Images
Unique wedge-shaped design
Sharp screen with excellent viewing angles
PlayStation support
The shelves in Currys, Carphone Warehouse and Best Buy are full up with near identical Android tablets. And Google's Ice Cream Sandwich revision to its OS is just around the corner. So how does a relative latecomer, like Sony's Tablet S, get potential punters interested? By being the quirky, interesting looking tablet in the corner that, of course.
With a 9.4-inch screen it's smaller and less instantly noticeable than the likes of the Samsung Galaxy 10.1 or Acer A500, for example, but thanks to its unusual design and original PlayStation compatibility, it's the one that promises to be both different and fun.
Read our Acer Iconia Tab A500 review
Sony Tablet S - curves in all the right places
Its asymmetrical, wedge shaped look isn't self indulgent, either. The curve serves to provide a raked base when the Tablet S is lying on a desktop, and fits into the palm of your hand if you're holding it like a book. To whit, there's an above par e-reader app included, along with a host of other custom software tweaks for a relatively unique experience.
The asymmetrical fold results in a pleasant viewing angle when the Tablet S is lying on a desktop, which makes it an unusually pleasant companion screen at work. It also fills the palm if you're holding it like a book, although the dimpled rear surface looks and feels like a laptop touchpad – ie. somewhat slippy. It's oddly easier to hold in landscape mode, where the wedge works its way firmly into your fingers.
Sony Tablet S - pixel-packing screen
Despite measuring just 9.4inches in diagonal, the Tablet S' screen still packs in 1280x800 pixels which gives it a sharp, high def look. Colours are more natural on the Galaxy Tab 10.1 or Eee Pad Transformer, but it does have excellent viewing angles and is bright too.
Read our Galaxy Tab 10.1 review
Review continues after the break...
Sony Tablet S - storage niggles
The Tablet S has the same Tegra 2 processor as most of its Android peers, but the storage is split into two separate drives. Only 10GB appears in the rather poor file manager, and on the whole it feels slightly slower and buggier than other similarly equipped tablets. This could be patched out in time though.
You only get an SD card reader and a mini-USB slot with the Tablet S, but the latter can be used for a joypad to go with your PS games if you buy an adaptor. It's a shame there's no HDMI out, though, as Sony's forthcoming Video Unlimited service could be the best way to get mobile movies in the UK.
Sony Tablet S - universal remote function
There are a few customisations to the Android interface, like an extra app launcher at the top, but they really weren't worth the effort. On the other hand, Sony's own apps – including PlayStation games like Crash Bandicoot, Social Feed Reader, the onscreen keyboard and a stunningly useful universal remote which uses the built-in IR transmitter - are some of the best on a Google tablet so far.
Sony Tablet S - sizing up the competition
The Tablet is lighter than its major rival – the iPad 2 – but the Apple tablet’s strong aluminium back feels worth carrying the extra weight for. Android is catching up in terms of apps, and Sony's music and video services look like real iTunes rivals. The Tablet S is agonisingly close to being the proverbial iPad-beater, but for now something cheaper and more utilitarian like the Asus Transformer is a better buy.
Read our Asus EEE Pad Transformer review
The Tablet S has an innovative design and Sony's exclusive apps give the desktop a iPad-ish flair. Its compact size also means a smaller battery than most, however, and it will deliver just five to six hours of fun compared to the double-digit capacity of rivals. It's pricey too, forcing you to choose pound for pound against an iPad 2, where other equally equipped Android tablets are now much cheaper.
The First Hour
-
1
Very light
-
12
Feels a bit flimsy though
-
27
High res screen
-
42
Most of the home page 'apps' turn out to be web shortcuts
-
49
Power button is strangely easy to snag
-
55
Excellent music app, with virtual CD cases
Tech Specs
- Battery life
- 5 hours (video loop), 5.5hrs standard use
- Bluetooth
- Yes
- Camera
- x2
- Camera resolution
- Rear 5Mp, front 0.3Mp
- Dimensions
- 174x241x10mm
- Memory card slots
- SD card
- RAM
- 1GB
- Storage
- 16GB (10GB + 6GB)
- USB
- MiniUSB
- Weight
- 598g
Comments
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1 year ago
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1 year ago
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1 year ago
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Thomas13
1 year ago
It is easy to use as well as handle it. Very simple design actually. Lawyer Burnaby
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1 year ago
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healthelectron
1 year ago
customized bags control capability, I suppose is the target m
healthelectron
1 year ago
Best Buy are full up with near identical Android tablets. And Google's Ice Crecustomized bags
rosemood
1 year ago
It also fills your palm if you hold it like a book, even if the back surface of the dimpled look and feel like a laptop touchpad - ie. somewhat elusive. LEDs Light Bulb E27
Thomas13
1 year ago
I think people should call it a Capsule rather than a Tablet. San Diego painters
johnabraham
1 year ago
The Sony Supplement has one 9.4-inch (240 mm) touchscreen present display screen in a standing structure, and a unique place design motivated by the way some individuals flip newspapers while examining them. In landscape designs alignment, the unit along the top is about three times wider than along the end, developing a light inclination. how to fix a xbox 360
smithadam96
1 year ago
The results of asymmetric folds in an enjoyable perspective when S Tablets lying on the desktop, which makes it a very pleasant companion display in the workplace. It also fills your palm if you hold it like a book, even if the back surface of the dimpled look and feel like a laptop touchpad - ie. somewhat elusive. It is curious easier to hold in landscape mode, which works the way you cut your finger firmly.dubturbo
Apollosan
1 year ago
this is such a great thing to know 'With a 9.4-inch screen it's smaller and less instantly noticeable than the likes of the Samsung Galaxy 10.1 or Acer A500, for example, but thanks to its unusual design and original PlayStation compatibility, it's the one that promises to be both different and fun."..more power
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1 year ago
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1 year ago
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1 year ago
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1 year ago
The sony tablet is so good. The screen and picture is so good. It is also very fast which i like. asbestos cancer lawyer baltimore
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1 year ago
I have seen some pages powered by website design Newcastle and on such tablet and I found it so exquisite that I can`t decide whether it`s the technology involved in the web design or the revolutionary featured tablet that makes browsing such an exciting experience right here. It also must be the app launcher, the interface and the operating speed. I must congratulate the producers for this masterpiece.
caseydrake
1 year ago
Have you heard of this? Gamers will be very excited about this. This holiday season, gaming retailer GameStop will begin selling its own brand of Android tablets, notes the Wall Street Journal. These will be supplied as competition against iPads GameStop already offers. Each Android tablet will be gaming optimized, and include many well-known games. Resource for this article: GameStop
to offer Android gaming tablet for the holidays. Android tablets have experience a huge surge in popularity, climbing from a 2.3 per cent share of global sales to 27 per cent in the last quarter.
ggoodey
1 year ago
This, like all Tablets, is a toy in my eyes, though I can see where it could be real useful. If only there were more external connections. Come on Apple, Sony, HTC, lets have USB and HDMI slots, hide them if you must but GIVE US SLOTS!!!
jmmaury
1 year ago
If by "flimsy" you mean lightweight and comfortable to hold then I agree ;-) I didn't find the power switch to be a problem either.
All in all, this is a great tablet for the home which, given the awesome remote control capability, I suppose is the target market.
Dare99
1 year ago
Fighting Apple at the same price point = Fail. They've already won that battle.