The tablet market is booming, offering diverse options for entertainment, productivity, and more. Today, we pit the aging but iconic Sony Xperia Z Tablet Z LTE against the newer Honor Pad 8. Let's see which one offers the best experience.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Honor Pad 8 emerges as the clear winner. While the Xperia Z Tablet Z LTE boasts a premium feel, the Honor Pad 8’s superior performance, brighter display, and modern features provide a more compelling overall package for today's user.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | N/A |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 - SGP321 | N/A |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20 - SGP321 | N/A |
| EDGE | - | No |
| GPRS | - | No |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat3 100/50 Mbps | - |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | No cellular connectivity |
| | 4 - SGP351 | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2013, February. Released 2013, May | 2022, July 22 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2022, July 29 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, aluminum frame, aluminum back |
| Dimensions | 266 x 172 x 6.9 mm (10.47 x 6.77 x 0.27 in) | 278.5 x 174.1 x 6.9 mm (10.96 x 6.85 x 0.27 in) |
| SIM | Micro-SIM | No |
| Weight | 495 g (1.09 lb) | 520 g (1.15 lb) |
| | IP57 dust proof and water resistant | Stylus support |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Shatter proof glass | - |
| Resolution | 1200 x 1920 pixels, 16:10 ratio (~224 ppi density) | 1200 x 2000 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~194 ppi density) |
| Size | 10.1 inches, 295.8 cm2 (~64.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 12.0 inches, 409.9 cm2 (~84.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | LED-backlit LCD, | IPS LCD, 1B colors, 350 nits (typ) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Quad-core 1.5 GHz Krait | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Kryo 265 Gold & 4x1.9 GHz Kryo 265 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm APQ8064 Snapdragon S4 Pro | Qualcomm SM6225 Snapdragon 680 4G (6 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 320 | Adreno 610 |
| OS | Android 4.1.2 (Jelly Bean), upgradable to 5.1.1 (Lollipop) | Android 12, Magic UI 6.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot); microSDHC (SGP351) | No |
| Internal | 16GB 2GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | LED flash |
| Single | 8.1 MP, AF | 5 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide), 1/5.0", 1.12µm, AF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps, HDR | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 2.2 MP | 5 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide), 1/5.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers (8 speakers) |
| | 3D surround sound | - |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.0, A2DP | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | No |
| Radio | Stereo FM radio, RDS | No |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 (MHL TV-out) | USB Type-C, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, compass | Accelerometer |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 22.5W wired |
| Music play | Up to 110 h | - |
| Stand-by | Up to 1230 h (2G) / Up to 1270 h (3G) | - |
| Talk time | Up to 10 h (multimedia) | - |
| Type | Li-Po 6000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 7250 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, White | Dark Blue, Gold, Mint |
| Models | SGP321, SO-03E, SGP351 | HEY-W09 |
| Price | About 350 EUR | About 330 EUR |
| SAR EU | 1.69 W/kg (body) | - |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -87.0dB / Crosstalk -87.8dB | - |
| Camera |
Photo / Video | - |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 996:1 (nominal) |
Contrast ratio: 1468:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 66dB / Noise 64dB / Ring 70dB
|
-22.7 LUFS (Excellent)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 279242 (v9)
GeekBench: 1545 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 7.3fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
| OUR TESTS |
|---|
| Audio quality | Noise -87.0dB / Crosstalk -87.8dB | - |
| Camera | Photo / Video | - |
| Display | Contrast ratio: 996:1 (nominal) | 1468:1 contrast ratio, 392 nits max brightness (measured) |
| Loudspeaker | Voice 66dB / Noise 64dB / Ring 70dB | -22.7 LUFS (Excellent) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 279242 (v9)
GeekBench: 1545 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 7.3fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Sony Xperia Tablet Z LTE
- Premium build quality
- Water resistance
- Compact size
- Outdated processor
- Dim display
- No fast charging
- Limited software updates
Honor Pad 8
- Modern processor
- Bright display
- Fast charging
- Good value for money
- Larger screen
- Plastic build (less premium feel)
- Camera performance may not be top-tier
Display Comparison
The Honor Pad 8 takes the display crown with a measured 1468:1 contrast ratio and a significantly brighter 392 nits. The Xperia Z Tablet Z LTE's 996:1 contrast ratio is respectable, but noticeably dimmer. The Honor Pad 8's larger screen size also contributes to a more immersive viewing experience.
Camera Comparison
Camera details are limited for both devices. However, given the age of the Xperia Z Tablet Z LTE, the Honor Pad 8 is expected to offer better image quality and features. Modern image processing algorithms and sensor technology favor the Honor Pad 8.
Performance
The Honor Pad 8’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 4G chipset, built on a 6nm process, offers a substantial performance advantage over the Xperia Z Tablet Z LTE’s older Snapdragon S4 Pro. The Octa-core CPU in the Honor Pad 8 handles multitasking and demanding apps with ease, while the Xperia Z Tablet Z LTE can feel sluggish by comparison.
Battery Life
Battery life is difficult to directly compare without specific capacity figures. However, the Honor Pad 8's more efficient chipset and 22.5W fast charging provide a clear advantage over the Xperia Z Tablet Z LTE, which lacks fast charging capabilities.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the Sony Xperia Z Tablet Z LTE? Likely enthusiasts seeking a vintage Android experience or those who appreciate Sony's build quality. Who should buy the Honor Pad 8? Anyone looking for a well-rounded, affordable Android tablet for everyday use, media consumption, and light productivity.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Xperia Z Tablet Z LTE still worth buying?
It's a niche purchase. If you appreciate vintage Android and Sony's design, it might be. However, for most users, the Honor Pad 8 offers a far better experience.
❓ What is the Honor Pad 8's chipset?
The Honor Pad 8 uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 4G, a 6nm octa-core processor that provides good performance for everyday tasks.