Sony's Xperia line has always been known for its premium design and innovative features. Today, we're pitting two of their flagship devices against each other: the Xperia Z4 Tablet LTE and the Xperia Z1s. Which one offers the best blend of performance, battery life, and value?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Z4 Tablet LTE boasts significantly better battery life and a more powerful chipset. However, the Z1s might offer a more compact form factor and potentially a more affordable price point on the used market. For endurance, the Z4 Tablet LTE is the clear winner.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 40 | 4, 17 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat6 300/50 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2015, March. Released 2015, June | 2014, January. Released 2014, January |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 254 x 167 x 6.1 mm (10.0 x 6.57 x 0.24 in) | 145.7 x 73.9 x 8.6 mm (5.74 x 2.91 x 0.34 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | Micro-SIM |
| Weight | 393 g (13.86 oz) | 162 g (5.71 oz) |
| | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | IP58 dust proof and water resistant over 1.5 meter and 30 minutes |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Scratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coating | Shatter proof glass |
| Resolution | 2560 x 1600 pixels, 16:10 ratio (~299 ppi density) | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~441 ppi density) |
| Size | 10.1 inches, 295.8 cm2 (~69.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~64.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | TFT |
| | Triluminos display
X-Reality Engine | Triluminos display
X-Reality Engine |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A57) | Quad-core 2.2 GHz Krait 400 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8994 Snapdragon 810 (20 nm) | Qualcomm MSM8974 Snapdragon 800 (28 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 430 | Adreno 330 |
| OS | Android 5.0 (Lollipop), upgradable to 7.1 (Nougat) | Android 4.3 (Jelly Bean), upgradable to 5.1 (Lollipop) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 3GB RAM | 32GB 2GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.0 | eMMC 4.5 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 8.1 MP, AF | 20.7 MP, 1/2.3", AF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps, HDR | 1080p@30fps, HDR |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 5.1 MP | 2 MP |
| Video | - | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.1, A2DP, LE, aptX | 4.0, A2DP |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | FM radio, RDS | Stereo FM radio, RDS |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 (MHL 3.0 TV-out) | microUSB 2.0 (MHL TV-out), OTG, magnetic connector |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, DLNA, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, compass | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| | ANT+ | ANT+ |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, QC2 | - |
| Music play | - | Up to 40 h |
| Stand-by | - | Up to 600 h (2G) / Up to 620 h (3G) |
| Talk time | - | Up to 15 h (2G) / Up to 15 h (3G) |
| Type | Li-Po 6000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 3000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, White | Black |
| Models | SGP771 | C6916 |
| Price | About 500 EUR | About 260 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.72 W/kg (head) 1.25 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 105h
| - |
Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet LTE
- Exceptional battery life (105h)
- Powerful Snapdragon 810 chipset
- Large, immersive display
- Tablet functionality
- Larger size and weight
- Potentially higher price (if new)
- Snapdragon 810 thermal throttling potential
Sony Xperia Z1s
- More compact and pocketable
- Capable Snapdragon 800 chipset
- Good camera for its time
- Potentially more affordable on the used market
- Shorter battery life
- Older chipset compared to Z4 Tablet LTE
- Larger bezels compared to modern phones
Display Comparison
The Z4 Tablet LTE features a larger 20.4-inch display, offering a significantly more immersive viewing experience. The Z1s has a 5.2-inch display, which is more pocketable. Both utilize Sony's Triluminos technology for vibrant colors, but the Z4 Tablet LTE's sheer size gives it an advantage for media consumption.
Camera Comparison
The Z1s was known for its impressive 20.7MP camera for its time, offering excellent image quality. The Z4 Tablet LTE likely has a capable camera, but detailed camera comparisons are difficult to find due to its tablet nature. Both likely offer good image stabilization and HDR capabilities.
Performance
The Z4 Tablet LTE's Snapdragon 810 chipset with its octa-core processor provides a noticeable performance boost over the Z1s' Snapdragon 800. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better performance in graphically intensive games. The 20nm process of the 810 also offers improved efficiency compared to the 28nm 800.
Battery Life
This is where the Z4 Tablet LTE truly shines. Its massive 6000mAh battery provides an exceptional endurance rating of 105 hours, far surpassing the Z1s' battery life. The Z1s likely offers a day's worth of usage, but the Z4 Tablet LTE can easily last for multiple days.
Buying Guide
The Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet LTE is ideal for users prioritizing long battery life, tablet functionality, and a powerful processor for demanding tasks. The Xperia Z1s is a good choice for those seeking a more compact phone experience and a potentially lower price, while still enjoying a capable Snapdragon 800 processor.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Snapdragon 810 chipset in the Z4 Tablet LTE prone to overheating?
Yes, the Snapdragon 810 was known to experience thermal throttling under sustained load. However, the tablet's larger surface area may help dissipate heat better than in phones.
❓ Where can I find a used Sony Xperia Z1s?
You can find used Xperia Z1s devices on online marketplaces like eBay, Swappa, and Amazon's used section. Be sure to check the seller's reputation and the device's condition before purchasing.
