iDeaUSA 10.1" Octa Core Tablet PC Google Android Tablet - Unboxing and First Impressions

Great tablet for the money. I've had a few tablets come way here and there and this year I have grown to appreciate bigger tablets. To give some context. I am a big phone user. So the tablet needs to be a difference from using my 5.7" screen sized phones. The 7 inch tabs are ok, they are the perfect size for kids, but for me I like big screens I cannot lie.
Mind I know this is not a high end tablet, so I consider the price for when I explain my thoughts on the quality of the tablet.
Performance:
- Play videos well
- Good size for reading
- Responsive
- Screen looks decent
- Good amount of storage
Design:
- Even though it is 10 inches I can still hold it with one hand
- I would prefer physical volume buttons
Overall, this is not a bad tablet. It's gonna get the job done.

Related

[Q] Need advice on Tablet purchase

I want to buy my wife a 7" tablet for Christmas. Desired specs are: Android 2.2+, easily rooted and market install(I have rooted and installed market on a Pandigital Novel 7" table and a Viewsonic Gtab with a lot of help from members). She primarily uses it for crossword puzzles(shortz) and web surfing. I would like for it to be able to access a ad-hoc wifi, the Pandigital(hers) can not do this. I do not think she would need a lot of storage(memory?). Would 512mb of ram and 1ghz processor be over-kill? And it needs to be in the $150.00-$200.00 range. Could go slightly higher for an exceptional deal. Thanks
Amazon Fire easy. Dual-Core, best deal available, root should be available soon, maybe even a Honeycomb port!
Maybe look for a Dell Streak deal. Waaaay underrated. The resolution is criticized as being limited, but that's a little silly. It's a 7 inch screen so you can only REALLY use so much resolution before the letters get to small to read. The real problems with it are (I have one) poor battery life and poor viewing angles. Neither are big issues for many users. If you are sharing your 7 inch tablet with many viewers and have to watch from a wide angle, you may be unhappy if you are viewing from 50 degrees off-angle. In reality, it's never been a problem. Battery life really does suck...6-8 hours of "on time" and 4-5 or a little less with constant use. If that's not enough (it's not always for me), then just be aware. Ergonomically, it's among the best I've used. There's nothing on the market today in the 7 inch size compelling enough to make me change.
Sent from my Touchpad (with Android) using Tapatalk

How is the screen?

I'm interested in purchasing one, but for $500 and midrange specs it really needs to deliver on the screen for me. How is it? Im not so much concerned with resolution as much as precise color calibration thats not washed out or too warm/cold.
how does it look for you guys?
s1lenz said:
I'm interested in purchasing one, but for $500 and midrange specs it really needs to deliver on the screen for me. How is it? Im not so much concerned with resolution as much as precise color calibration thats not washed out or too warm/cold.
how does it look for you guys?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, this is not a midrange tablet, is a high end, don't get confused because is using the Snapdragon S4 Pro instead of the S600, there are not tablets that perform better than this one, also 2GB RAM, 1200p resolution (1920x1200), NFC, IR Port, Bluetooth 4.0, Dual Band WIFI a/b/g/n, microsd card slot upto 64GB. Check this review for more details about performance.
Also the screen is pretty good, has good viewing angles, great brightness, and pictures/videos looks awesome, the touch panel is very sensitive.
I'll see about getting some data when I get mine (should be Monday.) I don't have the fanciest calibration tools but good enough for the basics we're taking about here. I also have a calibrated desktop setup as well as a pile of other tablets and phones to compare to for subjective analysis.
This is not a midrange tablet. This is top of market right now.
I payed 700 for it. Plus another 150 on my country's customs. And it really really worth it.
When you have it on your hands, is just perfect!
Enviado desde mi SGP312 usando Tapatalk 2
sorry guys, i don't mean to offend but when I say midrange i mean:
- the resolution is still 1200p vs 1600p on the nexus 10
- the s4 chip, as great as it is, is devoured by the exynos 5250 in benchmarks which is in the nexus 10 (http://www.androidauthority.com/exynos-5-dual-benchmarks-125134/ reference)
when you're talking purely features (waterproof, lightest 10" tablet on the market, solid build, ir port, nfc, sd card slot, sim card lot) yes, you're right its top of the line. but as far as hardware specs go, to put it in perspective the next nexus 7 will either have an s4 pro or a 600 with the same resolution and cost roughly $300 less.
why does hardware matter? aren't those just numbers we geek over? well, often times manufacturers will push higher resolution screens on soc's that just aren't up to the task for it.
Like I said, I don't mind paying for the premium as I dont care about the resolution but I'm just concerned about the color accuracy. do the colors look washed out? is it like the nexus 7 and the nexus 10 which both have ips and (i forget samsung's proprietary panel used for the n10, which is supposively better then IPS), but in the end doesnt really matter because both screens are so horribly calibrated that its wasted?
the thing I'm actually pretty stoked about with this tablet running the S4 is that franco and paranoid android were able to create a nexus 4 color calibration kernel which works miracles for that screen. Coincidentally, thats the same chip used on the Z. I'm not sure how much support this tablet will have, but if Franco takes interest, the Xperia Z's screen will look spectacular after a color tweak...
I really hope the whites on mine aren't too warm. I would hate to turn this thing on and see it with that layer of pee-yellow on top that my 1st gen iPad and Galaxy Nexus suffered from.
As you said n10 screen got its own issues. There is question if there is need for such ppi in large devices we don't tend to hold close to face. And i wonder if future devices will chase after resolution knowing the price (atm there are only 3 android 10" tablets with HD+ screens. Color wise its very nice, warmer but not oversaturated like Samsung. However to know how it does compared to others we need to wait for RGB replication test.
In terms of speed XTZ is ahead of N10 in cpu (except single thread apps) raw power. N10 does better in browser test due to google optimalisation (in chrome or 4.2 i don't know). Mali is stronger raw what off-screen tests show. However on-screen n10 extreeme resolution works against it puting it behind http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_tablet_z-review-931p5.php .
So atm its high end, it wont be when tegra4 an s800 hit market.
s1lenz said:
sorry guys, i don't mean to offend but when I say midrange i mean:
- the resolution is still 1200p vs 1600p on the nexus 10
- the s4 chip, as great as it is, is devoured by the exynos 5250 in benchmarks which is in the nexus 10 (http://www.androidauthority.com/exynos-5-dual-benchmarks-125134/ reference)
when you're talking purely features (waterproof, lightest 10" tablet on the market, solid build, ir port, nfc, sd card slot, sim card lot) yes, you're right its top of the line. but as far as hardware specs go, to put it in perspective the next nexus 7 will either have an s4 pro or a 600 with the same resolution and cost roughly $300 less.
why does hardware matter? aren't those just numbers we geek over? well, often times manufacturers will push higher resolution screens on soc's that just aren't up to the task for it.
Like I said, I don't mind paying for the premium as I dont care about the resolution but I'm just concerned about the color accuracy. do the colors look washed out? is it like the nexus 7 and the nexus 10 which both have ips and (i forget samsung's proprietary panel used for the n10, which is supposively better then IPS), but in the end doesnt really matter because both screens are so horribly calibrated that its wasted?
the thing I'm actually pretty stoked about with this tablet running the S4 is that franco and paranoid android were able to create a nexus 4 color calibration kernel which works miracles for that screen. Coincidentally, thats the same chip used on the Z. I'm not sure how much support this tablet will have, but if Franco takes interest, the Xperia Z's screen will look spectacular after a color tweak...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A few things:
1. The S4 chip in the XTZ is actually more powerful than the Exynos 5250 Dual in the Nexus 10. The S4 in the link you used is a dual core MSM8960. The S4 chip in the XTZ is a quad core APQ8064. Coupled with the higher res of the Nexus 10, the performance of the Nexus 10 would be behind the XTZ.
2. This is a 10" tablet. Comparing it to the much faster paced 7" tablet market wouldn't make much sense, furthermore normally people get 10" tablets for different reasons than getting 7" tablets. While this is of course debatable, it would be more accurate to compare to up-and-coming 10" tablets like the new Tegra 4 tablets, which aren't slated to be released until Q3 2013 at least.
3. Screen-wise, I can't really comment since I don't have the XTZ yet (getting one on Thursday once it is released in my country). According to the reviews I read though, the colours are nice and sharp, and the screen has quite good viewing angles due to the gapless technology used in the screen. Quoted from androidpolice (http://www.androidpolice.com/2013/05/31/sony-xperia-tablet-z-review-a-surprisingly-good-tablet/):
The front of the Xperia Tablet Z is dominated by a 10.1-inch 1920x1200 LED-backlit LCD “Bravia Reality Display.” The Bravia-branded stuff is a post-processing engine for video and images, but the difference is extremely subtle. That’s not the important aspect of this panel anyway – more relevant is how it looks. In a word: good.
If I hold the Tablet Z uncomfortably close to my face, I can definitely see the pixels, but that doesn’t matter – you’ll never use a tablet like that. At a normal viewing distance – say 18-inches – the screen looks crisp and clear. Text is extremely readable and the pixels melt into lovely, fluid images. Because this is a gapless display, the viewing angles are much better than its smartphone counterpart.
The black levels are good on this device – better than the Nexus 7, for example. Below roughly 50% brightness, the blacks stay inky, but past that it starts getting a bit gray. It’s a far cry from AMOLED blacks, but it is above average when compared to other LCD panels (at least in my estimation).
We fetishize pixel density maybe a little too much. Having a higher resolution is great, but not at the expense of performance. This screen gets the job done, and does it well. You don’t need to stress about the raw resolution numbers being lower on the Tablet Z than the Nexus 10.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
4. It is possible Sony may include the white balance setting in Settings just like the Xperia Z. Other devs may of course implement this feature as well.
I saw one on display in a shop. The screen is very impressive, best android tablet screen I've seen so far. Not seen the Nexus 10 screen, but I've read enough about it's light bleed issues.
Vertron said:
I saw one on display in a shop. The screen is very impressive, best android tablet screen I've seen so far. Not seen the Nexus 10 screen, but I've read enough about it's light bleed issues.
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Click to collapse
I'd say the screen is quite similar to the nexus 7. Its not as good as the TF700 but its perfectly satisfactory.
pandaball said:
A few things:
1. The S4 chip in the XTZ is actually more powerful than the Exynos 5250 Dual in the Nexus 10. The S4 in the link you used is a dual core MSM8960. The S4 chip in the XTZ is a quad core APQ8064. Coupled with the higher res of the Nexus 10, the performance of the Nexus 10 would be behind the XTZ.
2. This is a 10" tablet. Comparing it to the much faster paced 7" tablet market wouldn't make much sense, furthermore normally people get 10" tablets for different reasons than getting 7" tablets. While this is of course debatable, it would be more accurate to compare to up-and-coming 10" tablets like the new Tegra 4 tablets, which aren't slated to be released until Q3 2013 at least.
3. Screen-wise, I can't really comment since I don't have the XTZ yet (getting one on Thursday once it is released in my country). According to the reviews I read though, the colours are nice and sharp, and the screen has quite good viewing angles due to the gapless technology used in the screen. Quoted from androidpolice (http://www.androidpolice.com/2013/05/31/sony-xperia-tablet-z-review-a-surprisingly-good-tablet/):
4. It is possible Sony may include the white balance setting in Settings just like the Xperia Z. Other devs may of course implement this feature as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for this, you bring up some excellent points. I'm going to take a wait-and-see approach to see if Franco or Faux will take any interest in this tablet and develop a kernel for it. Unfortunately, for that to happen I think the community is going to have to pool together some cash, like they did for the Oppo Find5...
pandaball said:
A few things:
1. The S4 chip in the XTZ is actually more powerful than the Exynos 5250 Dual in the Nexus 10. The S4 in the link you used is a dual core MSM8960. The S4 chip in the XTZ is a quad core APQ8064. Coupled with the higher res of the Nexus 10, the performance of the Nexus 10 would be behind the XTZ.
2. This is a 10" tablet. Comparing it to the much faster paced 7" tablet market wouldn't make much sense, furthermore normally people get 10" tablets for different reasons than getting 7" tablets. While this is of course debatable, it would be more accurate to compare to up-and-coming 10" tablets like the new Tegra 4 tablets, which aren't slated to be released until Q3 2013 at least.
3. Screen-wise, I can't really comment since I don't have the XTZ yet (getting one on Thursday once it is released in my country). According to the reviews I read though, the colours are nice and sharp, and the screen has quite good viewing angles due to the gapless technology used in the screen. Quoted from androidpolice (http://www.androidpolice.com/2013/05/31/sony-xperia-tablet-z-review-a-surprisingly-good-tablet/):
4. It is possible Sony may include the white balance setting in Settings just like the Xperia Z. Other devs may of course implement this feature as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. I had believed in benchmarks before I used the N10 (and some chance with N7 also), Antutu and especially Quadrant are garbage. However, I still believe in the traditional benchmarks like Geekbench, Sunspider or BrowserMark (I don't use chrome, intead Ocean Browser and Dolphin which is not Google optimization and the browser benchmarks are superior). My friend bought the Tablet Z and it is somehow laggier than N10 and N7. I know we can blame the UI for it, but even it lauching apps, N7 and N10 are blazing fast.
In the real world performance, N10 (throttling fixed) > Tablet Z
3. Yes it's nice and sharp indeed, much better than XZ smartphone. The viewing angle is very good but still slightly worse than iPad 4 or N10. Texts are crisp, not as sharp as iPad 4 and N10 when comparing besides but it's satisfying when used stand alone.
Some extra opinions:
- In my country, 16GB 3G Tablet Z costs about $950 (with some stuff like external speakers and headphones which equivalent to ~$150), while 16GB N10 (shipped from other countries) costs $460
- The audio from speaker on Xperia Z is bad for a tablet, considering Youtube, movies are used frequently on tablets. The two front facing stereo speakers of N10 are not as good and Note 10.1 but still very inspiring.
- The lightweight is extremely lovable on Tablet Z. I felt a little bit hard when coming black to my not very heavy N10.
The screen is great. I was a little bit worried about it not being as high ppi as iPad/etc. I ordered it without seeing it.
I am completely happy with the screen. Colors, viewing angles are all very good. I even turned off the mobile Bravia engine.
If you are worried about the ppi/color anything, don't be. Screen is great.
hung2900 said:
1. I had believed in benchmarks before I used the N10 (and some chance with N7 also), Antutu and especially Quadrant are garbage. However, I still believe in the traditional benchmarks like Geekbench, Sunspider or BrowserMark (I don't use chrome, intead Ocean Browser and Dolphin which is not Google optimization and the browser benchmarks are superior). My friend bought the Tablet Z and it is somehow laggier than N10 and N7. I know we can blame the UI for it, but even it lauching apps, N7 and N10 are blazing fast.
In the real world performance, N10 (throttling fixed) > Tablet Z
3. Yes it's nice and sharp indeed, much better than XZ smartphone. The viewing angle is very good but still slightly worse than iPad 4 or N10. Texts are crisp, not as sharp as iPad 4 and N10 when comparing besides but it's satisfying when used stand alone.
Some extra opinions:
- In my country, 16GB 3G Tablet Z costs about $950 (with some stuff like external speakers and headphones which equivalent to ~$150), while 16GB N10 (shipped from other countries) costs $460
- The audio from speaker on Xperia Z is bad for a tablet, considering Youtube, movies are used frequently on tablets. The two front facing stereo speakers of N10 are not as good and Note 10.1 but still very inspiring.
- The lightweight is extremely lovable on Tablet Z. I felt a little bit hard when coming black to my not very heavy N10.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For me, I don't really look at benchmarks. They're after all synthetic. Even browser benchmarks are affected far more by the Javascript engine behind it than the hardware. Chrome runs terribly in Sunspider and the like, while the stock browser with the Nexus 10 runs very fast, benchmark-wise. However I would much rather use Chrome than the stock browser app any day because of its usability
As for UI, I'm going to take the Tablet Z for a spin before I get it, see how fluid (or not) it is. I'm most probably getting it unless there are showstopper bugs - Nexus 10 is not available in my country, and the Exynos 5 Dual is simply not powerful enough to power the screen imo.
I'll post a review of it if (once) I get it. Going to touch on some of the concerns I see here I'll probably draw some comparisons to the other tablets I've used as well (Asus TF201, Nexus 7, Xperia Tablet S). Granted, they're previous gen but they provide a point of comparison
ABT4 said:
The screen is great. I was a little bit worried about it not being as high ppi as iPad/etc. I ordered it without seeing it.
I am completely happy with the screen. Colors, viewing angles are all very good. I even turned off the mobile Bravia engine.
If you are worried about the ppi/color anything, don't be. Screen is great.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did the same thing and I'm a little worried. June 6th release, this comment is making me more at ease though.
pandaball said:
For me, I don't really look at benchmarks. They're after all synthetic. Even browser benchmarks are affected far more by the Javascript engine behind it than the hardware. Chrome runs terribly in Sunspider and the like, while the stock browser with the Nexus 10 runs very fast, benchmark-wise. However I would much rather use Chrome than the stock browser app any day because of its usability
As for UI, I'm going to take the Tablet Z for a spin before I get it, see how fluid (or not) it is. I'm most probably getting it unless there are showstopper bugs - Nexus 10 is not available in my country, and the Exynos 5 Dual is simply not powerful enough to power the screen imo.
I'll post a review of it if (once) I get it. Going to touch on some of the concerns I see here I'll probably draw some comparisons to the other tablets I've used as well (Asus TF201, Nexus 7, Xperia Tablet S). Granted, they're previous gen but they provide a point of comparison
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm in the same boat. Nexus 10 16GB costs more than the latest 16GB iPad. After being blown away by everything about the tablet and how much better it is, imo, than the Nexus 10, it was a no brainer since it's the same price as the 16GB iPad. Plus I picked up a 64GB SD card and the total cost is still lower than a 32GB iPad... and I get a 80GB tablet instead. Can not wait for this to arrive.
s1lenz said:
Thanks for this, you bring up some excellent points. I'm going to take a wait-and-see approach to see if Franco or Faux will take any interest in this tablet and develop a kernel for it. Unfortunately, for that to happen I think the community is going to have to pool together some cash, like they did for the Oppo Find5...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm hoping the same. Franco's gamma and color tool did wonders for what I felt was a very washed out screen on the n4.
I think the screen on the xtz is pretty good but a little too warm. I'd pay good money for a screen calibration tool.
Zb134 said:
I'd pay good money for a screen calibration tool.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This, so much.
violet grays
I've seen 3 Tablet Z in a shop in Moscow, and the screen was the only issue which stopped me from buying one. The whites where slightly yellowish which I could get used to, but the grays were of purple tint!
I even made a side-by-side screen comparison between Sony Experia Tablet Z, Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 and iPad 4. I opened the same web page on every device and compared the colors as well as the text quality.
Samsung has a cooler white point, which means the whites were slightly bluish, the grays were also a little bit cool but ok. The text quality has been foreseeably lower than on other devices since Note 10.1 has lower resolution.
iPad is the best in terms of readability and color accuracy - white is quite neutral, gray is gray. The text is rendered very clean.
Sony Experia Tablet Z's white was noticeably more of yellow tint and the shades of gray were all slightly violet. In general, it looked like washed-out old picture. The text was crisp but I'd say has been not so comfortable for my eyes as on the iPad.
Moreover, one of 3 Sonys had more of violet hue than the other two! The salesperson whom I showed this difference told me it was a preproduction item just for demonstration, and the other two were for sale. Which also shows that the tablet really has this issue.
That was a big disappointment for me which prevented me from byuying the Tablet Z. I wish I know if there is a way to calibrate the tablet's screen.
the screen is stunning anyone who says other wise is being very petty. colours great sharp and very vibrant
ash6783 said:
the screen is stunning anyone who says other wise is being very petty. colours great sharp and very vibrant
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Colours are great, sharp and very vibrant indeed.
But still there are problems I described above.

Debating between Xperia Z tablet and Google Nexus 10

Was wondering if anyone could chime in. I havent seen either in person (going to staples today to see the nexus 10) and would appreciate it if anyone had any opinions.
Screen resolution and ppi- The nexus 10 obviously has a higher resolution and ppi, but side by side can you really even tell on a 10 inch tablet? I've read many reviews that have talked about how the difference between 1080p and retina/nexus 10 etc is not very noticeble at all.. Also this doesnt take into account contrast and brightness etc, if anyone can comment on the differences between the two screens Id appreciate it.
Size and feel- the Z is the thinnest and lightest 10 incher, but the nexus 10 seems to have an easier to hold back surface? I have a xperia zl smartphone and I chose this over the slightly more expensive Z bc it just felt easier to hold, even though it was thicker and had a curved back. Wondering if the same can be applied here in regards to the feel of both the Z and the N10.
Mouse- The nexus 10 can use a mouse, can the Z utilize one too? I'd like to be able to have a asus infinity transformer like setup with a bluetooth keyboard and a mouse etc for more capability when I travel, so I dont have to lug around my laptop.
Where?- I found out the N10 is only available in the retail outlets of Staples and sometimes walmart and sams club, where can I see the Z? Besides an official sony store, will it be available in any retail outlets? I have time to ponder this, as the Z just came out and cant be found for under 500.00 (for the 16g wifi) whereas the N10 has been around over 6 months and can be had used for 380 off ebay, etc.
Also not that this matters but Google should be announcing the next version of the N10 soon which will obviously trump both of these spec wise but with tech gadgets time will always bring worth a new winner.
Overall it seems the Xperia Z is for those that value the design asthetic, as well as the unique features such as the waterproof nature of it and remote control. The screen and battery are above average, but it seems its mostly about the design and thinness/weight etc.
Thanks~
Hi,
I'm actually getting rid of my Nexus 10 and purchasing the Z (I've had the 10 since it launched). The Nexus 10 would be a great tablet but for one issue: Apparently there is a memory leak with the "surfaceflinger" process that'll periodically cause the tablet to seize up and reboot. Using Chrome and viewing videos exacerbates the problem. I finally flashed the Sentinel ROM, and it was much more stable (Chrome uninstalled, using Firefox), but it'll still regularly lock up. Note that the memory leak is in a non-open binary module of some sort, so the modding community can't really help at this point. There's a bug filed, but Google, as always, seems pretty indifferent (granted it may be a bug with the Mali graphics drivers).
Other things I have found annoying with the Nexus 10 is its lack of 3rd party accessory support, as well as its somewhat chintzy build feel--my back flexes a bit and the removable strip on the back is creaky. Next, it STILL seems that there are games that aren't really optimized for the tablet and bog down in spite of its supposedly state of the art A15 processor--I think that's slowly improving, though. Finally, the battery life isn't the best (note that I root and freeze everything I don't use).
On a positive note, the screen is sharp as a tack, and with the right launcher (I've been using Nova) it's feels plenty fast.
Hope this helps.
Regards,
John Francis
I've had both and been disappointed by both.
The Nexus 10 seems to be plagued with issues like that graphics bug described above and a bunch of quality assurance issues (stuff stuck between glass and screen during manufacturing and edge colour bleed).
The Xperia Tablet Z seems to be having issues with the backing coming unstuck (double-sided tape is perhaps not the most robust manufacturing material), screen flexing and watertight stoppers over ports not being sufficiently watertight.
After 5 defective tablets of 3 different species (Nexus 7, Nexus 10 and Xperia) since last November, I'm waiting for the new batch (Tegra 4 Toshiba and Nexus 7 refresh) before I try again.
If you do decide to pull the trigger on either now — Nexus 10 if you like the screen and prompt Android updates or Xperia if you value the lightness, SD card expansion and IR blaster — your best bet is to open it up in-store and test it for it's known issues right then and there so you can exchange it right away.
MRSAMSUNG said:
Screen resolution and ppi- The nexus 10 obviously has a higher resolution and ppi, but side by side can you really even tell on a 10 inch tablet? I've read many reviews that have talked about how the difference between 1080p and retina/nexus 10 etc is not very noticeble at all.. Also this doesnt take into account contrast and brightness etc, if anyone can comment on the differences between the two screens Id appreciate it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe that the screen resolution shouldn't be a problem at regular viewing distance. I actually find text more pleasing on my SO-03E versus the iPad 3 I have lying around. But obviously if you want absolute sharpness, the Nexus 10 delivers.
Do note of course that the Nexus 10's ultra high resolution means that you'll have more difficulty finding wallpapers of that resolution, and more content/apps than on any other tablet will look fuzzy and low-res. As it is I already notice most apps having screen elements showing pixellation on the XPERIA Tablet Z or iPad.
Brightness and contrast on the XPERIA Tablet Z are good, but not exceptional. I cannot give an opinion on the Nexus 10, it isn't really officially sold in my country so as much as I wanted one at the time I'd have to go out of my way to get it!
MRSAMSUNG said:
Size and feel- the Z is the thinnest and lightest 10 incher, but the nexus 10 seems to have an easier to hold back surface? I have a xperia zl smartphone and I chose this over the slightly more expensive Z bc it just felt easier to hold, even though it was thicker and had a curved back. Wondering if the same can be applied here in regards to the feel of both the Z and the N10.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The XPERIA Tablet Z has a very nice (almost like ultra smooth, grippy leather) rear texturing - it stays in my palm even at a nearly 80 degree vertical angle. The grippy matte plastic on the back, the sheer thinness and weight of the tablet make it extremely easy for me to carry it, personally.
I have little to no qualms using it one handed, or even just carrying it around in the hand like a paper folder, as it pretty much weighs like one. The fact that it lacks rounded edges is circumvented by the thinness. Unlike the Z phone, it's much larger so you have enough space on each side to place your hands, rather than having to cup the device in your hand. It's pretty much like holding a magazine.
The tablet's rigidity is pretty impressive for me (although it can flex a tiny bit) and it feels very solid throughout. Only the buttons feel a little mushy, but otherwise build quality is sternly high on my unit. Of course I wouldn't be surprised if Japanese units have tighter quality control.
MRSAMSUNG said:
Mouse- The nexus 10 can use a mouse, can the Z utilize one too? I'd like to be able to have a asus infinity transformer like setup with a bluetooth keyboard and a mouse etc for more capability when I travel, so I dont have to lug around my laptop.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just tried this with an OTG cable and a small wired mobile mouse, an ASUS notebook one in fact. Works a-OK, but the position of the MicroUSB port is moderately unwieldy in practice and you'll of course have to deal with the flaps.
MRSAMSUNG said:
Where?- I found out the N10 is only available in the retail outlets of Staples and sometimes walmart and sams club, where can I see the Z? Besides an official sony store, will it be available in any retail outlets? I have time to ponder this, as the Z just came out and cant be found for under 500.00 (for the 16g wifi) whereas the N10 has been around over 6 months and can be had used for 380 off ebay, etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The XPERIA Tablet Z's definitely a pricey prospect, but if you're willing to forego warranty sellers like eBay have Japanese models for cheaper, or you can even get a friend in Japan to try shipping you one. I saw some Japanese e-tailers selling it for like $150 less than expected when searching for my own. I believe the Nexus 10 is also sold direct via Google Play? Is it cheaper that way?
MRSAMSUNG said:
Also not that this matters but Google should be announcing the next version of the N10 soon which will obviously trump both of these spec wise but with tech gadgets time will always bring worth a new winner.
Overall it seems the Xperia Z is for those that value the design asthetic, as well as the unique features such as the waterproof nature of it and remote control. The screen and battery are above average, but it seems its mostly about the design and thinness/weight etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It'll never end, but if you're willing to wait, by all means. I was getting impatient myself and desired a lighter, attractive design with LTE (the Nexus 10 doesn't have LTE...), a MicroSD slot and water-resistance. I also prefer WUXGA (1920x1200) over WQXGA (2560x1600) because the 1920x1080 resolution is much more common (1080p video, same resolution as my desktop monitor and TV). WQXGA is mostly used only by 30" professional monitors, and rarely are there wallpapers let alone content made for it. The Sony tab's also one of the few ones around featuring the WUXGA resolution, I can only think of one other tablet and it's by Acer.
Also you'll want to note that the XPERIA Tablet Z only has the S4 Pro, which is slightly behind the Snapdragon 600, while incoming models will likely feature Snapdragon 800, or perhaps ASUS' new Infinity might interest you with its Tegra 4 chip.
The XPERIA Tablet Z's definitely at the slightly lower end of the future ready spectrum, due to; Snapdragon S4 vs Snapdragon 600 (slightly weaker CPU, but almost equal GPU), lower resolution (WUXGA vs WQXGA, but this isn't a con for me) and Android 4.1 vs 4.2 (complete with slower updates). But I was willing to compromise for what it gave in return.
I'm happy with mine, so if you can see both in person, weigh your opinions and desires. That said my XPERIA Tablet Z definitely gets some attention from people, compared to the Galaxy Note/Tabs that are increasingly commonsight.
I hope that helps.

[Q] Which phablet / large screen device to get?

Hi everyone,
I've been using an Xperia V for almost two years now, and beside the noticeable lack in oomph (old processor, too little RAM, stuck with JB 4.3), I also noticed that I use my phone for reading, messaging, photo and video much more than actual phone stuff, i.e. calling people or receiving calls. For the computer stuff I do, its 4.3 inch screen doesn't seem to cut it anymore.
So I decided that my next device will feature a substantially larger screen, but I am yet uncertain which phablet or large screen device to get. Here's what I've come up with so far. (Note: I'm specifically looking for a device that will stay with me for the next two years, as I don't believe in upgrading every year. Also, battery size is relevant, i.e. the larger the better.)
Sony Xperia Z Ultra: 6.44 inch seems a bit too large, 6 inch appears to be the ideal compromise between handling and a nice large screen experience. Also, it's 2013 technology and may not cut it in a year from now.
HTC One Max: perfect size, but mediocre camera and once again, 2013 technology. I do like the fact that HTC offers an accessory handset that you can use for calls and texting, as I'm not keen on holding a 6 inch phone to my ear, looking like a total dork.
Huawei Mate 7: seems perfect. Has up-to-date hardware, supports all LTE bands, expandable memory, 6 inch screen in a very compact body. Downside: bugs in the OS, and Huawei is taking its sweet time updating to Lollipop, which makes me afraid of what their customer service will be like in the future (one to two years from now.)
OnePlus One: appears to be a superb phone in almost all regards. Power, large screen, frequent updates, great OS, ridiculous price tag. My only worry is that 5.5 inch, though not that far from 6 inch, might be a tad too small. What are people's experiences with 5.5 and 6 inch screens respectively? Do you think that 5.5 is enough for a phablet experience? (I REALLY want a LARGE screen that's nice to browse the internet and watch videos on.)
Nexus 6: oh my. I sooo want this device. BUT: it's incredibly expensive. Shell out the big bucks for a perfect phone, or save 50% and make a compromise?
What are people's opinions? Are there any other devices you'd suggest? Please don't mention Samsung stuff, as I hate their look and feel, no matter how great the hardware.
Thanks for your input!
I have a couple of the Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 tablets are they are great!
Hm, this forum doesn't seem to see much love.
Anyway, I went with the Mate 7 and couldn't be happier. Beautiful design, great screen with the perfect size for what essentially is a tiny, portable computer, + amazing battery life.
Some issues on the software side that need tinkering to be solved, but I like tinkering

any reason to get this instead of the z3?

Im in the market for a 7 or 8 inch tablet, but upon searching google for the best android tab every site is raving about the z4 tablet.
Is it really that much better than the z3?
i doubt no matter how light it is, that ill feel like an 8inch tho
For me bigger iswhat i need . MOvies and animes.
Butit bcame a hassle when cant potrait lock
GreeleyXda said:
Im in the market for a 7 or 8 inch tablet, but upon searching google for the best android tab every site is raving about the z4 tablet.
Is it really that much better than the z3?
i doubt no matter how light it is, that ill feel like an 8inch tho
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it mainly depends what size you prefer. obviously the Z4 is a little bit more cutting edge with a higher res display, faster processor, better camera, but both are lovely tablets that can still run anything at their respective resolutions.
i always thought i'd go for 7-8" tablets when i bought one because they are a good portable middle ground, but phones are already quite big these days so i went for a Z4 so it actually makes a noticeable difference in experience compared to the phone, and the Z4 is one of the lightest 10" tablets ever made and as a result feels really easy and comfortable to hold even in one hand compared to other 10" tablets that might have given you feeling that they are too big.
Ive played with a samsung tab s 10.5 (its pretty light too) and i just prefer a smaller footprint. My old nexus 7 was the perfect size but im willing to go up to 8inches if the z3 is the best smaller android tablet
I've got both and surprisingly the performance of both isn't too different to each other, even though one has a QualComm 801 32-bit v 810 64-bit. I think there are still optimisations yet to come for the Z4.
Its down to screen size for now and if you really want that expensive keyboard. For me, yes, 10.1 inch screen for fun + work / productivity is great. Z3 is still an excellent tablet.

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