Sony Xperia Z and Xperia Tablet Z – Sharp & Impressive at MWC 2013

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The Sony Xperia Z Android Phone

The Sony Xperia Z Android Phone

One of the cool things that happened this year at Mobile World Congress was that Sony and an assorted group of partners gave select press and others an MWC-software customized Sony Xperia T complete with Spanish SIM. With it we were able to enter the venue with a validated NFC ID, and we were able to collect information from NFC tags located on signs and booth fixtures throughout the Fira Barcelona Gran Via.

As enjoyable as I have found using the Xperia T for the past week to be, the Sony Xperia Z was the device that really caught my eye. You can read the full white paper on this 5″-screened, 1920×1080 pixel device by clicking here. The main features that interested me were its Snapdragon™ S4 Pro quadcore 1.5 Ghz processor with 2GB RAM, its water and dust resistance (you can put it in up to 3 feet of water for up to 30 minutes!), its 13.1 megapixel fast capture camera, and its “shatter-proof sheet on scratch-resistant glass” screen. The Xperia Z has 2GB RAM, 16GB storage memory, and it can accept up to a 32GB microSD card (although I bet it will work just fine with a 64GB card); it also has a 2,330 mAh Li-Ion battery.

It didn’t take long handling the Sony Xperia Z though, to realize that it might not be the device for me — it is one of the worst fingerprint-magnets I have ever seen, and all the Z’s edges are so sharp! You’ve heard me talk about caressability before, and it is truly a trait that I look for in any phone I want to use long-term. The Z is all hard edges, and as such it probably isn’t a device that I could see myself really enjoying … but don’t mind me! The Sony Xperia Z won ‘Best Smartphone’ and ‘Best of Show’ awards at CES 2013, so obviously others love it. The Sony Xperia Z is available now, and it can be purchased unlocked directly from Sony for £529.00.

The Sony Xperia Z Android Phone

On the left, the The Sony Xperia T; on the right, the Sony Xperia Z Android Phone

Also being shown was the newly announced Sony Xperia Tablet Z. Like the Xperia Z, it is dust and water-resistant (it is also able to handle up to 3 feet of water for up to 30 minutes), and it has a 10.1″ display with 1920×1200 pixels. The Tablet Z has a 1.5 GHz Qualcomm APQ8064+MDM9215M Quad Core processor, an 8.1 Megapixels rear camera, and a 2.2 MP front-facing camera. The Xperia Tablet Z has 2GB RAM, 16GB storage memory, and it can accept up to a 64GB microSD card. The Xperia Tablet Z will launch globally in 2nd Quarter 2013, and it should retail for $499. You can check its full specifications by clicking here.

The Sony Xperia Tablet Z

The Sony Xperia Tablet Z

The downside to all of these Sony Xperia devices is that they are fingerprint magnets of the worst kind, but otherwise they are pretty impressive!

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About the Author

Judie Lipsett Stanford
Judie is the co-owner and Editor-in-Chief of Gear Diary, which she founded in September 2006. She got her start in 1999 writing software reviews at the now-defunct smaller.com; from mid-2000 through 2006, she wrote hardware reviews for and co-edited at The Gadgeteer. A recipient of the Sigma Kappa Colby Award for Technology, Judie has written for or been profiled by nationally known sites and magazines, and she has served on multiple industry hardware and software award panels. She is best known for her device-agnostic approach, enjoyment of exploring tech, gadgets, and gear, and her deep-diving, jargon-free reviews.

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