Sony Tablet S review

Our Android tablet of choice, thanks in no small part to Sony’s content network Tested at £400

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

Our Android tablet of choice, thanks in no small part to Sony’s content network

Pros

  • +

    Tapered design

  • +

    lots of content

  • +

    Android Market and OS are well-stocked and robust

Cons

  • -

    Sony content still finding its feet

  • -

    AV performance doesn’t match the best

Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.

Sony remains a brand with huge appeal and popularity, with househould names such as Walkman and Bravia still going strong thanks to consistent reinvention. It no doubt hopes we’ll one day refer to its Tablet range with similar reverence.

The Tablet S is the first to break cover; it is set to be joined by a clamshell-design Tablet P before Christmas. 18 months since Apple unleashed the iPad, there remains space for a convincing alternative.

It works. It’s comfortable to hold, helped by a grippy finish to the rear. It’s light, too. But that light feel is a double-edged sword: it doesn’t have the premium feel of its Apple rival.

Much of this may be ironed out given time, and while we haven’t had similar issues with other Android tablets, that’s because they don’t offer any content at all.

Screen is a fingerprint-magnet
The screen is something of a fingerprint-magnet but there’s decent detail, dynamic colours and true black levels. It’s a little gloomy but for a standard-definition film it’s perfectly watchable.

This works with AAC, MP3, WAV and WMA files – even finding tagging info and artwork for WAVs. Sonically it’s competent. Not as open or dynamic as the best, but there’s decent detail and a nicely balanced sound.

The PS Store for games is clearly in its infant stage, with just 10 titles available, each costing £3.99. Again this has potential but content is underwhelming for now.

Needs to be simpler and more reliable
And you can, of course, fill your Tablet S with your own audio and video content. A wide range of file formats is supported, including AAC, MP3, FLAC and WAV, plus H.264, MPEG-4 and WMV.

But it’s not quite there yet. The Tablet S needs to be slicker, simpler and more reliable, not to mention better performing to topple the Apple king. But it’s a promising start from Sony’s first tablet.

What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.


Read more about how we test