs exactly the same.

So, in general, it should be: from a technical point of view, these tablets are very similar. Perhaps the only more or less significant improvement in the "iron" part is that the Z3 Tablet Compact has raised the frequency of processor cores - from 2.3 to 2.5 GHz. Also, its body can be considered more protected from dust. The moisture resistance of the Z3 Tablet Compact is the same as that of the Z2 Tablet. According to official data, the tablet is protected according to IP65 / IP68 standards, that is, with it you can dive to a depth of up to one and a half meters with it, and dust getting inside the case is completely excluded. The rest of the devices are extremely close - the comparative table clearly demonstrates this. They even have the same display resolution.

⇡ Specifications

	Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact	Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet
Display	8 inches, resolution 1920x1200 (WUXGA); IPS technology	10.1 inches, resolution 1920x1200 (WUXGA); IPS technology
Touch screen	Capacitive, up to 10 simultaneous touches
Air gap	No
Oleophobic coating	There is
Polarizing filter	There is
Platform	Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 MSM8974AC: four Qualcomm Krait-400 (ARMv7) cores; frequency 2.5 GHz; process technology 28 nm HPm	Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 MSM8974AB: four cores Qualcomm Krait-400 (ARMv7); frequency 2.3 GHz; process technology 28 nm HPm
Graphics controller	Qualcomm Adreno 330, 578 MHz	Qualcomm Adreno 330, 550 MHz
RAM	3 GB
Flash memory	16/32 GB NAND Flash + microSD (up to 128 GB)
Connectors	1 × MicroSD 1 × Nano-SIM 1 x Micro-USB 3.0 (MHL)	1 × MicroSD 1 × Micro-SIM 1 × micro-USB 3.0 (MHL) 1 × 3.5mm headset jack 1 × magnetic charging connector
cellular	2G: GSM / GPRS / EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 MHz 3G: DC-HSPA + (42.2 Mbps) 850/900/1700/1900/2100 MHz 4G: LTE Cat. 4 (150 Mbps) band 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20 One Nano-SIM (optional)	Qualcomm MDM9x25 modem (embedded in SoC): 2G: GSM / GPRS / EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 MHz 3G: DC-HSPA + (84.4 Mbps) 850/900/1700/1900/2100 MHz 4G: LTE Cat. 4 (150 Mbps) band 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20 One Micro-SIM (optional)
Wi-Fi	802.11a / b / g / n, 2.4 / 5 GHz + Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi Miracast
Bluetooth	4.0
NFC	There is
Infrared port	No	There is
Navigation	GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou
Sensors	Accelerometer / gyroscope, digital compass, light sensor, pedometer
Main camera	8 MP (3264 × 2448), back-illuminated Sony Exmor RS; autofocus, no flash
Front-camera	2.2 MP (1920 × 1080), back-illuminated Sony Exmor R sensor; without autofocus and flash
Nutrition	Non-removable battery 17.1 Wh (4500 mAh, 3.8 V);	Non-removable battery 22.2 Wh (6000 mAh, 3.7 V); Energy saving STAMINA
Dimensions (edit)	213 × 123 mm Case thickness 6.4 mm	266 × 172 mm Case thickness 6.4 mm
Weight	270 g	440 g
Water and dust resistant	IP65, IP68 (immersion up to 1.5 meters)	IP55, IP58 (immersion up to 1.5 meters)
Operating system	Google Android 4.4.4 (KitKat) Sony branded shell
Current official price	28,990 rubles for the 16 GB + 3G / 4G version	25,990 rubles for the 16 GB version 29,990 rubles for the 16 GB + 3G / 4G version

So far, in Russia, two versions of the Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact are available for order: without a built-in modem or with it, both with 16 GB of flash memory. The official cost of the first modification is about 26 thousand rubles. For the ability to access the Internet through mobile networks of the third and fourth generations, you will have to pay another three thousand. A version with 32 GB of built-in flash memory without 3G / 4G has also been announced, but it is not yet available in the Sony store - even the official cost of such a modification has not been published.

Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact - information about the system and "hardware" according to the CPU-Z application

⇡ Appearance and ergonomics

Let's remember, what were the first tablets and smartphones of the flagship Z and Z Tablet series? Outwardly, they looked strict, angular, so to speak, stately. With the release of the third generation of smartphones, the appearance of the line has changed significantly. Gadgets have become less formal and visually lighter. Convex edges, rounded corners appeared from somewhere ... smartphones have lost a little their individuality, but they have become more convenient to use. We talked about this in detail in the review of this year's flagship Sony Mobile - Xperia Z3. The question of whether such innovations suits him, then we left open.

Meet the Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact

And if as far as smartphones are concerned, we leave it that way, then in the case of tablets we can safely say that the new, “lightweight” (visually) design suits them. Z3 Tablet Compact is comfortable to hold in your hands, its ends and corners of the case do not dig into the palm. By the way, the device weighs only 270 grams, so your hands do not get tired of it even with prolonged use. The thickness of the case is also very small - the same as that of the Xperia Z2 Tablet: only 6.4 millimeters. It is pleasant to work with such a thin gadget. It fits into the pocket of a winter down jacket without any problems and does not pull it off at all.

Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact - bezel

There are no hardware keys on the front panel of the smartphone - the buttons are virtual, they are located directly on the screen. At the top of the panel is the lens of the front 2-megapixel camera. Next to the logo is an LED indicator for charging and new events.

Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact - physical buttons

With ergonomics, the tablet is all right. And this is good - I remember that the Z2 Tablet suddenly had minor problems with it. The location of the hardware keys on the Z3 Tablet Compact case raises no questions. The power button and volume rocker are located on the right side, next to the thumb, if you hold the device vertically with one hand. Slightly higher is a five-pin universal 3.5 mm audio jack for connecting a headset.

Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact - Magnetic Connector

You can charge the tablet through a special magnetic connector, which has already become a "calling card" of Sony devices. It is placed on the left end. Next to it are the Nano-SIM and MicroSD card slots.

Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact - Card Slot

Sony engineers traditionally hid the slots for installing cards under a common plastic cover. Under the same at the bottom of the device there is an MHL interface that combines a video output and Micro-USB 2.0. These plugs are required to protect the device from dust and moisture.

Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact with open covers

The Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact is made of plastic. Its "back" is rough, with a barely noticeable relief. The tablet does not slip in the hands during operation, and the back panel, at least white, practically does not get dirty. It houses the lens of the main eight-megapixel camera ... and that's it. The body of the gadget is, of course, non-separable. The tablet comes in black and white. Apparently, Sony has finally sent the corporate purple into the river of times, which is a pity.

Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact - back panel

We have no comments on the assembly of the device. The gadget passed the torsion and fracture test, despite the small thickness of the case, without any problems - there are enough stiffeners in the structure. During the test, we did not find any suspicious backlashes and creaks. The device looks very nice. However, the main advantage of the exterior of the Z3 Tablet Compact, in our opinion, is the modest dimensions of the case. The device has turned out to be truly compact - it will easily fit into any compartment of the backpack. It is convenient to take it somewhere with you.

An excellent replenishment in a small segment of expensive tablets

Sony does not get tired of sorting out the letters of the English alphabet in the line of Xperia smartphones and at the same time only occasionally honors the tablet segment. The two previous models released under the Xperia brand - Tablet Z and Z2 Tablet - were similar to each other: large ten-inch devices with flagship stuffing and a Full HD display. At the recent IFA 2014, the first compact version of the Xperia tablet was presented, which was logically included in the ranks of the Xperia Compact family. We will study it in all details.

Video review

First, we suggest watching our video review of the Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact:

Now let's take a look at the characteristics of the new item.

Specifications Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact (SGP621)

Model Number: SGP621
Single chip: Qualcomm Snapdragon 801
Central processing unit: 4 cores Krait 400 @ 2.5 GHz
GPU: Adreno 330
Display: IPS, 8 ″, 1920 × 1200, 283 ppi
RAM: 3 GB
Internal memory: 16 GB
MicroSD card support
Wi-Fi 802.11 a / b / g / n, 3G / LTE (optional)
Bluetooth 4.0, NFC
GPS / A-GPS / Glonass / Beidou
Cameras: 2.2 Mp front, 8 Mp rear
Micro-USB (with OTG support), Nano-SIM, 3.5mm headphone jack
Battery capacity: 4500 mAh
Operating system: Google Android 4.4.4
Size: 213.3 x 123.6 x 6.4mm
Weight: 270 g

Sony has stayed true to the 16:10 aspect ratio and Qualcomm Snapdragon SoCs. In many respects, the device resembles the previous Z2 Tablet. The switch to Nano-SIM cards might have come as a surprise, but we have already appreciated it in the new generation of smartphones.

		Acer Iconia Tab 8 (A1-840FHD)	Xiaomi MiPad	Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4	Apple iPad mini 3
Screen	IPS, 8 ″, 1920 × 1200 (283 ppi)	IPS, 8 ″, 1920 × 1200 (283 ppi)		IPS, 8.4 ″, 2560 × 1600 (359 ppi)	IPS, 7.9 ″, 2048 × 1536 (326 ppi)
SoC (processor)	Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 @ 2.5 GHz (4 Krait 300 cores)	Intel Atom Z3745 @ 1.86 GHz (4 cores x64)	Nvidia Tegra K1 @ 2.22 GHz ("4 + 1" Cortex-A15 core)	Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 (8974) @ 2.3 GHz (4 core Krait 400)	Apple A7 @ 1.3 GHz (2 Cyclone cores, 64 bit)
GPU	Adreno 330	Intel HD Graphics	Nvidia GK20A	Adreno 330	PowerVR G6430
RAM	3 GB	2 GB	2 GB	2 GB	1 GB
Flash memory	16 or 32 GB	16 GB	16 or 64 GB	16 GB	from 16 to 128 GB
Connectors	Micro-USB, Nano-SIM, 3.5mm headphone jack		Micro-USB, 3.5mm headphone jack	Micro-USB, 3.5mm headphone jack	Lightning, 3.5mm headphone jack
Memory card support	microSD	microSD	microSD (up to 128GB)	microSD (up to 64 GB)	No
Cameras	front (2.2 Mp), rear (8 Mp)	front (2 Mp) and rear (5 Mp)	front (5 Mp) and rear (8 Mp)	front (2 Mp) and rear (8 Mp, with flash)	front (1.2 Mp) and rear (5 Mp)
Internet	Wi-Fi, 3G / LTE (optional)	Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi (optional - 3G and LTE)	Wi-Fi, 3G / LTE (optional)
Wireless Modules	Bluetooth, GPS / Glonass / Beidou	Bluetooth, GPS / Glonass	Bluetooth	Bluetooth, GPS / Glonass, IrDA	Bluetooth, GPS
Operating system*	Google Android 4.4.4	Google Android 4.4.2	Google Android 4.4.2	Google Android 4.4.2	Apple iOS 7
Battery capacity (mAh)	4500	4600	6700	4800	6471
Dimensions (mm)	213 x 124 x 6.4	215 × 130 × 8.5	202 x 135 x 8.5	219 x 129 x 7.2	200 × 134 × 7.5
Weight (g)	270	360	360	331	339
Average price**	T-11154285	T-11002315	T-10970803	T-10673484	T-11153500
Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact Offers	L-11154285-10

* at the time of the publication of the corresponding article
** for the version with a minimum of flash memory and communication capabilities

Sony's new product looks very impressive against the background of competitors - the Z3 Tablet Compact turns out to be the lightest and thinnest. The weak point is the battery capacity, especially from the perspective of a powerful single-chip system.

Equipment

Only information brochures, a Micro-USB cable and a power adapter (5 V, 1.5 A) were found in the box with the tablet.

In most cases, sellers supply the tablet with an abundance of accessories (as was the case with the Sony Xperia Tablet Z), and the manufacturer limits itself to a minimum. Nevertheless, a wired headset would be very appropriate here, because you can make calls from a tablet.

Design

Unlike the colorful smartphone Xperia Z3 Compact, the tablet got only a monochrome palette - there are white and black models on sale, which differ only in color.

From a functional point of view, the choice is a little wider: on the Russian Sony site there is a mention of a version with Wi-Fi for 16 or 32 GB, as well as with 3G / LTE for some reason only 16 GB.

It is difficult to assess the advantages of the new Sony tablet from the outside. But when you take the device in hand, you immediately feel the record low thickness and weight.

To keep within 6.4 mm, the designers had to narrow the side frame - the business card of the series - to three millimeters. The main part of the frame is made of matte plastic, and glossy inserts from another material (possibly even metal) are harmoniously inscribed in the corners. This should provide shock resistance and support the image of the rugged Xperia Z line.

The width of the side margins also gives the Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact the title of the narrowest tablet. In fairness, we note that this is also facilitated by the aspect ratio of the display, 16:10. It is inconvenient to hold the device by the long side, it is much easier and safer to grab it from behind with one hand.

To the right of the Sony logo is the front camera lens, as well as an almost invisible light sensor. On the left, on one line with the logo, the indicator is aligned, which is responsible not only for charging, but also for notifications (the latter function can be disabled in the settings).

At the junction of the panels at the top and bottom, there are two slots for the stereo speakers of the tablet. There is no separate speaker for telephone calls.

The back panel material was matte plastic with a comfortable rough texture. Against the backdrop of the glass backs of Xperia Z smartphones, this solution may seem inappropriate in terms of status. But in harsh everyday life, it has two advantages at once: the tablet does not slip out of hands and does not collect traces from every touch.

The main camera lens is aligned in the middle, so shooting in landscape orientation is not very convenient. The camera is not equipped with a flash. The icon marks the NFC pairing area.

The headphone jack is located not on the top edge, as is often the case, but on the right. This change has little to no effect on usage. The microphone is located here, in the opposite corner in relation to where the speech is directed during the conversation (if you hold the tablet like a phone).

In the middle of the right side are the power and volume buttons with a short and clear stroke. If you grasp the tablet with your right hand, then they are exactly under the thumb.

On the opposite side there is a proprietary Sony docking station connector. Next to it, behind a long flap, are the Nano-SIM and microSD slots. It is easy to pry the plugs behind the thin slots, but in order to avoid backlash, this is often not worth doing, especially in this case, when this part is large.

The Nano-SIM tray is removable with a fingernail and is clearly not suitable for quick card replacement. A conventional spring-loaded connector is installed for the memory card.

In the lower left corner of the tablet, a Micro-USB connector is hidden behind a small flap. Inside the tablet, next to it, there is a main antenna that provides Wi-Fi and Bluetooth operation. And in the next lower corner is an additional antenna for Wi-Fi. It seems that it was for this reason that the microphone had to be moved to an uncomfortable place.

The Sony tablet is IP68-rated. This means that the tablet contacts are completely protected from dust and it can function for a long time if immersed in water. The manufacturer claims that the Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact can operate in fresh water for up to 30 minutes and submerge to a depth of 1.5 m.

The design of the Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet looks impressive on specs - the tablet is indeed very compact and lightweight. It is easily recognizable as a representative of the line, although some of the branded design elements were sacrificed here, for example, the glossy lid, which largely ensures the showiness of the series. But on the other hand, thanks to this, the tablet has only one serious external drawback - the location of the microphone.

Screen

The front surface of the screen is made in the form of a glass plate with a mirror-smooth surface, resistant to scratches. Judging by the reflection of objects, anti-glare properties of the screen are not worse than those of the screen Google Nexus 7 (2013) (hereinafter simply Nexus 7). For clarity, here is a photo in which a white surface is reflected in the turned off screens of both devices (Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact is on the right, then they can be distinguished by their size):

Both screens are dark, but Sony's screen is still slightly lighter (its brightness in the photo is 105 versus 103 for the Nexus 7). The tripling of reflected objects in the Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact screen is very weak, which indicates that there is no air gap between the outer glass (aka touch sensor) and the matrix surface (OGS type screen - One Glass Solution). Due to the smaller number of boundaries (such as glass-to-air) with greatly different refractive indices, such screens look better under strong ambient light, but their repair in case of cracked outer glass is much more expensive, since the entire screen has to be changed. On the outside of the screen there is a special oleophobic (grease-repellent) coating (very effective, but slightly worse than the Nexus 7), therefore, fingerprints are removed much more easily, and appear at a slower rate than in the case of ordinary glass.

With manual brightness control, its maximum value was about 680 cd / m², and the minimum is 16 cd / m²... The maximum value is an all-time high, and given the good anti-glare properties, the image on the screen should be clearly visible in bright daylight. In complete darkness, the brightness can be lowered to a comfortable level. Automatic brightness control by light sensor works(it is located to the right of the front camera). In automatic mode, when the ambient light conditions change, the screen brightness both increases and decreases. The operation of this function depends on the set brightness level. If it is at the maximum, then in complete darkness the auto-brightness function reduces the brightness to 130 cd / m2 (too much), in an office illuminated with artificial light (about 400 lux) sets it to 260 cd / m2 (too much), in a very bright environment (corresponds outdoor lighting on a clear day, but without direct sunlight - 20,000 lux or slightly more) increases to 680 cd / m² (to the maximum, which is needed). If the brightness slider is at half the scale (it is very non-linear - after 50% the brightness goes up sharply with an increase in the setting value), then the screen brightness for the three conditions indicated above is as follows: 67, 140 and 680 cd / m² (suitable values). If the dimmer is set to minimum - 19, 62, 560 cd / m². As a result, the automatic brightness control function works absolutely adequately. At any brightness level, there is no significant backlight modulation, so there is no screen flickering either.

This screen uses matrix type IPS... The micrographs show the typical IPS subpixel structure:

For comparison, you can see the gallery of photomicrographs of screens used in mobile technology.

The screen has good viewing angles without tint inversion and no significant color shift even with large deviations from the perpendicular to the screen. For comparison, here is a photo in which the screens of Nexus 7 and Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact display the same images, while the brightness of the screens was initially set to about 200 cd / m2 (along the white field in the entire screen), and the color balance on the camera was forced to 6500 K. Perpendicular to the plane of the screens white field:

Note the good uniformity of brightness and color tone of the white field. And the test picture:

The colors on the screen of the Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact are oversaturated, skin tones are strongly redshifted, and the color balance is not normal. Now at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the plane and to the side of the screen:

It can be seen that the colors did not change much on both screens, but in the Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact the contrast decreased to a large extent due to the strong black lightening. And white box:

The brightness at an angle on both screens has noticeably decreased (at least 5 times, based on the difference in exposure), but in the case of the Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact, the drop in brightness is slightly less (brightness in photos is 233 versus 229 for Nexus 7). At the same time, the color tone changed slightly. When deviated diagonally, the black field is lightened strongly and acquires a violet or red-violet tint. The photos below demonstrate this (the brightness of the white areas in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the screens is the same for the screens!):

And from a different angle:

When viewed from a perpendicular view, the black field uniformity is very good:

Contrast (approximately in the center of the screen) high - about 940:1 ... The response time for the transition black-white-black is 22 ms (12 ms on + 10 ms off). The transition between gray tones of 25% and 75% (based on the numerical value of the color) and back takes 33 ms in total. Constructed from 32 points with equal intervals by the numerical value of the shade of gray, the gamma curve did not reveal a blockage either in highlights or in shadows, and the exponent of the approximating power function turned out to be 2.23, which is close to the standard value, but at the same time the real gamma curve is strong deviates from the power dependence:

The tablet has a dynamic (and not switchable!) Adjustment of the backlight brightness depending on the nature of the displayed image. The general tendency is that the brightness decreases in dark images, but the algorithm is somehow complicated, and as a result, the brightness periodically jumps noticeably, which is annoying, and a decrease in brightness in dark images reduces the visibility of gradations in shadows under ambient light conditions. That is, there is zero benefit from this function, only harm. As a result, we carried out a number of tests - determining the contrast and response time, comparing black illumination at angles - when displaying special templates with invariably average brightness, and not single-color fields across the entire screen. Of course, the obtained dependence of brightness on the hue (gamma curve), most likely, does not correspond to the gamma curve of a static image, since the measurements were carried out with sequential display of shades of gray on almost the entire screen.

The color gamut is noticeably wider than sRGB:

We look at the spectra:

They are very atypical. As they write on the Sony website, this screen (TRILUMINOS Display for mobile) uses LEDs with a blue emitter and a green and red phosphor (usually a blue emitter and a yellow phosphor), which, in combination with special matrix light filters, allows you to obtain a wide color gamut. Unfortunately, as a result, the colors of images - drawings, photographs and films - oriented to the sRGB space (and there are the overwhelming majority of them) have an unnatural saturation. This is especially noticeable on recognizable shades, such as skin tones. The result is shown in the photo above.

The balance of shades on the gray scale is imperfect, since the color temperature is significantly higher than the standard 6500 K. True, the deviation from the spectrum of an absolute black body (ΔE) is less than 10, which is considered an acceptable indicator for a consumer device. At the same time, the variation in color temperature and ΔE is small, which has a positive effect on the visual perception of color balance. The darkest areas of the gray scale can be ignored, since there the color balance does not really matter, and the error in measuring color characteristics at low brightness is large.

This tablet has the ability to correct the color balance by adjusting the intensities of the three primary colors.

Which is what we tried to do, the result is data signed as Corr. in the graphs above. As a result, we practically did not change ΔE, but set the white point to 6500 K (although we greatly reduced the brightness):

However, such a correction did not reduce the oversaturation of colors.

If the image on the screen of this tablet still seems insufficiently saturated to someone, then you can turn on the proprietary mode X-Reality for mobile... In this mode, the saturation and contour sharpness are programmatically increased, and there are fewer distinguishable gradations in the area of saturated colors. There are Extreme brightness mode in which the color contrast is further enhanced.

Let's show alternately (you need to click on the pictures) all three modes on the test image and on the gradient:

Switch off:

Let's summarize. The brightness adjustment range of this screen is huge, and everything is in order with anti-glare properties., which allows you to comfortably use the tablet both on a sunny day outside and in complete darkness. It is acceptable to use the mode with automatic brightness adjustment working absolutely adequately. The advantages also include an effective oleophobic coating, no flicker and no air gap in the layers of the screen, good uniformity of the black field and high contrast. The disadvantages are strong black lightening when the gaze deviates from the perpendicular to the screen surface and aggressive dynamic brightness adjustment. Not everything is in order with the color rendition, since oversaturated colors (especially skin tones suffer) and the color temperature is too high... The presence of appropriate adjustments allows you to correct the balance to almost perfect, but by reducing the brightness, and the problem with oversaturated colors still remains. Taking into account the importance of characteristics for this particular class of devices (and the most important thing is the distinguishability of information in a wide range of external conditions) the screen quality can be considered high... However, for those who want to watch movies and watch / show photos on a tablet, we advise you to refrain from buying a device with a Triluminos screen - at least until Sony introduces the sRGB mode.

Sound

The Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact has stereo speakers facing the same direction as the display. This is the preferred option for tablets, providing the most correct placement of sound sources, creating a "scene". The sound quality is excellent, in the spectrum you can hear not only the middle register, but also high and low frequency ranges. The maximum volume in comparison with other tablets is approximately at an average level, loud in the literal sense of the word, the novelty of Sony cannot be called.

In the sound settings, the proprietary technology ClearAudio + is available, the inclusion of which practically does not affect the sound. In addition, you can turn on loudness normalization and refine the microphone sensitivity. Separately, we note the presence of a mode for connecting an external DAC. Mobile solutions of this type are now very popular, we described several devices in a report from the Creative booth at IFA 2014.

Operating system

Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact runs on Android 4.4.4 operating system. When checking for updates "over the air", a new firmware version was found, the number of which did not differ from the old one (23.0.1.A.0.167). To install it, it was required to connect the tablet to the computer without fail. The update went through the proprietary PC Companion utility without any problems, and we carried out all tests on the new firmware version.

The tablet uses a standard Xperia interface, identical to what we see in the Xperia Z3 Compact smartphone. There is a lot of free software, both branded and third-party, as well as an unlimited exclusive version of the Navigon navigator from the famous Garmin company.

Swiping down with one finger opens notifications in the operating system, and swiping with two fingers opens toggles. In the settings, you can turn on the exit from sleep mode with two touches of the display, as well as the mode of increased sensitivity of the touch screen, for working with gloves.

The stability of the operating system is close to ideal: both Google Play and sites loaded with content are drawn on the fly. In our version of the tablet, out of 16 GB of declared internal memory, 11.2 GB was available, that is, less than 75%. By the way, we found an interesting Windows / SFTP share connection feature in the memory status information. It takes approximately 25 seconds for the tablet to turn on.

Stream from Play Station 4

An exclusive feature of the Xperia Z3 line of devices is Remote Play - the ability to play the console remotely from a mobile device. NVIDIA has already implemented a similar solution by linking Geforce GTX graphics to the Shield line of mobile devices.

Pairing NVIDIA devices was not without pitfalls, especially when the PC and the Shield were on different networks. With the Sony tablet and Play Station 4, there were much fewer problems. First, using the application, you need to connect the devices through the same network so that they recognize each other. Then enable Internet Wake on Play Station 4 so that the console can safely go to sleep while waiting for a connection.

When searching for a console, the Remote Play application tries to search for the PS4 system on the home network, and if it fails, it goes global. In this case, the connection usually takes a few minutes.

After a successful connection, the user opens the Play Station 4 menu and touch controls that copy the gamepad. In portrait orientation, they cover most of the tablet screen.

In landscape orientation, although the controls take up almost half the screen, they become transparent. And gamepad sticks are created with the touch of a finger - a standard and convenient solution for touch interfaces. Obviously, only a very limited number of the simplest games can be played using the touchscreen, and you need to have a PS4 gamepad with you for full gameplay. It connects to the tablet without any problems.

The main problem with Remote Play is that if the application is minimized, the connection with the Play Station is lost, and the connection has to be re-established. In addition, the connection will also be lost if you leave the tablet for a while. We tested Remote Play performance under various conditions. In the first case, the Play Station 4 was connected to a 50 Mbps channel, and the tablet worked at 7 and 5 Mbps for download and transfer, respectively. This was enough for stable operation without subsidence and artifacts. In the second case, the tablet was connected to a slower network, and the results were not long in coming: first, problems with control began, and then with the picture. It turns out that in this case the Sony Remote Play requirements roughly correspond to the requirements of Nvidia Remote Gamestream.

The Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact does not weigh much more than the Dualshock 4 (270 versus 210 g), so their bundle looks very convenient for playing on the road. By the way, recently it became known that Sony will make Remote Play available for the previous generation of Xperia Z devices. This will allow you to enjoy console games on the impressive ten-inch display of the Xperia Z2 Tablet.

Platform and performance

The Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 SoC (model number MSM8974AC), just like a similar smartphone. But in this case, the SoC complements not two, but three gigabytes of RAM, which, given the higher resolution, is quite justified.

Compared to other Android tablets, the new Sony looks very decent, and only the Xiaomi MiPad on the flagship NVIDIA Tegra K1 can compete with it in terms of performance.

The Sony tablet easily beats Samsung's Snapdragon 800 in all benchmarks except SunSpider (which will likely be dropped from our test suite soon). The average Bay Trail is still a long way off, but you can already compete with Apple in browser tests.

Sony and Samsung scored roughly the same scores in MobileXPRT, as if there was no difference in resolution. The flagship solutions from Intel and Nvidia were far ahead in performance here. The performance indicators of the interface in such powerful devices are already approaching the maximum value, and a difference of a few points does not mean anything.

In Antutu, our hero even surpassed the Xiaomi MiPad.

An additional 200 MHz gives a good boost in Geekbench in single-core mode compared to Samsung, but in total the results are roughly the same. The Cyclone cores of the third iPad mini retain the lead, but there are only two of them in the Apple tablet, which leads to a lower overall result.

Let's move on to gaming benchmarks.

	Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact		Xiaomi MiPad	Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4	Apple iPad mini 3
Epic Citadel Ultra High Quality	52.3 fps	37.9 fps	54.4 fps	33.0 fps	-
3DMark ice Storm Unlimited (more is better)	17636	16837	26745	15441	14544
Bonsai benchmark	3721 (53.1 fps)	2633 (37.6 fps)	3998 (57.1 fps)	2699 (38.5 fps)	-
GFXBench 2.7.2 T-Rex HD (C24Z16 Offscreen)	27.5 fps	19.3 fps	56.6 fps	26 fps	28.5 fps
GFXBench 2.7.2 T-Rex HD (C24Z16 Onscreen)	27.7 fps	18.4 fps	30.1 fps	17 fps	22.7 fps
GFXBenchmark Manhattan HD (C24Z16 Offscreen)	11.8 fps	9.7 fps	28.0 fps	11 fps	13.2 fps
GFXBenchmark Manhattan (C24Z16 Onscreen)	11.9 fps	9.0 fps	19.2 fps	5.8 fps	8.9 fps

Gaming benchmarks show that the new Sony tablet is outperforming the new iPad Mini due to the lower resolution. Xiaomi MiPad with the powerful Tegra K1 is out of reach.

No matter how capricious the benchmarks are, the performance margin of the new Sony tablet is easily enough for all current Android games. Only in N.O.V.A 3 did we encounter minor graphical artifacts:

Video playback

Format	Container, video, sound	MX Video Player	Native video player
DVDRip	AVI, XviD, 720 × 400, 2200 Kbps, MP3 + AC3	reproduced normally	reproduced normally
Web-DL SD	AVI, XviD, 720 × 400, 1400 Kbps, MP3 + AC3	reproduced normally	reproduced normally
Web-DL HD	MKV, H.264, 1280 × 720, 3000 Kbps, AC3	reproduced normally	played without sound
BDRip 720p	MKV, H.264, 1280 × 720, 4000 Kbps, AC3	reproduced normally	played without sound
BDRip 1080p	MKV, H.264, 1920 × 1080, 8000 Kbps, AC3	reproduced normally	played without sound

The achievements of the Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact include the fact that the standard player attached subtitles to the video without any problems. Hardware decoding of AC3 tracks is not supported.

Additionally, the MHL interface was tested (support for MHL version 3.0 is declared). To test it, we used a monitor ViewSonic VX2363Smhl that supports direct MHL connection (in version 2.0) using a passive Micro-USB to HDMI adapter cable. In this case, the MHL output was carried out in a resolution of 1920 × 1080 pixels with a frequency of 60 fps. Regardless of the actual orientation of the tablet, the display of the image on the screens of the tablet and monitor is carried out only in landscape orientation with the connector on the tablet to the right. In this case, the image on the monitor is exactly inscribed in the boundaries of the display area (if you do not forget to increase the setting Image size up to 100%) and one to one repeats the image on the tablet screen in the form of interpolation from 1920 × 1200 to 1920 × 1080 pixels, that is, with vertical compression of the picture.

When connecting via MHL, an icon for accessing MHL settings appears in the event list, and an icon for launching several favorite programs:

Traditionally, in the case of Sony, the tablet connected via MHL can act as a remote control for the TV, if the latter supports this function.

MHL audio is output and is of good quality. At the same time, sounds are not output through the loudspeaker of the tablet itself, and the volume is not regulated by the buttons on the tablet case, but is turned off. In our case, the tablet with the MHL adapter connected, judging by the charge indicator, was charging.

Then, using a set of test files with an arrow and a rectangle moving one division per frame (see "Testing methods for video playback and display devices. Version 1 (for mobile devices)"), we checked how the video is displayed on the tablet itself. Screenshots with an exposure of 1 s helped to determine the nature of the frame output of video files with various parameters: the resolution was 1280 × 720 (720p), 1920 × 1080 (1080p) and 3840 × 2160 (4K) pixels and the frame rate was 24, 25, 30, 50 and 60 fps. In our tests we used the MX Player video player in the "Hardware" mode. The results of this (block labeled "Tablet Screen") and the following test are tabulated:

File

Uniformity

Skips

Tablet screen

4K / 30p

Great

4K / 25p

4K / 24p

1080 / 60p

Great

1080 / 50p

1080 / 30p

1080 / 25p

1080 / 24p

720 / 60p

Great

720 / 50p

720 / 30p

720 / 25p

720 / 24p

MHL (monitor output)

4K / 30p

Great

4K / 25p

4K / 24p

1080 / 60p

Great

1080 / 50p

1080 / 30p

1080 / 25p

1080 / 24p

marks indicate possible problems with the playback of the respective files.

According to the criterion for outputting frames, the quality of video files playback on the screen of the tablet itself is good, since frames (or groups of frames) may output with a more or less uniform alternation of intervals and without skipping frames. The displayed range of brightness is equal to the standard range of 16-235, in shadows and highlights all gradations of shades are displayed. When playing video files with a resolution of 1920 × 1080 pixels (1080p), the image of the video file itself is displayed exactly on the wide screen edge in its original resolution.

With a monitor connected via MHL, during video playback, an exact copy of the tablet screen is displayed on the monitor, that is, again with vertical compression and distortion of the proportions. In the player, you can forcibly stretch the image to full screen, then in the case of files of 1920 × 1080 pixels (1080p) on the monitor screen, the aspect ratio of the 16: 9 image will be restored, and the clarity will be equal to the original:

However, this technique will not work if the aspect ratio of the video file is different from the aspect ratio of the screen of the external device, that is, in this case, from 16: 9. The brightness range displayed on the monitor is equal to the standard range of 16-235, in the shadows only a couple of the darkest shades are indistinguishable in brightness from black, but all the gradations of shades are displayed in the highlights. The results of the monitor output tests are shown in the table above in the "MHL (monitor output)" block. The output quality is good.

The conclusion is typical: an MHL connection can be used for games, watching movies, displaying web pages and other activities that benefit from an increase in screen size, but the manufacturer left the task of restoring the correct proportions to the user.

Wireless support and OTG mode

The Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact comes in both Wi-Fi and 3G / LTE versions. Moreover, after installing a Nano-SIM card, the tablet is able to work as a phone - with voice calls and SMS. Conversations, however, can only be carried out in speakerphone mode. In principle, to maintain privacy, you can lower the volume to the minimum level; the quality of voice transmission is quite sufficient to do this. But in noisy environments, this trick will not work.

The tablet is able to determine the location using GPS, Glonass and Beidou satellites. A-GPS is supported. Coordinates are determined even indoors, and communication with satellites is easily established near the window. On the street, the list of connections looks very impressive. In addition to navigation, Bluetooth 4.0 and NFC are supported.

External drives can be connected via USB OTG. The speed of copying to the device memory is about 11.3 MB / s, in the opposite direction - 7.58 MB / s. In addition, it supports the installation of microSD cards and connection to Windows / SFTP shares.

Cameras

The main camera of the Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact has a resolution of 8 megapixels, and the front camera is 2.2 megapixels. Anton Soloviev commented on the work of the tablet cameras.

Sony still doesn't consider the tablet camera to be an important element, so it installs simple modules and doesn't really bother working on their software. What we see in the pictures is an example of not the worst budget camera. She will cope with the shooting of the text, and with photo notes too. But it is simply not designed for more. We will not argue that the tablet camera can only be used for capturing text, since there will certainly be those who use it much more widely. Nevertheless, with this main function, she, perhaps, will cope. Not always perfect, but perfectly acceptable.

We also tested the camera on a laboratory bench using our method.

The stand once again confirms that the camera is not enough stars from the sky. Two main lovers of good cameras in tablets confidently bypass it. Although Apple simply monitors the quality of cameras and tries to keep up, Samsung has long taken tablet cameras seriously, equipping them with good modules and even flashes. Still, a tablet camera is not a smartphone camera at all, and here it cannot be said that the more the better. However, it would not hurt Sony to take this issue a little more seriously.

The camera can shoot video in Full HD format. An example video is shown below.

The main camera copes with video shooting satisfactorily. Sharpness is good, focus and exposure are adjusted with a slight delay, but quite confidently.

The front camera, despite the high resolution, is also far from ideal:

In order to find out if the capabilities of the tablet camera are enough for specific needs, we will present a small photo shoot from Barcelona and Figueres.

Autonomous work

In terms of battery capacity, the Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact is inferior to all competitors from the table, even the Acer tablet. In all likelihood, such sacrifices had to be made for the sake of small thickness.

The charge is consumed almost evenly until the tablet is completely discharged. Stamina power saving mode is available in the tablet settings. Basically, it is proposed to do this at the expense of limiting functionality, but it is also possible to limit only performance.

In this view, we have enabled Stamina mode for the read script.

	Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact	Acer Iconia Tab 8 (A1-840FHD)	Xiaomi MiPad	Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4	Apple iPad mini 3
Battery capacity, mAh	4500	4600	6700	4800	6471
Reading mode (brightness 100 cd / m²)	23 h 54 min (Moon + Reader, auto scrolling)	9 h 9 min (Moon + Reader, auto scrolling)	14 h 58 min (Moon + Reader, auto scrolling)	13 h 46 min (Moon + Reader, auto scrolling)	13 h 40 min
720p online video playback (100 cd / m² brightness)	13 h (direct link, MX Player)	6 h 21 min (direct link, MX Player)	13 h 46 min (direct link, MX Player)	12h 55min (direct link, MX Player)	10 h 30 min (Youtube)
Game Mode (Epic Citadel Guided Tour, 100 cd / m² brightness)	7 h 16 min	2 h 57 min	7 h 44 mins	5 h 18 min	5 h 30 min

Surprisingly, battery life turned out to be one of the strongest points of the Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact. The tablet easily leaves almost all competitors out of work, which is especially noticeable when Stamina mode is on. For the Xiaomi Mi Pad, the results are shown in the power saving mode, but in a sparing scenario this does not help it. As an e-book, the Sony tablet can work continuously for 24 hours, and this with a battery capacity of almost one and a half times less than that of the new iPad mini!

From a standard adapter, a Sony device is charged in four hours - a standard indicator for tablets.

conclusions

As a result of testing, the Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact found only one weak point - cameras (the demand for which in tablets can be argued for a long time). The display of the tablet makes an ambiguous impression: the picture is, as they say, "for an amateur", but the screen is of high quality. The design looks the same: practicality is at the forefront here. This gives several pleasant bonuses - very small thickness, weight, water resistance, reliable grip on the palm.

But this approach has a downside: the Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact does not look as impressive as its main competitor, the iPad mini 3. Sony's retaliation is a little less than crushing: the advantages of the Apple product here can be opposed to the above features of the Sony case, phone calls, stereo speakers, exclusive Play Station 4 compatibility and of course longer battery life.

As is usually the case in the confrontation between iOS and Android, the choice in this case will largely depend on subjective preferences. And we only state one thing: the regiment of expensive and high-quality tablets has arrived.

Sony Xperia Z3 tablet compact 16gb is an interesting tablet, the strengths and weaknesses of which we will analyze in detail as part of a detailed review. In short, it is distinguished by a stylish and compact body, support for modern communication frequencies, an excellent display, interesting proprietary technologies, protection from moisture and dust, and much more.

The package bundle does not bode well:

The gadget itself;
Network adapter;
USB cable.

The manufacturer positions the tablet as one of the best in the world and these are not empty words at all. It is the lightest, because it weighs only 270 grams with a diagonal of 8 inches. In addition, it has IP68 water protection, so you can safely submerge it to a depth of 1.5 meters.

The advantages do not end there, because it also has dialer functions, you can take a call and communicate without a headset. Yes, with such dimensions it is not very convenient, but many will find it useful. The bezels around the display are so thin that you barely notice them. The back cover is made of matte plastic, it doesn't get dirty at all. There is a choice of black and white versions of the Sony Xperia Z3 tablet compact 16gb, the price of which does not differ.

Sony is a world-famous manufacturer that takes care of its customers, offering an extensive selection of additional accessories. Among them are a convenient docking station, a wireless keyboard, a case with a stand. The side faces are made of metal, but there are polymer inserts in the corners. Caps cover the slot for a memory card (up to 128 GB) and a SIM card in nano format.

On the back there is an 8 megapixel camera lens, and in the center there is an NFC area. At the bottom there is a microUSB port hidden under a cap. In order not to have to constantly suffer with plugs, we recommend purchasing a docking station.

The design of the tablet certainly pleases the eye - it is strict and without any special frills, but at the same time it attracts with its minimalism. The round power key and volume rocker are located on the right.

It was better to place the 3.5 mm jack on the top, because now it protrudes from the side, which is not good.

Above the display, there is an event indicator light so you never miss a notification. The volume of the speakers is sufficient even for the most demanding users. The dimensions of the case are as follows: 213.3x6.4x123.6 mm. While reviewing the Sony Xperia Z3 tablet compact lte, we were pleased with the way the tablet fits in the hand. If you have your opinion on this matter, then you can leave it in the reviews.

Display

The Sony Xperia Z3 tablet compact lte screen justifies the price. When writing a review, we were left with a good impression of the quality of the display. It is made using IPS technology with a diagonal of 8 inches and FullHD resolution. It has an excellent reserve of brightness, maximum viewing angles, as well as natural colors. You can exit the lock mode by double tapping on the display. Auto brightness adjustment works correctly. There is an original mode in which the backlight turns off when you stop looking at the screen. For use in cold winter weather, the “With gloves” mode is provided. You can customize the white balance. The interface has large application icons, but their size can be changed in the parameters.

Sony Xperia Z3 tablet compact specifications

A processor built on 4 cores Qualcomm Snapdragon 801, 2.5 GHz is responsible for the tablet's performance, which, in combination with 3 GB of RAM and an Adreno 330 video accelerator, guarantees a fast interface and the ability to run even the most demanding games. There are two modifications - for 16 and 32 GB of internal memory. The volume can be expanded using microSD. The set of wireless interfaces is quite standard - Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi, NFC.

The test results are as follows:

Interface

While reviewing the Sony Xperia Z3 tablet compact 16gb, I would like to pay special attention to the interface, which is very beautiful and convenient. A lot of additional software is installed as standard and there is an opinion that if you remove it, you can achieve not only freeing up free space, but also improve test results in Antutu. The figures are not record-breaking, but the tablet runs smoothly and plays any games at maximum graphics settings. A huge selection of proprietary apps are installed, such as radio, Evernote for taking notes, Garmin navigator, Dropbox cloud storage, video editing software, Walkman music player, proprietary gallery and much more.

Cameras

When compiling a review of the Sony Xperia Z3 tablet compact, we were pleasantly surprised by its cameras, which is not at all expected from a tablet. The selfie camera has a resolution of 2.2 megapixels, and the main one is 8 megapixels. In good light, you can get great pictures, but the flash is unfortunately missing. You can experiment with signature effects and camera settings.

Autonomy

The Sony Xperia Z3 tablet has a 4500 mAh battery with the promised operating time of 13 hours when watching videos. Stamina's proprietary energy saving technology significantly extends autonomy. It works in several modes. In the most economical, when the display is locked, all activity in the background mode stops. With the included adapter, charging takes about 5 hours, so it will take a long time to wait for the charge to be replenished.

Modifications

The Sony Xperia Z3 tablet compact reviews are positive, and the price largely depends on the modification. The device is available in black and white. The first one will be more practical. There is a version with support for Wi-Fi, and there is Wi-Fi + LTE, which one you decide to choose. The cost of the latter is about 30,000 rubles. It all depends on the specifics of use. If you often take your tablet with you and use it for conversations, then the LTE version will be optimal, but it is available only with a memory capacity of 16 GB, of which only about 10 are available to the user. The Wi-Fi version is available with 16 and 32 GB of storage.

Output

The Sony Xperia Z3 tablet compact 16gb is waterproof, high-quality sound of the conversational and multimedia speaker, good photographic capabilities, autonomy and high-performance filling. The case not only looks stylish, but also lightweight. If you are pissed off by plugs, then just buy a docking station. The only drawback will be the small amount of memory by modern standards, because many already lack 64 GB.

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Your rating for a smartphone:

A new hit from the creators of the Xperia Tablet S, Tablet Z and Z2 Tablet. One of the most stylish and lightest compact tablets on the market with flagship features (Snapdragon 801 processor, 3GB RAM, microSD card support up to 128GB), IP68 dust and moisture protection, light weight, large battery and, of course, fantastic price. In terms of power, the device is completely identical to both the previous Xperia Z2 Tablet and flagship smartphones, in particular the Z3 line, the device's performance is excessive, it flies in both the interface and games. This tablet (like the larger model) is the fastest and most enjoyable Android tablet I have ever held in my hands.

What else is interesting about it?

The Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact is the world's thinnest tablet at the time of its release. Unlike smartphones-carriers of the same title, there is no compromise in every detail. Like Sony's new flagship smartphones, the tablet supports Wi-Fi remote control of the PS4. The Z3 Tablet Compact has powerful stereo speakers positioned on the body in the same way as in the HTC Nexus 9.

What does he look like?

The tablet is very similar to the Z2 Tablet in materials and design of the case, but the materials of this "tablet" collect fingerprints not so diligently. In terms of tactile sensations, the materials of the case are somewhat remotely reminiscent of sandpaper, so the tablet does not slip either in the hands or on a smooth surface. By the way, the same material was used in the ancient Xperia Go smartphone. Let me remind you that this was the first mid-range model in a waterproof case.

The tablet is so compact that you can even hold it in one hand. However, it is impossible to just hold and operate the 8-inch model with one hand.

And although the material of the case is far from the definition of "glamorous" and "charming", the minimalism of design, simplicity and subtlety of the model will instantly fall in love with you. Note that there is no flash on the rear panel - this tablet lacks one, although flagship “tablets” often even have a flash.

The Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact is even more thrilled when you catch yourself thinking that the device weighs almost nothing. 270 grams is a record in the 8-inch segment today. Even the iPad Mini 2 is heavier. It is comfortable to read from the tablet, because the hand does not get tired of it at all. Of course, it is also comfortable to play with toys, where you need to keep the device suspended, and even turn it. For example, in any race.

Since the Z3 Tablet Compact is protected against dust and moisture, most of the connectors on the case are located under the caps. Only the audio output is open, but this is not uncommon for protected devices. The tablet exists in a version with LTE, in this case a nano-slot is allocated for a SIM-card, and it is located in the same “compartment” as the slot for microSD. In our model, which only has Wi-Fi support, the connector is tightly closed with some kind of plastic.

It is so thin, it probably gets very hot?

No, the casing is not hot on this 6.4mm tablet despite the powerful Snapdragon 801 processor. The device gets warm under heavy gaming load, but it doesn’t come at the temperatures of the Nexus 9 or Samsung Galaxy Note Edge. holds out, although these models do not pull the title of heaters.

What's up with the screen this time?

The situation with screens in Sony mobile devices is very reminiscent of an old anecdote about an intellectual at a psychologist's appointment: sorry, I couldn't resist. Even when the company switched in its flagship smartphones from unclear what screens to IPS, it was unable to provide them with sufficient quality. Poor calibration was a new weak point. There were no problems with tablet displays in previous models. But the Z3 Tablet Compact got a "blue" screen with settings out of the box. In this form, it will be perfectly readable under the sun, but blue Internet pages and blue faces in films, and incorrect color rendering during photography are striking. In the screen settings, the intensity of blue, green and red can be manually adjusted. Then you can start enjoying the high definition (FulHD), fine detail (283 ppi), vibrant colors and superb sensitivity. By the way, the tablet screen supports both gloves and wet fingers. The sensitivity of the sensor in this mode is so high that in some places it is even annoying, so I turned it off altogether. Auto adjust backlight brightness works correctly. Deep in the display settings, there is also a “smart backlight” that remains on as long as the tablet is in the hands.

How long does the battery hold?

The Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact is equipped with a 4500 mAh battery. Thanks to a modern processor with good energy efficiency in standby mode, when there are no running applications in the background, the device loses several percent a day. In online video playback mode with an average brightness of the backlight in FullHD-quality, the battery of the device lasts for more than 11 hours. Of course, with the power saving mode turned off. This is a very decent result for a modern tablet. By the way, in the device settings, the notification and energy efficiency control point has grown noticeably. If you go on a trip with your tablet, be sure to study it, turn off unnecessary things. Because the Megogo application running in the background alone will consume the battery power in a day. And unnecessary notifications are not only annoying, but also eat up fractions of a percent of the charge.

What's new in the interface?

Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact runs Android 4.4 and Sony's proprietary interface. The interface does not change much from generation to generation, but still regularly masters new tricks. In the interface of the Z3 Tablet Compact, the user is greeted with the same rigor and minimalism, a comfortable keyboard and the darkness of Sony branded applications. The notification panel is divided into two parts: with notifications proper and with quick access to settings. I don't like this trend in Android devices, but you can live. The interface is well adapted for both vertical and horizontal use. And on the other hand, the tablet learned my favorite trick - unlocking the screen by double tap.

The sound tuning menu has grown to an unprecedented size. The tablet has special audio modes for a number of Sony headsets, surround sound modes (although it is better to turn them off at least when listening to music through speakers, the result in headphones is not for everybody) and support for Hi-Res audio.

The tablet supports NFC, and in its settings there is a popular now option “touch payment”. When I installed the Privatbank Privat24 application on the device, it was displayed in this menu item as the default touch payment application. Unfortunately, I was not able to test the operation of this function.

But the biggest number of updates came to the camera interface. Although it does not differ in special photographic capabilities, thanks to the presence of more than ten out-of-the-box shooting modes and a number of additional paid and free ones in the app store, the tablet camera can captivate any lover of non-standard photos for a long time. Including new augmented reality functions, which even moved to their own menu item - AR-leisure. In them, the photo can be “thrown” with all sorts of strange things - buckets of paint, bombs, etc. In my opinion, this function has no practical application. But I remember well the story when the four-year-old son of friends downloaded an application with similar capabilities to the iPad and played with it for several days in a row. I think this is an exclusively childish joy.

Well, the photos themselves. The camera does not have a flash, the module is 8-megapixel, it can shoot video in FullHD, but photos should only be taken in sunny weather, because in winter, on a not very clear day, this kind of sadness is obtained (and in the original resolution there are pictures in a separate gallery on Torba).

What's in the box?

The package for the Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact is minimalistic: charger, USB cable, documents.

And what are the alternatives?

Z3 Tablet Compact at the time of preparation of the review costs 9 thousand hryvnia in the basic configuration (16 GB of internal memory, without a SIM slot). This is about the same as asking for an Apple iPad Mini 3, but noticeably more than the cost of today Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 (7-8 thousand hryvnia) or Apple iPad Mini 2 (6-7.5 thousand hryvnia). When making a choice between all these devices, first of all, you should decide on the platform. If iOS is nicer or you already have gadgets on it (and at the same time purchases in the store), then there is no point in switching to Android for the sake of a waterproof case. If you use Android gadgets, then choosing between Sony and Samsung compact tablets will be a little more difficult than between Apple iPad Mini 2 and Apple iPad Mini 3. It has a better camera and higher display detail. But there is one “but”. Due to the screen resolution of 1600x2560 pixels and the heavier proprietary TouchWiz shell, the device interface works so quickly. The Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact has enough performance for two: the screen resolution here is moderately high, and the shell is "light". And also - the tablet is so thin and light that on the road it is not felt in the bag at all, with it you can fearlessly watch movies in the bathroom, read or play on it more comfortably. But you will have to pay more for this comfort. Well, if the compatibility of the device with the PS4 is really important to you, then there is simply no choice.

In the dry residue

The Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact is another great Sony-branded tablet. Although the model has practically not changed in terms of characteristics compared to the Z2 Tablet (only the display has become smaller and the screen is clearer), the company has done the right job in the area of the capabilities of proprietary software in the new generation. Improved autonomy settings, a bunch of camera chips (however, there are most likely unnecessary, but still), "smart" functions (though many of them have long been in competitors' devices), a proprietary chip that allows you to play from a tablet to PS4 - that's all useful and pleasant things. But even without them, the device turned out to be the best or one of the leaders in almost everything among its classmates: design, ergonomics, lightness, performance, autonomy. For these things, the Z3 Tablet Compact can be loved without looking back. If you are preparing to buy a compact tablet and the budget allows you to opt for this particular model, then we recommend that you do just that. The only contraindication in it is the camera - here it is weaker than in the flagship tablet of Samsung and Apple. If you plan to shoot on your tablet while traveling (we do not approve, but you never know), it is better to take something from the aforementioned competitors. Yes, and you will have to tinker with the screen settings for a few seconds, but its "cyanosis", fortunately, is fixable.

5 reasons to buy Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact:

uncompromising performance;
protection against dust and moisture IP68;
impressive autonomy;
you need a tablet with the ability to play remotely on PS4;
record low weight and thickness.

2 reasons not to buy the Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact:

you can't afford it;
you plan to take pictures with a tablet, so you are looking for a device with a decent camera.

Specifications Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact
Display	8 "", IPS, 1920x1200 pixels (283 ppi)
Dimensions and weight	dimensions 213х124х6.4 mm, weight 270 g, protection IP68
Operating system	Android 4.4.2 (Upgrade to Android 5.0 pending)
CPU	quad-core, Qualcomm Snapdragon 801, 2.5 GHz, Krait 400 core architecture, Adreno 330 graphics
RAM	3 GB
Storage device	16/32 GB + microSD cards up to 128 GB
Camera	8 MP, 1080p video; autofocus, front 2 MP
Communications	Wi-Fi 802.11b / g / n / ac, Wi-Fi Direct, MHL, Bluetooth 4.0, a-GPS + GLONASS, LTE (optional), NFC
Connectors	microUSB (with OTG support)
Battery	4500 mAh

Sony decided to make their new tablet compact. While Apple is rumored to be killing the iPad mini, Sony, on the other hand, has ditched 10 inches in favor of eight. Looking ahead, let's say that in the case of a Japanese company this is more than justified.

Review of the tablet Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact: the best choice

Despite the Compact prefix in the name, we will most likely not see the "big" Z3 Tablet. Maybe it's for the best - most Android apps still haven't learned how to use screen space efficiently, as it is implemented in the same iPad. For example, the Facebook login screen still displays login and password input lines across the full width of the screen.

So, there is no point in a large 10-inch screen for an Android tablet. Eight inches is also enough for watching movies, playing games, surfing the web and reading. At the same time, the tablet itself is lighter and takes up less space in the bag (compare, at least, with the Xperia Z2).

		Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet	NVIDIA Shield Tablet	Lenovo TAB S8
Screen	8 '', TFT IPS 1920x1200 px	10.1 '', TFT IPS 1920x1200 px	8 '', TFT IPS 1920x1200 px	8 '', TFT IPS 1920x1200 px
CPU	Qualcomm Snapdragon 801	Qualcomm Snapdragon 801	NVIDIA Tegra K1-32 4x 2320 MHz + 1	Intel Atom Z3745
GPU	Adreno 330	Adreno 330	NVIDIA Kepler GeForce ULP MP192	Intel HD Graphics
RAM	3 GB	3 GB	2 GB	2 GB
Built-in memory	16/32 GB	16/32 GB	16/32 GB	16/32 GB
Memory cards	MicroSD	MicroSD	MicroSD	-
Wi-Fi	802.11 a / b / g / n / ac	802.11 a / b / g / n	802.11a / b / g / n	802.11 b / g / n
Bluetooth	4.0	4.0	4.0	4.0
Rear camera	8.1 megapixels	8.1 megapixels	5 megapixels	8 megapixels
Front-camera	2.1 megapixels	2.1 megapixels	5 megapixels	1.6 megapixels
Additionally	Dust and moisture protection IP65 / 68	Dust and moisture protection IP55 / 58	Support for streaming games from PC stereo speakers	USB 3.0 host / client
Dimensions (edit)	123.6x213.4x6.4 mm	172x266x6.4 mm	126x221x9.2 mm	123.8x209.8x7.87 mm
Weight	270 g	426 g	390 g	299 g
Battery	4500 mAh	6000 mAh	6700 mAh	4290 mAh
Price	from i 23 000	from i 22,000	from i 14 000	?

Source: ZOOM.CNews

As you can see, in comparison with the Z2, apart from the dimensions and a slightly different processor, only the Wi-Fi module was changed - now it supports the 802.11ac protocol, which should come in handy for the tablet's most important feature - support for streaming games from the PlayStation 4. However, if you believe the official website of the company, 802.11ac works only in the version with 32 GB of memory and without LTE. The remaining two options: with Wi-Fi and 16 GB of memory, as well as with LTE and 16 GB are equipped with only 802.11n.

Appearance

Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact is made in the corporate style of the company. For several generations, the style of devices from Sony has not changed, which means that the manufacturer has "groped" an effective and effective solution.

Tablet Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact

Since the body of the tablet is dust and moisture resistant, almost all connectors, except for the headphone jack, are hidden behind caps.

However, one of the main "diseases" of such a solution is that the plugs tend to go away after a month or two of use. Especially if you open them often.

Micro-USB connector

At least one plug - the micro-USB port - will have to be opened quite often.

To avoid this, you can buy a docking station, and then charge using two contacts at the end, but this is an additional expense.

Dock connector, micro-SIM slot and microSD slot

In the LTE version of the tablet, in addition to microSD memory cards, micro-SIM cards are supported.

Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact in hand

The dimensions of the tablet are compact enough to hold it with one hand, although it will not work like this all the time.

Screen

The tablet has an 8-inch screen with a resolution of 1920x1200 pixels, based on an IPS-matrix and "flavored" with Triluminos technology. In words it sounds very cool, but in fact there are claims to the stock of brightness, and indeed to the color rendition. The picture feels rather dull, especially if you put the NVIDIA Shield Tablet next to it, which has the same screen in terms of characteristics, but looks much better in life.

That is, in general, the screen of the Z3 Tablet Compact is good, but for such a price I would like to be even better.

Functionality and performance

The Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact runs on Android 4.4 out of the box. As the interface, the proprietary shell from Sony is used, which is laconic and is made, by default, in dark blue tones.

Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact interface

In every sense, the closest competitor to the Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact is the NVIDIA Shield Tablet. Firstly, it has a screen that is very similar in characteristics. Secondly, he also knows how to work "out of the box" with a proprietary gamepad. Thirdly, both tablets, unlike all the others, support game streaming. Only the NVIDIA product plays games on the remote PC, while the Z3 Tablet Compact plays on.

System information Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact

However, in addition to all this, the Shield is positioned itself as a gaming tablet, which is hinted at by its performance - at the moment, the top among Android tablets. Plus, it has a stylus.

On the other hand, the Sony device is more compact, lighter, it can “swim” in water without harm to its own “health”, and its camera is better (if it is important to someone).

Test results in AnTuTu Benchmark

Let's measure the performance of the Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact in various benchmarks and at the same time compare it to the Shield Tablet.

	Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact	NVIDIA Shield Tablet
AnTuTu Benchmark	41303	53867
3D Mark (Ice Storm Unlimited)	17620	32859
Epic Citadel (Ultra High Quality)	52.5 FPS	59.4 FPS
Geekbench 3 (single-core)	957	1119
Geekbench 3 (multi-core)	2651	3408

Source: ZOOM.CNews

In general, in terms of performance, the Sony tablet lags behind NVIDIA, but in practice there is not a single game so far that would slow down on it. As for streaming games, there is no need for powerful graphics at all, because the picture is transmitted "over the air" as a compressed video.

By the way, about streaming. In order to play PlayStation 4 games, as it was previously possible with the PS Vita, you need to install the dedicated PS4 Remote Play application from Google Play and launch it. After launching, you need to log in with your PSN account, and the program itself will find the turned on PS4, even if it is not on the local Wi-Fi network (if only the tablet and PS4 have stable access to the Internet at a high enough speed).

After connecting - the screen of the Z3 Tablet Compact displays the "desktop" of the console, from which you can run any applications and games. If you do not connect the gamepad to the tablet, then the control will be carried out using the touch screen.

But this is, of course, inconvenient. It's much more convenient to take the DualShock 4 controller, sold with the PS4 or separately, and connect it to the tablet - again, using the app.

Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact with DualShock 4 Controller and Battlefield 4

You can play either by placing the tablet on a stand, or by purchasing a special attachment that connects the tablet and a gamepad - this way you can play on the road (if, of course, the speed of the Internet connection is sufficient).

In general, given that the image from the tablet can be displayed on the TV via MHL-HDMI, as well as full and convenient control from the native gamepad, such a solution for remote play on PS4 is more interesting than PS Vita. Which, by the way, due to the lack of decent games for more than a year, has now become a completely unnecessary gadget.

Battery

The autonomy of the Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact is okay. Including if you use it in smartphone mode.

Almost 4 hours of screen time is a good result.

Total

The Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact has everything you could wish for: LTE (as well as all the features of the phone in the LTE version), dust and water resistance, good performance, good screen and even streaming games from PS4. The only weak point of the device is the Android OS itself, which is still very much inferior to both iOS and Windows in terms of usability on tablets.

On the other hand, if the Android + tablet bundle does not bother you at all, then what could be better than the Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact? Perhaps, NVIDIA Shield Tablet - but this is already a matter of personal preferences, which is more important to you: a protected compact case and PS4 games, or an excellent screen, games on a PC, but at the same time rather big dimensions.

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