Sony's New Xperia Z Tablet is Lightweight & Waterproof

Sony announced the release of their new Xperia Z smartphone at CES, including that it would be waterproof and feature full HD video. Now, less than a fortnight later, they have announced a new Xperia Z tablet, which could be the thinnest and lightest tablet of its size. The Xperia Z tablet offers the same waterproof functions as Sony’s flagship phone, which on its own is enough to turn heads.

Thin & Lightweight

The Xperia Z weighs in at just 1.1 lbs which puts it at just a fraction lighter than its competitor, the Toshiba Excite 10 LE. The Xperia X tablet is also just 0.27” thick, which is 0.01” thinner than the Apple iPad mini, which has a 7.9” display. The Xperia Z tablet has a 10.1” screen, making it the largest tablet with its screen thickness.

A larger, more lightweight tablet could allow more comfort for anyone wishing to watch movies or use their tablet for reading. Users with traditional iPads often complain that the device is too heavy and can hurt the wrists over long use periods. A thinner tablet would avoid this issue, and the lighter weight does not hurt either. In comparison, the Xperia tablet is .33 pounds lighter than the iPad 3.

Waterproof Features Could Mean Big Bucks for Sony

Accidents happen and one of the most dreaded with any electronic device is water. Whether spilling or dropping a tablet into water, it can instantly ruin the device. Both the Sony Xperia Z smartphone and tablet feature waterproof functions that could mostly eliminate this problem. While exact details for the Xperia Z tablet have not been released, the phone with the same name can be submerged in water for up to 30 minutes without harm, so long as the ports are closed. If the tablet were to offer the same functions, users could read, play a game, or watch a movie in the bath without worrying about their tablet, or their investment. This feature alone could prove a huge selling point for Sony, especially among users who have water damaged their tablets in the past.

Xperia Z Tablet & Smartphone Content Compatible

Anyone who chooses to purchase both the Xperia Z tablet and the smartphone could have a nice way to instantly share and sync data from a bigger to smaller screen. Sony reports that photos and other data can be shared instantly across the devices using Sony’s ‘One Touch’ feature, which syncs data using active near field communication chips. This is a great feature for users who want to switch between phone and tablet, but does unfortunately require you to own both devices.

What do you think? Is the Xperia Z tablet going to be a hit? As the perfect waterproof complement to the Sony Xperia Z flagship smartphone, it almost definitely should be