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Apple iPad mini 3 vs Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact

The Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact is Sony’s latest slate, but in a surprising move it’s just 8.0 inches, making it more of a competitor for the 7.9 inch iPad mini 3 than the 9.7 inch iPad Air 2.

So these two slates share a similar screen size and both pack some impressive specs, but one runs Android 4.4.2 while the other runs iOS 8.1 and the differences don’t end there. Read on for a full rundown on what’s similar, what’s different and how they compare overall.

Build and Design - Apple iPad mini 3 vs Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact

 Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact - Design

 The Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact looks every bit an Xperia device, but it doesn’t look as premium as some of Sony’s devices, as the back and sides are plastic. However that’s nicely contrasted by an aluminium power button and stainless steel corners. It’s also very thin and light at 213.4 x 123.6 x 6.4mm and 270g. Plus it’s IP68 certified dust and water resistant.

Apple iPad Mini 3 - Design

 The Apple iPad mini 3 is the better looking of the two, with its premium metal build, but it’s not waterproof and at 200 x 134.7 x 7.5mm and 331g it’s not quite as sleek. Overall we’d say its design is better unless you’re likely to use it in places where it might get wet, but both are well built good looking tablets.

Display  - Apple iPad mini 3 vs Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact

The Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact has an 8.0 inch 1200 x 1920 LCD display with a pixel density of 283 pixels per inch, while the iPad mini 3 has a 7.9 inch 1536 x 2048 IPS LCD display with a pixel density of 324 pixels per inch.

Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact - Display

So the iPad mini 3 has the higher resolution screen and it shows, but with its Live Colour LED’s the Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact has rich, vibrant colours and impressive contrast. That doesn’t make up for the lacking resolution and the iPad mini 3 arguably has the better screen overall, with not just a high resolution but also good contrast and natural (though slightly less vibrant) colours, but both screens are moderately impressive.

Apple iPad Mini 3 - Display

Power  - Apple iPad mini 3 vs Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact

The Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact has a 2.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor and 3GB of RAM, while the Apple iPad mini 3 has a 1.3GHz dual-core Apple A7 processor and 1GB of RAM.

On paper that leaves the Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact streets ahead, in practice the differences are fairly minor but the Z3 Tablet Compact is still slightly more powerful, not to mention more future-proofed, as the A7 chip in the iPad mini 3 is rather dated.

Cameras - Apple iPad mini 3 vs Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact 

While tablet cameras are never remarkable the Z3 Tablet Compact has one of the better ones, with an 8.1 megapixel sensor on the back, a 2.2 megapixel one on the front and the ability to shoot 1080p video at 30fps.

The Apple iPad mini 3 on the other hand has just a 5 megapixel camera on the back and a 1.2 megapixel one on the front, though it can at least still shoot 1080p video at 30fps.

You’ll get better results from almost any smartphone than you would taking photos with either of these slates, but if you really feel the need to get snappy with your tablet the Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact is the better option of the two.

Battery life, memory and connectivity - Apple iPad mini 3 vs Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact 

The Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact has a 4500 mAh battery capable of up to 990 hours of standby time, 170 hours of music or 15 hours of video. Apple hasn’t stated the exact size of the iPad mini 3’s battery but has claimed that it can last for up to 10 hours of media use.

That’s less than the Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact but still above average, so both slates are real winners when it comes to battery life.

There’s 16GB of storage built in to the Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact, along with support for microSD cards of up to 128GB. The iPad mini 3 has no microSD card slot, but it comes in a choice of 16, 64 or 128GB of built in storage.

Both slates support Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0, while they can also come with 3G and 4G LTE if you opt for a cellular model and the Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact also has NFC.

Features - Apple iPad mini 3 vs Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact

Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact - PS4 Remote Play

Beyond what’s already been covered there are certain standout features of each slate. In the Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact’s case the main feature is PlayStation 4 Remote Play, allowing you to play your PS4 games on the tablet, though for a stable connection you’ll need to be on the same Wi-Fi connection as your console, so you can only really use the feature at home.

Another feature worth mentioning is its support for high-fidelity audio and the ability to upscale MP3 tracks.

The iPad mini 3 meanwhile has Touch ID and Apple Pay, allowing you to unlock the slate and authorize purchases with the Touch of a button.

Conclusion - Apple iPad mini 3 vs Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact

The iPad mini 3 and the Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact are well matched devices but they don’t cater to exactly the same audiences. The most obvious difference is the operating systems, with the iPad mini 3 running iOS 8.1, while the Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact runs Android 4.4.2.

Beyond that the iPad mini 3 has a slightly better screen and design, more built in storage and a fingerprint scanner, while the Z3 Tablet Compact has a marginally better camera, a little more power, slightly longer battery life, a microSD card slot, high-fidelity audio and support for PS4 Remote Play. It’s also a little more durable thanks to its dust and water proofing.

So there’s no clear winner, it all comes down to what you want from your tablet. There’s not even much to choose when it comes to price, with the iPad mini 3 starting at £319, while the Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact comes in at £329.

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