Sony launched the new Xperia Z4 Tablet in March 2015, and not only is it the world’s thinnest and lightest tablet, but it also sports the best hardware in its class and a ridiculously long battery life. At the same time, it also revealed the M4 Aqua smartphone. Meanwhile, the M4 Aqua is a modest smartphone for emerging markets with a top-notch camera.
Updated on 06-09-2015 by Andy Boxall: Added in news of a launch delay for the Xperia Z4 Tablet
Xperia Z4 Tablet out at the end of June
When Sony announced the Xperia Z4 Tablet in March, it estimated that tablet would be on sale in June. It’s going to meet this target, but only just. According to a listing on the UK Sony Mobile store, the Z4 Tablet will start to ship on June 29 to those who have already ordered the device.
The tablet costs £500, or about $765, which includes an external keyboard, converting the tablet into a mini laptop. For comparison, the cheapest Microsoft Surface 3 is £420 plus another £110 for the Type Cover in the UK, making the powerful Z4 reasonably priced. At the time of writing, there is no U.S. release date for the Xperia Z4 Tablet.
The Xperia Z4 Tablet is a 10.1-inch, 2560 x 1600 pixel tablet designed to be the best in class in just about everything, from its display to internals and even battery life. The device sports a Snapdragon 810, 64-bit octa-core processor, powering up its high-resolution display, which Sony claims is the world’s brightest tablet display out there. The tablet will also sport 32GB of internal storage, Wi-Fi, and LTE on select models.
For gamers, the Z4 will support playing PS4 games stored on your home console, like the Xperia Z3 before it. Plus you can connect a Dualshock 4 controller to your Z4 for the same gaming experience no matter where you are in the house.
If you’re the outdoorsy type, the Xperia Z4 is IP68 rated. This means the device is dust and water resistant and can survive an accidental drop in the pool, kick in the sand, or other mishap. Don’t be fooled into thinking it’s rugged, however: This tablet probably won’t fare well if you drop it onto concrete.
What’s also great about the Xperia Z4 is its crazy long 17-hour battery life. Powered by a 6,000-mAh battery, this phone can handle some seriously long trips without hunting for an outlet. With Sony’s Stamina mode, you can stretch that last bit of power for essential use when the battery runs low. Sony brags that the Z4 Tablet will also be the world’s thinnest — just 6.1 mm (about a quarter inch) thick and weighing in at 393 grams (about 14 ounces).
Xperia M4 Aqua
The Xperia M4 Aqua is a mid-range smartphone designed for those who want a great camera and a decently priced smartphone. The M4 Aqua has a 13-megapixel Sony Exmor image sensor with a wide F2.0 aperture and ISO 3200 range, plus 52 different scenes to shoot with, from low-light to selfie mode.
The smartphone also will sport a Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 octa-core processor, 4G LTE connectivity, and a long-lasting, two-day battery life with the Ultra Stamina mode, which Sony claims will let your Xperia M4 Aqua last for an entire week when in use. The Xperia M4 Aqua will be out in 80 countries this spring — but not in America.
Article originally published 03-01-2015
