Xperia Z Ultra Short Review

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Andrewtst

Andrewtst

Senior Member
Aug 4, 2009
4,840
1,792
Johor
My Xperia Z Ultra short review. :)
  • Build Quality: Damn solid! obvious better than Z.
  • Screen Panel: The best I ever seen so far, no more viewing angle issue. Equal or even better than HTC One.
  • Loud Speaker: Slightly better than Z but still too soft.
  • Performance: Snapdragon 800 & Adreno 330 really is monster! wow! Awesome performance! Heavy 3D games had no issue playback smoothly even turn on the 4xAA at Developer options. Example games I test out include Real Racing & Despicable Me.
  • Interface: Currently same as Z one, it is old UI, not the new one as advertise during press. They is no X-Reality support yet, and also cannot open more than one Small Apps. The stylus input is kind of gimmick also for now, not as seen at press where can use everywhere.

9400408786_bc2f990d6d_c_d.jpg


9400408388_d3f9e43c57_c_d.jpg


Interface:
9403771649_663220c968_d.jpg
9406529890_7200b4e81c_d.jpg


9406529474_abe606672d_d.jpg
9406529254_1a6ee179e2_d.jpg


Benchmark:
9403772293_a82e10dcbc_d.jpg
9403772211_4022354a5c_d.jpg


9403771985_9c0f7e280d_d.jpg
9403771767_e1ecdc40b1_d.jpg


9403772479_f2574e8ce4_d.jpg
9406530252_93c92e7701_d.jpg


Outdoor snap, using Superior Auto:
9406087732_25ac21c63f_b_d.jpg


9403330759_99cb110204_b_d.jpg


9406088264_e5b11f8829_b_d.jpg


9403331501_2040b5539c_b_d.jpg


9406089014_e9148fe4e1_b_d.jpg


Indoor snap, either Superior Auto or SCN mode:
9406730982_901f88a6bb_b_d.jpg


9397727041_24dca35992_b_d.jpg


9406730568_64029c3055_b_d.jpg
 
Last edited:
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G

gunblazer

Senior Member
Nov 18, 2012
100
8
Thanks for the review!!! MY mouth is watering!

Would like to know your opinions on battery life as well ALSO is the speaker easily-covered with your hand as on the Z?
 
Andrewtst

Andrewtst

Senior Member
Aug 4, 2009
4,840
1,792
Johor
Andrewtst

Andrewtst

Senior Member
Aug 4, 2009
4,840
1,792
Johor
New Firmware 14.1.B.0.471 for Sony Xperia Z Ultra is out!

9404465439_d3cd47c433_z_d.jpg


  • Notice much smooth, my Antutu score also jump from 30k to 33k now.
  • Still old UI without X-Reality Support.
  • Camera quality seems much better.

Antutu score increase from 30k to 33k for me.
9404680747_3895d9b0b6_d.jpg
9404680615_0349c678a2_d.jpg



New Indoor test after firmware update to 14.1.B.0.471
9407364472_b2e1033a9d_b_d.jpg


9404607497_8170763e94_b_d.jpg


9404607301_1c395d19cc_b_d.jpg
 
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Andrewtst

Andrewtst

Senior Member
Aug 4, 2009
4,840
1,792
Johor
Current Firmware: 14.1.B.0.471 improvement/fixed:
  • Increase performance and much smoothness. My Antutu score increase from previous 30k to current 33k.
  • Better stylus input now! You can touch everywhere you want now with pencil and responsiveness.
  • Screen is touchable when your finger/palm resting at screen now! But not working with stylus-pencil.
  • Still old UI without X-Reality support yet.
 
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A

antisp1n

Senior Member
Aug 12, 2010
105
9
Andrewtst said:
Current Firmware: 14.1.B.0.471 improvement/fixed:
  • Increase performance and much smoothness. My Antutu score increase from previous 30k to current 33k.
  • Better stylus input now! You can touch everywhere you want now with pencil and responsiveness.
  • Screen is touchable when your finger/palm resting at screen now! But not working with stylus-pencil.
  • Still old UI without X-Reality support yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

You mean you can't use the pencil/stylus when your palm is on the screen?

Small apps introduced in the update? Or not yet?
 
baileyjr

baileyjr

Senior Member
Aug 21, 2012
1,368
283
Cardiff
Andrewtst said:
Current Firmware: 14.1.B.0.471 improvement/fixed:
  • Increase performance and much smoothness. My Antutu score increase from previous 30k to current 33k.
  • Better stylus input now! You can touch everywhere you want now with pencil and responsiveness.
  • Screen is touchable when your finger/palm resting at screen now! But not working with stylus-pencil.
  • Still old UI without X-Reality support yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

I'd be interested to know if the stylus support works through a screen protector. Do you plan on installing one?
 
D

deepu4puppy

Member
Aug 15, 2010
19
2
thanks..

hey thank man for the review..its really a mouth watering stuff..the camera even though only 8 mp without flash seems to be great..how is the general feel of the device..is it pocketable i mean shirt pocket or jean pocket..i dont care even if it pops just out of the pocket until its fitting in the pocket im fine with that..thats the small comprimise we have to make to carry around this sensational phone right??how is the touch responsive ness of the screen..how is the general ui performance ??is it smooth...have fun with the device and please do update the info..cheers mate..i got the z 1 month back still its looking brand new and still i m awestruck with the beauty of xperia z ..so cant sell that so early and go for z ultra ..but for sure in next few months..

---------- Post added at 01:54 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:42 PM ----------
Andrewtst said:
New Firmware 14.1.B.0.471 for Sony Xperia Z Ultra is out!

9404465439_d3cd47c433_z_d.jpg


  • Notice much smooth, my Antutu score also jump from 30k to 33k now.
  • Still old UI without X-Reality Support.
  • Camera quality seems much better.

Antutu score increase from 30k to 33k for me.
9404680747_3895d9b0b6_d.jpg
9404680615_0349c678a2_d.jpg



New Indoor test after firmware update to 14.1.B.0.471
9407364472_b2e1033a9d_b_d.jpg


9404607497_8170763e94_b_d.jpg


9404607301_1c395d19cc_b_d.jpg
Click to expand...
Click to collapse


wow ...33k on antutu is seriously sensational the fastest of the devices like s4 and htc one are not even close..thats awesome..
 
jack4uno

jack4uno

Member
Jul 31, 2013
38
0
Manila
Galaxy Note Edge
Essential Phone
Do you have any idea why you don't have the final version of the UI as shown at launch? does that make your unit a pre-release version or something not ready for sale yet?
I'm really curious as Xperia Z ultra is on sale in my area for USD 655 for the 3G model with similar UI as yours.
oh, and what region is Xperia Z ultra from?
 
Andrewtst

Andrewtst

Senior Member
Aug 4, 2009
4,840
1,792
Johor
deepu4puppy said:
hey thank man for the review..its really a mouth watering stuff..the camera even though only 8 mp without flash seems to be great..how is the general feel of the device..is it pocketable i mean shirt pocket or jean pocket..i dont care even if it pops just out of the pocket until its fitting in the pocket im fine with that..thats the small comprimise we have to make to carry around this sensational phone right??how is the touch responsive ness of the screen..how is the general ui performance ??is it smooth...have fun with the device and please do update the info..cheers mate..i got the z 1 month back still its looking brand new and still i m awestruck with the beauty of xperia z ..so cant sell that so early and go for z ultra ..but for sure in next few months..


---------- Post added at 01:54 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:42 PM ----------




wow ...33k on antutu is seriously sensational the fastest of the devices like s4 and htc one are not even close..thats awesome..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Performance is awesome! After updates is running fine now.
jack1192 said:
Do you have any idea why you don't have the final version of the UI as shown at launch? does that make your unit a pre-release version or something not ready for sale yet?
I'm really curious as Xperia Z ultra is on sale in my area for USD 655 for the 3G model with similar UI as yours.
oh, and what region is Xperia Z ultra from?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

All retail unit in whole world now still running at old UI, include wherever I seen unboxed from Hong Kong, Thailand and my country Malaysia. None is support X-Reality also, only came with Bravia Engine 2 now.
 
demonicangell™

demonicangell™

Senior Member
Aug 5, 2011
2,201
572
Bombay
nice !!!
but i was hoping that the widgets would cover the screen (walkman widget is short ).. i assume other sony widgets are not covering the entire length
 
L

lee480

Senior Member
Jun 24, 2012
1,528
1,262
14.1.B.1.414 and onwards will have the new UI and X-Reality display.

Sent from my LT28h using xda app-developers app
 
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  • 15
    Andrewtst
    Andrewtst
    My Xperia Z Ultra short review. :)
    • Build Quality: Damn solid! obvious better than Z.
    • Screen Panel: The best I ever seen so far, no more viewing angle issue. Equal or even better than HTC One.
    • Loud Speaker: Slightly better than Z but still too soft.
    • Performance: Snapdragon 800 & Adreno 330 really is monster! wow! Awesome performance! Heavy 3D games had no issue playback smoothly even turn on the 4xAA at Developer options. Example games I test out include Real Racing & Despicable Me.
    • Interface: Currently same as Z one, it is old UI, not the new one as advertise during press. They is no X-Reality support yet, and also cannot open more than one Small Apps. The stylus input is kind of gimmick also for now, not as seen at press where can use everywhere.

    9400408786_bc2f990d6d_c_d.jpg


    9400408388_d3f9e43c57_c_d.jpg


    Interface:
    9403771649_663220c968_d.jpg
    9406529890_7200b4e81c_d.jpg


    9406529474_abe606672d_d.jpg
    9406529254_1a6ee179e2_d.jpg


    Benchmark:
    9403772293_a82e10dcbc_d.jpg
    9403772211_4022354a5c_d.jpg


    9403771985_9c0f7e280d_d.jpg
    9403771767_e1ecdc40b1_d.jpg


    9403772479_f2574e8ce4_d.jpg
    9406530252_93c92e7701_d.jpg


    Outdoor snap, using Superior Auto:
    9406087732_25ac21c63f_b_d.jpg


    9403330759_99cb110204_b_d.jpg


    9406088264_e5b11f8829_b_d.jpg


    9403331501_2040b5539c_b_d.jpg


    9406089014_e9148fe4e1_b_d.jpg


    Indoor snap, either Superior Auto or SCN mode:
    9406730982_901f88a6bb_b_d.jpg


    9397727041_24dca35992_b_d.jpg


    9406730568_64029c3055_b_d.jpg
    View
    5
    angelofmusic
    angelofmusic
    View attachment 2189282
    GAMMA

    View attachment 2189283
    RGB Color Channel Balance (these should all be straight lines)

    View attachment 2189284
    CIE diagram with gamut and saturations

    View attachment 2189285
    Near Black (the 3 lines should be along the curve, you can see that there is no smooth gradient to black)

    View attachment 2189286
    Color Temperature (white point) Should be around 6500 Kelvin so its too blue

    View attachment 2189287
    (contrast ratio and brightness at 100%) And don't even get me started with this one. The HTC One contrast ratio is above 1000:1!!! WTF Sony! Seriously!

    These are all without Bravia 2 on. The Z Ultra display is at 100% brightness for these measurements. So this is the display's default behavior (unless they have added some extra processing to achieve this behavior), though with Bravia on the behavior did not change . The new X-Reality Engine (waiting for release) is post processing and can't change this calibration either (if this is indeed calibration and not processing). If anything, its just more processing added to what we see here. I will be talking about these in some depth on my channel.

    But looking at the gamma image, you can see that highlights and midtones are way too low in gamma and shadows are compressed (or dark too early, taking away all details in shadows). *****Everything should be along the gamma 2.2 line.*****

    Also there is an image that shows you proof that the contrast ratio is not good and this display is very bright.

    Now y'all have some proof while I continue with the video =) AND NO MY DISPLAY IS NOT DEFECTIVE. YOU CAN EXPECT TO SEE THIS WITH ALL OF THEM.
    View
    4
    Andrewtst
    Andrewtst
    Finally I am back hometown, having chances compare with Xperia ZL. :)

    Xperia ZL v/s Xperia Z Ultra - screen & viewing angle comparison

    9463186281_cdb0643a4d_b_d.jpg


    9465965116_29862cd4e9_b_d.jpg


    9465960468_f9a0518ae9_b_d.jpg
    View
    4
    Andrewtst
    Andrewtst
    Phone Size Comparison. :)

    9414490480_f82636b5bc_b_d.jpg


    9414337990_8e2fd7094c_b_d.jpg


    9414733694_8110297fce_b_d.jpg
    View
    3
    A
    AntiLazarus
    angelofmusic said:
    Dude, educate yourself. Go pick up a device and play with it in the conditions I'm talking about. You have no experience with this device. Seriously be quiet!

    Measurements don't lie! Colors are nice! Blacks are bad. There is no argument.?
    Click to expand...
    Click to collapse

    Yeah see, I'm even less inclined to believe you now that you're being petulant. No one in my area has the device, so I can't try it out at this point, or else I would.

    And measurements may not lie, but your eyes ARE a type of measurement. The contrast can NOT POSSIBLY be as bad as you say it is with the black levels this thing displays. Black levels are clearly on par with the HTC One (they may not be as good, but they are obviously in the ballpark, your eyes do not lie that much). In order for the contrast to be as bad as you say it is with the black levels it is, it would have to be an extremely dark screen, which it is obviously not. It is not possible for the screen to be as off as you say it is without anyone being able to detect it.

    Measurements may not lie, but people sometimes do. Even if you're telling the truth, we don't have any way of knowing whether you are competent to make the measurements, or if you have the proper equipment.
    View

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