Sony Xperia Z4 tablet review

   Sony might not be the first to come to mind when you think about tablets, but if you're in the market for a stellar Android model, you should pay attention to its latest release. The Xperia Z4 tablet, not to be confused with the Xperia Z4 smartphone, is a skinny and powerful 10-inch tablet that's both dust- and waterproof.
One of the best reasons to pick an Android gadget (and skip on comparable iOS or Windows devices) is the freedom to tweak it to your heart's desire. Rocking a colorful overlay full of useful customization features, the Z4 takes full advantage of this flexibility.
Whether it's the option to organize the app tray layout by apps most commonly used or the ability to launch Spotify as soon as you connect your headphones, what sets the Xperia Z4 apart is its considerable customization opportunities.

A touch of waterproof durability goes a long way.

Solid Android tablets with a chic design, powerful performance and razor-sharp HD screen are a dime a dozen, but one that hand delivers all the personalization options natively (without having to download any additional apps) like the Xperia Z4, are harder to find.

Speaking of hard to find, although the tablet is currently on sale in the UK for £499 -- and available on Expansys for the same price -- Sony has not made an official announcement regarding official pricing or availability in the US or AU. US shoppers can find the Wi-Fi-only model on Amazon without the keyboard for $699 and with it for $759. The standalone LTE variant starts at $799 and the LTE model with the keyboard will run you $849.

In Australia the LTE variant of the Z4 is a Telstra exclusive, available outright for the bizarre prices of AU$888 or on plan from AU$62 per month. The Wi-Fi only model will arrive in late September at Sony stores and online, for AU$799.

Features

Running the latest available version of Google's operating system, Lollipop 5.0 , the Xperia Z4 features an overlay that slightly modifies the Android experience. It's no complete overhaul like you'd find in the Lenovo Yoga 10 , but the alterations are evident.

You can organize your apps in whatever way you want.

While not a flashy feature, one of the best aspects of the UI is the easy ability to customize how you interact with your Xperia Z4. You can modify practical things, like choosing which settings buttons you'd like quick access to via the pull-down menu, accessible by swiping down from the top of the tablet, or you can change how the apps in your app tray are organized.

You can also customize more complicated matters. Smart Connect is a preloaded app that allows you to tell your Xperia tablet what to do when you connect or disconnect an accessory. You create "events" that trigger a certain response from the tablet. You can set the tablet to automatically launch your running playlist when connected to headphones between the hours of 6 a.m. and 7 a.m., or set the volume to max whenever connected to the charger, ensuring you won't miss any notifications.

When tethered to the Bluetooth keyboard, a small taskbar on the bottom-left corner of the screen appears. It's customizable -- you can hand-pick which apps appear in it, and you get a maximum of 18. This is an easy way to open your most-used apps instead of finding the shortcut on your homescreen or making your way to the app tray. I found it very helpful and used it often.

If you own other Sony products, like a TV, Xperia phone or PlayStation, the tablet can also seamlessly work with those devices. For example, you can mirror the tablet's screen onto your Sony TV or Xperia phone, and if connected to a PS4 via the preloaded PS App, the Z4 can be utilized as a controller, a second screen, or as a keyboard for text entry.

Customizing the taskbar is everything but taxing.

Hardware

The Sony Xperia Z4 tablet houses a 2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 64-bit octa-core processor, Adreno 430 GPU, 3GB of RAM, 32 GB of internal memory, and a microSD card slot that can store up to an additional 128 GB. Other features include Bluetooth 4.1, FM radio and NFC connectivity.

Our review unit was an LTE variant of the Sony Xperia Z4 tablet. There's no information on where the tablet will be available, let alone which carriers will offer it, so at the time of review we were unable to evaluate the feature.

The microSD and SIM card slots are hidden behind a cover.

Performance

Considering its high-end specs, the Sony Xperia Z4's performance is unsurprisingly stellar. Basic tasks, like checking email, streaming video, or browsing the Web are smooth like butter and even large apps and games run without a hitch.

The Sony Xperia Z4's gaming performance ranks it among the best. This is good news for those interested in mobile gaming, as well as those that want to use the Sony tablet in conjunction with their PS4 gaming console. Graphics are sharp and smooth, and gameplay rarely encounters a hiccup.

The 10-inch screen boasts a 2,560x1,600-pixel resolution display with a wide range of colors that appear lifelike. HD content on the 2K screen looks splendid and even the UI itself is great to look at when adding widgets to your home screens or changing the theme of its appearance.

You'll find a front-facing 5.1-megapixel camera that satisfies for video conferencing and selfies as well as an 8-megapixel camera on the back. For both, colors are a bit washed out, and graininess is prevalent. I wouldn't recommend using either much, unless you like playing with camera features.

The Xperia Z4 rocks an excellent screen

The features built into the native camera app range in usefulness, but they add a unique, fun element to the otherwise drab pair of cameras. In addition to your typical scene modes, the Xperia Z4 has camera apps. They range from wacky to practical, but since the photo quality isn't that great, I enjoyed the wacky options more.

One of the most interesting camera apps is the AR mask, mostly because it's so odd that it's captivating. Using the front-facing camera, you can transform your face into an animal, or even take a photo of a friend and use that as a mask. It makes for some interesting results.

The creative effect app also included its own array of interesting filters. Aside from the expected black-and-white and pencil-sketch filters, there's a trippy kaleidoscope mode that makes the most mundane environments a work of art and a cool comic book one that, well, makes it look like you're inside of a comic book.

The Sony Xperia Z4 tablet houses a 6000 mAh battery with a purported video playback time of 17 hours. After testing it in the CNET Lab by looping a local video in airplane mode, the Z4 averaged 10.8 hours.

What about the competition?

It might appear expensive when compared to the slew of budget tablets available, but the pricing places it right in the wheelhouse of its competition. The chart below reflects current pricing according to availability in the US and UK. This review will be updated with any relevant information that Sony provides us.

The Microsoft Surface 3 and Apple iPad Air 2 are not made in 32GB models, so we included the 64GB versions, taking into consideration that although both the Sony Xperia Z4 and Dell Venue 10 7000include only 32GB of native storage, each has a microSD card slot that makes an upgrade to 64GB a mere $14 away.

Note, the keyboard included in the pricing for the iPad Air 2 is the Logitech Type+ keyboard case (not available via the UK Apple Store), which is suggested by the Apple Store and comparable in function to the Surface 3's and Venue 10 7000's proprietary keyboards. However, there are many other options for the Apple iPad available.

An Android alternative to the Xperia Z4 lies within the similarly sleek Dell Venue 10 7000 . With comparable performance, aesthetics play a part in which 10-inch Android tablet you might prefer; in contrast to the streamlined and skinny build of the Xperia Z4, the Venue 10 7000's slim figure deviates from the norm with a chunky rounded spine, for ergonomic grip support. The Venue 10 7000 also offers a Bluetooth keyboard (sold separately). However the Dell's keyboard fits and works like a dream when attached to the tablet, and it makes the Xperia Z4's keyboard looks like a homely afterthought. As an Android-based workstation, the Dell Venue 10 7000's design outshines that of the Sony Xperia Z4.

If you're open to a different operating system, the Apple iPad Air 2 and Microsoft Surface 3 are two comparable powerhouses. The Surface 3 runs a full version of Windows 8.1 -- soon to run Windows 10 -- meaning it can run any Windows program, and its signature keyboard case is highly lauded for being fashionable and functional. The Xperia Z4 is slimmer and thinner than the Surface 3, and the Google Play store offers more apps than the Windows Store, but the Microsoft tablet is also a better workstation thanks to its cleverly constructed keyboard.

The Apple iPad Air 2 is arguably the most popular tablet, making a comparison between it and the Xperia Z4 a necessary evil. Performance between the two is comparable in speed and consistency, however the Xperia Z4 excels in gaming graphics, and it weighs a little less than the Air 2. If you're already invested in the iOS ecosystem, the choice to opt for an iPad is easy. The Sony tablet is a better alternative if you prefer the Android operating system or if you're big on gaming -- the PS4 compatibility is a huge plus.

Conclusion

The Sony Xperia Z4 is currently one of the best Android tablets out there. Not only is it a well-constructed powerful performer with a stunningly sharp screen, its thoughtful overlay puts the control of the Android experience in the hands of the user in a remarkably accessible manner. In the end, the modifications to the interface render the Sony tablet a better option for less tech savvy users. Sure, you can download apps that replicate the fancy features of the Xperia Z4, but if you don't have the time, patience, or will to parse through the Google Play store for those alternatives, the Z4 conveniently offers myriad ways to adjust the tablet's functions to your liking for maximum usability -- and enjoyment.

iPad Air 2 review

     When Apple introduced the 9.7-inch iPad Pro on March 21, 2016, it seized the mantle of best iPad ever. The spitting image of the celebrated iPad Air 2, this smaller sibling of the original iPad Pro brings to the table a marvelous combination of form factor perfection and cutting-edge specs. Noteworthy features include a blazing fast processor; killer cameras (front and rear); an enhanced, antireflective display; and support for Apple's Pencil and Smart Keyboard. With a near-perfect balance between tablet power and portability, the 9.7-inch iPad Pro is pricy, sure, starting at $599 -- but also the new gold standard in the tablet category.
That noted, the iPad Air 2, the progenitor of the 9.7-inch iPad Pro design, remains arguably the better value. It costs $100 less and has virtually everything a conventional user needs in a tablet. With a keyboard accessory, it's a great portable writing tool -- unlike the iPad Mini 2 and Mini 4, which are both just a tad too small for keyboards. Its screen is well-suited to watching movies. And it handles multitasking a bit better than the Mini 4.
As Scott Stein suggests in his review of the new iPad Pro, this may be why Apple put the "Pro" in the iPad Pro -- these high-performance models are not for everyone. Yes, they're fast -- and especially great for creative professionals who are going to use their Pencil add-ons. But the upgrades come with a hefty price tag, and many folks would be better off spending that amount of money on a nice laptop.
Given this, the iPad Air 2 is still the Goldilocks in Apple's tablet lineup. We awarded it a CNET Editors' Choice in October 2014, and we heartily re-endorse it now, more than two years later.

Perfect size for reading, writing and viewing

The real reason I recommend the Air 2 over all other iPads is it strikes the perfect balance between a reading/playing/viewing tablet and something a bit more productive. It can be carried pretty easily in one hand and feels like reading a softcover book. Magazines and feature articles look good on its screen. Movies -- even letterboxed ones -- look sharp. But it's big enough to do some work on. Apps run side-by-side in splitscreen (Split View) mode work well, and with a keyboard attached it's a solid portable writing machine. My favorite case right now is Belkin's QODE Ultimate Pro -- it offers protection, a great backlit keyboard and two different tilt angles. With one of these on, the iPad Air 2 is nearly a tiny laptop without a trackpad, and a great emergency device to always have on me.

Even after weeks with the larger iPad Pro, the Air 2 seems fine to me. It even seems cozier and a lot more portable.

Split View apps offer split-screen, and it works really well.

iOS 9 runs perfectly, and adds new tricks

iOS 9 adds a few great new tricks to what the Air 2 can do; Split View is the best of them. Apps can be placed side-by-side for real multitasking, in one of several set orientations. Not all apps can use Split View (only ones that have been updated to allow for it), which can be frustrating. But more are being added all the time, and those that are optimized for split-screen are great. For email, Twitter, or even pulling up a calculator on the fly, it makes for a lot more efficiency.

Picture-in-picture video is also new to iOS 9, and it means the Air 2 can be used to follow livestreamed events -- or just regular old Web video -- in apps that support the feature. I've found it works fairly well via Safari browser windows while doing other things.

Picture-in-picture viewing: "Mulholland Drive," meet "The Southern Reach Trilogy."

The A8X processor in the Air 2 doesn't skip a beat doing any of these things, and all apps I throw at it run wonderfully. It's faster than the iPad Mini 4, and it doesn't even seem slow compared to the more powerful iPad Pro right now (mainly because the Pro doesn't have a ton of optimized apps yet).

Battery life, meanwhile, hits right around Apple's rated lifespan of about 10 hours between charges. You can use the iOS 9 battery-saving feature to extend that as needed, and standby time is especially good. In other words, this iPad will get you through a transcontinental flight with juice to spare, and you won't have to recharge it as often as your phone.

Still the best all-around iPad for now

There are other, more affordable options when it comes to tablets: lots of Android alternatives, Chromebooks and a fair bunch of full-fledged Windows 10 laptops, some as cheap as $200. The iPad doesn't match up as a budget pick, but it's still the king of tablets because of the sheer number of high-quality iPad apps that exist. At the same time, iOS 9 has made some necessary strides towards making the iPad a lot more useful.

And no, not everyone needs a tablet -- especially if you're happy with one of those devices listed above, or even an older iPad model. But if you're considering a new one, the Air 2 doesn't feel old -- it's great, balancing out productivity with useful reading, viewing and gaming apps. The Mini 4 and Pro feel too pushed to one side or the other. In fact, only specialists lusting after the super-accurate Pencil stylus would have a pressing need to upgrade to the considerably more expensive Pro models.

Bottom line: even in this iPad Pro era, the iPad Air 2 still delivers the best bang for the buck.

Cat S60 review

   The Cat S60 is thick and hefty with an unapologetically industrial design. In addition to being a tough SOB that can endure 6-foot drops and the most waterproof phone made to date, it also has one thing no other phone possesses: a built-in thermal imaging camera.
If you have to ask why anyone would need a durable, waterproof phone with a thermal imaging camera, the Cat S60 probably isn't for you. Those of you whose ears perk up at the mention of the phone's features should definitely stick around, however.
The phone is available for pre-order in the UK for £529 unlocked. US and Australian pre-orders have yet to be announced, but the UK price converts to around AU$920. In the US it will sell for $599 unlocked and work with GSM networks like T-Mobile and AT&T.

Thermal imaging camera included
A thermal imaging camera gives you superpowers. It allows you to visualize the temperature of objects, like an animal in the dark or frozen pipes. The built-in Flir thermal imaging camera is located on the back of the phone, above the 13-megapixel rear camera and next to the microSD card and SIM slots. It's the same one found on the Flir One thermal camera accessory, which is available for iOS and Android devices for $250 or £200 (AU$330, converted) -- a bargain considering most thermal imaging cameras cost thousands of dollars.
The Flir camera app takes a whopping 10-15 seconds to launch on the S60. The app offers nine different filters (they range in color palette and help make certain temperatures more visible than others) and you can take photos or videos. There's also the Flir Tools app (free in the Android app store) that allows you to see a variety of detailed data attached to the thermal images (like the temperature of a specific spot or the range of temperatures in the photo) after you take them.

The Cat S60 is the first phone with a built-in thermal imaging camera.

I enjoyed using the thermal camera to take colorful, trippy photos and psychedelic videos, however I, personally, found little practical use for it. It came in handy when a friend needed to know the accurate temperature of her oven while baking a cheesecake (the temperature markings on the stove's knob had faded) and when I wanted to know if my coffee was cool enough to drink, but that's it. If you're a firefighter, independent contractor or work in construction, you're more likely to come across situations where this type of technology comes in handy.

Durable design

Even with its smallish 4.7-inch screen, the Cat S60 still feels cumbersome. It's almost twice as thick as the iPhone 6S and tired out my wrist when I held it too long.

It's still comfortable to use in short spurts. The smooth, rounded edges afforded it a satisfyingly tactile feel and its buttons are conveniently big and easy to press (like a kids toy). The weaved etching on the back panel also makes it easy to grip and use if your hands are wet or you're wearing gloves.

It's IP68 certified and can withstand a 6-foot (1.8m) fall onto concrete and can be submerged up to 16-feet (5m) underwater for up to 60 minutes -- making it the most waterproof phone on the market.

I didn't take the Cat S60 diving, but I used every opportunity to get it wet. (I splashed it with water numerous times and dunked it 3-feet underwater for the duration of three Friends episodes.) After a quick towel off, it worked fine every time. Sometimes, if the screen was still a bit wet, my swipes and taps wouldn't be recognized, even though the Gorilla Glass 4 touchscreen is supposed to be "wet finger-compatible." Completely drying the screen fixed the problem.

Unique features

This phone is definitely meant for more than just Snapchat and Twitter.

The SOS button is hidden behind a waterproof flap and when pressed for a few seconds, it activates an app that can send a location alert to emergency contacts.

There's also a programmable yellow button underneath the power button that can perform custom functions, like opening an app or show notifications.
The pre-loaded curated app store feature specific categories -- like sports and outdoors, construction and farming -- and is pre-loaded onto the homescreen.

But how does it perform?
In comparison to the Samsung Galaxy S7 and the Motorola Droid Turbo 2, the Cat S60's specs are underwhelming. However, I was never disappointed; games and apps launched within seconds, navigation was swift, web pages loaded quickly and the screen was sharp and bright. The front and rear cameras are a bit disappointing (lots of visible noise and graininess in dark environments), but the rare presence of the FLIR camera makes it somewhat forgivable.
Using the provided charger, it took about two hours to fully charge if battery was completely drained. We're currently testing it in the CNET Lab and will update the review with the final results soon. Anecdotally, the phone's battery comfortably lasted an entire day. With heavy use (lots of downloading apps and playing games) and the brightness jacked all the way up, it lasted me about five hours.

Though it works fine for streaming video and playing games, the heavy duty Cat S60 is a niche device.

Should I get it?

Most thermal imaging cameras cost thousands. If, as an alternative, you were to buy a decent, cheap, waterproof Android phone and added on the Flir One accessory, you'd pay only $50 less than the S60.

Having all those features in one device is worth the extra money in my opinion -- if those extra features appeal to you.

The Cat S60's thoughtfully executed design puts functionality and durability at the forefront. The fact that it's made to work under distressing conditions -- ones that would literally break most phones -- makes it perfect for anyone who works in a precarious environment or has a very active, outdoorsy lifestyle. That said, it's not worth it for someone, like me -- who does none of those things -- to lug around and use everyday.

My friend's oven needed to be alot hotter.

Google Nexus 6P review

     In my mind, there are two things that a Nexus-branded phone is supposed to do, and the Google Nexus 6P does them both very well. First, it's meant to showcase the very newest Android software. Check! (So does the cheaper, smaller LG-made Nexus 5X.) Second, it should package together very capable hardware for a lower sticker price than more familiar brand-name competitors. Yep, that it does. (See our pricing chart below.)
And then the weighty, 5.7-inch Nexus 6P goes further. It adds a metal frame (a Nexus first!) and a crisp, high-resolution display; a spot-on fingerprint reader; a capable 12-megapixel camera; and strong stereo speakers. It also introduces China-based Huawei, which made the phone, to a whole new audience of people, Google's Nexus fans. (Although I have to say, this breakthrough, while significant for Huawei, is only a passing curiosity for a buyer who's focused on finding the right handset.)
This year's Nexus phones are also compatible with most major carriers, which is terrific, and support Google's own unique Project Fi wireless service -- meaning you can switch among carrier plans without swapping your SIM card or phone. You don't actually need Fi to do that, though, you can seamlessly carrier-hop on your own without Google's specialized SIM card, too.
Here's what I'm saying: the 6P here is the most ambitious and advanced Nexus phone Google has put its stamp on, and it comes closer than previous Nexus devices at meeting and beating premium handsets, big and small -- like the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus, Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and Edge+ , Sony Xperia Z5 and Z5 Premium -- with its combination of internal performance and relatively low cost.
Like all phones, this one isn't without flaws. It's still a large, heavy device. I'm not wild about the design, which is completely fine, but a little generic. The position of the fingerprint reader isn't always convenient. The native camera has fewer options and controls than many rivals. And unlike the Nexus 6 and other Nexus phones, this refresh lacks wireless charging, which would be extra useful backup if you leave your new Type-C charger at home. The 6P also won't have the Note 5's stylus, the Edge+ curves or the Xperia's waterproofing. You have to decide how important those finishing touches are to you.
A little warning for those who want to buy the 6P to mine the Android 6.0 Marshmallow software for all its goodies: while the new operating system brings a few interesting and somewhat useful tools -- like contextual searching through the Now on Tap feature and battery life boosting that works quietly in the background -- the 6P's real take-home value is less about the wonders of Android 6.0 and more about your total bang for the buck.
Android 6.0's nice-but-not-astounding bag of tricks may not have been as successful as past Nexus' braggable features ( Android 5.0 Lollipop was quite the overhaul), but the 6P's Marshmallow status still nabs you certain advantages, like fewer preloaded apps ("bloatware") and being first in line to receive Google's forthcoming software updates. "Pure" Nexus phones are also free from vendors' custom take on Android, which can be good, bad or neutral depending on your stance. On the one hand, custom layers eat up storage space and delay upgrades, but on the other, they can also add handy features and snazzy design layouts.
Personally, I like the the Nexus 6P quite a lot -- it does everything right and very little wrong. While it doesn't grab me the way the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge's unique design does, it's still a phone I'd heartily recommend. As a utilitarian workhorse, the Nexus 6P does the job for less cash, and that's smart.


Google's first metal Nexus
Big and aluminium with rounded edges and a fingerprint reader on the back, the Nexus 6P embraces quite a few trends of the day. The 5.7-inch display is a skosh more sizeable than the 5.5-inch iPhone 6Sand right on par with the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and S6 Edge+ . Its high-resolution AMOLED display, sometimes referred to as 2K, fits in with the times as well, lending the 6P a sharp and clear screen, with high contrast. (Sony is already pushing boundaries with its world's-first 4K display , which is probably overkill in most scenarios.)

The Nexus 6P is a solid slab of aluminum, a Nexus first.

Shape-wise, the Nexus 6P is smaller and narrower than Motorola's 6-inch Nexus 6. Still, it's a two-hander. Not the easiest jumbo phone (or, phablet, if you prefer) for my smaller hands to hold. Its slim, straight sides challenged hands larger than mine when I passed the phone around. Some combination of the straight edges and smooth back made the 6P seem unwieldy, slippery, even a little top-heavy. The similarly sized Samsung Galaxy Note 5, S6 Edge+ and iPhone 6S Plus seem proportioned and contoured to fit my mitts better.

Its unibody build means you won't be able to access the battery, and there's no microSD card slot for extra storage either. This is a typical trade-off in full-metal phones. During some of my testing, the Nexus 6P's backing felt warm to the touch, but not dangerously or uncomfortably so.

Since I grip the bottom half of the device to use it, the placement of the Google Imprint fingerprint reader was often a stretch; I sometimes had to shift my grip in order to unlock the phone. If you have larger hands, you probably won't have the same concerns.

Double-click the power button to launch the camera.

I like that double-pressing the lock key launches the camera, but I'm not a fan of the haptic jiggle that confirms you've opened it, and I haven't found a way to turn it off.

You can pick up the Nexus 6P in three colors: aluminum (silver), graphite (black) and frost (white), our favorite of the trio. Japan gets it in gold, too. My all-black model looks nice in a generic way, with subtle chamfered edges around the rims, though the design isn't inspired.

Loud stereo speakers

Audio quality from the dual front speakers was pretty great for a phone. I played a lot of music videos from YouTube. The highest volume setting filled a room, and songs sounded clear. Compared to a set of good headphones or a decent Bluetooth speaker, though, the 6P's audio still sounded jangly and two-dimensional, where my over-ear In Case headphones sounded rich. But the 6P is still notably better than you'll get from the default speaker in most rival smartphones.

Type-C marginally better

I like the reversible USB Type-C charging port in theory, and once more phone-makers start using it, charging cables will be easier to come by. If you forget the Type-C to Type-C fast-charger and Type-C to USB cables that arrive in the box, you'll be hard-pressed to find one lying around -- it's not compatible with your other devices' cables. Wireless charging would be a convenient backup here, but unlike the 2013 and 2014 Nexus models, that feature is absent.

Better keep an extra Type-C cable.

If you get the 6P, prepare to also buy a few extra chargers and a micro-USB to Type-C adaptor that fits over the tip.

Android 6.0 Marshmallow: Now on Tap is not great

A Nexus phone is the first to debut Google's latest Android software. Always. In our case, that's the Android 6.0 build , codenamed an ooey-gooey Marshmallow. It promises, as always, to be faster and smoother than the previous generation and filled with more tricks and treats.

The most enticing of these is Google Now on Tap, which is an obscure name for an extra layer of software that lets you more deeply interact with whatever's on the screen. The classic example is asking Google simply, "Who sings this?" when listening to any given song, without having to specify the track's title.

Let's say you're on a restaurant menu and you press and hold the home button. Mini "cards" pop up on the bottom half of the screen with buttons you can press (shortcuts) to search on Google, open a menu, make a reservation, call the business, navigate there and see Google Street View. You can also use voice search to ask for additional information ("show me her tour dates" for example) without having to reframe the question.

CNET will do much more Now on Tap testing, but in my initial tests, I threw a barrage of questions and commands at it, and opened the Now on Tap cards from a variety of Web pages. Some scenarios seem to work better than others. For example, contextual voice searches usually worked, but interrupted the songs I asked about, which made for a pretty disruptive listening experience, since getting search results on-screen essentially stops the music, at least with YouTube.

Other times, Now on Tap presented useful information, like a restaurant menu link and icon shortcuts to other apps, other times, I didn't get what I wanted. Also keep in mind that clicking a link from Now on Tap whisks you away to a new page. Either way, Now on Tap cards took about two seconds to load, which felt slow.

This search bar in the apps tray is new to Nexus.

Don't worry, the usual Google Now is still there -- which proactively surfaces information about the weather, sports scores, transportation time home and flight information -- now you swipe right from the home screen or press the "G" icon from the Now on Tap screen. With the ability to add stories and notifications from websites and apps, it operates much more as a typical newsfeed this way.

Other noticeable titbits in Marshmallow: I liked how apps download on the second homescreen (as you swipe left), rather than crowding out your main homescreen. And, though this isn't turned on by default, always-on voice search calls up Google from any screen, even when the phone is locked. Note that the "OK, Google" voice command zeroes in on your voice in particular, so others can't vocally command your 6P without retraining it.

Mobile payments featuring Android Pay also lights up; this is Google's repackaged Google Wallet system, which rivals Apple Pay and the newly launched Samsung Pay. We'll have a breakout of this later.

Google Imprint works well, but...

I used Google Imprint, the fingerprint reader, as the main method for securing the 6P -- you can add up to five prints. I did have to sometimes readjust to reach it, but on the whole, unlock accuracy was flawless.

In my opinion, the biggest benefit right now is being able to unlock the phone with a quick scan.In the future, we'll be able to benefit from authorizing Android Pay purchases and app downloads with a fingertip, too, just like on the iPhone. Right now, though, my two most commonly used apps, Amazon and my bank, don't support Imprint.

The fingerprint reader worked flawlessly, but wasn't always convenient to use.

Google and Huawei have integrated the scanner on the 6P's backside, like another Huawei phone, the Mate S . I'm still getting used to the rear placement, and when the phone is laying flat on a desk or table, I don't like having to lift the entire device to unlock it with my print. Since you must also add a backup PIN in case the reader fails, pressing the power/lock button requires you to swipe the screen and then enter the PIN, which takes time. A scanner within the power/lock button, as Sony uses on its 2015 Xperia phones , or home button scanners, like on the iPhone and Samsung Galaxy phones, could be more convenient overall.

On the security front, Imprint is just one of many ways to get into the phone, and in fact, Google warns that a good PIN could be a stronger security measure. To gird yourself, you can opt to enter a PIN every time the phone restarts. Other security options include facial or voice recognition in addition to PINs, passwords and patterns.

Cameras and image quality

The Nexus 6P's 12.3-megapixel camera with a Sony sensor claims serious indoor optimization and improved low-light technology, and yes, it takes good outdoor shots. Low light and night shots are still noisier than phones like the Samsung Galaxy S6, but less so than the Nexus 6, and satisfying to view and share overall. Although the Nexus 5X and 6P share the same rear camera specs down to the detail, low light images looked a tad cleaner on the 6P when we took a look at full resolution images side-by-side. Color temperature also differed slightly in indoor shots. For all intents and purposes, differences in image quality between the two Nexuses are negligible (but better than the Nexus 6).

Google says that its camera sensor size dwarfs that of the iPhone 6S Plus , with 1.55-micron pixel size on the 6P, versus 1.22-micron pixels on Apple's jumbo phone. The bigger the pixel, the more light can stream in. In the world of photography, more light is generally better. Photos taken outdoors were certainly nice, with lots of detail and pretty good color fidelity. Pictures took on a yellowy tone that was sometimes warm and sometimes cool. Huawei should fix that, but in general, I prefer a yellow cast to a blue one.

Sony's sensor gives the 12-megapixel camera an image boost.

Google has also added smart burst mode to the camera, a new-to-Google feature that captures photos at a rate of 30 frames per second. The Nexus 6P turns your stream of photo bursts, called SmartBurst, into an animated GIF by default (you have to turn this off in settings). It's choppier than a Live Photo in the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus, and only self-generates when you take a burst shot, unlike the iPhone's mini-video treatment that's applied to all photos. I discovered the automatic GIF-sharing by accident, and since it wasn't what I was going for, it wasn't too helpful, and the GIF (of a flower slightly swaying in the breeze), looked choppy and silly.

Selfie photos taken through the 8-megapixel front-facing camera look good on the whole. The 6P appears to apply some automatic air-brushing; or at least, skin tones look softer. Unlike other handsets, there aren't any filters or Beauty Mode controls to smoothe textures (this could be good or bad, depending on your view), and all editing happens by default through the built-in Google Photos app -- this is where you'll see effects like vignette filters.

On the video side, the Nexus 6P will shoot 4K video; if you want this, you'll need to reset the default. A brand-new built-in feature, slow-motion video, can capture up to 240 frames per second, with editing capabilities. This is something we've seen in other phones, by Samsung for example, but this is indeed a first for a Nexus device. We found it's best to use this for action sequences, rather than everyday moments.

Using the camera software is pretty straightforward. You now swipe left and right to switch between photo to video modes. A button tap flips to the front camera and back again. Controls for flash and auto-HDR live on-screen, while panorama mode, Photo Sphere, Lens Blur and Settings hide away in a sub menu. These are good modes to have, but you will find more shooting options in other premium devices, like presets for macro, landscape and sports modes.

A phone to seriously consider

With the Nexus 6P, Google boosts the best of its famously affordable Nexus line into the big leagues. Its specs and performance largely match up to the most premium phones already vying for your attention, but for less than their full retail price. (Always check current pricing for phones you're about to buy; sales happen all the time.)

While I do have minor quibbles with the 6P, they're mostly design complaints and disappointment over absent wireless charging on a phone with a brand-new (read: currently unusual) charging standard. These aren't major, purchase-deterring concerns, though.

Android 6.0's Google's Now on Tap is far less the clutch feature at this stage than I had hoped it would be, but it doesn't deter from Google Now, or from using the most accurate voice search in the business. Also, the 6P's "pure Android" status does guarantee fresh future updates, and it's also terrific that the 6P works with all major carriers and, in the US, supports Google Fi. As far as I'm concerned, the more options to hook into Google services, the more choices you'll have down the road if you want to opt in.

Still, competition is fierce among excellent devices, and some people will pick phones are that are smaller and look more interesting than the 6P, or have valuable secondary features, like a stylus, water-resistant coating or wireless charging. While a very good option, the Nexus 6P isn't the must-have phone of 2015. To be fair, I don't think such a thing exists; it really comes down to personal preferences about what you want and need.

For Google's part, the company did well working with Huawei on its ambitious Nexus. Creating this year's flagship Nexus design is a big, fat break for the world's third-largest smartphone-maker(according to research firm IDC). Known in some global regions for its midrange and lower-end phones -- if it's known at all -- Huawei now has a rare chance to impress a pantheon of established Nexus fans. Customers who like the Nexus 6P could very well be converted into Huawei loyalists, or at the very least draw precious attention to the brand.

So, some final food for thought on how the Nexus 6P stacks up against other phones you might want to buy.

Versus high-end Android phones

The 6P is less expensive and has all the Nexus advantages, plus there are the louder-than-average stereo speakers. Phones such as the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and Edge+ , Sony Xperia Z5 and Z5 Premium offer hardware and software extras, and don't suffer from having Android 5.1 Lollipop instead of Android 6.0. The S6 and S6 Edge are a better fit for people who prefer more petite devices.

Versus the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus

Your Android-or-iOS preference aside, the iPhone 6S phones have classier designs and an arguably more convenient placement of its fingerprint reader. Voice commands are superior on the Nexus 6P, but Android 6.0 doesn't play a unique role there. The 6P is less expensive than either iPhone, though Google isn't offering Apple's installment pricing that guarantees the latest iPhone every year.

Versus the Nexus 5X

The smaller 5.2-inch Nexus 5X takes almost identical photos as the Nexus 6P from its main camera, but the plastic 5X is less expensive because it uses cheaper parts. The 6P is the more powerful device, and the handset of the two to choose if you aren't cost-sensitive. However, HTC's forthcoming One A9 is far more attractive -- especially at only $399 (but much less so for the £430 UK selling price) -- and made of metal, while also carrying Android 6.0. If you're not in a rush, but would prefer to spend less, it's worth waiting for that review.