Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2012. The Sony Tablet P was an ambitious, early attempt at a dual-screen folding tablet, paving the way for the foldable devices we see today.
Sony’s Android tablet, the Tablet P, is a small and handy hinged device with an incredibly radical design that shows the limits of hardware novelty. When you open it, twin small screens are revealed. Content can appear on one of the two screens or be spread seamlessly across both. It operates over either a Wi-Fi or a cellular data connection.
Dual TruBlack Displays
The Sony Tablet P has two displays sizing up at 5.5-inches a piece. Considering that each 5.5-inch TruBlack LCD panel boasts a resolution of 1024 x 480, it is detailed enough to make out fine text without much fluff.
This tablet is packaged with a 2-gigabyte removable memory card and 4 gigabytes of internal storage, of which 1.8 gigabytes is available to the user. You can buy a larger memory card, supporting up to 32GB of expanded storage.
Camera and Hardware Design
There is a VGA front-facing camera placed in the top right corner when it is fully opened, while the primary 5-megapixel auto-focus camera is placed oppositely in the outer casing.
On the left edge of the Tablet P, there is a lonesome notch that is used for its internal speaker, while on the right side, it lays claim to most of its buttons and ports. Specifically, it consists of the flush dedicated power button, proprietary power port, microUSB port for data connectivity, microphone, and volume control.
App Integration and Portability
Sony has modified or created some apps so they take intelligent advantage of the dual screens. For instance, the email app uses the bottom screen to list your messages and the top one to show whichever message you are currently reading. Similarly, the stock video player and many games use the bottom screen for control buttons and the top for the media content.
Because it folds up, the Tablet P is much more portable than iPad-sized tablets, or even standard 7-inch tablets. It fits comfortably in a trousers or jacket pocket, or a modest-size purse.
Battery and Pricing
A strip is placed in the lip of the tablet that helps open up the device, and in that lip lies an LED light that pulsates in green whenever it receives notifications. Placed near the hinges of the tablet, there are latches that enable us to remove its rear cover, which then allows access to its 3,080 mAh battery and microSD card slot.
When closed, its surfaces are rounded and have an overall thickness of a whopping 1.03 inches. Sony originally sold it online for $550. The battery is completely removable, and a spare could be bought for $70.
The biggest distraction we see is the large bezel separating the two screens. However, a dual screen design provides an optimised entertainment experience and a unique portability that no other tablet in its class can provide.
