Sony Xperia Z Ultra LG Android 4.4 contender planned

The Sony Xperia Z Ultra is a phablet-sized device that released in July. It has some impressive specs and a whopping 6.4-inch display and the phone has received plenty of praise since its launch. Now it appears that LG has plans for a contender to the Sony Xperia Z Ultra, and it will launch running Android 4.4 KitKat.

LG is developing its own rival to the Sony Xperia Z Ultra according to sources. The display is rumored to be the same 6.4-inches as the Xperia Z Ultra and will have the same resolution of 1920 x 1080. However pixel density of the LG version is said to be 418 ppi rather than the 342 ppi offered by the Xperia Z Ultra.

Other rumored inclusions for the LG phablet are 3GB of RAM, an 8-megapixel rear camera and it will launch running the upcoming new version of the Android operating system, 4.4 Kit Kat. We must point out that at this point none of this can be verified, and so we must treat it as speculation.

Nevertheless, considering the recent praise for the LG G2 smartphone, we feel many people would like to see this new rumored phablet. There are no details yet on a release date and not even a mention of the name of this LG device, but if the source is accurate we could be hearing something more official soon.

The popularity of larger phablet-sized devices seems to be increasing even more, with many notable handsets on the way such as the recently announced Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and the rumored HTC One Max. It looks as though there could be another notable edition on the way in time for the lucrative holiday season.

Are you interested in the idea of this rumored LG phablet running Android 4.4 KitKat? Maybe you’ve already decided on your next smartphone choice? Let us have your comments.

Source: AndroidSaS

*http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNGtizVHCWh_nSwgB03a5vzzQyR5cQ&url=http://www.phonesreview.co.uk/2013/09/16/sony-xperia-z-ultra-lg-android-4-4-contender-planned/

Sony Xperia Z1 Mini specs seemingly confirmed

It seems that Sony is looking to take a leaf out of Samsung’s book by releasing a whole host of new hardware as it looks to rapidly expand its smartphone range, and now the specs for the yet to be announced Sony Xperia Z1 Mini have been seemingly confirmed.

A few days ago an image of what was allegedly the Sony Xperia Z1 Mini appeared which followed rumours last month of such a device being in the works with the main thing being scaled down was the actual size of the device instead of the specs, which is unlike other mini versions of flagship handsets.

Now the image that you can see on this page has appeared that is allegedly of a document that confirms at least some of the specifications of the unannounced device. It seems to confirm that under the hood will be the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad core processor powering a 4.3-inch display.

There is no mention of the screen resolution but earlier rumours hinted at a 720p HD display compared to the Full HD display on the Xperia Z1, while other features are thought to include 2GB of RAM along with the same 20.7-megapixel rear facing camera with Sony G Lens that is found on the bigger handset.

Internal storage is tipped to be at only 8GB but microSD card support is rumoured to be a feature along with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean from launch, but we will have to wait for anything official to come out from Sony before we will know for sure.

Would you like to see this handset being released soon?

Source: CNMO via Google Translate.

*http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNFd8watAWEuGPDPC4pSdu0TlHexsw&url=http://www.phonesreview.co.uk/2013/09/15/sony-xperia-z1-mini-specs-seemingly-confirmed/

Sony Xperia Z1 successor Z2 already rumored

The impressive Sony Xperia Z1 smartphone was only officially introduced recently and will release shortly. However the Xperia Z1 successor the Z2 is already being rumored.

The Sony Xperia Z arrived earlier this year with its notable feature being dust and water-resistance. Following the Xperia Z we’ve also seen the arrival of the Xperia Z Ultra, and now the unveiling of the camera-centric smartphone, the Xperia Z1 (Honami).

Some specs have now been leaked for the Sony Xperia Z2 (C770X codenamed Avatar). It’s said to be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor, and have a 5.2-inch IGZO Triluminous display with 500 ppi, and 3GB of RAM.

Other unofficial specs include a 20.7-megapixel rear camera with 4K video capture, a 3200 mAh battery, and the Android 4.4 KitKat operating system. The same source of this leak suggests it will be shown at CES 2014.

If these leaked specs are accurate then a highlight of the Xperia Z2 will be the IGZO display. IGZO technology enables touchscreens to have higher sensitivity and eats up less power for high-resolution displays.

It’s rather early to be hearing leaked specs for the Sony Xperia Z2, so for now we need the proverbial pinch of salt. Nevertheless this is an interesting specs sheet and something that many people would like to see.

Do you think it’s credible that the Sony Xperia Z2 could have these specs? Maybe you’re just about to purchase the Xperia Z1 and want to concentrate on that for now? Your comments are always welcome.

Source: Esato Forums Via: TechKiddy

*http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNGRUNI1e7d552jvJi-njVxLnd_EqA&url=http://www.phonesreview.co.uk/2013/09/14/sony-xperia-z1-successor-z2-already-rumored/

also @ TechSpot: Sony Xperia Z Ultra Review

With no less than 30 devices in their Xperia smartphone range, Sony certainly doesnt shy away from releasing multitudes of Android devices. This years Xperia Z flagship is competing well against the heavyweights from Samsung, HTC and Nokia, while other phones such as the Xperia SP and Xperia E give consumers options in the lower reaches of the market. And lets not forget tablets like the Xperia Tablet Z, praised by many for its slick design and water resistance.

Sony Xperia Z Ultra – $679 (unlocked)

• 6.4-inch, 1920×1080 LCD display (344 PPI)


• Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 chipset


• 2.2 GHz quad-core CPU, Adreno 330 GPU, 2 GB RAM


• 16 GB internal storage, microSD slot


• 8 MP camera, Exmor RS sensor, f/2.4 lens, 1080p video


• IP55/58 water resistant


• 3,050 mAh, 11.6 Wh battery


• LTE, Wi-Fi ac/a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC


• Android 4.2 Jelly Bean


• 212 grams, 6.5mm thick

However, nothing Sony has released thus far can be likened to the Xperia Z Ultra.

For the first time, the Japanese company has released a phablet, one which truly straddles the line between high-end smartphones and small tablets. A gargantuan 6.4-inch display and powerful Snapdragon 800 processor headline a list of top-end specifications, in a body thats easily the largest, but also the slimmest that Ive ever seen.

The phone is not alone in the large-display market though, going up against a seasoned competitor in the Galaxy Note, with a new version launching in just a few weeks time.

Is the Z Ultra a worthy contender? Or is this device just simply too impractical for everyday usage?

The Sony Xperia Z Ultra unit used in this review was kindly provided by MobiCity. Check them out for the latest smartphones unlocked and off-contract.

Design

If I had to describe the Xperia Z Ultra in two words, it would be gorgeously massive. On the one hand, Sony has crafted an astoundingly beautiful smartphone, combining a slim design with premium materials. On the other, the device is ridiculously large, pushing the boundaries of what can be considered a phone, and making it somewhat hard to use.

But Ill start with what I like about the Ultra. The entire build of the phone is minimalist, slim and appealing, making it perhaps the best Sony design yet.

Left to right: Samsung Galaxy S4, HTC One, Sony Xperia Z Ultra, Nexus 7 (2013)

At just 6.5mm thick, the phone feels really nice in the hand, and even though its just a few millimeters slimmer than a phone like the Galaxy S4, it seems like theres a huge difference. Sony has used glass for both the front and the back of the phone, which improves the overall build quality, but can make it a considerable fingerprint magnet as well.

The model I received for review was deep black, and thanks to Sonys efforts in hiding elements such as sensors and speakers, the clean design looks undeniably classy and premium. The front speaker and microphone are kept to small lines at the top and bottom, while the main speaker is just another line on the bottom edge. Branding is also kept to a minimum, with a few Sony logos, NFC logo and Xperia logo scattered around the otherwise bare design.

Around the edges, the left side has a concealed micro-USB port at the top, and a dock connector around half way down. While the connector is magnetic, its strange that it wasnt made flush with the edge; instead you get a small ridge that can be uncomfortable while holding the phone normally. It also doesnt quite fit with the design: upon first taking the device out of the box, I thought the volume rocker was missing.

The right-hand side features the remaining buttons and ports, including the exposed 3.5mm headphone jack, the covered microSD and micro-SIM slots, the small power button and volume rocker. Despite the power button being reasonably small, its in the perfect spot, as it usually falls exactly where your fingers end up holding the device.

Despite the attractiveness associated with the slim, slate-like design, I am somewhat concerned about its strength. Sony claims the phone is ultra tough, but it still exhibits a small amount of flex, both lengthwise and diagonally, which strains the large glass panels on both sides. Unlike the rock-solid Xperia Z or HTC One, there is a possibility that the Z Ultra could snap or crack in the wrong circumstances, such as if you accidentally sat on it or bent it in your pockets. That said, Sonys choice to avoid considerable reinforcement has kept the device reasonably light for its size, which improves its portability.

While the strength of the phone is somewhat questionable, clumsy people will be glad to know the phone is water resistant up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes, and protected against low pressure water streams. Sony has coated and sealed the Xperia Z Ultra to achieve IP55 and IP58 ratings, which is part of the reason the device has flaps to cover all the ports except the 3.5mm headphone jack. Although the phone is not protected against saltwater, theoretically this IP rating means you could happily use it in a swimming pool if you so desire.

Unfortunately though, its not possible to operate the capacitive touchscreen while the phone is submerged, or even partially submerged, in water. This limits the usefulness of the water resistance, as you cant use the camera underwater, or any feature on the phone for that matter. The only real advantage to the IP55/58 rating is protection against accidental water spills, or from dropping the phone in your bath, for example. This makes the feature more a small advantage than a key selling point.

The biggest annoyance about this phone is undoubtedly its size: its impractical, unnecessary and sometimes downright frustrating to use. The Ultra is restricted most of the time to two-handed use, because good luck managing the massive keyboard or notification pane with one hand. Often the phone is awkward to hold and manage due to its large width, and the 5mm bezel on either side of the mammoth display doesnt help in any way. It takes practice to manage the phone in one hand without fumbling it, and thats not a good thing.

Even more concerning is the phones vertical height of 180mm, with 17mm of bezel above and below the display. The unnecessarily large vertical bezel presents loads of issues when the device is in your pants pockets, and for the first time ever reviewing a smartphone, in day to day activities I was physically restricted carrying the Z Ultra on me. Even wearing jeans with pockets deep enough to fit the entire device, I was hindered putting shoes on, restricted when climbing stairs and uncomfortable when sitting down. It gets worse if you dont have pants that can accommodate the entire device a situation which is reasonably likely because itll stick out and cause all sorts of annoyances.

So Im stuck in an unusual situation with the Xperia Z Ultra. I love the slim, minimalist design and premium construction, but I also hate how impractical it can be in many circumstances. If only Sony had kept the display to 6-inches or lower, because if they did, we might have had a real winner on our hands.

Display: A Full 6.4-Inches

The biggest selling point of the Xperia Z Ultra is its massive, 6.4-inch 1080p display, which is perfect for content consumption. Sony hasnt specified exactly what technology is used in this display, but my instinct tells me its a larger version of their e-IPS TFT LCD panel used on the Xperia Z. e-IPS is essentially a cost-friendly version of full IPS panels, with reduced viewing angles but largely the same color output and clarity as youd expect from a higher-end display. At 1920 x 1080, this display comes in with a pixel density of 344 pixels-per-inch (PPI).

Sony likes to throw around a lot of marketing terms such as Triluminous Display with X-Reality, OptiContrast Panel and Mobile Bravia Engine 2 to describe the Z Ultras display. In actual fact these just refer to a range of the displays basic features, and truthfully Sony doesnt need to use jargon like this because the display is very good.

Even though youre getting a full 113cm of screen real-estate (compared to 69cm with the Galaxy S4s 5-inch display), the high resolution still makes the panel very crisp. It may just be 334 PPI, which is low compared to the 450+ were seeing on the latest high-end devices, but text looks amazing, and you can fit a lot of it on the Z Ultras display while still keeping it readable. Images also look fantastic, again thanks to the combination of high resolution and gargantuan size.

Often the UI elements that are rendered dont do the display justice, because Ive discovered that a range of applications even those provided on the phone dont deliver 1080p assets. Its an unfortunate situation when you have such a beautifully big display, and its only really the first time Ive noticed a lack of 1080p elements, but its something that will hopefully resolve itself over time.

Far and away the best use of the Xperia Z Ultras display is for movies, images and gaming. There is simply no other device that can deliver a high-quality video experience, while still (almost) fitting in your pants pockets. It even surprised me how well the Bravia Engine 2 (a software display optimizer for images and videos) works, making colors pop just that little bit more than usual. And lets not forget gaming, which is nothing short of amazing on this sizeable, high-density panel.

Color reproduction from the e-IPS isnt as good as what Ive seen on the Galaxy S4s Super AMOLED, and especially the phenomenal HTC Ones Super LCD 3, but its still very respectable. Contrast is very good, as are the white levels, although like the Xperia Z, the viewing angles are lacking. Youll be wanting to view this phone directly head-on, otherwise you might experience some slight washing out to grey, but luckily this isnt a huge issue.

I was impressed by the Z Ultra displays brightness and outdoor legibility, which is no doubt improved by Sonys OptiContrast panel that essentially removes the gaps between glass and display. The maximum brightness is adequate for viewing the display in full sunlight, and I found the auto-brightness to adequately select the appropriate brightness based on ambient light. Naturally its best to keep the brightness level to a minimum, because high backlight power can significantly drain the battery thanks to this huge display; something Ill explore more in the battery life section of this review.

Aside from the display itself, the Xperia Z Ultra comes with an interesting touchscreen feature that allows you to use the phones display with essentially any conducting material, including pencils. Although the phone doesnt come with a stylus or a stylus slot in the body (which some may class as a downside), a pencil actually makes a really good substitute, providing surprisingly fast and accurate input. I also found the digitizer to work well with third-party styluses (excluding plastic ones designed for resistive touchscreens) and essentially anything metal, although ballpoint pens tend to not work due to the insulating nature of pen ink.

If youre worried about scratching the display with a metal stylus substitute or pencil, dont be, because the Gorilla Glass 3 is extremely tough and resistant to marking. While using a pencil on the Z Ultra, some graphite will deposit on the glass, then wiping the screen like you do when cleaning off fingerprints removes all traces of the pencils contact. The same goes for pen ink, if you manage to find a pen that works well with the touchscreen.

The ability to use essentially any stylus or pencil with the Xperia Z Ultra is great because you can bring along what you find most comfortable in everyday usage. However, comparing this solution directly to the Samsung Galaxy Note II reveals some downsides. While a pencil is generally more comfortable to use than the Galaxy Notes small stylus, it lacks the additional button that can come in handy for certain tasks (like cropped screen captures). There is also no hover mode with the Z Ultra that gives you a guide to the position of the stylus above the display, which is useful while sketching diagrams.

Overall though I was impressed with the Xperia Z Ultras display, which offers significant screen real estate thanks to a panel which is reasonably high quality. I was surprised at the smoothness of using a pencil on the screen for note-taking and navigation, and auto-brightness is a standout in working really well to manage brightness levels. Its just a little unfortunate that the screen size is such a hindrance in some situations, when its so good for things like movie watching and mobile gaming.

*http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNFDTTXzBgvZS3Ra-VbTqIBato5AxA&url=http://www.techspot.com/review/711-sony-xperia-z-ultra/

Sony Xperia Z1 review

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Product Sony Xperia Z1

Website Sony Mobile

Specifications 5in 1080×1920 441ppi multi-touch Reality display, quad-core 2.2GHz Qualcomm MSM8974 processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB internal storage with microSD expansion up to 64GB, 20.7MP rear camera, 2.2MP front camera, GSM/3G/4G, 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi, DLNA, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean mobile operating system, IP57 certified water and dust resistant, 144x74x8.5mm, 169g

Price TBC, around £580 SIM-free

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LAUNCHED AT IFA 2013 in Berlin just last week, the Sony Xperia Z1 is arguably the firm’s most impressively specified smartphone to date, featuring a 5in full HD 1080p touchscreen, a quad-core 2.2GHz processor and Google’s Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean mobile operating system.

Like its predecessor the Xperia Z – which was launched not too long ago at CES in January – Sony’s latest smartphone is also water resistant, meaning it can be dunked in up to 1.5 metres of water for up to 30 minutes.

The Xperia Z1′s standout feature is perhaps its 20.7MP rear-facing camera, although unlike the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and despite rumours saying otherwise, it is not capable of shooting Ultra HD 4K video. However, Sony has got one up on its rivals with the unveiling of two snap-on lenses, the QX10 and the QX100, transforming the handset – and other smartphones – into a full-on camera device.

Design
The Xperia Z1 looks similar to its predecessor, the Xperia Z, echoing the design of Sony’s high-end TV sets. Like the Xperia Z, we’d have to say that the Xperia Z1 one of the most stylish looking smartphones on the market today. Its glossy glass-coated casing, although prone to picking up fingerprint smudges and especially scratches, looks and feels to be of premium quality, thanks to its casing that’s constructed from a single piece of aluminium with a gunmetal finish. The resulting design looks smooth, elegant and robust.

Working our way around the Xperia Z1 clockwise from the top right corner, there’s a microSIM slot, a power button, a camera shutter button, a speaker, a MicroSD card slot, a microUSB charge port and a headphone jack.

Although it will be available in black, white and purple when it launches, our Xperia Z1 review model, although it was standard black, still revealed a unique design, especially when compared to the iPhone 5 and the Samsung Galaxy S4, which probably would fail to turn heads in the street – unlike the Xperia Z1. Have a look at our hands-on video to see the Xperia Z1 close up.

Although it looks good, the Sony Xperia Z1 isn’t particularly comfortable to hold. Boasting measurements of 144x74x8.5mm, it’s not a huge device, but we found that its angular casing made it hard to grip and also made it hard to reach certain icons on the screen when selecting options from the bottom to the top. This is due to the Xperia Z1′s width, which means that your thumb has to extend further to select on-screen prompts at the top or bottom of the display.

The Xperia Z1 is also IP57 certified. Unlike many of its rivals in the market, the Xperia Z1 is resistant against dust and water. Sony claims that this certification also means that the Xperia Z1 is scratch-proof. However, we can’t say that this is the case. From just being in our pockets for a short while, taking it in and out, the device had acquired a few surface scratches. For those who buy the Xperia Z1, we’d suggest applying the protective screen covers, which are included, as soon as possible.

Next: Build, display and performance.

*http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNHWnQeM4kpySdnOnkV7tOyaAlwYUw&url=http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/review/2293595/sony-xperia-z1-review

LG G2 vs Sony Xperia Z1 in early assessment

Two of the most recent high-end Android smartphones to be officially announced are the LG G2 and the Sony Xperia Z1. These are hugely notable devices and close competition to each other. Today we want to take a look at the LG G2 vs. Sony Xperia Z1, in an early assessment.

The LG G2 release is rolling out now, while the Sony Xperia Z1 (aka Honami) will be available some time later this month. They both have top-notch specs and features, and it may be difficult for potential purchasers to choose between them. The image below this story shows the LG G2 on the right and Sony Xperia Z1 to the left.

The Xperia Z1 is a camera-centric smartphone likely to appeal to keen smartphone photographers. However, the camera set-up of the LG G2 is also extremely impressive, so this is not the only factor to consider.

As the Xperia Z1 has not long been made official there hasn’t been much chance to take a good look at the device. However the 4-miinute YouTube video that we have embedded below this story was taken at the recent IFA Berlin event, and it gives an early look at the two devices together.

The video starts with a look at the design of the phones before discussing the displays, processors, and other specs. The camera abilities of each are briefly examined before the comparison moves on to the software.

What becomes clear is that these two handsets both have plenty to offer and they will be battling it out for the same sector of the smartphone market. If you want to see more details of both we have previously posted many articles on specs and more. Simply head to the LG G2 or Sony Xperia Z1 posts at the links.

If you check out the video below, we’d really appreciate your comments about the LG G2 vs. Sony Xperia Z1. Is either of these phones likely to be your next device purchase? If so, which one do you favor, and why?

*http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNHvM8zquQ0EvqohsiySJg-VlX6Mxw&url=http://www.phonesreview.co.uk/2013/09/10/lg-g2-vs-sony-xperia-z1-in-early-assessment/

Sony Xperia Z Ultra review

“Maybe Dell was ahead of its time.”

No, that’s not a typo, we did mean to write Dell. When we first saw the Sony Xperia Z Ultra, we couldn’t help but think back to the Dell Streak, a 5-inch device announced back in 2010 as a “tablet that can make calls.” While calling 5-inch devices ‘tablets’ seems ridiculous now, in the pre-Galaxy Note era, people had a different mindset about display sizes that were acceptable on a device that’s designed to sit in your pocket. The Dell Streak was almost universally panned, and while the poor execution probably had as much to do with it, as the size of the display itself, it’s fair to say that the Dell Streak would probably get a more favourable reception now, and in fact, may even be called ‘not big enough’ by some!

Yes, that’s how radically the landscape has changed in the last three years, and it is in this world that the Sony Xperia Z Ultra makes its debut. While we are personally no fans of ultra large-screen phones, we realise a market exists for such devices, even if the likes of Xperia Z Ultra and Huawei Ascend Mate are intent on stretching the acceptable limits.

So, has the Sony Xperia Z Ultra gone too far, or does it tick the right boxes? Let’s find out.

Design/ Build

At first glance, the Sony Xperia Z Ultra looks like a slab of premium chocolate – it sports the same rectangular design, and is about the same thickness, and the Black colour variant looks especially biteable. Pick up the phone and try getting your fingers around the width of its display and you realise that the phone just about fits in your hand, if you have big hands that is. If you have a tiny frame, forget about trying to get your fingers around the sides of this monster. Don’t even think about trying to operate the phone with just hand, unless you have it resting on a surface.

The Xperia Z Ultra is a big phone, which stretches the definition of the phrase big phone. At 179mm, or an incredible 7.05-inches long, even those with large hands will be unable to fit the length of the phone in one hand. If you plan to, say, watch a movie on the phone in landscape mode, forget about snuggling this behemoth in one hand – putting both your hands to use is a must.

Once you get past the sheer size of the phone, you realise that the Xperia Z Ultra is one solidly-built device. The phone has a plastic body built around a metallic frame, which lends it an air of solidity, and a premium feel when holding the device. At just 6.50mm thin, Xperia Z Ultra is sleek, and indeed the ‘slimmest full-HD smartphone’, as Sony loves to claim. In a phone that’s super-sized on everything else, this comes as a very welcome change.

Carrying the Sony Xperia Z Ultra is a challenge of its own. Some may be able to fit it in the front pocket of their trousers or jeans, but will have to take it out if they want to sit without being constantly poked. Keeping it in the back pocket is an option, but the Ultra is sure to stick its neck out – and beware of accidentally sitting down with the phone still in your pocket!

The left edge of the Xperia Z Ultra has the dock connector in the middle and the Micro-USB port towards the top. Since the Xperia Z Ultra is a waterproof phone (a claim we were not tempted to test), the Micro-USB port and the microSD and Micro-SIM slots (present on the right edge) are protected by flaps. The right edge also houses the power button (in the middle) and, right below it, the volume rocker. The power button is a circular, metallic button also seen on the Sony Xperia Z and the Sony Xperia Z tablet. While the design makes the power button stand out visually, it also greatly reduces the target area of the button, and we would’ve preferred a larger button made of plastic.

Display

The Sony Xperia Z Ultra comes with a 6.44-inch full-HD display with a resolution of 1080×1920 pixels. While the pixel density takes a hit due to the humongous screen size, at around 340ppi, most won’t notice the difference in the quality of text and images, though the display is definitely not as sharp as the one seen in, say, the HTC One.

Outdoor visibility of the Xperia Z Ultra is about average, and at times we were definitely wishing we could take the brightness a notch higher, even when at full brightness. Viewing angles are good.

Sony has put the extra real estate on the Xperia Z Ultra to good use, with a strip at the bottom housing the three on-screen Back, Home and App Switcher buttons, and still leaving more than enough space for content. One side-effect of the Xperia Z Ultra’s extra-large display is that at times the content looks odd when scaled up. For example, in the official Twitter app the four columns appear extra-wide.

While the Sony Xperia Z Ultra does not bundle a stylus, the screen will recognise taps from a stylus, or even a pen or a pencil, if you prefer to use your device in that manner.

Camera

The camera on the Sony Xperia Z Ultra is a bit of a mixed bag. The images look good on the phone’s display or when you are viewing images at the default zoom level. However, zoom in to 100 percent and you’ll notice that the objects lack detail that even our two-year old iPhone 4S was able to capture. This problem gets accentuated when clicking pictures in macro mode.

However, the low-light and indoors performance of the camera is better than what we’ve seen in most phones, though the Xperia Z Ultra won’t have the leaders of the pack in the category, the iPhone 5 and Nokia Lumia 925, looking over their figurative shoulders.

The Ultra comes with a comprehensive camera app, with presets and settings for pretty much every conceivable situation. The phone takes good, fast panorama photos and comes with an unlimited burst mode. The phone does not come with a flash, which is a rather glaring omission.

The Xperia Z Ultra captures good quality video, with the ability to zoom in and out, and capture high-resolution stills as the video is being recorded. The microphone is pretty sensitive, and able to capture distant sounds while recording outdoors.

Software/ User interface

The Sony Xperia Z Ultra runs Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean and we reviewed our unit after installing the recent firmware update carrying build number 14.1.B.0.471.

The Ultra is quite heavy on skinning, customising stock apps and adding a number of pre-installed apps. Like other devices in the Xperia series, you have WALKMAN (for Music), Album, and Movies for media consumption, all with additional functionality and UI touches from Sony. Other pre-installed apps on the Xperia Z Ultra include Socialife (A Flipboard-like app from Sony), TrackID (Sony’s answer to Shazam), Wisepilot for XPERIA (GPS-based navigation app), File Commander (a file explorer), Voice Dialer, Word Search, Converter, X4 Video Player (lets you play four videos simultaneously), McAfee Security, Foneclay (live wallpapers), PicsArt (photo editor), Smart Connect (perform actions when certain accessories are connected), X-Alert for XPERIA (Sony’s anti-theft solution), Notes, and Drag&Share.

The list of bundled apps doesn’t end there, with popular apps like Facebook, Chrome, YouTube, WhatsApp, Box, and LinkedIn thrown-in for good measure.

If all that isn’t enough, Sony has included a bunch of other apps on the Xperia Z Ultra that offer you access to yet more apps and content. Sony Music gives you free unlimited streaming and downloads from Sony’s music catalog of Bollywood, international and classical music for a period of 6 months. Sony Select and appXtra showcase popular Android apps, while Xperia Privilege promises special offers for Xperia owners. One of the more useful ones is GL Games, which showcases games by popular developer Gameloft, with popular titles like Asphalt 7: Heat (usually $0.99 or Rs. 55) offered for free to Xperia Z Ultra owners.

The Indian edition of the Sony Xperia Z Ultra also comes with apps like Sony LIV (free streaming of popular TV programmes from Sony, SAB and MAX), Flipkart eBooks (free eBooks worth Rs. 2,000 bundled), BIGFLIX (with free unlimited streaming of Bollywood and regional Movies for one month), and BSE/NSE Stock Watch.

That’s a lot of pre-installed apps, and while some of them can be removed, the others will stay with you for good, should you have any use for them or not. We wish Sony had instead pre-installed a single app that offered users the opportunity to download apps it wishes to offer, letting users choose which apps they want.

As mentioned earlier, Sony Xperia Z Ultra runs Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, which brings features like lock-screen widgets, enhanced notifications, improved Google Now and more. While Android 4.2 may seem like a disappointment to some, it is hardly a surprise given that the phone was unveiled a day after Google announced Android 4.3, and no phones other than Google’s own Nexus devices and Google Play editions have received the Android 4.3 update. Sony has promised that the Android 4.3 update is coming before end of this year, but Android 4.4 might be out by then. That, of course, is no reflection on Sony, and merely symptomatic of the problems that plague the Android ecosystem.

Performance/ Battery life

Sony Xperia Z Ultra is powered by a 2.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor alongside 2GB of RAM. It’s safe to say it is the fastest device we’ve come across, handling everything that we threw at it with great aplomb. From multi-tasking and switching between apps, to casual as well as heavy duty games, everything was butter smooth.

Browsing the Web is a great experience thanks to the large screen and the power underneath, which means even heavy duty websites render almost instantly. The phone’s also great for watching videos and the Ultra plays full-HD video natively. If you do a lot of media consumption, be mindful of the fact that you’ll need to use both your hands to hold the phone in landscape mode. Thankfully, the phone doesn’t feel too heavy despite weighing 212 grams, since the weight is evenly distributed across its large frame.

We did have a couple of other gripes about our Xperia Z Ultra unit. The call quality was average at best and we felt that the loudspeaker wasn’t loud enough during calls as well as while watching a movie or listening to music.

Battery life is another area where the Xperia Z Ultra just about does the job and it should last a full working day with moderate to heavy use. The giant display on the device is a bit of a battery guzzler and power users will likely find themselves reaching for the charger before the day is over.

Verdict

The Sony Xperia Z Ultra is a difficult phone to summarise. It gets a lot of things right – it’s a scorcher in terms of performance and the big, full-HD display makes for a great viewing experience. However, it’s too bulky for most people, and the large display means the battery life takes a hit. The camera performance could’ve been better too.

At Rs. 46,990, the phone isn’t cheap, but that’s no surprise given its top-of-the-line specs and performance. Almost everyone we met was excited about the Xperia Z Ultra when they first heard about it or saw it in person. Ten minutes with the phone, though, changed the opinion of 9 out of 10 people and they were calling it ‘impractical’ in no time. However, the tenth person immediately vowed to get one for himself.

That, in a nutshell, is the Sony Xperia Z Ultra – too bulky for most, perfect for a minority who believe big is indeed beautiful.

Sony Xperia Z Ultra in pictures

Price: Rs. 46,990

Pros

• Brilliant performance


• Good display

Cons

* Battery life could be better

* Clicked pictures lack detail, no flash

* Too bulky for most

Ratings (out of 5)

• Design: 4


• Display: 4


• Camera: 3.5


• Performance: 4.5


• Software: 4


• Battery Life: 3


• Value for Money: 3.5


• Overall: 4

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First Sony Xperia Z1 cases spotted

One of the devices announced at IFA Berlin was the Sony Xperia Z1, previously known as the Sony Honami. This camera-centric smartphone is likely to be a big hit for Sony, and it’s due to release later this month in regions worldwide. Now some first cases have been spotted for the Sony Xperia Z1.

These various Sony Xperia Z1 cases were on display at IFA 2013, offering a wide range of styles and colors for prospective customers of the phone. Some of the cases that were spotted were from Swiss accessory maker Krussel, who also produced some iPhone 5C cases that previously came to our attention.

The leather folio cases for the Xperia Z1 were deemed particularly stylish, while possibly the best shock protection cases seen were polycarbonate ones made by Incipio. For those of you who like something rather different, Japanese brand Hacoa has come up with a wooden case for the Xperia Z1.

We’ve shown a few images here, and you can see more at Phone Arena, the source of this information. If you’re considering purchasing the Xperia Z1 and want a rundown on specs please see our previous article here. Yesterday we also gave some details on UK pricing of the phone with a free offer.

As soon as we hear pricing and availability of these cases we’ll be sure to let you know more. We imagine that most of them will arrive when the Sony Xperia Z1 releases.

Are you tempted to purchase the Sony Xperia Z1? If so, which of these case styles appeals to you most? Let us have your comments.

*http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNHJ73Adn8FBodp99_BWoJ8D1LdBYA&url=http://www.phonesreview.co.uk/2013/09/09/first-sony-xperia-z1-cases-spotted/

Sony Xperia Z1 in UK with free QX10 lens

The Sony Xperia Z1 that was previously dubbed the Honami, was recently made official. This camera-centric smartphone is certain to attract plenty of buyers worldwide as it combines high-end specs with a stylish design. If you’re in the UK we have news of a great Sony Xperia Z1 offer.

Recently Sony opened pre-orders for the device in the UK and Europe and the UK price is listed at £599. However, if you pre-order the Xperia Z1 through Carphone Warehouse there’s a great deal available.

This British retailer is selling the Sony Xperia Z1 with the added bonus of a free Sony QX10 camera lens, which on its own is worth £180. We recently gave confirmed details of the new QX10 and QX100 lens cameras, which will transform the usual smartphone camera offerings, and will make a great addition to the Xperia Z1.

The Sony Xperia Z1 and QX10 Carphone Warehouse package is available across all of the major carriers in the UK, with many different plans offered, and it’s not only for new customers on a pay monthly plan but also upgraders.

One of the plans offers the Z1 and QX10 together on Vodafone for a down payment of £69 followed by payments of £33 monthly. Not only will buyers at Carphone Warehouse receive the free QX10, they will also receive £65 worth of content including movies, a movie access pass, as well as free music streaming for two months.

The promotion begins on September 16th and ends on December 31st, and if you want to find out more including all the small print head to Carphone Warehouse here.

Will you be taking advantage of this very decent offer for the Sony Xperia Z1 with free QX10 detachable camera lens? We always appreciate your comments so do send them to us.

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Sony Xperia Z1

With all the top smartphones in the world boasting their quad-core processors and Full HD displays, it’s harder and harder for an individual to really stand out. With the Xperia Z, Sony made a brave attempt at differentiating by waterproofing the phone so you can spill beer on it without it giving up the ghost.

The Xperia Z1 keeps its liquid-repelling credentials, along with sexy glass design and Full HD screen. Its quad-core processor has been supercharged to 2.2GHz, and its camera now boasts an impressive 20.7 megapixels.

There’s no word yet on exactly how much Sony will demand for this high-spec beast, but it’s safe to assume that it’ll be roughly on a par with the Xperia Z. Don’t expect to pick it up for any less than £500 when it goes on sale in the UK in the coming few weeks.

Design

There’s no question that the Z1 is the successor to the Xperia Z. With the all-glass front and back, the family resemblance is striking. Throw in the sleek Xperia branding on the back, the camera lens in the top-left corner, and the rather large power button on the right-hand edge and you’d be forgiven for mistaking the two.

There are differences, though. Chief among them is the aluminium band that now wraps around the edge. It’s milled from a single piece of metal that Sony reckons makes it stronger. It certainly makes it more comfortable to hold. The previous model had a bit of a sharp edge to it, but the rounded metal on the Z1 feels much nicer, not to mention more luxurious.

It has roughly similar dimensions to the Z, but it’s marginally thicker. Although both the Z1 and Samsung Galaxy S4 have 5-inch displays, the Z1 is slightly longer and wider than Samsung’s phone. You still won’t struggle to cram it into your Levis, but if you want a compact phone to wrap your hands around, you might want to look elsewhere.

Like the Xperia Z, the Z1 is completely waterproof. You can submerge it in water to a depth of 1.5 metres for up to 30 minutes. If you’ve destroyed a phone by dropping it in the toilet — or by making calls in the rain — the Z1 might be the phone for you. It keeps water out by sealing its ports with smaller flaps. While the Xperia Z placed a flap over the headphone jack, the Z1 has simply made the jack itself waterproof, meaning you don’t need to undo it every time you want to plug your headphones in.

(Credit:

Andrew Hoyle/CNET)

Display

At 5 inches on the diameter, the screen stays the same physical size as it was on the Xperia Z. The Full HD resolution remains the same as well, although Sony reckons the display has seen an update.

At a hands-on event, it boasted that the phone now uses the same Bravia technology found in its high-end TVs that boast rich colours, deep contrast, and pin-sharp clarity. I wasn’t able to bring up CNET’s usual set of screen test images and videos, but it certainly looked pretty good. The older Z had a great screen, though, so the Z1 has a lot to do if it wants to beat its predecessor.

Sony Xperia Z1 shows off waterproof body (pictures)

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Processor and software

Stuffed inside that glass and metal body is Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor, clocked at an astonishing 2.2GHz. The Galaxy S4 currently sits proudly around the top of the phone power league, but that has a slightly slower 1.9GHz chip.

I wasn’t able to run our usual set of brutal tests to see exactly how the two measure up, but it’s safe to say that the Z1 is going to be a powerful beast. To help keep it chugging along, Sony has whacked in a capacious 3,000mAh battery.

It’s running on Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. That’s not the latest version of Google’s mobile software — that’s 4.3 Jelly Bean — but with Sony’s cosmetic changes, you probably won’t tell much difference. It has the same basic functionality of Android with multiple home screens, but you’re able to easily change the order of your app icons in the menu to quickly show most-used apps or custom order.

The image and video galleries have been replaced, too, and Sony has lumped in its Music and Video Unlimited streaming apps. While these are paid-for services, you will get 60 days of music streaming for free as well six free “blockbuster” movies, including “Elysium,” as soon as it becomes available as a digital download.

Camera

Probably the most exciting update to the Z1 is the camera, which now boasts a whopping 20.7 megapixels. That’s a significant jump from the 13 megapixels of its predecessor, but Sony says that there’s more than just a megapixel bump going on.

The sensor size, at 1/2.3-inch, is bigger than what you’d find on your normal smartphone and is similar to the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom’s (1/2.33-inch). In comparison, the iPhone 5 uses a small 1/3.2-inch sensor, and the HTC One’s UltraPixel sensor is slightly larger at 1/3-inch. The Nokia Lumia 1020 has the biggest sensor at 1/1.5-inch for smartphones running a modern OS.

The Z1 also uses a wide angle 27mm f/2.0 G Lens, and Sony claims that its Bionz image processor has been tweaked to minimize noise in low-light environments.

As can be seen in the sample shots below, the performance of the prototype unit for outdoor shots seemed average at best, though low-light performance was definitely much better compared with those from the Samsung Galaxy S4. The large pictures captured with the 20.7-megapixel sensor does mean you can capture a lot more details, though the average picture size (at 3.6MB) will be a concern for anyone who wants to take a lot of pictures. Color performance was also pretty accurate.

Indoor low-light test shot

(Credit:

Aloysius Low/CNET)

Outdoor test shot

(Credit:

Aloysius Low/CNET)

Macro test shot

(Credit:

Aloysius Low/CNET)

We didn’t test Superior Auto mode because the software wasn’t yet finalized.

There’s new camera software, as well. You can load new apps directly in the camera, letting you perform neat tricks without having to switch between different apps. There are four onboard as standard — including a burst-mode that lets you select the best shot from 61 photos and an app that lets you live-stream video to your Facebook page. Sony says it’s working with developers to bring more apps. There’s also the usual array of scene modes as well as sweep panorama and HDR modes.

Outlook

With its Full HD screen and waterproof design, Sony’s Xperia Z was already a great phone, particularly for those of you who are quite clumsy or live on boats. The addition of the aluminium band makes the Z1 both look and feel like a more luxurious product, while the beefy processor and supercharged camera should make it a top performer in all respects.

CNET’s Aloysius Low contributed to this report.

*http://reviews.cnet.com/smartphones/sony-xperia-z1/4505-6452_7-35827086.html