This or the Note 10.1 2014?
Won't be using it in the bath so that's not a useful feature to me.
I went from the Xperia Z to the Note 10.1... I think it's down to preference...
Benefits of the Xperia:
* It is lighter and the weight is more even distributed, it's more well balanced.
* It's thinner
* It's waterproof
* It has very close to stock Android
Benefits of the Note:
* The screen is much brighter, more colourful and sharper although the pentile effect is noticeable. It also "pops" more than the Z's screen. Though saying that the Z's screen is not dim or unsaturated, they're both leaps ahead of the N10 screen.
* More powerful, this is important if you're going to be playing a lot of high end games but the Xperia is no slouch, it's just as responsive as the Note but the note has more pure grunt.
* S-pen, I enjoy using the S pen, it's not a massive bonus but it is a really nice feature and some people do love it.
* The Note is smaller width wise, the xperia is very wide, like really long.
* Note has all those samsung multitasking things but tbh I never really use those much.
* Better battery life (I still need to install a monitor app) seems to do a lot better than the xperia. I think this is a weight compromise on the xperia...
* I like the fact that it has buttons so that some of my screen isn't taken up by the black bar.
All round I guess my impression is that the Note is a serious tablet with an awesome screen, battery, power and feature set. But when I go an pick up the xperia it feels lighter and much better in the hand, it definitely feels nicer than the note.
If you're not bothered about epic specs then go with the xperia, it is a great tablet to use. If you want to be blinded by power and the mega bright screen then go for the note.