Design
Style “OmniBalance” inherited from Sony Xperia Z and Tablet Z, the design of the phablet Z Ultra is even more impressive than his two predecessors. Sony still uses rectangular design, almost four rounded corners very little to Z Ultra. Beauty and elegance on this handset is exalted so much by 2 sides are made of glass and aluminum also edges extremely impressive thickness of 6.5 mm. Owning the shell with high-quality materials and should definitely hold the camera in his hand feels really sturdy.
Of course, with the giant size, the ability to use the Sony Xperia Z Ultra with one hand is not feasible especially the girls with little hand. But if you have determined to buy and use the Xperia Z Ultra, you must accept this, loud and heavy machinery. Xperia Z Ultra likely will be appropriate when placed in a bag rather than in the pocket. The size of up to 179.4 x 92.2 x 6.5 mm and weight up to 212 g.
But Sony still can collapse the size of the Z Ultra again by actually part of the area above and below the screen is to assume too much. If you look at the Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 will see the South Korean electronics companies are trying to reduce the size of the device length. However, to recognize that the design of the Sony still more beautiful Samsung when we put 2 super phablet together.
Unfortunately there is a downside from the Xperia Z has yet to be overcome. That is both the front and back of the Z Ultra are more like “a magnet sucking fingerprints”. After a period of use, very dirty glass surface.
Screen
Sony Xperia Z Ultra with giant screen size 6.44 inches for 344 ppi pixel density. Although lower pixel density than other phones Full HD, but Sony promises X-Reality Triluminos technology, everything will be showing a very lively way. Triluminos help increase the width of color X-Reality will also enhance the contrast, saturation, noise reduction and improve the sharpness of the image.
However, the real test, the level of improvement only stop at a little less than the Xperia Z but Z Ultra’s screen is not reached the “hegemony” as ads that Sony introduced. Colors still has the “washout” a little, but when viewing a photo / video is quite flattering eye, like Super AMOLED screen.
Display
The Sony Xperia Z Ultra comes with this huge 6.4-inch TFT LCD display, a 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution, and yeah it works out to around 344 ppi. Honestly , the screen is kinda one of the main reasons people pick the device up, it gives this immersive kind of viewing, good for media playback, gaming too, and general web surfing.
Because it’s so large you get a lot of working space, so multitasking feels more relaxed, users can keep a couple apps or documents in view at the same time. With Full HD, text looks sharp, images stay clear, so reading on the move is really straightforward. Also the panel can show vivid colors and pretty deep blacks, mainly due to Sony’s Triluminos and X-Reality setups, which help with better color handling and contrast.
A standout part is that the display can accept input not only through standard capacitive touch, but also from a pencil or another conductive object. It’s not quite as exact as a true dedicated stylus, but it’s still convenient, it lets you jot quick notes or doodle on the screen without needing extra accessories, or anything more than what you already have.
The display performance outdoors is pretty commendable, it has enough brightness to stay readable even in direct sunlight. But the TFT LCD tech doesn’t really match the contrast and viewing angles you get from OLED displays, which were starting to show up more often in flagship phones back then. Still, somehow the Xperia Z Ultra’s display manages to hold its ground, giving a great visual experience that fits well across lots of different tasks.
There is one kind of downside though, and it’s not small: the really big screen tends to use more power, so battery life can take a hit, and that part will be covered later in the review. Also, the sheer size can feel a bit overwhelming, especially if you are used to smaller handsets. On the other hand, if someone really cares about a massive screen and strong multimedia features, then the Xperia Z Ultra’s display becomes sort of a main selling point.
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Performance
Equipped Snapdragon 800 processor, the Xperia Z Ultra can handle all basic tasks or multitasking without sacrificing smoothness. Homescreen manipulate almost no feeling stopped although we deliberately put a lot of widgets. Try out some benchmark tests, the Xperia Z Ultra reaches 16828 point 3DMark and 11906 point Ice Storm.
However, the battery life of the Xperia Z Ultra is not appreciated compared with smartphone batteries the “great” today. Machine can talk about 12 hours and play video continuously for 5.5 hours. With average use intensity, then the Z Ultra can still meet one day fully.
Function
Xperia Z Ultra has a weakness compared to the Xperia Z is located in the rear camera. Instead of 13 dots camera as its predecessor, Ultra Z owns only 8 MP camera Exmor-RS is capable of recording 1080p video, but does not support LED flash. Perhaps Sony does not want to use high-resolution cameras because it can get thicker.
One of the most notable features on the Xperia Z Ultra is that the machine can use the included stylus, not just stylus that even pencil, pen are also active.
Camera
The Sony Xperia Z Ultra comes with an 8-megapixel rear camera, and it uses an Exmor RS sensor. it also includes autofocus and HDR options. Now, sure , it doesn’t carry the same massive megapixel number as some rivals, but the thing is, it can still make really solid photos, mainly when the lighting is decent.
When there’s good lighting, the Xperia Z Ultra shoots sharp pictures, with colors that look true-to-life, plus a nice level of detail. The Exmor RS sensor does its job by cutting down on noise and lifting overall image quality, especially when you’re outdoors. It’s also pretty capable for macro shots, you know close-up scenes where small textures matter, and it manages those fine close-in details with surprising clarity.
A standout part is the HDR mode, which helps juggle exposure when the scene is awkward , like when you’re photographing something with a bright background behind it. HDR photos from the Z Ultra tend to have a wider dynamic range, so you get better balance, with more visible texture both in the shadows and the highlights.
That said, low-light performance isn’t exactly its strongest side. Even with the Exmor RS sensor, night shots can turn out a bit grainy, and some fine detail tends to disappear. And since there’s no LED flash, low-light shooting becomes even more of a challenge , it’s harder to get clean, well-defined images in darker environments.
The Xperia Z Ultra also does 1080p video recording at 30 frames per second, which is pretty nice. The video quality looks good, with smooth motion, and colors that stay accurate. Plus, that big screen really acts like a handy viewfinder, so it’s easier to line up shots and then rewatch what you recorded.
As for the front-facing camera, it’s got a 2-megapixel sensor, kinda modest but it still works fine for video calls and selfies. The image result is okay, though you can tell the front camera is more of a side thing rather than the main attraction, or so it feels.
So overall, the camera setup on the Sony Xperia Z Ultra is decent, but not really “wow”. In bright light it performs well, and there are handy extras like HDR. However, once the lighting drops it noticeably struggles, and because there’s no LED flash, it ends up being less flexible than you’d hope for different scenes.
Advantage:
– Powerful Configuration
– Luxurious design
– Ultra-slim, is resistant to water and dust
– Support using pencil, metal pen
Disadvantages:
– The easy fingerprints
– Camera average quality
Tech Reviewer & Product Analyst
Định Bia has spent over 10 years testing consumer electronics with a focus on smart technology. He work as a product advisor at Biareview where he helped customers find the right devices for their needs. He personally tests every product featured on this site using a consistent evaluation framework covering quality, durability, and value. All reviews are based on experience, not influenced by the manufacturer.