In today’s tablet market, one gadget stands distinctly above all others: Apple’s iPad. With this tablet, Apple did what it always does and produced an ingenious, must-have gadget in a once-unexciting group.

That was three years ago.

Now, a business that made its name with high-end consumer electronic devices wishes to provide Apple a real obstacle. Sony’s Xperia Tablet Z runs the newest version of Android, has a 10.1-inch screen and is the thinnest tablet yet, even thinner than Apple’s iPad Mini.

At 1.09 pounds, it’s lighter than the 1.44-pound full-size iPad. This tablet has infrared that turns it into a universal living-room remote control. And just for kicks, it works even when immersed in up to 3 feet of water for 30 minutes.

The Xperia is only offered in models with Wi-Fi connections, as was the iPad when it launched. The models cost the exact same quantity as their equivalent iPad models: $ 499 for a 16-gigabyte Xperia (in black) and $ 599 for the 32-gigabyte model (in black or white). The Xperia is available in Sony shops, at Amazon.com and other online merchants; it will be in Finest Buy stores in July.

With all its ports closed, the Xperia can work plunged in up to 3 feet of water for 30 mins.

Sony has actually been out of the mobile-technology discussion for a long time, and the Xperia Tablet Z’s design and price position the business to obtain back in the game if it plays its cards right.

Sony also has a smartphone with the same name in the U.S., the Xperia Z, which is readily available opened (without a carrier) for $ 630. Kazuo Hirai, Sony’s head of state and CEO, recently said the phone will soon be available with a carrier.

I have actually been using this new tablet for over a week and it’s a severe competitor to the iPad. Its trendy general design, display, quickly efficiency, excellent camera and noticeably high sound quality make it simple to like. The Android OS, called Jellybean, runs efficiently and even more thoughtfully than previous versions of Android. But the Xperia Tablet Z didn’t fare well in my battery-life test. And some people might discover the Xperia’s plastic back feels lightweight compared to the durable, brushed aluminum back on the iPad.

I own an Android tablet and have actually checked several others, however I suched as the Xperia Z’s physical design finest. Its super-thin build and lightweight let you carry it in a brief-case or bag without noticing it. The Z’s speaker openings are smartly located on the bottom and side edges, giving a complete, surround-sound result that doesn’t get stifled when you put it down on a table.

After putting the Xperia through its paces for a week, I decided to test its water resistance. Initially, I ensured every one of its ports were covered with their affixed flip-out doors. This consisted of a Micro SD memory-card expansion slot, USB 2.0 port and a headphone output. I submerged the device in a deep sink filled with water for 10 mins with songs playing from it. I can still hear it undersea.

The inbuilt infrared remote can control numerous elements and lets individuals change networks with a swipe towards the television.

Many people won’t go for a swim with their tablets, however they will use them in locations where splashes and spills are a regular event, like the kitchen and restroom. Even with wet fingertips, motions and selections on the Xperia display were still recognized, nevertheless inconsistently.

In everyday use, the Xperia’s battery life worked well adequate that I didn’t observe a trouble. However it came up brief in my battery test. I set the display brightness to 75 %, kept Wi-Fi on to collect email in the background and played a loop of video till the tablet lacked juice. The Xperia Z passed away after just under 5 1/2 hours; the iPad lasted for virtually 11 1/2 hours.

In my living-room, I tested the Xperia Z’s inbuilt infrared remote by opening a preloaded Remote app. Right here, I picked my device kind and maker, and on-screen controls appeared that I tested to see to it they worked with my LG TELEVISION, TiVo and Sony stereo. This took just a couple of mins and could can be found in helpful if you utilize your tablet while watching TELEVISION, but many individuals most likely will utilize it as a parlor trick.

I downloaded Sony’s TELEVISION SideView app, which let me enter my ZIP Code to locate my cable television carrier’s network overview of search currently playing content from my tablet without disrupting the TELEVISION screen.

The Xperia Tablet Z, left, has a 10.1-inch display and is the thinnest tablet yet.

A handsome “Watch Now” view drifted pictures of currently playing programs on my display, and I tapped on each for more details, consisting of related Twitter feeds. Swiping a box representing the program toward the TELEVISION alters the TV’s channel to this program.

The Xperia Z’s 8-megapixel rear camera and 2-megapixel front camera have more megapixels than the iPad’s 5-megpixel rear camera and 1.2-megapixel front camera, though the cameras should not be judged only on megapixels. Images of the Pacific Ocean, pals and beaches looked rich and crisp. As I swiped with photos, each took a little additional time to come into focus, like what in some cases takes place on a digital camera.

If you’re an Android fan and you have actually been waiting for a tablet with a great design, Sony’s Xperia Tablet Z fits the costs. Just don’t expect its battery to last as long as the iPad’s.

Compose to Katie at katie.boehret@wsj.com

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