[Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact General] veletron:
My Initial Observations vs Tab S

So, my Z3TC LTE turned up, and after having played with it for a while, my Tab S 8.4 LTE is going on fleabay.

Updated: Video review (warning: long winded!!) http://youtu.be/CMKonSEd7zc

Its hard to describe just how much more responsive the Sony Z3TC is compared to the Samsung tab S 8.4!! This responsiveness makes it so so much more pleasant to use.

I have nothing to say Re the respective UI 'enhancements' done by each manufacturer since I have always used Nova Launcher. My points below are with Nova running on both devices.

Observations from from my early fiddling vs Tab S 8.4 LTE (Exynos EU Version, only US LTE versions of the TAB S get a Snapdragon, EU versions get a Exynos and offload the 3G/4G to an intel add-in chip). The US versions get a Snapdragon because the Intel add-in chip does not support all the bands in use in the US.)

Negatives (vs Tab S)

- Slightly smaller screen (hardly noticeable)

- Bigger Bezels than the Tab S, but these make it easier to hold

- Perhaps not as well weighted for typing in handheld portrait mode vs the tab S

- Screen is not as vibrant as that on the Tab S, but I don't really notice the lower resolution. Hard pressed to see any pixels

- Screen more fingerprint hungry than Tab S

- Case attachment mechanism not as neat at Tab S (official samsung case clips to back via press holders)

- No Flash for rear facing camera

- No fingerprint reader (which I did actually find pretty reliable on the Tab S

- I hate the Sony mechanism for inserting SIM cards - why not a clicky-in/click-out system like everyone else uses?

- The Sony equivilent of Samsung's 'Smart Stay' designed to keep the screen on while you are looking at it does not work as well as on the Samsung

- Tab S LTE was about £30 cheaper (after Sony's £30 rebate)

- More freebies video's/etc with the Samsung Tab S

Positives (vs Tab S)

- Lightweight

- Very high quality build, feels better in the hand than Tab S, good quality plastics, nice tactile rear panel

- Has NFC

- Does not keep disconnecting from the mobile network (requiring flight mode on/off to restore). Tab S LTE (exynos+intel 4G chip, EU version) keept doing this. It was an LTE/WCDMA handover issue I believe

- Battery life is blooming superb vs the Tab S 8.4!

- Way, Way Way faster and more responsive than the Tab S 8.4 - light years ahead, and way less anoying in day-to-day use

- Fuss-free power saving/stamina mode - Tab S required time to switch in/out and was use useless with powersaving on - it was slow enough with it off!!

- Waterproof (USB, sim/SD card slots under waterproof covers headphone sky requires no cover as its internally waterproofed

- Mag charger is easier to attatch than fumbling about with a USB cable - no socket to damage either

- I already had a Z3 Compact phone so this plays nice with that

- Smart connect works well for silencing device when plugged in between certain times. Also does not display permanent status icon unlike Samsung equiv

- Dont need to root the Sony to make it usable!!

Equal

- Nothing to choose between devices re sound quality from built in speakers or a bog standard set of headphones

- Double Tab to turn on is simplicity, but one had that with Samsung's HOME button, and fingerprint login anyway

- Both vendors try to get you to sign up for Sony account or Samsung account junk. I just dont bother logging in to any of it

- Both vendors prevent you from fully uninstalling some of the bloatware they ship

- Both Vendors prevent you from disabling some of the junk they ship

Wishlist

- SONY: Make an official keyboard case for this device - that would make for a good compact road warrior machine

- SONY: Make your official case close with a magnet like Samsungs/3rd party cases. I dont want a trashed screen or an elastic bag around my expensive Tab!

- SONY: 16GB built in (11GB free) is completely stupid in 2014. The base model should be 64GB with the next model at 128GB. Your cost price on your BOM for the additional flash is $almost nothing - dont rob us blind

- SONY: Why no 32GB model for the LTE version?

Nigel