Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet Review: Beauty, Brains and a Beach Body

It’s an oft-repeated maxim of gadget design that the overall experience should be so engaging that the device itself should “disappear.” Sony appears to have taken that advice literally with the Xperia Z2 tablet — probably the lightest and thinnest full-size tablet you can buy.

When I picked up the Xperia Z2 (which goes on sale May 4 for $499.99 for 16GB and $599.99 for 32GB), I had almost the same reaction as when I first held the Google Nexus 5 smartphone: The battery must be removed. I simply couldn’t comprehend how I could be holding a fully functional mobile device that weighs significantly less than its peers.

Even the iPad Air — the reigning champ in terms of lightweight tablet design — is a muffin top compared to the Xperia Z2. The iPad Air is exactly 1 pound (1.05 pounds for the LTE model) while the Xperia Z2 is 15.5 ounces. Thicknesses are 0.29 inch and 0.24 inch — neither’s quite “air,” but there’s a clear winner, and it’s Sony.

However, the Xperia does have a bigger footprint. Not only does it have a 10.1-inch display (the iPad’s is 9.7 inches), but the bezel is thick by today’s standards — perhaps Sony needed the extra space to stuff the components that would normally be behind the display.

In look and feel, the Z2 mirrors the aesthetic that all of Sony’s mobile phones and tablets have brandished since the original Xperia Z — rigidly rectangular with jewel-like edges, colored black with hints of silver on the sides. My favorite ornament of the design is the round, silver on/off switch, which is both beautiful and consistent across all Sony devices, including TVs, speakers and laptops.

Liquid asset

Did I mention it’s waterproof? I almost don’t need to, considering Sony has grabbed and held onto waterproofing its gadgets as a differentiator for almost two years. The Z2 carries on the tradition, but with the improved IP58 spec that it shares with the Xperia Z1S smartphone.

In real-world terms, that means the tablet will survive immersion in up to 5 feet of fresh water for up to 30 minutes, so you can take your tablet into the tub, the shower or the next raging rainstorm and be confident it will endure.

Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet Review

1. 
   

   
   

   
   

   Underwater Adventurer

   
   

   
   

   The Sony Xperia Z2 is thinner and lighter than the iPad Air, plus, at 10.1 inches, it has a bigger screen. Its best party trick, though, is the IP58 waterproof rating, which lets it survive dunks in a bathtub, or a fishtank like this one. It goes on sale May 4, starting at $499.99 for 16GB.

   
   

   
   

   
   Image: Mashable, Will Fenstermaker
   

   
   
   
   


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   Sony Display Engineering

   
   

   
   

   Sony has a long legacy of superior display technology, and it transfers some of that to the Z2 with its Triluminous technology and X-Reality processing. That means more vivid colors and slightly enhanced detail. The effect is noticeable.

   
   

   
   

   
   Image: Mashable, Will Fenstermaker
   

   
   
   
   


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   Featherlight

   
   

   
   

   The Xperia Z2 weighs just 15.5 ounces, but its battery is still rated for up to 10 hours of video playback.

   
   

   
   

   
   Image: Mashable, Will Fenstermaker
   

   
   
   
   


4. 
   

   
   

   
   

   Attractive Design

   
   

   
   

   The Xperia Z2 retains the same edgy jewel-like design of other Xperia products, and the trademark silver Sony power button is there, too.

   
   

   
   

   
   Image: Mashable, Will Fenstermaker
   

   
   
   
   


5. 
   

   
   

   
   

   Thinner Than Air

   
   

   
   

   The Sony Xperia Z2 is 0.25 of an inch thick, or about 0.04 inch thinner than the iPad Air.

   
   

   
   

   
   Image: Mashable, Will Fenstermaker
   

   
   
   
   


6. 
   

   
   

   
   

   No Fear of Water

   
   

   
   

   The Z2 is rated to withstand being immersed in 4.9 feet of water for up to 30 minutes.

   
   

   
   

   
   Image: Mashable, Will Fenstermaker
   

   
   
   
   


7. 
   

   
   

   
   

   Bottom View

   
   

   
   

   On the bottom, you’ll find only the headphone jack and electrical connections for accessories (such as an optional keyboard).

   
   

   
   

   
   Image: Mashable, Will Fenstermaker
   

   
   
   
   


8. 
   

   
   

   
   

   Top View

   
   

   
   

   The top of the tablet has the connectors (hidden beneath flaps) and the infrared port for controlling a TV.

   
   

   
   

   
   Image: Mashable, Will Fenstermaker
   

   
   
   
   


9. 
   

   
   

   
   

   Waterproofing Flaps

   
   

   
   

   The trade-off of waterproofing: The microUSB port and microSD card slot are only accessible if you open the flaps protecting them.

   
   

   
   

   
   Image: Mashable, Will Fenstermaker
   

   
   
   
   


10. 
    

    
    

    
    

    Left Side

    
    

    
    

    Here are the power button and volume controls.

    
    

    
    

    
    Image: Mashable, Will Fenstermaker
    

    
    
    
    


11. 
    

    
    

    
    

    Right Side

    
    

    
    

    A remarkably Spartan right side.

    
    

    
    

    
    Image: Mashable, Will Fenstermaker
    

    
    
    
    

Read more: http://mashable.com/2014/04/21/sony-xperia-z2-tablet-review/

Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet Review: Beauty, Brains and a Beach Body

Android, gadgets, Mashable Choice, Mobile, Reviews, sony, Sony Xperia Z2, Tablets, tech

Business Betch: Your Android Might Be Bugged and Other Important Business News

Here’s your important business news for the week.

Pay your taxes, betch

You should’ve filed your taxes by this week. Besides that, we don’t really give a shit. Moving on…

A new app helps support your caffeine addiction

Attention, coffee addicts: for just $45 a month, a new app called CUPS will allow you to get unlimited coffee from around 40 independently owned shops throughout the NYC area. The app is intended to be sort of an alternative version of a loyalty card you would get through other shops, like Starbucks. But it took me, like, SO long to get my gold card! The $45 will only cover drip, brewed, pour-over, or filtered coffee. For those betches who do the skinny vanilla latte thing, CUPS unlimited latte plan goes for $85 a month. Good job, CUPS, but until you can get someone to literally bring iced coffee to my bed every morning, I’m really not that impressed. Read article>>

Fruit of the Loom is selling $70 T-Shirts in Europe

Fruit of the Loom is tricking dumb Europeans into paying wayyy too much for their “higher end” line, available only in Berlin and London. The new premium brand is called “Seek No Further” and was created to capitalize on the positive memories Europeans have associated with Fruit of the Loom products.  According to the brand’s business developer, Antoine Thieser, in the U.S. we just don’t see Fruit of the Loom’s sexy side (no fucking shit, their commercial is a bunch of guys dressed up like giant fruit).  “Everybody here has a story of the brand” Thieser said, ‘Oh, it reminds me of when I was young’—there are so many things people were doing in these T-shirts!”. Calm down, Antoine. We’ve seen European PDA. Please stop talking before this gets awkward. Read article>>

Attention Android users: your phone might be bugged

As many of you may already heard, a web security bug known as “Heartbleed” is causing major problems in the tech world. But in addition to the mess it"s already made, according to a recent announcement by Google, smart phones and tablets running a specific version of Android were also affected by the bug and might have had personal information (like passwords) leaked. Google gives you a lot of tips on how to make sure you don’t have the bug, but follow our advice instead: get a fucking iPhone. It’s 2014 and you’re still texting on Blackberry’s slightly cooler cousin. Bug or not, you really just brought this on yourself. Read article >>

Read more: http://www.betcheslovethis.com/article/business-betch-your-android-might-be-bugged-and-other-important-business-ne

Business Betch: Your Android Might Be Bugged and Other Important Business News

business betch, heartbleed, iPhone