Note: We may earn commissions (at no cost to you) if you buy through links on our site. Learn more.
NOTE: This model is discontinued and may no longer be available to purchase new. See the latest cell phones or compare used prices.

Sony Tablet S review

7.5/10 AVG.
RATING
Compare Compare  
Compare Compare  

Sony Tablet S
Sony Tablet S
Sony Tablet S
Sony Tablet S
...


7.5/10
Informr score
The Sony Tablet S currently has an Informr score of 7.5 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 25 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

The Sony Tablet S is a unique-looking offering floating in a sea of Android tablet knockoffs. Where you would normally expect to see a 10.1-inch screen, there is a 9.4-inch panel. Instead of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, it runs Android 3.0 Honeycomb. And rather than the plain old rectangular tablet design that’s all but been ridiculously overused by now, Sony employs a quirky-looking—but not necessarily worse—setup. In other words, in a world where copying with a few minor modifications seems to be the norm, Sony took the road less traveled and gave the Tablet S as many distinguishing features as possible.

For instance, consider the fact that it bears the distinction of being PlayStation certified. If there was ever a tablet that was worthy of being considered by hardcore gamers, this is it. It also works with a proprietary charging port, and accepts full size SD cards instead of microSD ones.

Speaking of Android, this Sony tablet comes with Android 3.0 Honeycomb pre-installed and supports Adobe Flash. The latter will definitely be useful for those who enjoy streaming online videos, while the former shouldn’t be cause for concern because a free upgrade to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich is readily available.

The market is littered with all kinds of Android tablets that are all-too similar. If you’re willing to pay the premium price commonly associated with the Sony brand name, then perhaps the Tablet S is just what you’ve been looking for.

Need To Know: Sony Tablet S

1. The 9.4-inch 1280x800 pixel resolution touchscreen LCD on the Sony Tablet S offers rich colors and the ability to display HD content. (The Good)

2. Although Android 3.0 Honeycomb is the pre-installed operating system, the Sony Tablet S can be easily upgraded to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. (The Good)

3. Content in the Sony PlayStation network for Android is very limited, moreso in terms of included games and software. (The Bad)

4. Battery life falls short of a full day’s worth moderate use per charge, and proprietary charger makes recharging difficult especially for those who are on the go. (The Bad)


Android
Operating system
Operating system
Android
1 GHz
Processor
Processor
1 GHz
9.4"
Screen Size
Screen Size
9.4"
5+ MP
Camera
Camera
5+ MP
5000 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


Mobile88
Mobile88

Why would you pick up Sony's Tablet S instead of the iPad 2 or Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1? On the whole, the Tablet is a very consumer-friendly device. You'd get it because you like how different it looks and how comfortable it feels in your hands. Plus, it also comes with a full-size SD card slot buil...

- Jennifer Ng, Mobile88
TabletPCReview
TabletPCReview

With the Tablet S, Sony provides a fine example for other Android tablet makers to follow. The Tablet S has a very different, but still innovative design from the iPad and other thin, large-screen tablets, and it has some great proprietary features and services not available for other tablets, like...

- Jamison Cush, TabletPCReview
TechTree
TechTree

The retail box packs in a tablet, charger, a wrist strap, and a warranty card. The device measures 9.5" (l) x 6.7" (w) x 0.8" (d) and weighs around 600 grammes. The tab features a unique magazine fold-out design that props the screen at an angle when placed on a table. At the front is a 9.4" screen...

- Kamakshi S, TechTree
Ausdroid
Ausdroid

Initially I dismissed the Sony Tablet S as too expensive, and there’s no question it would be much more attractive if Sony Australia had passed on the price cut it gave its US customers, but at $599 from Mobicity compared to (for example) $549 for the Galaxy Tab 10.1 I’d say it is worth the $50 prem...

- Matt Booth, Ausdroid
HotHardware
HotHardware

With so many Android tablets staring you in the face, it's easy to go cross-eyed trying to discern between product A and products B, C, and D. But once you get to S -- Sony's Tablet S, that is -- you're in a for a new experience, both visually and ergonomically. Sony rolled the dice on a unique desi...

- Paul Lilly, HotHardware


Prices (Where to Buy)




Ask the Community


No questions for the moment.


Resources


Manuals / User Guides Helpful Links Share / Embed

Maybe one of your friends will find this review helpful? Please help us spread the word.


Quick view

Screen Size
9.4"

The Sony Tablet S's screen size is 9.4 inches with x pixels resolution.

Processor
1 GHz

There is a NVIDIA Tegra 2 Dual Core A9 1 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The tablet runs on proprietary operating system firmware.

Camera
5+ MP
You can take photos or capture video with the tablet's onboard 5+ MP camera. There is also a secondary front facing camera with VGA (640 x 480) resolution.
Storage
16/32 GB

Internal memory is 16/32 GB. An external, SD (up to 32 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.

Battery
5000mAh

The tablet is powered by a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), 5000 mAh battery. Sony's performance ratings are 7 days standby time, 8 hours Wi-Fi surfing.

Tablet S Specs

Overview
Release Date September 16, 2011
Regions Available USA, Canada
Operating System No

Compare Android Smartphones

Processor NVIDIA Tegra 2 Dual Core A9 1 GHz
Internal Storage 16/32 GB
RAM 1 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible No
TTY/TDD No
SAR Unknown
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included AC Charger, Manual, Standard Battery
Cellular
Networks
Mobile / Cellular Data
No (Option available)
Wi-Fi Calling No
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) No
SIM card size
No
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB No
USB OTG Support No
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared Yes
Bluetooth 2.1
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
Memory Expansion Slot Yes
Expansion Slot Info SD (up to 32 GB)
NFC No
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
5+ Megapixels
Zoom
Yes
Flash
No
Additional Main Camera Info
Auto focus, Geotagging, Image stabilization
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4
Video Recording Parameters
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
VGA (640 x 480)+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
No
Video Recording Parameters
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology LCD (TFT)
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution x pixels
Pixel density Unknown
Size 9.4 inches
Sensors Motion / Accelerometer, Gyroscope
Backlit Illumination Yes
Zoom / Magnification Yes
Screen Orientation Lock Yes
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features Capacitive Touchscreen
Power & Battery
Type Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion)
Battery Capacity 5000 mAh
Removable Battery No
Wireless Charging
Fast Charging No
Battery Charge Time Unknown
Video Playback Time Up to 8 hours
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 8 hours
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Standby Time Up to 7 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Material Plastic
Colors Black
Dimensions [H x W x D] 17.4 x 24.1 x 20.6 cm (6.9 x 9.5 x 8.1 in)
Weight 598 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Unknown
Rugged design No
IP Rating No
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers Stereo
Input / Navigation
Touchscreen Yes
Sleep / Wake Key No
Home Key No
Physical keyboard No
Text-to-Speech No
Screen Reader No
Keypad/Screen Lock No
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor No
More
Additional Information Graphics: Yes
Backlit Illumination: Yes
Zoom / Magnification: Yes
Screen Orientation Lock: Yes
Predictive Text Entry: Yes
Multiple Numbers Per Contact: Email address, Other fields
Contact Groups: Yes
Web Browser: Yes
Email Client: Yes
Email Protocols: POP3, IMAP, Microsoft Exchange
PC Synchronization: No
DLNA Support: Yes
Audio Formats: MP3, eAAC+, WAV, OGG
Video Playback Formats: 3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4
Streaming Video: Yes
Custom Ringtones: No
Games: Downloadable, Pre-installed
Apps: Downloadable, Pre-installed
Included Software / Apps: -
Calendar, World Clock, Alarm, Calculator, Maps, NotePad, Voice Memos / Recorder

Other Names (AKA): Sony S1
Related Links Manual (PDF)
Sony Tablet S Reviews
Where to buy Sony Tablet S
Suggest a correction