Sony is staying strong in the mobile market. Introducing the Sony Xperia Z Ultra, Sony’s first “phablet” (hybrid between a smartphone and a tablet) matches up to devices such as the Samsung GALAXY Note devices or ASUS FonePad. Sony Xperia Z Ultra is currently the world’s slimmest & largest wide screen Full HD display smartphone in the market and it comes with a hefty price tag at S$1,038 without contract.
A “phablet” may be too huge for many of us. So we decided to put our writer, Jessica, to task to find out what she thinks about this LARGE device from a woman’s perspective.
VERDICT: A Woman’s Perspective
Ultra Slim & Ultra Light
I am not all into holding a giant phone to my head, but I am in love with this massive Sony Xperia Z Ultra. Despite being a huge 6.4 inches wide, it has a gorgeous minimalistic design. All the hardware – speakers, buttons, USB port, memory and sim card slots are all “hidden” on the sides of the phone. The glass on the front and back is joined by solid metal pabels seamlessly, instantly screaming slick. What I do like most is that, this phone is 6.5mm thick and weighs only 212 grams; an ultra slim and ultra light Z Ultra that is portable and easy to hold in one hand.
Ultra Tough
Sony has also designed the Z Ultra to be ultra tough. It is waterproof up to 1.5 metres for 30 minutes and is dust-resistant, thanks to the durable tempered glass on both sides. While it doesn’t make it fingerprint proof (an enemy to the beauty of smartphones), it does mean you can take it out for a day at the beach or the pool without fear. Or, watch a nice movie as you soak in the bath to end a tired and stressful day. What’s more, the stong glass fibre polyamide skeleton frame definitely brings it up a notch in durability. Together with the shatter-proof and scratch resistant glass display, there’s no need for panic attacks when one’s butter fingers act up!
Ultra Display
The 1080 x 1920 pixels triluminous HD display is based on the latest screen technology developed by Sony’s BRAVIA TV engineers. With its pixel density of 342 pixels per inch and X-reality engine, you get to view high resolution pictures and videos, and even play games with graphics that are razor sharp and bright. Bright enough to even be viewed comfortably in the ridiculously glaring sunlight of Singapore, without the hassle of fumbling to the settings screen thanks to the auto-brightness capability. It truly has high quality display and is definitely the Z Ultra’s biggest selling point.
It has a capacitive touchscreen which is sensitive to the lightest touch, made possible by Sony’s design of integrating the sensor on the lens. The easy-toggle keyboard has both right- and left-handed support, for easy typing on the phone while your other hand is busy keeping you from falling on a rocky bus ride.
But it takes a lot more than that to stand firm in this crazy market. Sony did so by bringing scratch-resistance to another level. Get a pen, or a pencil, and start “writing” away on the Z Ultra. The pen ink or graphite deposit can be wiped right off the screen and the screen still looks as good as new. Though, some pens may not work as well due to the type of ink used. Regardless, it makes it easy to write a quick note without rummaging through your bag to find that one stylus.
Ultra Fast
Sony integrated the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor to give the user power and speed without compromising on battery life. Loading and opening apps, and swiping through was incredibly swift. Most importantly, along with its 6.4″ display and the updated Adreno 330 GPU, it makes this phone an amazing powerhouse when it comes to mobile gaming.
Ultra Shot?
Sony Xperia Z Ultra comes with an 8 megapixel camera with Exmor RS for the mobile. While it is advertised to optimise imagery with HDR for photos and videos, I was not able to see that in actual use. Photos turned out grainy and, the lack of an actual shutter button, made it difficult to use underwater. However, it does come with a variety of modes and features such as panorama and takes photos in an instant; decent enough for everyday use.
Jessica’s Verdict
Overall, I do love how Sony has managed to integrate design and technology in the Sony Xperia Z Ultra. While the camera was lackluster compared to other models out in the market, it still is a phone with many great features. And the waterproof feature does makes it stand out from the competition while it is still slim and sleek. I would recommend it as a tablet replacement that you can easily pop it into your party handbag.
