You know how we’ve been looking for an Android-based “iPad killer” for the past couple of years only to find no 10-incher capable of dethroning the “enemy”? Well, we’re not sure if we can call Sony’s Xperia Tablet Z the first real iPad killer yet, but it’s definitely close enough.

It basically has all the makings of an exceptional tablet, from sleek design to a state-of-the-art display and from up to date software to great hardware. Now all that Sony has to do is make the big guy available ASAP for a fair price and the Tablet Z’s destiny will be fulfilled.

Only that might not be as easy as it sounds. The first country to get the 10-incher, Japan, has been served with pretty extravagant pricing, while most markets outside Asia could have several more months to wait until seeing it in stores. And we know how bad a staggered release can hurt a gadget’s potential.

But at least in the UK we see absolutely no reason why the Xperia Tablet Z couldn’t be the biggest hit since The Beatles. And that’s because Sony’s official online store has just opened up pre-orders and estimates shipping to start on April 12.

Pricing is a lot better than in Japan as well, with the “entry-level” Tablet Z model packing Wi-Fi and 16 GB of on-board storage going for £399. For comparison, a similar variant of Samsung’s Galaxy Note 10.1 is worth £380 around those parts and I think I don’t have to tell you how much better the Z is compared to that.

The 32 GB Wi-Fi only Tablet Z is priced at £449 including VAT, while the LTE-enabled 16 GB version doesn’t have an official price tag yet (we’re guessing £500, maybe £550). As for colors, the 16 GB Wi-Fi Z is only listed in black, while the 32 GB model will be available in both black and white.

Another country confirmed to get the Xperia Tablet Z today is Canada, but unfortunately the ETA is not very promising – “this summer”. Sony Canada’s tweet also makes us fear that the US launch is not to happen by May, as it was first announced, bringing us back to what we were saying earlier. Can the Tablet Z be a hit if it’s going to roll out so slowly? Would it also need a price trim?

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