Created: 18 November 2022 · Last edited: 9 October 2026

Sharp returned to the dtab series in 2022 with the dtab d-51C, a 10.1-inch tablet made for Docomo. Unlike some earlier dtab models, which came from Huawei and Lenovo, this one was made by Sharp itself. It also brought 5G connectivity to the series, making it a more practical companion outside the home. Almost three years later, Sharp released the very same machine as a SIM-free device under the name SHARP SH-T04C. Apparently, changing the model number was enough to make it new again.

But first, let's look at what the d-51C brought to the table – and how much of an improvement it was over Sharp's earlier SH-T01L, released in September 2020. Two years between generations might not sound like much, but you'd expect at least a few substantial improvements. You'd be wrong.

Both the d-51C and the SH-T04C use a 10.1-inch TFT LCD with a WUXGA resolution of 1920 × 1200 pixels. Stereo speakers make the large display suitable for watching films and other video content, although HDR support is absent. The SH-T01L has the same screen size and resolution, so there is no display upgrade to celebrate here. No IGZO, either.

The d-51C's main hardware upgrade is its Snapdragon 695 5G mobile platform, replacing the Snapdragon 665 in the SH-T01L. The newer processor has eight CPU cores running at up to 2.2 GHz and 1.8 GHz, and brings 5G connectivity. The SH-T01L's processor was no slouch for its time, but the addition of 5G is the most significant change between the two generations. The SH-T04C uses exactly the same Snapdragon 695 5G, of course. Three years later!

Memory and storage? No change whatsoever. All three tablets have 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal storage, with support for microSDXC cards. Apparently, two years weren't enough to justify giving the d-51C more memory – and the three years between it and the SH-T04C didn't help, either.

The cameras are just as familiar. The d-51C and SH-T04C have an 8-megapixel CMOS camera on both the front and rear. The rear camera has an f/2.0 aperture and autofocus, while the front camera also has an f/2.0 lens. These specifications are essentially unchanged from the SH-T01L. Neither camera is likely to replace a dedicated camera, but a 10.1-inch tablet probably isn't being bought for its photographic abilities in the first place.

Mobile connectivity is where the d-51C makes its strongest case against the older SH-T01L. It supports 5G Sub6, with maximum download speeds of 1.9 Gbps and upload speeds of 218 Mbps. LTE is also supported, at up to 400 Mbps downstream and 75 Mbps upstream. Wi-Fi works with the 802.11a/b/g/n/ac standards, while Bluetooth 5.1 handles shorter-range wireless connections. The SH-T04C carries over the same connectivity features, so there is no further leap forward there.

The battery capacity increases from 6500 mAh in the SH-T01L to 6680 mAh in the d-51C and SH-T04C. That's an improvement of less than 3% — hardly the sort of change that will transform anyone's daily routine. Charging and data transfer are handled through a USB Type-C connector, and fingerprint authentication provides a convenient way to secure the device.

Sharp also made sure the tablet could survive more than life on the sofa. The d-51C and SH-T04C are waterproof to IPX5/IPX8 standards and dust-proof to IP6X. But that's no different from the SH-T01L. They're even designed to be used in the bath, because apparently watching something on a 10.1-inch screen wasn't sufficiently decadent already.

A folding stand is included in the box. It can be rotated and its angle adjusted, allowing the tablet to be propped up for watching video, reading or simply being used as a large secondary screen without having to balance it against whatever happens to be nearby.

The dtab d-51C and SH-T04C measure 246 × 170 × 8.3 mm and weigh 481 grams. The SH-T01L, by comparison, measures 246 × 170 × 8.2 mm and weighs 491 grams. So the newer tablet is a tenth of a millimetre thicker but ten grams lighter. These almost look like typos.

The dtab d-51C launched with Android 12, with two OS upgrades promised by Sharp. The SH-T04C arrives with Android 14, but Sharp will not offer OS upgrades for it. That makes them equal, LOL! The SH-T01L originally shipped with Android 10 and was eligible for upgrades, eventually reaching Android 12.

In short, the dtab d-51C was a fairly modest update to the SH-T01L, bringing a newer processor, 5G and a slightly larger battery while leaving the display, memory, storage and cameras alone. Then, three years later, Sharp brought the same hardware back as the SH-T04C, this time with Android 14 and a SIM-free identity. If you were hoping that the extra wait would bring a more substantial hardware upgrade, well... at least the model number has changed.