Note: We may earn commissions (at no cost to you) if you buy through links on our site. Learn more.
Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact
Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact
Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact
Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact
...


8.5/10
Informr score
The Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact currently has an Informr score of 8.5 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 22 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

What's good

  • Incredibly thin and light
  • Excellent battery life
  • Snappy performance
  • Water- and dust-proof

What's bad

  • PS4 connection feature laggy and often crashes
  • Camera images lack detail and proper contrast
  • Display colors oversaturated

While smartphones are getting bigger, the tablet manufacturers seem to be duking it out for the title of top mid-size tablet. Sony has entered the fray with the release of the Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact. At first glance, it might not necessarily live up to its "compact" name, but once reviewers held it in their hand they understood why Sony tacked on the title. At 0.25 inches thick, it is one of the slimmest tablets available and it weighs only 270 grams. As well, the 16:10 aspect ratio allows it to be much narrower than its competition (the iPad Mini 3) and experts were able to hold it easily in one-hand. As thin and light as it is, critics did not experience any significant bending though CNET warns, "…it does feel a touch fragile." It does, however, have an IP65 and IP68 rating that makes it dust proof and waterproof for up to 30 minutes in up to six feet of water.

Dominating the front of the screen is the 8-inch full HD LCD display. Although it doesn't offer the same resolution or pixel density as the iPad Mini retina display or the LG G3, experts barely noticed any difference in sharpness. As well, they commend the screen for its good contrast and vivid colors though they mention that it tends to be a bit oversaturated. Brightness levels are also good as they were able to read the screen in bright light despite its high reflectivity.

Inside is a 2.5GHz quad-core processor paired with 3GB of RAM. This combination of hardware created a virtually stutter free experience for experts regardless of whether they were just browsing the web or playing graphics-intensive game. As thin as it is, Sony was able to stuff a 4,500mAh battery inside that get it running for around 13 hours in battery draining tests and a little under two days of light usage in real life testing. One of the more interesting features of the tablet is its ability to act as a display for the PlayStation 4. Unfortunately, when put to the test experts experienced frame rate issues, freezes and crashes. Still they add that the technology is still in early stages so they expect it to improve over time.

Sony isn't breaking the mold with their 8MP camera but it did reward experts with a solid performance. Performance-wise, they had no complaints as it provided fast and reliable picture taking and decent autofocus. Image quality, on the other hand, is fair at best. They noticed a lack of fine detail in images as well as problems with contrast, though surprisingly low light images were fairly clear when compared to similar low end cameras. Still, TechRadar states, "You're probably not going to want to frame any of these shots."

Overall, reviewers had few complaints about the Z3 Tablet Compact and would recommend it over its competitors despite its flaws. Stuff.TV states, "…the Z3 Tablet Compact is a lovely thing. It's a slim, light and reliable couch or commute companion."


Android
Operating system
Operating system
Android
2.5 GHz
Processor
Processor
2.5 GHz
8"
Screen Size
Screen Size
8"
8+ MP
Camera
Camera
8+ MP
4500 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


Beta News
Beta News

The Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact is an incredible update to what was already one of the best tablet offerings on the market. It's incredibly light, beautifully made, and high-powered. Anyone looking to buy a tablet who has a bit of cash to burn should definitely put it firmly into their shortlist of tab...

- Paul Cooper, Beta News
Android Guys
Android Guys

The Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact is definitely one of our favorite tablets right now. With excellent performance, fantastic build quality, and great added features, the Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact should be on everyone’s wishlist.

- Juan Vega, Android Guys
PC Magazine
PC Magazine

The Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact is a refined, powerful Android tablet that exudes the premium feel Sony hangs its hat on. But pricing the tablet at full-sized iPad Air 2 levels seems misguided, especially as demand for premium Android tablets continues to decline. Those still in the market for a high-e...

- Eugene Kim, PC Magazine
ZDNet
ZDNet

The Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact is an excellent Android tablet, but is likely priced $80 to $100 too high for mass consumer sales. The audio and video experience is excellent, it was a joy to carry such a light tablet, and it has just about everything one could want in a tablet.

- Matthew Miller, ZDNet
Engadget
Engadget

Sony's Z3 Tablet Compact is a well-made, thin and light device with a stunning display, brisk performance and robust battery life.

- Jamie Rigg, Engadget


Prices (Where to Buy)




Ask the Community



Resources


Manuals / User Guides Helpful Links Share / Embed

Maybe one of your friends will find this review helpful? Please help us spread the word.


Quick view

Screen Size
8"

The Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact's screen size is 8 inches with x pixels resolution.

Processor
2.5 GHz

There is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 Quad core 2.5 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The tablet runs on proprietary operating system firmware.

Camera
8+ MP
You can take photos or capture video with the tablet's onboard 8+ MP camera. There is also a secondary front facing camera with 2+ megapixels resolution.
Storage
16/32 GB

Internal memory is 16/32 GB. An external, MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 128 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.

Battery
4500mAh

The tablet is powered by a Lithium Polymer (Li-Pol), 4500 mAh battery. Sony's performance ratings are 54.2 days standby time, 12 hours Wi-Fi surfing.

Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact Specs

Overview
Release Date November 2, 2014
Regions Available USA, Canada, United Kingdom
Operating System No

Compare Android Smartphones

Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 Quad core 2.5 GHz
Internal Storage 16/32 GB
RAM 3 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible No
TTY/TDD No
SAR Body: 1.423 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included AC Charger, Manual
Cellular
Networks
No
Mobile / Cellular Data
No (Option available)
Wi-Fi Calling No
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) No
SIM card size
No
variations
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB Micro-USB 2.0
USB OTG Support No
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared No
Bluetooth 4.0
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP, OPP/FTP, HID, HFP, HSP, PAN
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Memory Expansion Slot Yes
Expansion Slot Info MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 128 GB)
NFC Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
8+ Megapixels
Zoom
8x digital
Flash
No
Additional Main Camera Info
Auto focus, Effects, Face detection, Geotagging, Image stabilization, Red-eye reduction, Burst mode, HDR, Object tracking, Scene recognition
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4, XviD, AVI
Video Recording Parameters
Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels)
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
2+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
No
Video Recording Parameters
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology LCD (TFT)
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution x pixels
Pixel density 283 pixels
Size 8 inches
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer, Gyroscope
Backlit Illumination Yes
Zoom / Magnification Yes
Screen Orientation Lock Yes
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating Yes
Additional Display Features Capacitive touch screen, Chemical tempered glass, Scratch-resistant
Power & Battery
Type Lithium Polymer (Li-Pol)
Battery Capacity 4500 mAh
Removable Battery No
Wireless Charging No
Fast Charging No
Battery Charge Time 1 hours
Video Playback Time Up to 15 hours
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 12 hours
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Standby Time Up to 54.2 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Material Plastic
Colors Black, White
Dimensions [H x W x D] 21.3 x 12.4 x 0.6 cm (8.4 x 4.9 x 0.2 in)
Weight 270 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Water Resistant
Rugged design No
IP Rating IP 68
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers Stereo
Input / Navigation
Touchscreen Yes
Sleep / Wake Key Yes
Home Key No
Physical keyboard No
Text-to-Speech Yes
Screen Reader Yes
Keypad/Screen Lock Yes
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor No
More
Additional Information Other Names (AKA): Sony SGP611, SGP612, SGP621, SGP641
Related Links Manual (PDF)
Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact Reviews
Where to buy Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact
Suggest a correction