Sony Tablet S (32GB)
Manufacturer: Sony Part number: CNET-Sony-S-tablet-32GB
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Product series
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- Sony took its time with the Tablet S, and it shows. The industrial design is smart, and the software refinements are both practical and restrained.
Read more
Where to buy
| store | customer rating | inventory | tax & shipping | price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Once you know, you Newegg! |  | In stock | Enter zip code to get total price: Price +Tax +Shipping =Total price | as of 05/17/2012 |
 | | In stock Get free shipping on orders over $25! | as of 05/17/2012 | |
 Over 1,000 Sony products. Direct from Sony | | In stock | as of 05/17/2012 | |
 | | In stock New | as of 05/17/2012 | |
 PREMIER SOURCE of cutting edge electronics since 1973. | | In stock Ships Free,Ships Today! $0 Pay Avail! Sony AuthDealer | as of 05/17/2012 | |
 Your Trusted Source since 1983 | | In stock | as of 05/16/2012 | |
 | | In stock Earn 2% eBay Bucks on qualifying purchases! Backed by e | as of 05/16/2012 | |
 | | In stock | as of 05/16/2012 | |
 | | In stock FREE SHIPPING, Ships same day if ordered by 5:00pm EST | as of 05/17/2012 | |
 Winner of Bizrate Circle of Excellence Award 2005-06-07-08!!! | | In stock | as of 05/17/2012 | |
 | Not yet rated | In stock | as of 05/16/2012 | |
 | Not yet rated | In stock | as of 05/17/2012 | |
| TheNerds.net | | In stock | as of 05/17/2012 | |
 |  | In stock | as of 05/16/2012 | |
 | | In stock | as of 05/16/2012 | |
| Costcentral.com | | In stock | as of 05/16/2012 |
CNET editors' review
Sony Tablet S (32GB) price range: $449.00 - $594.99
- Reviewed by: Donald Bell
- Reviewed on: 09/15/2011
- Released on: 09/16/2011
The good: The Sony Tablet S goes above and beyond the typical Android tablet experience by offering exclusive apps, ergonomic design, PlayStation certification for mobile gaming, DLNA video and music streaming, and an integrated IR universal remote control.
The bad: It's on the pricey side, the charging adapter is proprietary, and screen brightness isn't what it could be.
The bottom line: Sony took its time with the Tablet S, and it shows. The industrial design is smart, and the software refinements are both practical and restrained.
Sony's track record in industrial design, hardware engineering, gaming, and media makes it the best possible candidate to challenge Apple's iPad. A year and a half after Apple's tablet debut, Sony is striking back with an Android 3.2 slate that is bound to turn heads and win some fans.
Editor's note: As of April 2012, the Sony Tablet S is upgradable to Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0). For details on the advantages ICS offers over Honeycomb, check the Ice Cream Sandwich section of the Asus Transformer Prime TF201 review.
Priced at $499 (16GB) and $599 (32GB), and lacking cellular data compatibility (at least in the U.S.), the Sony Tablet S isn't looking to be an inexpensive iPad alternative. It represents an elevation in the art of making Android tablets, and offers a genuinely fresh take on tablet design.
Design
Sony's tablet is easy to spot in a lineup. Its unique wedge shape gives it a futuristic look and provides improved balance in your hand compared with the flat competition. As seen when placed on a table, the screen's forward slant minimizes glare and makes it more comfortable to type. The tradeoff is that the Tablet S doesn't achieve the same thinness as an iPad 2, though the Tablet S is just as light at 1.3 pounds and feels more solid than the reigning Android slate, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1.
Around the sides you'll find buttons for power and volume, speakers, a headphone jack, and a tethered cover protecting a Micro-USB sync connection and a full-size SD card reader. A built-in app handles moving files back and forth from your card. It's worth noting that unlike other Honeycomb tablets, the SD card reader here functions just for media transfer and isn't meant to act as a memory expansion port.
Sony also made an interesting choice by going with a 9.4-inch screen instead of the 10.1-inch panel used on nearly every other Honeycomb tablet out there. Sony also uses the TruBlack technology from its Bravia TV line to make the screen contrast really pop. Though the screen is slightly smaller than those found on most of its Honeycomb cousins, you really don't feel the pinch while using it and it actually helps to bring the overall form factor closer to the iPad's dimensions.
Features
Take as read that you get Google's full Android 3.1 experience. Everything from Gmail to Google Talk (with video chat) comes ready to go right out of the box. On top of that you get access to Sony's Video Unlimited service. Ironically, video selection is very limited at launch, but plans are in place to offer video download and rental options from all the major studios. You get a six-month free basic membership to Sony's Music Unlimited service (a revamped version of Sony's Qriocity). Sony's own Reader software is included, alongside Google Books. And last but not least, both of Sony's tablets are PlayStation-certified, and run emulator software allowing them to play select PS One and PSP game titles. The original PS One hit Crash Bandicoot comes preinstalled, along with a version of Pinball Heroes.
Sony has also included some interesting options for pushing media content from these tablets onto DLNA-compatible speakers, PCs, or TVs (and not just Sony's). You can think of it as Sony's answer to Apple's AirPlay media streaming, only more broadly compatible with third-party technology.
Also playing into Sony's focus on the tablet as a living-room entertainment device is the inclusion of an IR blaster and universal remote app on the Tablet S. Having tried a demo of this feature personally, we can safely say that it makes the remote functionality of the Vizio tablet look like amateur hour. Essentially, Sony cannibalized its own $250 HomeShare premium universal remote and slapped the same software inside the Tablet S. The result is a graphically rich remote that you might actually want to use.
In that same spirit of borrowing from its best technology to make a compelling tablet, Sony has borrowed the Exmor image technology from its digital cameras to make a tablet camera that's actually worth a damn. The touch-screen panels on both tablets take advantage of the TruBlack technology used on Sony's Bravia HDTV sets, as we mentioned, providing richer contrast and minimizing reflections between the LCD and the glass above it. Sony even threw in the Dash's Chumby widgets, transforming the tablet into a high-tech photo frame/widget display when the device is placed in an optional dock ($39).
Performance
The Tablet S' performance is a mixed bag. For example, its beautiful TruBlack screen falls a little short in terms of overall screen brightness.
| Tested spec | Sony Tablet S | Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 | Apple iPad 2 | T-Mobile G-Slate | HP TouchPad |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum brightness | 393 cd/m2 | 336 cd/m2 | 432 cd/m2 | 424 cd/m2 | 292 cd/m2 |
| Default brightness | 160 cd/m2 | 336 cd/m2 | 176 cd/m2 | 143 cd/m2 | 85 cd/m2 |
| Maximum black level | 0.47 cd/m2 | 0.3 cd/m2 | 0.46 cd/m2 | 0.52 cd/m2 | 0.38 cd/m2 |
| Default black level | 0.19 cd/m2 | 0.3 cd/m2 | 0.19 cd/m2 | 0.18 cd/m2 | 0.11 cd/m2 |
| Default contrast ratio | 842:1 | 1,120:1 | 926:1 | 794:1 | 772:1 |
| Contrast ratio (max brightness) | 836:1 | 1,120:1 | 939:1 | 815:1 | 768:1 |
Another example is the optimized Web browser, which prioritizes image downloads so that pages appear to load faster, even if overall page download time isn't necessarily improved. Like the TruBlack screen, it's a feature we're glad to have, but doesn't come across as an improvement when measured objectively.
One standout feature that performed undeniably well was the 5-megapixel rear camera. Photos come to life with a vibrancy we haven't seen on other competing tablets. Little extras, such as a digital macro, manual exposure adjustments, and preset scene modes, offer the kind of flexibility you'd expect at this price.
In terms of battery life, Sony rates the Tablet S at around 8 hours of mixed use. Full recharge takes around 5 hours of charge time using the included power adapter. The adapter uses a proprietary contact-only connection, which has the advantage of not wrecking the tablet if it becomes yanked. Unfortunately, the unique design means that you'll need to go to Sony for a replacement if your adapter goes missing.
Here are our official CNET Labs-tested battery life results. More tablet testing results can be found here.
| Video battery life (in hours) | |
|---|---|
| Sony Tablet S | 6.2 |
Conclusion
Sony's tablet is uniquely its own. Beyond the eye-catching design, you can't help but see Sony's hard work in the attention to detail running throughout the subtle Android optimizations, software selections, and feature refinements.
You have to give Sony credit for really making something on its own terms that showcases the best of what it has to offer. Sony has the media content, the gaming legacy, an eye for elegant design, and some solid technological advantages. Whether it can get us to open our pocketbooks remains to be seen.
Editors' note: This review was updated to add CNET Labs' battery life test results.
User reviews
-
-
Best Android Tablet I've Used!
by zandm7 on November 8, 2011
Pros: Amazing screen; nice built-in keyboard; PS1 games (!); ergonomic design; lightweight; great hardware (Tegra 2, 1 GB RAM, etc.); just AWESOME!
Cons: Not many cons...screen does scratch somewhat easily, but it's not noticeable, and as long as you take care of the thing and clean it regularly it should be fine.
Summary: I don't know why all these people on CNET are hating. Especially mentioning the plastic build. This plastic is definitely not cheap. In fact, it's apparently magnesium. Personally, ...
Summary: I don't know why all these people on CNET are hating. Especially mentioning the plastic build. This plastic is definitely not cheap. In fact, it's apparently magnesium. Personally, I think the Sony Tablet feels very solid, especially considering the weight. Also, the textured back is a huge plus! I would definitely recommend this tablet to anyone! The ergonomic design, by the way, is NOT a gimmick. It really works!
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Good Tablet, TERRIBLE Customer Service
by sandy123465 on March 27, 2012
Pros: I like the tablet. The remote control feature is cool and the eReader app is also nice.
Cons: The WORST customer service experience I have ever had. Every level of people I talked to, especially those at the top national level, were very rude and did not want to help. This alone has made me never want to buy another Sony product.
Summary: I was really excited about the tablet. Once I got it, I immediately bought a case for it off of Sony's website. The description Sony gave said it "offers ...
Summary: I was really excited about the tablet. Once I got it, I immediately bought a case for it off of Sony's website. The description Sony gave said it "offers premium protection from scratches and external abuse". Two months later, the tablet was in its case in my bag. I took it out and the entire screen was shattered. Everything else worked fine, but it was much harder to see with all the scratches. I was very upset, but I felt like this could be the case's fault because it obviously did not do what Sony said it would. So I called their customer service, and after speaking to literally 10 different people, I was finally told I could send it in and the techs would look at it and determine if it was the fault of the case. If they saw it was, Sony would pay for the repair. After a few days, I went online to check the status. I was told it would cost $333 to fix. I would have to pay $333 to fix my $399 tablet. It took me quite a while to save up for the tablet, and now I would have to pay almost the same amount to repair a piece of glass. I was surprised because I was almost sure that Sony would see it was the fault of the case. I called customer service again, spoke to 5 other people, and was finally transfered to Sony's national level of customer service. The man I spoke to here was the rudest, most arrogant, unfelpful person I have ever talked to in my life. He blamed the shatter on me, said I need to pay for it, and said that technicians automatcally say that a shatter is the customers fault. I asked why the one person said that the techs may see it was the cases fault and not mine, but he said he cant comment on other agents comments. While I do see that this could be my fault, this man was so rude about it. He never once apologized for the experience I was going through with Sony, and it was obvious he did not care about me or my tablet. This man alone has made me never want to buy a Sony product again. I then found out that the Sony repair center sent the tablet back to me without ever directly notifying me about this. When I tried talking to the national level again, a guy answered the phone saying "Hello sir. Thank you for calling about your tablet that was subject to customer physical damage and that we cannot repair. How may I help you?" He sure knows how to answer the phone nicely. I used to be a huge fan of Sonys, but now my next product I am going to buy will be from Apple. Goodbye Sony. Good job on loosing a customer.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Loved it at first. Very ergonomic, built in remote nice
by Phillypipedown on May 7, 2012
Pros: Nice in hand feel. Easy to read on.
Cons: Fragile, horrible customer service, repairs cost as much as a new unit. Hardware is outdated. Built in Sony Apps are pointless. Have to strip away all Sony apps and download better ones. Not many accessories readily available.
Summary: No words. Selling my Tablet for parts. Screen is cracked (works fine) but Sony insist I pay over $300 for repairs. Selling my Sony Vaio. Sony has killed me as ...
Summary: No words. Selling my Tablet for parts. Screen is cracked (works fine) but Sony insist I pay over $300 for repairs. Selling my Sony Vaio. Sony has killed me as a PC I will be reborn a MAC
-
A tablet which turn heads ;)
by khenhh on April 11, 2012
Pros: - Excellent design
- No problem with the plastic feel
- Business ready, especially if you're mobile and need your docs with you
- Wifi Version means better battery lifeCons: - Not enough Apps to play around with this cool device
- Some games actually "auto pause" in mid games.
- No Screen Capture/Shot option
- No portable Car Charger for emergency needs
- Limited Casing
- Average SpeakersSummary: I'm a Recruitment Consultant, and my job demands me to move around a lot. Which means I need my data with me on the go, and carrying a lap ...
Summary: I'm a Recruitment Consultant, and my job demands me to move around a lot. Which means I need my data with me on the go, and carrying a lap top can be convenient but sometimes it's just too much of a weight to be carrying around my back.
Sony Table S, like many other professionals using tablets seems to be a good replacement for Lap Tops, although not a permanent solution, it's good temporary relief if all you need is to do simple editing task and emailing.
I'm using Dropbox which is a cloud storage, and it's an awesome way for me to sync my files and access it anywhere, anytime. (As long as there is Internet connection.) Internet connection is solved using my Huddle which connects up to 5 wireless devices to be connected to the internet, no problem here.
I have no issues with it, except for common complaints about Tablets not having a proper/fully functional MS Office editing software.
Power will probably be an issue, which I can foresee in the near future. As the device may still be new now, but as the battery ages, and no portable charging solution, it may very well obsolete in the market sooner then its competitor. (Why didn't Sony release a car charger? or at least a USB charging device puzzles me.)
Overall, I'm still very much inlove with my Tablet S, and I hope that more improvements will be coming up from Sony soon! -
NO Car Charger - Can you believe it??
by harryw66 on March 23, 2012
Pros: Light, good shape to hold in portrait mode, smooth operation. Nice bright colours on screen.
Different UI take compared to standard Honeycomb.
Full size SD Card - usb host connector to allow external USB devices.
All great features but.....Cons: No Car Charger, no cheap 3rd party charger.
A great device ruined by lack of decent accessories - thanks to Sony using a wacky connector. Why no USB charging like most other Android tablets?Summary: Seriously Sony, what kind of Numpty decided to use the proprietary connector and then NOT release a car charger.
Is this a mobile device or not? Do you not expect ...Summary: Seriously Sony, what kind of Numpty decided to use the proprietary connector and then NOT release a car charger.
Is this a mobile device or not? Do you not expect your customers to use this in a car to keep the kids happy.
What a dumb company you are! -
Love the design and user interface.
by zenthusiest on November 27, 2011
Pros: The tablet design makes handling and use a pleasure. Great for reading books, watching videos, or internet surfing. Universal remote function is also useful and effective. Google mail and application integration is also convenient.
Cons: The camera subsystems could be much better. In particular the rear-facing camera does not perform well in low light situations. Initial boot-up time seems to be too long. The android OS needs some refinement.
Summary: I have found the Tablet-S to be very well designed and enjoyable to use. I even like the "plastic" construction that seems to bother some other reviewers. The system is ...
Summary: I have found the Tablet-S to be very well designed and enjoyable to use. I even like the "plastic" construction that seems to bother some other reviewers. The system is light and comfortable to hold, much better than the ipad actually. I also find the proprietary charging cable to be appropriate to this product, as it integrates nicely with the docking stand (highly recommended) and connects to the tablet on contact, much more simply than the cable connector required for the ipad. Battery life has not been an issue in my daily use. I find the video quality to be very good, as game graphics and film images are well rendered and clearly displayed. The front-facing camera provides good quality for occasional use, and works well with bar-code scanner and other similar utility applications. The rear-facing camera works well in bright light but is less functional in low light. Although wifi connectivity is quite acceptable, I have had periodic problems with video freeze. Bluetooth connectivity has also at times been spotty when streaming audio from Pandora to a Bluetooth speaker system. I expect these are external problems caused by my cable internet provider connection, but I am still investigating this phenomenon. After receiving the Tablet in September I found it to be lacking useful and functional applications. This situation has gradually improved as applications have been added and updated. Hopefully this upgrade process will continue, yielding a solidly supported product. Overall I am very pleased with the Tablet-S and find it to be a very useful and welcome addition to my home computing and entertainment system.
-
Nice but..
by Amabael on September 21, 2011
Pros: Just as fast as many of the leading tablets out there and does have one of the nicest displays next to the LG Optimus pad. The design of the tablet, when holding, is incredibly comfortable but it can be difficult to hold the larger bezel still with one
Cons: After handling and playing around with the tablet for quite some time I noticed the opposite of the cnet review. The entire body and screen is composed of plastic which has a tendency to scratch very easily - I would be afraid to carry this in any bag.
Summary: Incredible design but with this slate packing all the power of every competitor has it needs to set itself apart in a positive way. The price doesn't help the ...
Summary: Incredible design but with this slate packing all the power of every competitor has it needs to set itself apart in a positive way. The price doesn't help the fact you are purchasing an All Plastic tablet that lends itself to be less travel friendly that even the casual user could ask for.
-
Wins on industrial design and ON LAP usability.
by Flyguy29 on November 16, 2011
Pros: Weight, love the keyboard button click, second to iPad. Lightweight and awesome to use in bed or on your lap. Excellent HOUSEHOLD web and media appliance. Solid Stereo sound quality.
Cons: Fail : batterylife - alsways drains overnight without use.
Not travel friendly. Not good to use on tabletop with third party case. Sony case accessories assume lap use is 100% of the tabbing experienceSummary: My Galaxy 10.1,.iPad,.Playbook,.HP Touchpad can go days based on usage without charge. Sony Tablet S is geat on the lap, but it is my bedside tablet ...
Summary: My Galaxy 10.1,.iPad,.Playbook,.HP Touchpad can go days based on usage without charge. Sony Tablet S is geat on the lap, but it is my bedside tablet with charging stand - anchored to the night stand because I don't trust it enough to leave the house with. The huge charging power supply is also impractical. Why does everyone else use micro usb (samsung excepted because they like to copy Apple with an unnecessary proprietary 30pin), and SMALL power supple, buy much Thicker Tablet S has a battery that cannot go 2 days without recharge and uses a power brick larger than its laptop power supplies for its tablet.
CNET should downgrade the review too - browser cannot display CNET website images. All screwed up. That being said, this is my tablet for bedside use and those flaws are muted in this use case. For full portable tablet experiences, look elsewhere for $500.1 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Reviews of this product are totally blown up.
by jbergado on October 13, 2011
Pros: 1. The wedge design
2. The universal IR remote control feature. AWESOME! Works for all my devices, including legacy devices.
3. Integrated into Google applications very well.
4. Sony games. I haven't used this feature yet; however, I think it deserCons: 1. Not very many apps for this product yet. Can't even use Netflix. What is up with that!?
2. Power. My tablet ran out of power in 5 hours. Compared to my iPad v1, it doesn't even live up to half of the life. Good thing I didn't sell my iPad.
3. NSummary: Would I recommend this for $600, NO! However, the only reason why I bought it was to be able to watch Flash videos. Now I'm not so sure the ...
Summary: Would I recommend this for $600, NO! However, the only reason why I bought it was to be able to watch Flash videos. Now I'm not so sure the benefit outweighs the negatives. I'm debating whether or not I should just leave this in my living room to manage all my audio video equipment. But that seems a bit steep for a $600 price tag. Me and my stupid compulsive buying decisions. :*
1 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Nice when it isn't crashing.
by bigriq on January 13, 2012
Pros: Nice size and I like the Android platform.
Cons: Very buggy and not always responsive. Had issues with Wifi, browser and some other apps.
Summary: Nice hardware and platform for Android. Just with is wasn't so buggy.
Summary: Nice hardware and platform for Android. Just with is wasn't so buggy.
0 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Sony
- Part number: CNET-Sony-S-tablet-32GB
- Bottom Line: Sony took its time with the Tablet S, and it shows. The industrial design is smart, and the software refinements are both practical and restrained.
General
- Product Type Web tablet
Display
- Type 9.4 in
Memory
- Flash Memory 32 GB
- RAM 1 GB
Processor
- Processor NVidia Tegra 2
- Processor Clock Speed 1 GHz
Miscellaneous
- Features Bluetooth
Product series
-
Manufacturer: Sony
Specs: Android 3.0 Honeycomb,
1 GB,
1 GHz,
NVIDIA Tegra 2,
Wi-Fi,
Bluetooth 2.1 EDR,
9.5 in x 0.3 in x 6.8 in,
9.4 in,
TFT active matrix - Yes,
1.3 lbs -
Manufacturer: Sony
Specs: 1 GB,
NVidia Tegra 2 1 GHz,
Bluetooth 2.1 EDR,
9.4 in
Manufacturer info
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Sony products on Shopper.com
-
- Manufacturer:Sony
- Address:
16765 W. Bernardo Dr., San Diego, CA 92127 - Phone: 1-877-865-SONY
- Email: contact@sel.sony.com
- Fax: 941-768-7790
%20-%20Compare%20prices,%20reviews,%20user%20opinions%20-%20Shopper.com&srcUrl=http://shopper.cnet.com/tablets/sony-tablet-s-32gb/4014-3126_9-35003724.html&x_breadcrumb=8900:3126&x_arw_bkts=MAD:low_wireless_switcher){kind=small}