Announced today at an intimate press gathering at the Blvgari Hotel in London, the Xperia Z Ultra – or the ZU as it’s also known – is home to a 6.4-inch full HD ‘Triluminous’ display featuring Sony’s latest ‘X-Reality’ video processing technology that fixes and replaces missing pixels in the picture on the fly to offer a silky smooth viewing experience.
This is made better by the screen’s ability to recognise inputs from stylus or even a pen or pencil, making it a direct challenger to Samsung’s hugely successful Galaxy Note range.
Powering the Z Ultra is Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor clocked at 2.2GHz, which numerous benchmark tests have already proven to be faster than any smartphone currently in the market.
At the back of the ZU sits an eight-megapixel Exmor RS camera with HDR support for both photos and videos. This is teamed with a front-facing two-megapixel camera for video calling in HD.
On the connectivity front, there’s also NFC support with one-touch functions for instant connecting to other NFC-enabled devices such as speakers or televisions. Also on board is a magnetic charging port that will allow the device to be charged with a compatible charging dock or cradle without needing a special back cover.
Elsewhere, the ZU packs a 3,00mAh battery, along with a ‘Stamina’ mode, which Sony claims will allow the device to last at least two days of regular use on a full charge.
All this and more are crammed into an ultra-slim profile that measures just 6.5mm thin and weighs a none-to-shabby 212 grams, making it supremely easy to carry despite its immense size.
Better yet, just like the Xperia Z, the Z Ultra is also dust and water proof –certified IP55 and IP58 – and even features a waterproof 3.5mm headset jack.
Commenting on the launch, Ernest Doku, mobiles expert at uSwitch.com, said: “The Z Ultra's premium looks and slick design could win over quite a few consumers, but the allimportant network price points will dictate whether Sony's comeback can continue unabated.
“Delivering the sizable 'phablet' form factor favoured by Samsung, the 6.4-inch screen of the Z Ultra certainly caters to the 'all-in-one' desires of those looking for a powerful and complete tablet experience, without compromising on the traditional calls and messaging that a smartphone provides."
The Xperia Z Ultra will be available in midnight black, snow white and purple colourways. As an incentive for early adopters, Sony’s throwing in £21 worth of downloadable content (music, movies and games) from its range of entertainment services.
The Xperia Z Ultra will be available globally from Q3 2013. Pricing is still under wraps but as soon as we learn more, we’ll be sure to bring you the gen. So stay tuned!
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