Small but possibly important note: For me, no device is rooted, I often have to speak for the company mobile phone and tablet recommendations and need to know what that device can and can not violating, without warranty.
(My personal) prerequisites & expectations:
For various reasons, I did not have to clarify here, I am limited to the operating system Android. This eliminated in advance from the outset all iPads & Tablets from W8. (I recommend also to address each in front of a tablet purchase thoroughly with the systems.) There should be a small tablet will (definitely less than 10 inches) read, couchsurfing, Newspapers & books, my NAS ansteueren (also via the Internet), music & Games - the usual stuff. I wanted to buy something newer, I expect from the tablet that it min. For 2 years by holding, Android Updates & gets that after 2 hours of film look of the battery does not fall to 20%. NFC also an absolute must (in my apartment are distributed great stickers everywhere & all keyrings have an NFC tag - but that's another topic).
Even though I have a MicroUSB card inside for emergencies, all (no matter how important) synchronizes / archived on my NAS. Therefore, I do not need much space, nor do I have to deal with external providers Clouds.
Unpacking:
Nothing spectacular - Tablet, USB charging cable & power adapter with USB port, 3 pieces of paper with 90% Sprchen that I can not read. Point. No headset, no protector like the Sony smartphone.
Processing:
The tablet is incredibly flat and extremely light. It looks from the side, as if the Sony Tablet flat could not have make, otherwise the Druchmesser headphone jack would have been greater than the thickness of the Z3 Compact. The front looks classy and feels equally at. On the sides, a silver metal frame is centrally recessed, which also leaves a Edeles appearance. The back is completely white, except for three small silver font lifts ("Sony", "Xperia" and the NFC symbol) and the camera of course. The back is made of plastic, it feels like that to; the tablet is definitely good in the hand, but feels not really like a nearly 400 device. The 8-inch screen fills the front to ~ 90%, making the tablet of course is a total small and ultimately easily. A small problem arises, however thereof: on the long sides is so little edge that you eat there do not take into their own hands, without touching the screen. On the short sides, however, there is enough space (at least for my small hands, maybe it is in Wurstel fingers slightly heavier).
With the exception of the headphone input all connections are hidden behind small flaps so that the tablet passes for water- and dustproof (which I personally have no desire to keep my 380 Tablet underwater ...).
Hardware:
Read yourselves the specs and compares quiet a bit - currently (November 2014) there is not hardly (Android) Tablets with such power, even if you mitvergleicht larger tablets. Both cameras are really bad (as I have a deja vu with the iPad 2 - in his time a great tablet with absolutely grottiger camera). I have not the slightest idea why Sony has built nothing better here (or just leave out the front camera).
The display has "only" Full HD. But is more than enough for an 8-inch screen, videos & photos are very sharp, the colors are gorgeous. Here the tablet is definitely above average. The battery is running really long, Sony has completely dug deep into his bag of tricks - to incorporate such a battery in such a small package is impressive. Tip my part: the supplied power adapter is not enough. Buy yourself something better, then the battery loads faster (the power supply of my Surface has a USB port to simultaneously charge the Surface and other devices with microUSB. This worked much faster).
First tests with the one or other game clearly indicate that Sony clearly builds high quality tablets, so far I have been able to produce a single stuttering.
Software & settings:
Comes the tablet with Android 4.4.4, but Sony has already announced to deliver the update to Version 5 in the 1st Q 2015. I like that well to Sony - they provide rapid updates to what Android concerns.
An unlocked via Bluetooth is available in the settings, I have not tested that. There is also the opportunity to awaken the tablet from sleep mode by 2x Tapt on the screen - very pleasant. Sony (like any other equipment manufacturer too) has some pre-installed apps. Most of it I have uninstalled or deactivated relatively quickly (less battery consumption, saving less risk something unintentionally in a cloud). The default installed software keyboard has the wonderful swipe function, which works really terrific.
Comparisons:
Occupationally I have to deal with many different tablets. Samsung has relatively good tablet, but I do not like the plastic design. If I spend 300+, I will kindly keep a high-quality device in your hand and not plastic.
The iPad Mini would definitely also a consideration have been worth retires with me but because of the operating system from.
The new Nexus devices would have been just as possible (64bit !!!), but I did not want to wait much longer to the 9s and 8 inches is just still a bit more manageable and easier. To all those who can not decide between one of the devices: Waiting for the first recession of the Nexus.
At the end still a little summary:
+ A workhorse among the current Tablets
+ Incredibly thin and therefore incredibly easy
+ Insane Battery Performance
+ Wonderful display
+ Water and dust resistant
- Longitudinal edges almost too thin
- Terrible cameras
- Bad supplied power unit (one buys something better, the battery loads faster)
Final Conclusion: Currently, the Xperia Tablet Z3 Compact is MMN in
/ First Addendum:
For a week the tablet is now already in use and I am still completely satisfied, so far I can not fault it. In addition, the slim and lightweight design convinced still.