Xperia Defect Found: Sony Halts Tablet Sales Because They're Too Susceptible To Water Damage

Tablet Pulled From Market Because Of Defect
Xperia tablets are seen at the Sony booth during the 52nd edition of the 'IFA' (Internationale Funkausstellung) trade fair in Berlin on August 30, 2012. IFA, Europe's largest consumer electronics and home appliances fair opens to the public from August 31 to September 5, 2012, with more than 1,400 exhibitors unveiling the latest touch-screen tablets, 3D televisions without special glasses and smaller, smarter and more interconnected devices to wow punters. AFP PHOTO / ODD ANDERSEN (Photo credit should read ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/GettyImages)
Xperia tablets are seen at the Sony booth during the 52nd edition of the 'IFA' (Internationale Funkausstellung) trade fair in Berlin on August 30, 2012. IFA, Europe's largest consumer electronics and home appliances fair opens to the public from August 31 to September 5, 2012, with more than 1,400 exhibitors unveiling the latest touch-screen tablets, 3D televisions without special glasses and smaller, smarter and more interconnected devices to wow punters. AFP PHOTO / ODD ANDERSEN (Photo credit should read ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/GettyImages)

TOKYO, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Sony Corp said it has halted sales of its Xperia tablet PCs, a month after its launch, after discovering gaps between the screen and the case that make some of the machines susceptible to water damage.

The problem with the tablet, which is supposed to be water resistant, is the result of a manufacturing flaw at the Chinese plant where it is fabricated, said Sony spokeswoman Noriko Shoji. Sony has not yet decided when it will resume sales, she added.

Sony began selling its latest Android tablet on Sept. 7 in the United States followed by launches in Japan, Europe and elsewhere. So far it has shipped around 100,000 of the devices. The company said it will fix any of the tablets sold and expects the cost of the recall to have no significant impact on earnings.

The latest tablet from Sony, which like its smartphone has been branded Xperia in a bid to unify its mobile devices under one name, joins a crowded market for tablets that is still dominated by Apple Inc's iPad. Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, with its rival Android machine, leads the pack of Apple challengers.

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