Sony announce the Xperia Z Ultra: 6.4-inch 1080p display, 2.2GHz Snapdragon 800, 2GB of RAM and LTE, coming Q3

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Sony have just announced the Xperia Z Ultra which is pushing the size limits of smartphones as we know it. The new device will sport a massive 6.44-inch full HD display featuring Sony’s Triluminos technology. Inside we have Qualcomms new Snapdragon 800 chipset with 2.2GHz Quad-core CPU with 2GB of RAM. Connectivity side of things is a full slate with obvious Bluetooth, WiFI, AGPS, NFC, HSDPA and finally LTE. The battery will be a decent sized 3000mAh. So will Sony be taking over the large screened device market with the Xperia Z Ultra?

The design obviously stems from the Xperia Z but also houses a few changes with it now being only 6.5mm thick and weighing 212g. While it’s on the heavier side of things compared to the Xperia Z, Sony are pushing the fact that the Xperia Z Ultra is the thinnest large screen device. It also packs dust and water resistant features like the  Xperia Z, although somewhat improved.

The camera is an 8MP with HDR photos and video, but sadly lacks a flash this time around, which is a rather odd move from Sony. The front facing camera is a straight up 2MP with 1080p video support.

The display also features the ability to use a pencil, stylus or the tip of a pen for note taking and hand writing abilities. Availability is set for sometime in Q3 with September being the rumoured launch for the UK, but that depends on your specific network for actual launch details. Sony Netherlands have stated pricing will be €719 for an unlocked/sim free versions, however, a subsided version from a network on contract will obviously be cheaper. It will be available in Black, White and Purple. Check out the press release and gallery below for more info/specs and shots of the device.

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The new Xperia™ Z Ultra: The world’s slimmest and largest Full HD smartphone display*

  • 6.4” Full HD TRILUMINOS Display for mobile powered by X-Reality™ for mobile engine for the ultimate big screen entertainment experience
  • Ultra slim, waterproof** and dust-resistant (IP55/IP58) durable design
  • Qualcomm® Snapdragon 800 processor with 2.2 GHz quad-core CPUs and 4G LTE for fast performance
  • Write and sketch with any pencil and selected stylus or pen
  • Full accessory ecosystem for premium entertainment and one-touch connectivity
  • Battery STAMINA Mode for outstanding battery life

25th June 2013, Mobile Asia Expo, Shanghai – Sony Mobile Communications (“Sony Mobile”) today introduces the next revolution in premium large-screen Android smartphone entertainment. The new Xperia Z Ultra is waterproof**, ultra-slim with a lightweight design so you can enjoy it anytime, anywhere.  It’s the first smartphone ever to incorporate a Full HD TRILUMINOS™ Display for mobile powered by Sony’s latest X-Reality™ for mobile picture engine to deliver the most immersive viewing experience imaginable. Additionally, the Xperia Z Ultra will also feature the fully integrated Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 800 processor with 2.2 GHz quad-core CPUs, 4GLTE and HD voice to provide a seamless connected entertainment experience, industry-leading battery performance and amazing speed.

“The Xperia Z Ultra is the most exciting revolution in large-screen smartphone entertainment devices with both the slimmest and largest Full HD smartphone display* in the world that is second to none.” said Calum MacDougall, Director of Xperia Marketing at Sony Mobile Communications. “We’re already bringing the best of Sony technology and design across a range of premium smartphones and tablets, and now we are bringing this same premium offering to the large-screen smartphone segment, setting a new standard for others to follow.”

 

The world’s largest Full HD smartphone display*

Xperia Z Ultra features a 6.4” touchscreen Full HD display with Sony’s unique TRILUMINOS® Display for mobile, creating a wider palette of rich natural colours thanks to Sony’s BRAVIA TV expertise. The breakthrough technology includes X-Reality™ for mobile – Sony’s intelligent super resolution display technology which analyzes each image and reproduces lacking pixels to optimize quality for the sharpest videos. It analyses elements depending on the scene and adjusts them based on pattern, outline and colour composition. It also strengthens subtle patterns and accurately portrays their detailed feel, as well as reinforcing bold outlines. The large Full HD display has been optimised to experience at least 60%*** more of the screen than most other smartphones.

 

The world’s slimmest Full HD smartphone*

Xperia Z Ultra is supremely slim and lightweight with a beautifully crafted 6.5mm body and weighing just 212 grams for ultimate portability. Sony craftsmanship in design and attention to detail comes to the fore with clean lines and premium materials – the front and back are made of tempered glass, creating a seamless surface with the OptiContrast™ panel housed in an innovative solid metal frame which looks stunning from any angle. It features the same acclaimed OmniBalance design as Xperia Z and Tablet Z. The Xperia Z Ultra is available in a choice of black, white or purple colour finishes.

 

The only waterproof Full HD smartphone**

Xperia Z Ultra is both elegant and durable. With an impressive rating of IP55 and IP58, this smartphone isn’t only resistant to dust, but is waterproof** too – giving you the freedom to enjoy it anywhere. You can even film in Full HD underwater, taking your large-screen smartphone experience to a new level. The camera features “Exmor RS for mobile”, HDR for both photos and film, and Superior Auto mode automatically activates HDR and noise reduction when needed, so you’ll get stunning imagery even in challenging light conditions.

 

Ultimate entertainment experience

The Xperia Z Ultra is uniquely positioned to offer the ultimate big screen phone entertainment experience for watching movies, playing games, reading books and browsing the web.

 

Sony’s “WALKMAN”, Album and Movies media applications enable discovery of online and offline content through a single access point with new ways to enjoy and share that content.

 

The “WALKMAN” application leverages Sony’s audio engine and Facebook integration for sharing and discovering new music and is unique in that it provides seamlessly integrated access to all your downloaded music as well as access to a global library of over 20 million songs2 from Sony’s cloud-based subscription music service, Music Unlimited3.

 

The Movies application brings new intuitive ways to discover, manage and play movie content, together with easy access to an extensive library of blockbuster movies and the latest TV episodes from the Video Unlimited2 service.

 

The Album application provides seamless integration with the PlayMemories Online2 service, letting you access all your photos and albums from within the Album app instantly and easily, wherever you are. You can even set an automatic upload of your photos to the PlayMemories Online service to access and enjoy from any your favourite Sony devices.

 

The Sony Reader app2 provides seamless Reader store2 access so you can download and enjoy the latest bestsellers – it even lets you sync purchased books in popular formats and continue reading from same page.

 

Xperia Z Ultra will include an exclusive free entertainment content offer, including a free trial of the Music Unlimited2 service (subject to availability).

 

Ultimate performance with the world’s fastest smartphone processor****

The Xperia Z Ultra features the world’s fastest smartphone processor**** – the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor with HD voice, that together with Sony´s audio Sony’s ClearAudio+ mode and Xloud loudness enhancement, delivers not just exceptional speed and performance, but also unsurpassed voice and audio quality.

 

Battery STAMINA Mode significantly improves the standby time of your smartphone by four times or more1 as it recognises when you’re not using your display and automatically turns off the functions you don’t need, while keeping the notifications you want. As soon as you press the power button to wake up your screen, everything is up and running again.

 

Built for business

The Xperia Z Ultra is the ideal business partner thanks to the super responsive screen with handwriting recognition which is compatible with any pencil and selected stylus or pen (capacitive stylus or metal pen with tip diameter over 1mm). You can even write notes or sketches during calls so you’ll always be ready capture your ideas as they happen. The easy-toggle keyboard makes it ideal for one-handed input and multi-tasking, with small apps to help you improve productivity so you don’t lose time browsing between windows.

 

The robust security architecture safeguards both your corporate and personal data, with support for multiple accounts that are quick and simple to set up. Further business oriented applications will be made available in future as software updates, ensuring you get the best smartphone experience – whether for work or play.

 

Ultra connectivity

With one-touch functions you can instantly and easily share music, photos and videos from your smartphone to a wide range of NFC-enabled Sony devices, including speakers, SmartWatch, wireless headsets and TVs. There are several new and innovative accessories joining the range of popular connected devices.

 

The SBH52 is a dynamic Smart Bluetooth™ Handset that provides easy hands-free call handling with a single press, while leaving your smartphone conveniently in your bag. The OLED display conveniently lets you browse your call log, view text messages, and see who’s calling you. Use it as a quality stereo music headset to listen to your tracks or to the built-in standalone FM radio with RDS. Pairing and connecting is done simply by touching it to your Xperia Z Ultra or other NFC-enabled device. And it’s sleek, minimal design is splash-proof, meaning you can now use it anywhere, in any weather.

 

The latest generation of SmartWatch, the SmartWatch 2 SW2, helps you keep track of everything without taking your smartphone out of your pocket or bag. The SmartWatch 2 is a truly multifunctional digital watch and phone remote that lets you receive notifications, control your music, and connect with one-touch NFC to your Bluetooth™ headset for easy call handling. The water-resistant design makes it more versatile to use than ever and can be personalised with any standard watch strap. Use it as a standalone watch or with your smartphone. There are over 200 apps available for our first generation and with an open API we expect new applications will be developed quickly and easily for SmartWatch 2.

 

The Magnetic Charging Dock DK30 has an innovative magnetic pin that lets you to place your Xperia Z Ultra snugly in the dock using one hand, either with or without the phone cover on. While your phone is charging, it stands at a comfortable viewing angle easily allowing you to keep watching your favourite movies even while charging.

 

Xperia Z Ultra features

  • 6.4” Full HD TRILUMINOS™ Display for mobile powered by X-Reality™ for mobile engine for the ultimate viewing experience
  • Ultra slim, waterproof** and dust resistant (IP55/IP58) durable design
  • Qualcom Snapdragon™ 800 processor with 2.2 GHz quad-core CPUs and 4G LTE for fast performance
  • Write and sketch with any pencil and selected stylus or pen (capacitive stylus or metal pen with tip diameter over 1mm)
  • 8 megapixel camera with “Exmor RS for mobile” sensor and HDR for videos and photos
  • Full accessory ecosystem for premium entertainment and connectivity
  • Battery STAMINA Mode for outstanding battery life

 

The Xperia Z Ultra will launch globally from Q3 2013 (exact timing of availability will vary by market).

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[accordion title=”Full Specifications” id=”2″]

 

Xperia Z Ultra specifications

Colours BlackWhitePurple
Facts Size 179.4 x 92.2 x 6.5 mm
Weight 212 grams
Operating System Google™ Android™ 4.2 (Jelly Bean)
Processor Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 800 processor with 2.2 GHz quad-core CPUs
Camera 8 megapixel camera16x digital zoomAuto focusContinue burst modeHDR for both picture/movie

Face detection

Front-facing camera (2 MP 1080p)

Geotagging

HD video recording (1080p)

Image stabiliser

Object tracking

Picture Effect

Quick Launch

Scene recognition

Self-timer

Send to web

Smile shutter™

Sony “Exmor RS for mobile”

Image sensor

Superior Auto

Sweep Panorama

Touch capture

Touch focus

White balance

Music 3D Surround Sound (VPT)Album artBluetooth™ stereo (A2DP)ClearAudio+Clear bass

Clear Phase™

Clear stereo

Dynamic normalizer

Music tones (MP3/AAC)

Music Unlimited

PlayNow™ service*

SensMe™

TrackID™ music recognition*

“WALKMAN” application

xLoud™ Experience

Internet BookmarksGoogle Chrome™Google Play™Google™ search*Google Voice™ Search*

Google Maps™ for Mobile with

Street view and Latitude™*

NeoReader™ barcode scanner*

Pan & zoom

Communication  Call listFacebook™ application*Google Talk™ application*Noise suppressionPolyphonic ringtones

Speakerphone

Twitter™ application*

Messaging  ConversationsEmailGoogle Mail™*Handwriting recognitionInstant messaging

Multimedia messaging (MMS)

Predictive text input

Sound recorder

Text messaging (SMS)

Voice input

Design  Auto rotationFace UnlockGesture inputIPX5/8 (Water-resistant) & IP5X (Dust-proof)On-screen QWERTY keyboard

Input with any pencil and selected stylus or pen (capacitive stylus or metal pen with tip diameter over 1mm)

Sensor-on-lens

Battery STAMINA Mode

Screenshot capturing

Throw

Sony X-Reality™ for mobile engine

Touch screen

Wallpaper

Entertainment     3D gamesMedia browserMotion gamingPlayMemoriesPlayStation® Certification pending

Radio (FM radio with RDS)

Sony Reader app

SensMe™ slideshow

Sony Entertainment Network*

TV launcher

Video streaming

Video Unlimited

YouTube™*

Organiser  Airplane modeAlarm clockCalculatorCalendarContacts

Document readers

eCompass™

Notes

Setup guide

Stopwatch

Tasks

Timer

Connectivity  3.5 mm audio jack (CTIA)aGPS*Bluetooth™ 4.0 wireless technologyDLNA Certified®Media Transfer Protocol support

Micro USB support

Native USB tethering

Media Go™*

NFC

PC Companion

Play Anywhere

Screen mirroring

Smart Connect

Synchronisation via Facebook™

Synchronisation via SyncML™

Synchronisation via Google™

Synchronisation with computer

Synchronisation via Microsoft®

Exchange ActiveSync®

USB High speed 2.0 support

USB mass storage

Xperia Link™

Wi-Fi®

Wi-Fi® Hotspot functionality

Display   6.44 inches1920x1080 pixels16,777,216 colour TFTTRILUMINOS™ display for mobileTouch panel cover glass with Super Hard Coat ASF
Memory Internal phone storage 16 GB (up to 11 GB user-accessible memory)**
Expansion slot microSD™ card, up to 64 GB (SDXC supported)
Networks UMTS HSPA+ 900 (Band VIII), 2100 (Band I) MHz, 850 (Band V), 1900 (Band II), 1700 (Band IV)GSM GPRS/EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz
Battery life*** Battery (embedded) 3000 mAh
Talk time GSM Up to 11 hours
Standby time GSM Up to 550 hours
Talk time UMTS Up to 14 hours
Standby time UMTS Up to 530 hours
Standby time LTE Up to 510 hours
Music listening time Up to 120 hours (world’s longest audio playback)
Video playback time Up to 5.5 hours
In the kit Xperia™ Z Ultra, charger, micro USB cable for charging, synchronisation and file transfer, and user documentation

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Craig O'Sullivan

Creator of Geektech.ie Passionate about Technology and always looking for that next cool gadget or app

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