Gadgetory

suppose you've got $500 budgeted for a new tablet but you can't decide between Android and iOS well we've got two of the latest examples of each here in the studio so let's put them head-to-head I'm Michael Fisher this is PocketNow and this is Sony's Xperia tablet Z versus Apple's iPad just a quick note before we start while we took a gander at the fourth generation Apple iPad and a few earlier videos we're using the third-generation iteration for this comparison because that's the one we have here in the office because most buyers will be considering the more modern iPad with its improved processor and forward camera we're not comparing benchmarks or app launch times we'll only compare metrics that are equally applicable to the iPad for our aim is to give a slice-of-life perspective to those buyers torn between these tablets and we'll do that in three categories build software and loose ends you don't even need to pick these devices up to see they're wildly divergent design backgrounds it doesn't take noticing the manufacturer logos to know that these are going to offer very different user experiences the aspect ratio is probably the most notable difference here with a four by three aspect the iPad appears chunkier on its face than the sixteen by nine tablet z a perception helped along by the fact that the iPad is indeed about two-and-a-half millimeters thicker than Sony's product picking the tablet hub makes it immediately clear that the iPad is indeed the more robust device at 652 grams it masses over a hundred and fifty grams more than the tablet Z that gives the iPad a more premium feel than the tablet Z but it also makes it more cumbersome one-handed use in landscape is much more difficult and holding the iPad above your face to read in bed becomes a chore after a while the iPads anodized aluminum casing is also slippery in the hand while the rubberized plastic of the tablet Z is easy to grip it's not all wins for the Sony offering though because of that four-to-three aspect ratio the iPad feels quite natural to use in portrait orientation while the tablet Z turned on its side is just bad hilariously bad also the iPads thoroughly minimalistic design with penetrations only for the bare essential like volume power and home keys truly is beautiful while the tablet Z is also an attractive product its design is significantly less streamlined its ports hidden away behind finicky little hatches that aren't so much fun to deal with but there is a reason for those the ports themselves provide for a microSD card for memory expansion beyond the 16 or 32 gigs of on-board storage the expandability not found on the iPad and the port covers make possible the tablet C's IP 55:57 and IP 5x dust and water resistance ratings ratings the comparatively fragile iPad can't match there's also IR and NFC on the tablet Z in addition to an FM radio features apple's product doesn't include in terms of the displays each panel is an IPS LCD with the tablet ZZZ screen edging out the iPads and sheer size by a little less than half an inch the iPad though is the winner in pixel density beating out Sony by about 40 PPI that's not really detectable though and they're each capable of pretty extreme brightness with the tablet Z producing slightly warmer White's readability in bright daylight is right about on par and watching video is a pleasure on each with the slight edge going to the iPad 4 side visibility the tablet Z's Mobile BRAVIA Engine 2 continuously adjusts the display for optimum performance so we noticed more saturation more often on the tablet Z whether this is a plus or a minus for you depends on your own personal taste they're both outstanding screens in terms of audio while we like the tablet Z's speaker position at the lower left corners better than the iPads rear firing arrangement the Apple device is the clear winner in terms of sound quality yes the iPads single side speaker is less dynamic than Sony's faux 3d surround effect but Apple speaker is also louder bass here and frankly just better all-around of course the much more significant difference between these devices is that of software and on the tablet front the war of Android versus iOS and increasingly Google versus Apple is a fierce one on the iPad you're given very little to experiment with with version 6.1.3 you get the same four by five grid of apps and folders the same pop-up row of currently running apps and shortcuts the same Notification Center we've been seeing for years if you've used previous iPads or iPhones you'll feel right at home and even if you haven't you'll pick it up in a jiffy that's the whole idea Sony's custom build of Android 4.1.2 on the tablet Z is a different story because it's Android it's highly customizable with widgets and custom launchers allowing you to modify it extensively to suit your own needs and Google integration is tighter here than on almost any other tablet now because it's Sony the software is already heavily tweaked for usability and a unique aesthetic and it leverages the tablet Z's unique hardware and features like DoubleTap to wake and the remote control app and there's also small apps here for multitasking on the iPad the reward you get for putting up with the tired old iOS software is an app ecosystem larger and more elaborate than any other with beautifully designed tablet apps that take full advantage of the added screen real estate that a nearly 10-inch screen provides you also get tight integration with Apple's own ecosystem of course and a pretty handy virtual assistant in the form of Siri should I buy an iPad or an Android tablet that's an easy one check out iPad at the Apple Store and you will see why on the tablet Z you pay the price for the type Google integration with a much less mature app ecosystem with many popular titles still merely stretched out versions of their smart phone selves and some coated only for portrait so you're forced to use the Z in the least appealing position possible depending on your Android build you may also sacrifice a bit in terms of responsiveness Android has come a long way but the custom build on the tablet Z isn't as fluid as the iOS experience on our iPad there's more to these devices than ecosystems of course and like it or not the camera is one of them Sony's 8.1 megapixel Exmor R for mobile camera offers a lot of customized ability and a ton of shoe but it comes up short in the final product with fuzzy edges and a washed-out look the iPads interface is almost maddeningly simplistic but the output from its 5 megapixel iSight camera is also far superior with crisp edges and authentic color tones of course the field of view on each isn't great and come on you really want to be that guy taking pictures with the tablet but if you do then even if you use tablet cameras for more practical applications like scanning text these differences might matter to you of even more import might be how long the device will last while you're using it the newest edition of the ipad boasts slightly improved battery life because of its newer processor and on the spec sheet its battery capacity of eleven thousand six hundred plus milliamp hours destroys the tablet ZZZ six thousand milliamp power pack there are times when spec sheets do reflect real-world reality and this is one of them though it's not as long-lasting as earlier versions in terms of our own admittedly unscientific testing the new iPad still beats the tablet Z in endurance now Sony's tablet does offer very handy tweaks like stamina mode and highly customizable power profiles to go along with it so you're not going to bleed it dry in less than a day but under our normal testing conditions it doesn't last as long as the iPad in moderate use whether that compromise and the others are worth the tablet Z's slim lines and water-resistant rating remains up to you similarly you alone will have to decide whether the iPads incredible ecosystem advantage makes up for its dull software experience and experience very likely to change when WWDC starts on June 10 then again the mere presence of beautiful Android tablets like the Z might spur developers to finally give the Android tablet app world some serious thought with so much in flux you could be forgiven for putting the iPad versus tablet Z decision off after all they're identically priced for the moment but if you're buying right now the choice is between a lightweight extremely portable Google centric experience on a water tablet with a light tablet app selection and a heavyweight not as portable Apple centric experience on a simpler less expandable tablet with a massive software and hardware ecosystem behind it there's a lot to consider but hopefully we've given you enough input to make the decision a bit easier folks we have so much more on the Xperia tablet Z here and at pocketnow.com so subscribe so you don't miss future videos stay tuned for a special Xperia Z focused episode of the pocket now you review dropping on June 6th give us a like if you enjoyed this one drop us a comment if you have something to say make sure and follow us on our various social networks and as always thank you for watching we'll see you next time