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Sony Xperia Tablet Z vs iPad vs Nexus 10: Spec showdown

AJ Dellinger
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Mobile World Congress 2024
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Still looking for that perfect 10-inch tablet? Sony would like to toss its hat in the ring for your attention – and money. The tech giant took to the Mobile World Congress 2013 stage today and announced the Sony Xperia Tablet Z would be making its way to the United States later this year. It will carry the price tag of a premium device and the specs of one, too, so we thought it best to stack it up against the top competition in the tablet market. We’ll see just how well the Xperia Tablet Z lines up against its opponents in a spec showdown with the iPad and Nexus 10.

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iPad (4th Gen.)

ipad 4
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Nexus 10

nexus10
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Xperia Tablet Z 

Xperia_Tablet_Z
Size 241.2 x 185.7 x 9.4 (mm) 263.9 x 177.6 x 8.9 (mm) 266 x 172 x 6.9 (mm)
Weight 662g 603g 495g
Screen 9.7-inch LCD 10.1-inch LCD 10.1-inch LCD
Resolution 2048 x 1536 pixels 2560 x 1600 pixels 1920 x 1200 pixels
OS iOS 6 Android 4.2 Jelly Bean Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean
Storage 16/32/64GB 16/32GB 16/32GB
SD Card Slot No No Yes
Processor Dual-core A6X Dual-core A15 Quad-core Snapdragon S4
RAM 1GB 2GB 2GB
Connectivity Wi-Fi, 4G LTE, HSPA+ Wi-Fi Wi-Fi, 4G LTE, HSPA+
Camera Front 1.2MP, Rear 5MP Front 1.9MP, Rear 5MP Front 2MP, Rear 8MP
Bluetooth Yes, version 4.0 Yes, version 3.0 Yes, version 3.0
Battery 11,560mAh 9,000mAh 6,000mAh
Charger Lightning connector Micro USB Micro USB
Marketplace Apple App Store Google Play Store Google Play Store
Price $400+ $400 $500
Related

Regardless of specs, the Sony Xperia Tablet Z definitely wins in the “longest and most confusing name” competition. But aside from that, one of the starkest differences between Sony’s tablet and its opposition comes just in physicality. The Xperia Tablet Z is so thin. Sony has cut off a full 2mm in comparison to the Nexus 10. The Tablet Z is 27 percent thinner and 24 percent lighter than the fourth-generation iPad. It’s definitely a sight to behold . (Literally, hold it. It’s so light.) Aside from that, though, a lot of the specs are pretty comparable. The Xperia bumps the processing power up to the quad-core Snapdragon, though it’s now outdated. It does have a significantly smaller battery than either the Nexus 10 or the iPad, and we’ll have to see exactly how much that plays into its usability. If it can’t run for long then it’s just a very expensive, impressive looking slab. That will likely be the biggest challenge that faces the Xperia Tablet Z as it enters the U.S. market.

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AJ Dellinger
AJ Dellinger
Contributor
AJ Dellinger is a freelance reporter from Madison, Wisconsin with an affinity for all things tech. He has been published by…
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