The lightest 10-inch 2-in-1 comes in at just 772 grams (1.7 pounds) including the keyboard. There’s a high-brightness 2K resolution screen, the latest 8-core CPU, 3GB of RAM, it’s waterproof, can run Office, has disk encryption, and should last you all day long. It’s the Sony Xperia Z4 tablet, running Android. I looked at it while I was at MWC and I’m looking at it again now because the first set of reviews are very positive and the prices seem good. It sounds like the dream ultra-mobile PC.
The all-in price for the Xperia Z4, keyboard and the LTE option is around €650 which is half the price of a Macbook which means if you aren’t expecting to edit videos while on-the-go and are only concerned with a small amount of keyboard use, the Xperia Z4 is defiantly one to take a look at. Here’s what I said about the keyboard in my first-impressions post.
While testing the keyboard I felt like I was back in the netbook years. It’s a little cramped compared when compared to even the $200 11.6-inch Windows and Chrome OS laptops. This isn’t an all-day keyboard but there’s a multi-touch, clickable touchpad and the quality seems good enough for emails, blog articles, note-taking and efficient use of social networks.
The Guardian are really happy with the keyboard. “It’s one of the best tablet keyboards I’ve ever used” says the reviewer but I’m not quite sure where their reference point is. If it’s good compared to some cheap add-on keyboards, then OK but it’s probably not one of the best if you bring some of the Windows 2-in-1 PCs into consideration. Overall the review seem good and the summary fits: “when the tablet is combined with the keyboard, making a very capable and simple laptop replacement that is thinner, lighter and lasts longer on battery than most.”
Techradar seem to like the keyboard, even if it’s just to use it as a stand! Like the Guardian they’re impressed with the screen and the weight and summarise by calling it the “one true alternative to the iPad.” But what about laptops? Techradar have some detail in their review about Sony’s user interface. (It’s not stock Android 5.)
Alphr talks about the keyboard with respect to a Surface 3 keyboard and it’s here that I feel we’re getting nearer to a useful opinion for ultra-mobile PC fans. “…the keyboard falls a long, long way short of the refinement offered by Microsoft’s Type Cover.” If you’ve used the Type Cover you’ll know that it itself isn’t excatly a shining example of productive keyboards. Alphr managed to get 12 hours video playback from the tablet.
All specifications, videos and links to more information on the Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet are in our database.
Nicole Scott (Mobilegeeks.com) with the Xperia Z4 Tablet.
You can see all 10-inch detachables in this live list here.
Early reviews are unanimous in calling the Xperia Z4 tablet a true competitor to the iPad Air 2 which is also heading towards productivity. Meanwhile Windows 10 products like the Transformer Book T100HA and new HP Pavilion 10 X2 are coming so it’s going to be a really interesting Q4 this year. I’ll do my best to pull a three-way review and live session together later in the year when IOS 9 and Windows 10 are in the market. Meanwhile, let’s have a chat about the three operating systems.
[P.S. Does anyone want me to switch to Disqus commenting here? Would it be easier? Update: This site has just been migrated over to Disqus.]
I had one on order but got so pissed off with the delays i cancelled it. Gonna check them out when they hit the stores in the UK
Chippy, off topic but comments are disabled on the w10 tablet article, do U have any news about the just announced HP Pro Tablet 608, can’t paste the link here.
Finally a tablet with a decent screen, not a fan of atoms, i3 is the sweet spot for me
Hmm, I use Sony A7R camera, Vaio Flip15A laptop, and used to own Ultra Z phone and the only thing with good build quality is camera. My laptop’s rubber feet things keep falling off and I had to glue it back, the arrow keys are falling apart, I had to get the screen fixed due to the burn in problem. With Ultra Z, touch screen and LCD broke and the guy wanted to charge me 300$ to replace them…
Yeah, take the “Sony build quality” with a small grain of salt.
I was briefly pondering a Samsung Note Pro 12.2 for work, but then I found out there’s no proper dock (can’t charge, use external monitor and usb at same time) and I remembered how hard I have to work to keep my Android phone up to date and operating how I like it (rooting, flashing custom kernels, xposed framework to get rid of annoyances etc). It’s Windows for me, definitely. Hoping Skylake will bring more hi Res tabs – 2560×1600 is the best thing about the Note tabs.