Sony Xperia Tablet S Pro Reviews

The splash-proof Sony Xperia Tablet S was first launched a few months ago, but had to be pulled from sale because of problems with its waterproof seal. It’s now back on sale, and watertight, but has the delay sunk it, with numerous competitors breaking the surface since its original launch.

The Xperia Tablet S was Sony's second chance at getting the Android tablet space right. It also represented an opportunity for the company to extend the esteemed Xperia brand to another product category. If we were to judge it based solely on its ergonomic build, then yes, the S wins high marks for comfort. We're not entirely sold on this folded-over magazine shape as a standard for the line going forward, but for now it works, and we're eager to see how it evolves over time. Unfortunately, the S also misses the mark in everyday performance, doling out an uneven software experience that stumbles more than it pleases. Granted, most tablets we've tested hiccup at least a little, but for $399 you might be better off low-balling it for the same specs. While the Xperia Tablet S does feel like an improvement over its predecessor, it ultimately leans too much on the crutch of signature design while skimping on a polished user experience.

If you’re looking for a great stand-alone Android tablet, this isn’t it – it wasn’t made to be the one perfect stand-alone tablet and it doesn’t pretend to be that piece of equipment. Instead you’ve got the best Sony has to offer in a tablet form-factor, and with a quad-core processor from NVIDIA to back it up, it’s perfectly capable as a Sony companion for the rest of your Sony devices.

Ironic or convenient, our review comes out the day Sony announced putting the Xperia Tablet S on hold over manufacturing faults. Essentially, the splash resistance is compromised and a recall is under way, meaning Sony already has a solution to the problem. If nothing else, this gives you some extra time to consider your options and our take on the Tablet S may help as well. The Sony Xperia Tablet S is a big improvement over the original and as an overall package, a very nice Android tablet. We still get the feeling that it's intended mostly as a stay-home tablet with all that IR remote functionality, the fold trading thickness for comfort and the Guest mode feature that lets the entire family share the tablet, each getting their own homescreen (and perhaps restrictions). Still, it's 11.9mm at its thickest and 8.8mm the rest of the way and with the QWERTY keyboard cover, the Xperia Tablet S might actually compete for the interest of road warriors.

Waiting for Sony's new tablet was worthwhile: The Xperia Tablet S brings a welcome change to the tablet market. The Japanese manufacturer relies on the currently popular Tegra 3 chip from Nvidia and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that in view of its known high-performance. Sony also manages to stick out from some strong competition in details. It starts with the case's very high quality build, which is splash-protected and expands the tablets field of use even more. Even the bulge in the tablet's upper third has advantages. The tablet's scratch-sensitive rear does not have direct contact with the table and the slightly unbalanced weight distribution is an advantage when held in one hand. Sony builds a full-sized SD slot into its tablet. The competition only does that in conjunction with docking keyboards, like Asus offers regularly. The screen size of 9.4-inches is also unusual. The smaller screen area is virtually insignificant when compared with the 10-inch competition. The weight of 570 grams (1.26 pounds) is however very pleasing. The screen can score with both a good black value and contrast. The viewing angle stability also fits just like the relatively high performance. However, we have to deal out a bit of criticism despite all the positive points. The cameras: Okay, we'll skip that. The Wi-Fi module's weak transmission bothered us all the more. And that Sony demands 40 Euros (~$52) for a HDMI adapter sounds like moneymaking. On the other hand, the tablet's price of 499 Euros RRP (~$647) is reasonable. Sony ultimately brings a breath of fresh air to the tablet market with its Xperia Tablet S. Nevertheless, you should only surf with it on the Internet despite the splash-protected casing.

The Xperia Tablet S is one of my favorite Android tablets yet, but to be honest I can't totally explain why. I suppose it's because it's one of the few devices I've tested with no glaring flaws — there's no hideous UI skin, no major performance issues, no critical features missing. I like most (but not all) of Sony's software additions. I've used the remote features a lot, more than I expected to. Guest Mode made the Tablet S more amenable to social situations than any other tablet I've used, too. But at the end of the day, the $399 Xperia Tablet S is double the price of the Nexus 7, a tablet with virtually identical specs (even the screen is the same resolution, though it's smaller), Google's latest and greatest OS, and the promise of timely updates in the future. Sony's case for the price premium is more compelling than most other tablet makers — primarily its remote control capability — but unless you're dying to replace your Logitech Harmony, it's hard to recommend against saving $200 and buying a Nexus 7.

Android slates are mostly competing on specs and price these days, rather than with design and overall experience, and the Sony Xperia Tablet S is bringing a knife to a gun fight here. The 16GB version goes for $400 from Sony, and, granted, this is $100 less than the ultra-resolute new iPad, or the ASUS Infinity T700, but for the same $400 price you can get the 1920x1200 pixels 10” screen of the Acer Iconia Tab A700, for example, and with 32GB memory at that. The Xperia Tablet S does offer some features to differentiate it from the competition, though, apart from the distinctive looks, like the useful universal remote control function. Other than that, you can find plenty of good Android tablets with this screen resolution and processing power for even less – the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (10.1), and the Asus Transformer TF300 with 32GB memory come to mind. Overall, those who'd appreciate the more distinctive, elegant look will find the Xperia Tablet S right up their alley. Those who want a tablet with high-res screen, though, better check out the Acer Iconia Tab A700, or the “Resolutionary” new iPad with its hundreds of thousands of tablet-tailored apps.

The Sony Xperia Tablet S is a solid home entertainment focused Android tablet, with an elegant design and some useful built in extras, but mild performance issues and poor battery life temper our enthusiasm.

Sony definitely gets the design right here. The Xperia is one of the most comfortable large form-factor tablets I’ve ever held and while its remote control feature can't compare to a true universal remote, it's thoughtfully implemented and will please those willing to delve deeply into its customization options. Guest mode is a neat feature for families and its full-size expandable storage option is comforting to have. However, the Wi-Fi policy issue, lag when returning from sleep, and intermittent screen flickering need to be addressed ASAP as they seriously adversely affect the tablet's value. With its current issues, I can't recommend it for any price. If Sony hammers those issues out, then the Xperia would stand as a quality tablet, but those looking for a full Android tablet should think twice before buying. The Asus Transformer Pad TF300 offers much of the same options and is currently sitting pretty at $340. Also, if you're strictly looking for a media consumption tablet, the Kindle Fire HD 8.9 inch is coming in November for $300, and if its 7-inch version is any indication, it should be well-worth the money. Then of course, there's the iPad 2's current $400 price with its incredible app and ecosystem support. The Xperia Tablet S isn't necessarily a bad deal at $400, but there are just too many tablets out there providing very similar (and in the case of the iPad 2 better) experiences at the same price or lower. Regardless, make sure Sony addresses the Xperia's performance issues before you buy.