Sony Brings Forward the Xperia S Tab

Sony Xperia S is yet another Android tablet by Sony to hit the market, and in a big way too. This time, however, Sony doesn’t seem to compete with archenemy Apple but has changed its target to Samsung Galaxy Tab range of devices. The company struggles to attain the top position in this sphere, so let’s see how far it has succeeded.

Hardware:

Sony Xperia appears similar to its older version but has been improved to a sleek and slender design. The closed magazine curved look is similar to its predecessor, but in a refined manner for easier grip with one hand. The 9.4 inch display has a resolution of 1280x 1536 pixels which truly fails to impress but for casual users it won’t be much of a difference.

The device is powered by a 1.3 GHz Nvidia Tegra 3 quad core processor along with a 1GB RAM. This a plus evident with its speed but slight stuttering and slower screen wake up are some minor issues present in the device.

The storage options range from 16, 32 and 64GB which are expandable via MicroSd card. The ports include headphone jack and charging port along with two speakers at the rear.

The battery life is up to 9-10 hours of continuous use which is quite appreciated for such devices.

Software:

The highly expected Jelly Bean is not present, instead Sony Xperia S runs on Android ICS. However, Sony has added a customization layer, without any change in icons or color schemes. An appreciated addition is that of Small Apps tapping which launches pop up widgets to be displayed on the top of the screen. Another impressive addition is of Guest Mode which creates several accounts to be used by guests but doesn’t provide them the access to all functions. This will allow users to share their devices without any privacy hazard.

Another remarkable addition is of Remote App which allows the users to communicate with almost any device. Apart from these, many other Sony apps and offerings are available on the device.

Reading Experience:

The folded magazine design helps in holding the tablet with one hand. This facility is further enhanced by its small weight: a mere 1.3 pounds. The ebooks can be loaded via the Sony Store but other major stores can also be accessed via its reading apps. The wide angles also help in keeping a smooth view from even odd positions.

The Sony Xperia is overall a solid device but its price might scare some customers: $399. Although Sony has managed to diminish the flaws of Sony Xperia S’ predecessor but still has some major hiccups which are a concern for such a hefty price. It seems that Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 is a better option with a higher battery time and quality sound output. In fact, if size is not an essential feature, the 7 inch Nexus 7 is a better alternative for its solid display, Jelly bean performance and lesser price.

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