Is the Xperia Z4 tablet a good alternative to the Nexus 9? - Nexus 9 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I really loved the Nexus 9 in the couple months that I had it. Just couldn't stand the lightbleed. Build quality was acceptable but not great.
Now I'm looking for another tablet of comparable specs (9" or bigger with similar performance).
It seems that the Z4 tablet would fit the bill. It has more screen real estate (10.1"), widescreen, better build, expandable storage, similar power (snapdragon 810), more ram, lighter, water resistant, better camera *probably* and *hopefully* a better screen. Xperia devices tend to have consistently good screens, so I don't expect any glaring quality issues in this department. Plus it already has Lollipop. Only obvious drawbacks are side facing speakers, the fact that it is not quite bone-stock Android, somewhat smaller battery, and that it will most likely cost 100-200 more than the Nexus 9 32gb.
Do you guys think its a good alternative?

Do i think a high end tablet that comes out about 4-6 months after the N9 be a good alternative? Yes.
Obviously if you had to buy it today it loses as you can't buy it today. But from what I see the Z4 will be a nice device. just comes down to your needs and when you need it. Don't think it will be that much more expensive (unless it has LTE)

y2whisper said:
Do i think a high end tablet that comes out about 4-6 months after the N9 be a good alternative? Yes.
Obviously if you had to buy it today it loses as you can't buy it today. But from what I see the Z4 will be a nice device. just comes down to your needs and when you need it. Don't think it will be that much more expensive (unless it has LTE)
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It's just that large-sized premium Android tablets seem to be so far and few between these days. It seems that the Nexus 9 and Galaxy Tab S are the only ones that fit this category, so a tablet like the Z4 is much needed. Another other upcoming tablets to consider?

True. Too bad we can't get our hands on the Nokia Tablet. Outside of that there aren't any highly anticipated tablets that are around the corner. Z4 is the leader, and if they are making one, whatever shield tablet comes next.

y2whisper said:
True. Too bad we can't get our hands on the Nokia Tablet. Outside of that there aren't any highly anticipated tablets that are around the corner. Z4 is the leader, and if they are making one, whatever shield tablet comes next.
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I've looked at the Nokia Tablet, but like the Shield Tablet, its a bit too small for my type of usage (under 9"). My primary use is comic book reading, games and web surfing. I would love to see Motorola make a new full-sized tablet. It would be the next best thing to a Nexus with its fast Android updates.

Related

An Undecided Buyer

Hi,
I bought this Sony Tablet S last weekend with the idea that I would try it and return it. I also bought a Motorola Xoom with the same intentions. I wasn't really able to try the Tablet S because everytime I picked up the device in the store the anti-theft alarm would sound. The salesperson reluctantly admitted I could take it back if I didn't like it, I usually don't this kind of thing as I prefer to wait and buy online cheaper.
Anyways it's been a week. My heart was set on getting an Xoom, I like Motorola but the screen quality... I don't want one even though I found two used for $300 with accessories.
So on to the Tablet S... I kept going back and forth on it. My biggest gripe is that this will be worth $200 in a year and it may even be completely out of date as Tablets mature.
The things I like about it:
- Durable! I plan on having this in my bedroom, I can fall asleep with it in the bed and I highly doubt I'd break it. Same for carrying it around the house, it doesn't need any kind of case.
- The Shape. It is decent to hold and it really does work well at a table. The angle makes viewing and typing a lot better.
- It's a Sony. I like Sony, I just hope they actually support this device unlike that piece of junk Sony Dash I foolishly bought last year.
- The remote feature. It's not near as advanced as I would like but the software is "Version 1.0". I'm hoping it progresses and becomes more advanced with "activities". I don't mind the layout at all, I think the buttons look good. The one thing I find is that it could be faster in switching between devices.
- The screen. I like that it's 9.4" as this gives you more pixels per inch than a 10.1" display resulting in a sharper image. The viewing angles are good, but I have to admit.. I do wish Sony put an even better quality screen in. I don't think I would want to read a book on this device. By the way the 9.4" screen is easier to reach with your fingers but it's less appealing to the eyes, that extra 1/2" does make a difference in screen "real estate".
- I like the charge system. I don't have a dock yet, it's ordered but I like the fact it just drops in and easily lifts out. I could see all the other tablets docks requiring more effort to align and slide in/out of their respective docks.
- The Sony tweaks to the Android OS. I like them, I just hope it's not a drawback... waiting for Sony each time a new version is available.
- The Sony games. I don't game much anymore but it's a welcome addition for me.
- The HD Remote. Man, I wish I waited six more months before buying my XBR-LX900. This years models seem to have a better integration with this tablet.
- I like the fact that it's user serviceable. The battery can be changed and a 3G/4G card can be inserted.
What I don't like:
- The screen. Another 1/2" would be more visually appealing. The colors could pop more and I wish it was better on the eyes for reading. One day I suppose, for now I'll be keeping my Sony eReader.
- It's looks. At times I like the way it looks, at other times... I think it looks / feels cheap. But mind you, it's very durable the way it is. I wouldn't hesitate to allow a child to play with it.
- The price. Way over-priced for what it is! I suppose all tablets are though, but at least Motorola has style. I like the looks and feel of the Motorola build much better.
- Weight... it is a touch heavy even though this is suppose to be one of the lighter tablets. Just imagine in five years the tablets we will have?
- The charge cord. If you don't use a dock (which should come with it!!!) that charge cord is going to break.
- And again lastly.. this isn't really a knock on Sony but I honestly feel it's too early to spend this kind of money on this types of hardware. Tablets are in their infancy, none of them are worth what we are paying for them. Honestly I think most tablets really should be priced at $199 or $299 for what they are. $499 is just.... too much money for what it is.
Anyways for me, I've decided to keep the Tablet S even though I know I will regret it in six months. I need a new alarm clock, I'd like to be able to convienantly check things from my bedroom and I would like to experiment with Android... so here I am.
I see the Tablet S as having a long life with me for it's simple durability. I don't have to baby it, it'll serve well for what it is. A portable household browser / email device. I don't think of this Tablet as something you would take out with you. For that I will mostly likely get a second or third generation Motorola.
I am also a proud owner of the Sony Tablet. This review is very well said.. can't disagree.. you should post this review in sites like Amazon.
Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e using XDA App
dberladyn said:
So on to the Tablet S... I kept going back and forth on it. My biggest gripe is that this will be worth $200 in a year and it may even be completely out of date as Tablets mature.
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This unfortunately is always the case with tech, once the Kal-El (quad core Tegras) come out you'll see price drops on the dual core ones. Doesnt mean your tablet is going to become useless though just you wont be state of the art anymore
- The screen. I like that it's 9.4" as this gives you more pixels per inch than a 10.1" display resulting in a sharper image. The viewing angles are good, but I have to admit.. I do wish Sony put an even better quality screen in. I don't think I would want to read a book on this device. By the way the 9.4" screen is easier to reach with your fingers but it's less appealing to the eyes, that extra 1/2" does make a difference in screen "real estate".
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Really? I absolutely love reading on my S tab, the display is sharp and clear.
- The screen. Another 1/2" would be more visually appealing. The colors could pop more and I wish it was better on the eyes for reading. One day I suppose, for now I'll be keeping my Sony eReader.
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I agree on this, wish the colors did pop a bit more something in between S tablet and Galaxy would have been nice. And yeah the thing I hate most is the charging connector, everytime I plug it in I feel like its going to break. Guess Ill have to buy a dock as well.
Yeah I agree, it's totally overpriced, the cost of the case is ridiculous too... but, that's Sony for ya.
I also have a wifi Xoom and think it's a piece of junk compared to the S, and most other HC tablets out there. It's laggy and the screen is so washed out and bland. The Sony S flips through screens so smoothly, gives a nice tablet experience.
Damn... my country still haven't release Sony Tablet S... ARGHH!!!.... my don't they just do global release...
Yeah Sony product is expensive but GOODD!!!
tbh go save your money or spend it on something worth the money like the Jetstream or the Ipad2.
Tablet S just does not compare. In every single way my jetstream was better, so I ended up returning the TS.
Maedhros said:
tbh go save your money or spend it on something worth the money like the Jetstream or the Ipad2.
Tablet S just does not compare. In every single way my jetstream was better, so I ended up returning the TS.
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Dude. Enough with the jetsream already! Its all you talk about. No offense. But go get a jetstream, and post in their forums.
Sent from the most "Epic" phone in the world! ...Using XDA Premium app
Maedhros said:
tbh go save your money or spend it on something worth the money like the Jetstream or the Ipad2.
Tablet S just does not compare. In every single way my jetstream was better, so I ended up returning the TS.
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Click to collapse
The Jetstream blows.

Tired of waiting... Is the Nexus 10 still one of the best tablets to buy?

I keep seeing these great deals on the Nexus 10. Although it's an old tablet it is well received and still seems to be among the best available. After deciding to wait for the new version, it keeps getting pushed back and who knows when it will actually be available? I think I may just go with the original N10 as my Asus TF300 is absolutely driving me nuts. It's nearly unusable at times... if it's doing any kind of app update or sync, forget it, it's unusable. I am rooted and on a custom ROM and still have issues. I was fed up and need a replacement now. Should I stick with the N10 or maybe look into some other tablets... Budget is around $300...
Yeah its still a good tablet if you can get it for a decent price. I love mine, although it does have its flaws for sure. But if my tablet suddenly turned into a stack of $300 bills I am not sure I would buy it again. I would probably look at maybe a Sony Tablet Z.
The reason i say this is that the N10 is not a perfect device. For a start the battery is not the best. On 4.3 I would eek out 8 hours with very conservative use and low brightness. On 4.4 that has dropped to 6-7 hours on a very good day. The battery issue is mainly due to the chipsets used, which is a dual core A15 and Mali T604 graphics. Both of these are pretty power hungry compared to newer chipsets. Newer CPU's have lower powered cores which handle mundane tasks and conserve power. Also, the graphics use up 1GB of the system memory, so really you only get 1GB for system RAM and not 2GB like most tablets. Kitkat 4.4. had to be gimped on the N10 mainly due to the N10 not have enough grunt to run certain aspects of 4.4 like the translucent bars and ART without stutter. Another thing is its not a tablet to be held in portrait mode due to the design. It should be held in landscape mode at all times. It just feels way better held like that.
Don't get me wrong I love my N10, especially the design. Its definitely the best tablet in terms of ergonomics I have used. The screen is still fantastic and the speakers being on the front are really great and go to a decent level. Performance is also really good being vanilla android and all with no bloatware.
So I do love my N10 but its not perfect, but I can live with its faults. But if I was to buy another tablet tomorrow I would definitely look around at the competition.
Warren_Orange said:
Yeah its still a good tablet if you can get it for a decent price. I love mine, although it does have its flaws for sure. But if my tablet suddenly turned into a stack of $300 bills I am not sure I would buy it again. I would probably look at maybe a Sony Tablet Z.
The reason i say this is that the N10 is not a perfect device. For a start the battery is not the best. On 4.3 I would eek out 8 hours with very conservative use and low brightness. On 4.4 that has dropped to 6-7 hours on a very good day. The battery issue is mainly due to the chipsets used, which is a dual core A15 and Mali T604 graphics. Both of these are pretty power hungry compared to newer chipsets. Newer CPU's have lower powered cores which handle mundane tasks and conserve power. Also, the graphics use up 1GB of the system memory, so really you only get 1GB for system RAM and not 2GB like most tablets. Kitkat 4.4. had to be gimped on the N10 mainly due to the N10 not have enough grunt to run certain aspects of 4.4 like the translucent bars and ART without stutter. Another thing is its not a tablet to be held in portrait mode due to the design. It should be held in landscape mode at all times. It just feels way better held like that.
Don't get me wrong I love my N10, especially the design. Its definitely the best tablet in terms of ergonomics I have used. The screen is still fantastic and the speakers being on the front are really great and go to a decent level. Performance is also really good being vanilla android and all with no bloatware.
So I do love my N10 but its not perfect, but I can live with its faults. But if I was to buy another tablet tomorrow I would definitely look around at the competition.
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Almost Everything Warren_Orange has said is true to certain degree. The screen is still fantastic compared to newer tablets even though it may not be #1 anymore in terms of quality. Yes, ram on the nexus 10 is a little scarce due to the high screen resolution but its not a deal breaker by any means. KitKat has vastly improved ram management on this device and it is a night and day difference. Battery life could certainly be better and don't even get me started on the insanely long charging times lol.
A few things I would kindly disagree with is that "the processor in the N10 doesn't have enough power for 4.4." I think the features missing from 4.4 on the N10 has more to due with fact that its using an exynos processor and not snapdragon or some other mainstream chip. Exynos chips tend to be more locked down with their drivers and less compatible than other popular chipsets. I haven't come across one app or game that my n10 couldn't run or struggled with. If anything it seems like Google hasn't totally optimized this tablet to its fullest potential on the software end. Also I think the N10 is fine held in portrait mode. It just feels little odd at first if you're not used to a 16:9 tablet.
Like Warren_Orange said, the N10 isn't prefect but its still a great tablet. One thing I would recommend if you decide to purchase it (and are comfortable with) is root it, install a ROM like SlimKat Official build 3 and over clock the CPU and GPU (overclocking the gpu will be the most beneficial to help cope with the screen resolution while overclocking the cpu is totally optional as it already has two powerful A15 cores) while at the same time undevolting. This helps tremendously with the overall performance of the device and other gripes associated with it.
Good luck with your decision! And if you get the chance, please post back and let us know what route you decide to take. We're more than happy to help with more questions that may arise.
Well I love my N10! The battery life isn't that bad. I can usually get close to 10 hours with apps that don't tax the gpu. The charging time does stink... 5 hours is too long. All in all, I've been enjoying mine since last May. Just buy an N7 for now to hold you over to the next 10 incher is released. Purchased one for my wife and she loves it.
Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk
I would definitely buy again, no questions asked.
I don't know what everyone else's problems with the battery life are, I get 1.5-2 days worth of use with mine including leaving it on all night unplugged. Even if the battery life is a "problem" for some, just plug it in each night anyhow and you're good to go.
The screen is phenominal on this thing, the front facing speakers are great as well. There's also plenty of developer activity, and a somewhat minimal amount of people having issues with their devices. The two biggest weak points that people seem to have in terms of having to return it are screen light leak, and the battery occasionally going from ~20% suddenly to 0%. Both of which, are fixed easily by Samsung via a return.
Outside that, I still really like mine, so I say buy one. Especially if you're going to be paying $200 less than what I paid for mine ($499?)
No complaints on battery life from me. The high-res display is what sells this thing, and as an added bonus it has front-facing speakers and is super lightweight. My only complaint is the finicky Wifi; depending where I am in the house, the Wifi becomes dog slow despite a strong signal.
If you can find a good deal on Nexus 10, then yes it's a worthy purchase.
I just got the Nexus 10 as a gift yesterday. So far I am liking it. I have had a rooted nexus 7 32gb first gen since it came out and I love that one. I am trying to decide whether to root the nexus 10 or not. I am sure that the other roms are better for battery life than stock.
Joe
Get a case with the magnet deal allowing it to sleep. Then set wireless to shut off when in sleep mode. This will help allot with battery life. I always charge mine when powered down (mostly overnight) that helps with charging speed some.
I have had the N10 awhile now, running ThunderKat 4.4.2 ROM and Kernel. No complaints here.
jfed said:
I just got the Nexus 10 as a gift yesterday. So far I am liking it. I have had a rooted nexus 7 32gb first gen since it came out and I love that one. I am trying to decide whether to root the nexus 10 or not. I am sure that the other roms are better for battery life than stock.
Joe
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Root it add the recovery of your choice then install Viper4Android, Onandroid, Xposed framework and at least it's Gravity box module. All of which can be found by searching XDA.
Sent from my Nexus 10 using XDA Premium HD app
I have been a flash whore with the nexus 7 so I thought I knew what I was doing but what you just suggested to me I have not clue about the other stuff other than the recovery lol I will have to look it up and learn how to do all that.
Thanks.
Joe
ObsoleteSoldier said:
Well I love my N10! The battery life isn't that bad. I can usually get close to 10 hours with apps that don't tax the gpu. The charging time does stink... 5 hours is too long. All in all, I've been enjoying mine since last May. Just buy an N7 for now to hold you over to the next 10 incher is released. Purchased one for my wife and she loves it.
Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk
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With PoGo charger it only takes 2 hours, they are really cheap too. Also charges while you use it as well.
I love this tablet. I'm starting to think some people have N10s that were shipped with lemon batteries or something, if I use it occasionally I can go 3-4 days before charging with about 6 hours screen on time. Today (NCAA tournament baby) I abused the tablet all day and still got over 18 hours with 7 hours of screen on time, and it's sitting here hovering around 15%. Virtually all of those 7 hours were with the brightness at about 50% streaming video. Having said that, I got mine in November 2012 and am pretty anal about charging habits. This IS my first tablet, so maybe I'm not expecting as much out of my battery as other users?
I don't think I'll be purchasing the 2014 Nexus 10 (if it ever arrives), the current gen is every thing I need from a tablet and more. I suppose there are now newer tablets with better specs, but would it affect the utility it provides me? I think not.
If you are a spec whore, don't get this tablet. If you are looking for a top notch tablet with decent development that is currently selling for a relatively cheap price tag, GET IT!
Sent from my XT1060 using Tapatalk
I read that Google is dropping the 10" for a new 8".
Sent from my Nexus 10 using xda app-developers app
Go for it. Even though i have an android phone or a pc when i get to home my nexus 10 is the only device i use, except for texts and alarm If you know what you can expect from a tab and you consider buying a nexus 10 i can tell you wont regret.
3DSammy said:
Root it add the recovery of your choice then install Viper4Android, Onandroid, Xposed framework and at least it's Gravity box module. All of which can be found by searching XDA.
Sent from my Nexus 10 using XDA Premium HD app
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Click to collapse
Thanks for the post, will look into those two as been running pretty vanilla here for awhile.
Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk
Lamski said:
I keep seeing these great deals on the Nexus 10. Although it's an old tablet it is well received and still seems to be among the best available. After deciding to wait for the new version, it keeps getting pushed back and who knows when it will actually be available? I think I may just go with the original N10 as my Asus TF300 is absolutely driving me nuts. It's nearly unusable at times... if it's doing any kind of app update or sync, forget it, it's unusable. I am rooted and on a custom ROM and still have issues. I was fed up and need a replacement now. Should I stick with the N10 or maybe look into some other tablets... Budget is around $300...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you're still interested, there's a seller on ebay that is listing a brand new 32GB N10 for $300: http://slickdeals.net/permadeal/116766/ebay---32gb-samsung-nexus-10-10-android-tablet
I've had N10 for 4 months, it goes alongside my N4 of 14 months and N7 of 20 months.
I use my N7 on long haul flights for space and battery reasons, N10 in hotels and home, N7 when really moving around a lot like on a bike and when going between meetings as it fits in a trouser pocket. My N4's with me all the time.
The N10's battery life really sucks, battery charging is slow, BUT I just use it in proportion to my other devices and I got the Pogo cable, when its not moving around its connected to the Pogo cable, that keeps on top of demand and I've NEVER had flat battery turn off problems. When I'm in situations with high mobility and not expecting much plug-in time I'm using my N7 which lasts longer and charges faster. N10 does say a trans-continent 5 hour flight fine but say California to Europe it can't but a N7 can with possibly an external USB slim battery top-up.
The N10 and N7 bluetooth tethering seamless flawless reliable to the N4 so I got phone and tablet online all the time when on the go.
The N10 absolutely best features are it's display 1st, outstanding, and then its speakers being stereo and forward facing so you can actually sit on your laptop or on desk, etc and sit and watch it would headphones and its just a pleasure.
My N10 crashes in certain situations, so I simply avoid those situations. Its camera doesn't work reliably for say Skype... so I use my N7 or N4 for that.
Just so long as you don't have too high an expectations, don't expect perfection, and use it in contexts which fits its limitations, then for the <$300 figure use it and enjoy. If you limit its use to contexts it should last enough years and betya you can replace its battery with a guide in a couple of years to re-life it if you wanted.
You can spend as much $ buying 1 device which aims to be better but 2 or 3 devices are better, particular as if say you're watching Hulu on you N10 and when annoying commercials (who needs a car anyway) come on just pick up your N7 and check your email, so "multi-window" by other means.
Notice how my N7 is coming to 2 years and still used? Because the big-screen graphics stuff is on the N10 and the battery-hog situations avoid the N10 and go to N7. I think that's the way to go. The idea of one perfect tablet never happens, plus it sucks if it breaks and its all you got.
I got one of these dual USB chargers and the Pogo cable makes all the difference.
Good stuff guys, thanks for all the great info. I did decide to get one as there was a good deal last week. however the 32GB model for $300 is a great deal and if I knew it was coming I would have waited one more week. I received it yesterday and so far so good. Everything I expected so far except the stock email client's hyperlinks aren't clickable. I had to switch to another email client app. I will look into the pogo plug but I'm not sure if I really need it.
I'm still playing with it but the performance so far is as expected and far exceeds the TF300 it is replacing.
Lamski said:
Good stuff guys, thanks for all the great info. I did decide to get one as there was a good deal last week. however the 32GB model for $300 is a great deal and if I knew it was coming I would have waited one more week. I received it yesterday and so far so good. Everything I expected so far except the stock email client's hyperlinks aren't clickable. I had to switch to another email client app. I will look into the pogo plug but I'm not sure if I really need it.
I'm still playing with it but the performance so far is as expected and far exceeds the TF300 it is replacing.
Click to expand...
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How is the light bleed on your unit mate?
Cheers,
M
mark.m.moran said:
How is the light bleed on your unit mate?
Cheers,
M
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I didn't notice any obnormal light bleed when playing with various brightness settings. Where are you typically seeing the light bleed?

Nexus 6?

I know this is a Xperia Z Ultra forum, but with the Nexus 6 being around the corner, and heavily rumored to being a 5.9in phone I was wondering if anyone was going to make the switch? Since there isn't an announced true successor to the Ultra I find myself compelled to head back to the Nexus experience. I am a little bummed the phone isn't bigger, but I think I can do without half an inch of screen. What are everyone's thoughts on the Nexus 6?
Couldn't and WOULDN'T!
I was actually tempted to THINK about the possibility of making such a (IMHO) foolish thing too! But then I realized I could never give up my 6.44" screen! Sure it's going to be a killer device...faster, qHD, more memory, stock Android, the works. But I then realized this is all I'll ever need in a device anyway and it's as close to vanilla Android right out of the box.
So I actually ordered another XZU (not the GPe) from Expansys! They dropped the price again to a new record low of $314.99. I live in Indiana so I get it the next day for the fee of standard shipping and pay no tax. This puppy is STILL A BEAST and at $314.99 it'd be crazy to throw money at another device that'll be most likely obsolete in 2 to 3 weeks anyway. At the current rate manufacturers are releasing devices how can any device remain current more than a month???
When, if ever, they were to announce a true successor to this beast that's when I'd seriously think about upgrading. For right now...for the time being...this is still a perfect solution. People are snapping these up as fast as they get them in stock.
The kicker for me is my wife wants the older one! When the one I ordered gets here Wednesday afternoon I'll be rooting that bad boy by Wednesday night. I bought a lot of the Sony accessories anyway, so I'd most likely go with the closest thing to an XZU update as possible if and when that ever happens in the future.
Of course that's just my .02ยข.
http://www.expansys-usa.com/sony-xperia-z-ultra-c6833-unlocked-lte-16gb-black-251963/
TheFamilyMan said:
I was actually tempted to THINK about the possibility of making such a (IMHO) foolish thing too! But then I realized I could never give up my 6.44" screen! Sure it's going to be a killer device...faster, qHD, more memory, stock Android, the works. But I then realized this is all I'll ever need in a device anyway and it's as close to vanilla Android right out of the box.
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Click to collapse
well said........
I'm afraid that I'm in the opposite camp.
While I love my Ultra when I'm using it, the sheer size means that it's a pain when I'm carrying it around (whether it's in trousers or coat pocket). Even finding somewhere in my cars to put it is a challenge.
So I've just agreed to buy a Nexus 6 - picking it up this evening. I'll hold on to the Ultra until I'm sure that the N6 meets my needs, but I think that I'm willing to give up that small amount of screen real estate for the convenience of having a smaller phone to carry around.
I hate Apple products with a vengeance, and would never own one, but I will admit that they often get it right on ergonomics, and the iPhone 6 Plus (which is about the same size as the Nexus 6) seems to hit the sweet spot as far as the size/screen convenience/functionality balance goes.
Plus the Nexus has better speakers than the Ultra (I make most of my calls on speakerphone and the Ultra is pretty poor in this respect) and supports Qi charging, which is nice.

Still worthy?

Hi all.
When this device was launched it was my dream device, but that's more than a year ago. I've been running with the XZU for some time, and am seriously considering making the jump to the Z3TC. As far as I can tell, there's no stronger actor in the same segment in today's market when I consider manufacturer, software, guarantees etc - even the dev scene has some small manner of activity.
After seeing that there was no Z5 Ultra at IFA, I think I need to get this device - but I'd like to hear from users and others if there's any reason not to get it at this point (q3 2015)?
I'll be using this as my main driver, meaning also as a phone. I know the latest Huawei MediaPad can do some of what this tab can, and I'm hearing the nes Sammy tab can make phones too. But Sony's waterproofing and form factor has got me hooked, what say you xda?
Most used tablet I have ever owned. LTE did it for me. No more hunting Wifi.
And I agree about the form factor. Battery life rocks too.
I've been a phablet user since the Note. I moved to the Nexus 6 earlier this year and in August traded it for the Z3TC.
My main use is reading and watching videos. I don't take a lot of pictures or make/receive phone calls. With the N6 and other smartphones there was still too much scrolling around webpages. So it was the right time to make the jump to a small and light tablet which could be carried around all day without worrying about battery life.
I tried the Tab S 8.4 earlier in the year (before the lollipop release) and returned it. The Chrome browser was too laggy, I didn't try or want to use another browser. I was a bit worried about the performance coming from a Nexus 6 but so far have been amazed at how smooth everything is. I'll be holding on to mine for a long time.
I had a Z3 last year and I missed the magnetic charging connector, now I have it back on the tablet. I can use it in a dock beside the bed and at work and with magnetic adapters in the car.
The display isn't as good as the Tab S amoled display, noticeable when watching videos in a dark room. But it feels a lot better in the hand and I prefer the on screen buttons and placement of the speakers.
I just bought mine a week ago. after 8 years of iPhone!!
It's a great size and really good looking!
If you plan to put a custom rom on it you should be careful! My camera does not focus with CM12.1/crDroid.
the sony software sucks but what can you do?.. hehe
It's still a great device and it is my only device now. It's not a real phone though but it works. Headset is recommended
Thanks for the answers, folks!
I dived in and bought myself one too. Have to upgrade my dataplan as soon as it arrives. I couldn't wait until march for the Z5 Ultra which is somewhere down the pipeline. A bit nervous about the rooting process but overall super excited.
I'm thinking about taking the plunge on this too. My second gen Nexus 7 is really starting to show it's age, but I love the seven inch form factor. What I don't understand is all the different variants of this device. I live in Asia, and probably won't get the 4G model, but do want root. My big question is I would like a travel case like my Nexae had...silicone with overleaf cover. It is my sofa device, so only leaves home when I travel. I hate those sloppy covers like everyone has on their iPads with a few cheap elastics in the corners...ugly, heavy, and just bad design. Does anyone do anything like this that for thiis for this device?
https://www.asus.com/Tablet-Accessory/Nexus_7_Travel_Cover

What's next after your XZ3TC.

Cheers all.
My tablet compact is very dear to me, but it's getting to the point where I have to consider my next move. Phablets won't cut it for me anymore, I can't go back to 6" phones. But apart from Samsung and Huawei, I don't see many quality devices in our range. Sony hit my sweet spot with the screen size, build quality, battery and waterproofing. Hard to move on.
What's your next device? Have you considered any?
I quite fancy the z4, yes it's bigger, but it's seriously good
http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/test-centre/tablets/best-android-tablets-uk-2016-3265118/
Sent from my SGP621 using Tapatalk
Interesting thread as I just got the z3 tablet today. After last few months moving from one tablet to another I think I've found the right one.
The nexus 9. My second current and soon to be former is terrible! Can't believe I'm saying this about a nexus but it really is bad. Performance is terrible. Ram management so bad and makes true multitasking non existent really.
Prior to this I had a Samsung tab pro 10.1. It was almost as bad as the nexus. Can't decide really. Think it was worst. Lag after lag after lag.
Anyway, so I was looking for something that I could settle on performance wise as well as build quality... and a great display. So far so good. After just one day I can see huge differences. 3 gigs of ram for true multitasking. No lags. I think I will hold onto this one for quite some time.
And the design and build quality is superb.
voyager_s said:
Interesting thread as I just got the z3 tablet today. After last few months moving from one tablet to another I think I've found the right one.
The nexus 9. My second current and soon to be former is terrible! Can't believe I'm saying this about a nexus but it really is bad. Performance is terrible. Ram management so bad and makes true multitasking non existent really.
Prior to this I had a Samsung tab pro 10.1. It was almost as bad as the nexus. Can't decide really. Think it was worst. Lag after lag after lag.
Anyway, so I was looking for something that I could settle on performance wise as well as build quality... and a great display. So far so good. After just one day I can see huge differences. 3 gigs of ram for true multitasking. No lags. I think I will hold onto this one for quite some time.
And the design and build quality is superb.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you'll be happy with your purchase. The XZ3TC is the finest tablet I've owned and I'm surprised it wasn't better received. I suppose Sony need to reprimand the marketing department. The worst thing about the XZ3TC is the camera, and that's saying a lot IMO.
Interesting to hear that about the nexus, as I understand it is widely praised. Will stay away then.
If I can't find a suitable replacement for my XZ3TC, I'll simply by another and use that while waiting for the next one
Chima2 said:
I think you'll be happy with your purchase. The XZ3TC is the finest tablet I've owned and I'm surprised it wasn't better received. I suppose Sony need to reprimand the marketing department. The worst thing about the XZ3TC is the camera, and that's saying a lot IMO.
Interesting to hear that about the nexus, as I understand it is widely praised. Will stay away then.
If I can't find a suitable replacement for my XZ3TC, I'll simply by another and use that while waiting for the next one
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well after three days it's all good i can say. Leagues ahead of my previous devices in terms of performance, build and battery life. Over 7 hours screen on time and counting with half brightness. Wow!
The camera seems OK. I don't really use cameras on tablets so it's never an issue.
I'm also surprised by the Nexus 9. I had such high hopes as I've had many Nexus devices previously. The Nexus 7 (2013) was the best tablet I had to date, so I was expecting a lot. I would say the most disappointing purchase I've ever made with the Nexus 9. That's how bad it turned out to be.
Screen and front speakers are both great. build is OK. But performance (where Nexus devices traditionally shine) is terrible. Battery life is also not very good.
I think it's fundamental to a few things.
A. 64 bit android needs more memory.
B. A quad HD display needs more capable hardware (again it comes down to ram)
C. 2 gigs of ram is not enough./
It is literally not possible to have any decent amount of apps in memory on the Nexus 9. Almost every app needs to be reloaded once you navigate away from it. Multitasking is terrible.
There are also lots of slowdowns, freezes and lags throughout the user experience. I've done factory resets, rooted and gone back to stock, you name it. Terrible.
Add to that, I stopped rooting nexus devices years ago. Precisely because they are so good out the box nowadays. Nexus 9 excluding that is.
But anyway. I am very happy with the xperia z3 tablet.
simple DONT change it.Wait till something better with new technology will come out!Don't waste your money dude to take something similar...This tablet is the most perfect piece of art till now! ?
I wouldn't replace my xz3tc for long.
There is no real alternative and the performance is more than enough.
zuz mobile / edge
I just shattered my screen at Ikea, bummed out. But ordered a screen via eBay from the UK. Taking it to a fixer shop this week. Hopefully the glass isn't crap, will post here when the glass is replaced. LCD is luckily just fine!
Been looking for a replacement for this device, but even with a shattered glass screen there is none. Sony did a damn fine job here.
Yes, I love my tablet - it is the right combination of everything and since the market is racing to the bottom to get sales I'm glad to see it is still well regarded two years down the line.

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