Sony New VAIO Hybrids: Are They Worth The Investment?

In this year’s IFA, Sony announced a number of new VAIO hybrid PCs which immediately caught people’s attention. With a screen which can flexibly flip between tablet and laptop, a new kickstand and a series of other features, the new VAIO is seriously sexy. But which one is worth your investment?

Before you splash out on a new VAIO, here is some information on each model – so you can make an informed decision!

VAIO Fit Multi-flip PC

The VAIO Fit Multi-flip PC is a laptop-tablet hybrid which comes in a 15-inch model and a smaller 13-inch one. The aluminium shell gives the device a sleek and sharp look, but its main feature is the multi-flip element. The screen sits in a normal laptop position, but once unlocked, it can flip almost 180 degrees.

The VAIO Fit Multi-flip PC immediately became a rival to Samsung’s Ativ Q, which allows the screen to face almost any direction. By contrast, the Fit Multi-flip is loose and only stays still when locked by magnets. Sony also provides a proper keyboard and touchpad which you cannot find on the Ativ Q.

The VAIO Fit Multi-flip runs on regular Windows 8 or the Pro version on up to a Intel Haswell Core i7-4500U processor. The device comes with up to 16 GB of DDR3 RAM, and you can get hard drive combinations which go up to 1TB in a hybrid or up to 512 GB in an SSD.

The 15-inch Multi-flip has a 2880x1620 Triluminos display, driven by integrated Intel HD Graphics 4400 or an Nvidia GeForce GT 735M. There’s Ethernet, Bluetooth, USB 3.0, Wi-Fi, HDMI and a front HD webcam. What else could you want?!

Tap 11

Claimed to be “the world’s thinnest Windows 8 tablet”, the VAIO Tap 11 is only 9.9mm thick. As the name suggests, it sports an 11-inch screen. Thanks to Sony’s Tiluminos technology, Tap 11’s full HD 1920x1080 resolution is capable to deliver snapshots and films with well-balanced colors and high clarity. Sony also enhances the battery for audio in Tap 11 with two speakers for stereo sound, which includes xLoud and a 3D front surround.

The VAIO Tap 11 comes either with an Intel Core i7-4610Y processor clocked at 1.7GHz or a Core i5-4210Y clocked at 1.5GHz. Both have a 128GB solid state drive and 4GB of DDR3 memory. One of its key features is the magnetic keyboard, which creates a one-to-one connection between the device and accessory using radio frequency instead of Bluetooth. The keyboard can be separated from the tablet easily – as a result, it might slip from the body easily.

Tap 21

Weighing 8 pounds, the Sony VAIO Tap 21 is about 30 percent lighter than its predecessor, the Tap 20. The 1920x1080 resolution makes it an ideal device to watch movies on. Moreover, software like Movie Studio Platinum, Acid Music Studio and Sound Forge Audio Studio pre-installed in Tap 21 makes editing video and audio more enjoyable.

The stand on the back allows the device to transform easily between a traditional all-in-one PC screen and a flat tablet. Like most touch PCs, there is a Bluetooth keyboard attached to the device.

   Yuan Liu

About the Author:

Yuan Liu is a technophile. Thanks to the rental services of Flexirent, she doesn’t have to spend too much on tech products.