Update: Mention of two Sony tablets has been found in an official APK, but another source claims that they've both been cancelled.
Sony released the Xperia Z5 at the tail end of 2015, but its last slate was the Xperia Z4 Tablet a whole generation earlier, and more recently Sony has shown little interest in either tablets or the Xperia Z range, with the likes of the Xperia XZ2 and Xperia XZ2 Compact launching instead.
So we've been due a new slate for quite some time.
The Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet was a great attempt, topping our list of the best Android slates for a time. But there's plenty that Sony can do better, especially with so much time having passed, so we've made a check list of what we'd like to see to help them out.
But first we've collected what few rumors there are about the release date, specs and features of the next Sony Tablet - which recent rumors suggest could be called the Xperia Z5 Tablet, if it ever launches.
- Everything you need to know about the Sony Xperia Z6
Cut to the chase
- What is it? Sony's next flagship tablet
- When is it out? Maybe sometime in 2018 if it hasn't been cancelled
- What will it cost? Likely around $700/£600/AU$1000
Sony Xperia Z6 Tablet release date
There's little sign of the Sony Xperia Z6 Tablet (or whatever it ends up being called), other than mentions of two tablets found in an official Sony APK from earlier in 2018.
So it's possible that we might see them this year, possibly at IFA 2018, which takes place from August 31 - September 5.
But the most recent news is that due to disappointing sales of the XZ2 smartphone range Sony has apparently decided to cancel them, so we might not get a new Sony slate at all.
Sony Xperia Z6 Tablet specs and rumors
Not much is known about the Xperia Z6 Tablet, if it's even called that, as the latest rumor claims that it's called the Xperia Z5 Tablet and was set to be 10 inches and launch alongside an 8-inch Xperia Z5C Tablet.
Though that source also claims it's been cancelled, and if it is still coming it could instead be called the Xperia XZ Tablet, Xperia XZ2 Tablet or something else entirely, given how Sony's smartphone naming scheme has changed in recent years.
However, those 10-inch and 8-inch sizes have been mentioned more than once, so that much might be true.
The resolution may not change from the Z4 Tablet, as at 2560 x 1600 the Xperia Z4 Tablet is already higher resolution than most slates.
But if it launches soon it may borrow some specs from the Xperia XZ2, which has an octa-core Snapdragon 845 chipset and 4GB of RAM.
There's also a fair chance that it will feature a design inspired by Sony's latest flagship phones, including a glass back and water resistance.
Sony is likely to make a keyboard for its next slate as well, since not only does the Xperia Z4 Tablet have one, but Apple's also offering them with its latest slates like the iPad Pro 10.5.
Sony Xperia Z6 Tablet price
Android tablets aren't always expensive, but when Sony makes one it usually comes in at the higher end of the market.
We'd expect a high-end product from Sony for the Xperia Z6 Tablet, so it's likely to have an expensive price tag attached, possibly coming in at $700/£600/AU$1000 or more.
Now here's what we want to see from the Sony Xperia Z6 Tablet.
1. A premium design
The Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet is thin, light and water resistant, but it just doesn't have the same premium appeal as the likes of the iPad Pro 10.5 or the Google Pixel C.
Hopefully for the Xperia Z6 Tablet Sony will replace the polycarbonate back with a metal or glass finish, so the Z6 Tablet looks and feels as high-end as it is.
Of course materials are only half the battle. Ideally we'd like a well thought-out, stylish design too, that has more to shout about than just its premium construction.
2. More storage
Tablets live or die on their media capabilities and a big part of that is actually being able to store a large number of films, apps and songs.
Yet the Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet has just 32GB of storage, which, while not a tiny amount, is definitely on the limiting side.
Sure, there's a microSD card slot too, but getting a card adds an extra expense into the mix and built in storage is typically faster and more reliable. So we want at least a 64GB option on the Xperia Z6 Tablet and ideally even more.
3. An improved UI
Sony's UI was one of our biggest complaints about the Xperia Z4 Tablet. It's functional but bland and worst of all it's full of bloat, like Sony's Lifelog and Xperia Lounge apps, which will go unused by many and can't be deleted.
What we'd really love is just to get a pure, unadulterated version of Android on the Xperia Z6 Tablet, but that's not likely to happen, so hopefully Sony will at least cut down on the clutter.
4. A more competitive price
Sony's latest flagship tablet launched for £499.99 (about $785, AUS$980) and that's without 4G, making it pricier at the time than even the iPad Air 2 (which was Apple's flagship slate back then).
It's somewhat understandable that it would command a premium price. It is, after all, a high-end, feature-packed tablet, but if Sony's next slate is going to reach the top of the tablet table it could do with being a little more affordable.
5. A brighter screen
The Z4 Tablet has a gloriously sharp 2K screen, which is both bigger and crisper than the iPad Pro 9.7's display, but what it lacks is brightness.
Indoors this isn't such an issue, but take it outside, especially on a sunny day, and it can be very hard to see much of anything. Hopefully Sony will sort that for the Xperia Z6 Tablet, giving us a screen that's as bright as it is sharp.
6. Smaller bezels
The Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet is slim and light but it's got some mammoth bezels. A certain amount of bezel is handy, as it means you can hold the tablet without obscuring the screen, but the Z4 Tablet takes it too far.
Hopefully Sony will slim them down for the Xperia Z6 Tablet, giving us the same size screen with a smaller footprint.
7. A more robust build
A big selling point of the Xperia Z4 Tablet is its dust and water resistance, but that conjures an image of a durable slate and in reality the Z4 Tablet looks anything but.
If Sony can make the Xperia Z6 Tablet more rugged without compromising the design too much that would be a big win. Perhaps it can take a leaf out of the Moto Z2 Force's book?
8. A more versatile keyboard
Sony upped the productivity potential of the Xperia Z4 Tablet by shipping it with a detachable keyboard. It's a great addition, with well-spaced keys. But the keyboard dock only goes into one position, so you can't prop the slate up at loads of weird and wonderful angles.
It's also not waterproof, which seems like a bit of an oversight when the Z4 Tablet itself is, so hopefully the Z6 Tablet will have a more refined keyboard.
9. Fast charging
The Z4 Tablet has a long-lasting battery and that's a good thing too, because it takes an age to charge.
There's no excuse for that any more, not when many devices support fast charging, so we want to see the Xperia Z6 Tablet support that too. Adding wireless charging into the mix would be a nice bonus as well.
10. A fingerprint scanner
Sony finally got into the fingerprint scanning game with the Xperia Z5 and beyond, so we're hopeful that the Xperia Z6 Tablet will have one too.
If it does it should be good, as Sony's scanners are fast and accurate, giving you a convenient way to secure your device.
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