Android tablets continue their quest to take over the world - or perhaps just the iPad. According to Statista, in the fourth quarter of 2012, Apple remained well in the lead, with a 43.6 percent share of the global tablet market. This week at the Mobile World Congress, Sony announced the launch of the Xperia Tablet Z, a premium 10.1” Android tablet that is also the world's thinnest. Weighing just 495 grams, it is the first tablet to run on the Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro asynchronous quad core processor and it has high dust and water resistance. Its full-HD Reality Display is powered by Mobile BRAVIA Engine 2, delivering enhanced color reproduction for a TV-like viewing experience. It also draws upon Sony's camera expertise with an 8MP HD rear camera featuring the Exmor R image sensor and a 2 MP HD front-facing camera. A good sound system, a battery life management system and a microSD card slot for up to 64GB of expandable storage complete the package. Xperia Tablet Z will launch on Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) in the Spring. It will be available in black in a 16 GB and 32 GB version for $500 and $600 respectively. A white 32 GB version will be on sale exclusively at Sony Stores. At the other end of the tablet spectrum is the Acer Iconia B1-A71 tablet in an updated 16GB version, running Android 4.1. First announced at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) as an 8GB version, the Iconia B1-A71 is targeted at young or new users or families looking for an additional tablet for their children. The Iconia B1 is easy to hold and use in one hand, a triangular corner grip on the lower left side improves single-hand usage. It's also easy to tote around in a bag or jacket at a feather-light 320 grams, making it one of the lightest 7-inch tablets in the market. It's priced at about $182 and is available now. And Samsung is trying to boost Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 sales a little more by making available a Garnet Red Edition. Preloaded with Android 4.1, Jelly Bean, this unique color offering of the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 is competitively priced at $220.
