Sections
- Page 1 Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact Review
- Page 2 Software, Performance and Camera Review
- Page 3 Battery Life and Verdict Review
Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact – Battery Life
Despite its impressively thin frame, the Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact comes with a 4500 mAh battery that should prove roomy enough for most users to make it through an entire day without running out of juice. During our tests we found that a day of moderate video playback, web surfing, game-playing and email-answering left the device with around 20 per cent of battery life remaining at bedtime, but a less aggressive usage pattern should result in a day or two of stamina.
Tasks such as watching HD movies and playing intense 3D games – both of which not only tax the processor but also require the screen to be active for long periods of time – are the two activities most likely to drain your battery faster than usual. If you’re planning on doing both in excess, be sure to carry a charger around with you when you leave the house.
The Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact has a fast-charging feature which enables you to top up around 60 per cent of the battery in 30 minutes – as we noted several times during our test period, this came in very handy indeed. We forgot to charge the device one night and found that it was perilously low on power the next morning, but it mattered little. Just 30 minutes on the plug while we consumed breakfast and the Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact was ready to tackle a full day of use.
Should I buy the Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact?
There’s no denying that the Xperia X3 Tablet Compact is one of the most attractive Android tablets available right now, and the fact that it combines aesthetic charm with some powerful internal tech and an excellent screen doesn’t hurt, either. The ability to stream PS4 games to the tablet’s screen is another big selling point, although you shouldn’t expect the exact same experience that you get on your television.
The Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact is a fantastic slice of Android tech, but with so many low-cost challengers now entering the market, the £330 price point could be an issue. For less cash, Nvidia’s Shield Tablet offers superior performance and access to Nvidia’s ‘Netflix for games’ GRID service. And for a measly £129 you can get the excellent Tesco Hudl 2, which was just named Best Value Tablet in the TrustedReviews Awards.
Verdict
The Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact is an attractive and powerful Android tablet which comes with some neat exclusive features, but the price could be a sticking point when you consider how many decent low-cost alternatives there are.
Next, read more Tablet Reviews
How we test tablets
We test every tablet we review thoroughly. We use industry standard tests to compare features properly and we use the tablet as our main device over the review period. We’ll always tell you what we find and we never, ever, accept money to review a product.
Trusted Score
Score in detail
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Performance 8
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Value 6
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Design 9
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Software & Apps 7
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Screen Quality 8
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Battery Life 7
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.