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Im in the market for a new phone.
Currently own a Xperia Z and a Nexus 7 (2013) combo. Cant decide whether to go for the Ultra or Z1.
Any ultra owners wished they went for the Z1 or are you happy with the ultra?
Happy with XZ ultra, I like the screen size good for gaming and watching movies on the go and having a phone at the same time.
Sent from my C6833 using xda app-developers app
I don't know much about the Z1 (i havent bothered researching about it).. all i noticed is that it has a higher res camera and the rest is pretty much the same in the real wolrd...
I don't care much about a camera that is greater than 8mp.. and i am more inclined to a big screen phablet..
So XZU it is.. i'm just saving up on some cash right now to buy the LTE version.. hopefully I can complete it before end of month..
Typed along the gumline
The Z1 is as you mentioned above like a ZU in a smaller package, and the camera? Im not impressed at all..buy a camerahouse and some lenses if you do photography. And ZU costs only 75 cents more than the Z1..that's a hell of a lot more screen for that price!
I'm very happy with giant screen of ZU. I don't that I'll buy another device with smaller screen.
Better camera is a good plus but does not worth to change ZU.
I also love this very thin design.
Sent from my C6802 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
I have been a Z Ultra owner for 5 weeks and i also own an Xperia Z and a Nexus 7 2012 edition.
i would buy the Z Ultra, hands down no question. Why?
First of all, my Xperia Z and its 5 inch screen feels too small now, like tiny!! Crazy right, its 5 inches! haha.
On top of this, the Z Ultra is super fast and lag free, it makes my Nexus 7 feel like a huge step back when i use it.
Basically it combines all the best things from a tablet and a phone and puts them in to one amazing package. So yeah, buy the Ultra and do not look back, you will not regret it
1 last thing, it would appear from what i have seen that the Z1 has a worse screen than the Z Ultra. Looks to wash out more easily similar to the original Xperia Z.
ScottishSwan said:
I have been a Z Ultra owner for 5 weeks and i also own an Xperia Z and a Nexus 7 2012 edition.
i would buy the Z Ultra, hands down no question. Why?
First of all, my Xperia Z and its 5 inch screen feels too small now, like tiny!! Crazy right, its 5 inches! haha.
On top of this, the Z Ultra is super fast and lag free, it makes my Nexus 7 feel like a huge step back when i use it.
Basically it combines all the best things from a tablet and a phone and puts them in to one amazing package. So yeah, buy the Ultra and do not look back, you will not regret it
1 last thing, it would appear from what i have seen that the Z1 has a worse screen than the Z Ultra. Looks to wash out more easily similar to the original Xperia Z.
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Didn't realise the Z1s screen was worse than the Ultras. If thats the case it is an ultra for me. I don't care about the camera function on a phone.
Do you guys feel odd when you answer a call from the Ultra? This is my biggest concern although I will definitely buy the SBH52 when released to go with the ultra.
Ukbondraider said:
Didn't realise the Z1s screen was worse than the Ultras. If thats the case it is an ultra for me. I don't care about the camera function on a phone.
Do you guys feel odd when you answer a call from the Ultra? This is my biggest concern although I will definitely buy the SBH52 when released to go with the ultra.
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Eventually no, just put the phone on the side of your face and forget that it's bigger than average. It's nowhere as silly as sidetalking on nokia ngage (hmm old times).
Already have the SBH50 (preorder bonus) and it is nice to have, though putting my xzu inside a bag with only the bluetooth headset readily available is a very rare scenario for me. I keep my zu in pocket all the time.. Now I'm thinking whether its worth it to upgrade to SBH52...
Sent from my C6802 using xda app-developers app
Personally, im leaning towards the z1.
Mainly due to the camera flash, as is really quite important to me.
The speaker is quite impotent to me to, so I'm hoping the z1 is better than zu.
I am still waiting to see the z1 zu and GN3 for myself in the shop before making any decisions.
Zu all the way. Nothing can beat the screen and yeah a 5inch screen is just way too small
Sent from my C6802 using Tapatalk 4
I'm well aware of the specs and I have been wanting to get a Z ultra for quite some time but I have waited until now.
Hands down, I like the bigger screen on the Z Ultra and the price of it makes it even more enticing. Where as the Z2 has faster/newer internals(CPU, etc.), better camera, and a flash(I'm so annoyed by the ZU not having a flash! I used the led flash as a flashlight all the time), but at a more expensive price.
What's your guys' take on it? Waiting is kind of out of the question(I heard about the Z3X which sounds like my next phone after this one... I don't like paying premiums for new releases)... I prefer something stable and working decently out of the box(I know, this is xda).
Key points:
Z Ultra:
+Price is lower
+Bigger screen
-slower
-worse camera, no flash
Z2:
+Faster/updated internals
+better camera
-costs more
Also, I heard there was a decent note taking app from Sony for the Z Ultra, where you could use a stylus and take notes(sort of like the Samsung Galaxy Note series), is that app available for the Z2 as well(anyone happen to know?)?
Thanks in advance, I appreciate any input. What's your take on it? I think I could go either way, I hear about lag on both units(I'm sure rooting can help, but I might keep it simple for now and use it out of the box for rooting/modding).
I happens to have a Z2 here (it is not mine but I got the responsibility to configure it) and all I can say is that it is a great device BUT wouldn't dream about replacing my Ultra. My Ultra is very smooth (CandyKat at the moment with GreatDevs V1 and OC to 2.46 GHz) and the only benefit I can see with the Z2 is more or less the camera when I make the comparison.
I am not talking down the Z2 when I say this but the Ultra offer a great package with a screen that make it a tablet replacement. The Z2 on the other hand is a great device for a person that has a Z today (which I also have) and I would recommend it warmly... if there wasn't an Ultra in the house (or rather two).
Since I read a lot and browse the Internet and so forth, the big screen of the Ultra wins me over - hands down.
camera camera camera. if you want to take even one photo then z2. i own a ultra as a backup to my note 4. the camera on the ultra is really just sad. but everything else is great.
pushcush1983 said:
camera camera camera. if you want to take even one photo then z2. i own a ultra as a backup to my note 4. the camera on the ultra is really just sad. but everything else is great.
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The camera is poor in poor light but otherwise is not that bad other than over sharpining of the jpg
a buddy of mine has the z2...
i bought a z ultra like 2 weeks ago since its even cheaper than the original z
he saw it today and now he wants to replace his z2 with an z ultra
he doesn't use the camera and also he doesnt game much
camera would be my only concern though
also the led flash, if you just wanna have a flashlight, you can the big screen, its decent enough for finding your stuff in the dark
cant talk about hickups since i dont run stock (and never will / or did)
both phones seem blazing fast to me, i really dont think the performance of the z2 is much better
my last phones were a htc magic and galaxy s-plus, just so u know
also i have to say, since i got the ultra, i don't want to use any smaller phone anymore.. they seem so small and bad to use
Thanks to everyone who responded!
Helps a lot. It seems like the more I hear from Z Ultra users, the more I hear about how they love the device despite it's shortcomings(ie: camera and no flash).
I agree, once you behold such a big screen it's hard to go back!
How is battery life? And just to throw it out there, what are some of the custom roms you guys recommend that may improve the battery life/performance?
I was slightly concerned that the slower cpu/gpu might affect performance, and I was going to try to avoid custom roms for the sake of simplicity, but haha, it seems to be unavoidable with most devices I get.
You can slash "Slower" right away. If you care about games, the Z ultra is better desipite having an Older SoC, simply because of its Size.
Besides, even in stock rom, I experience no lags, even with the stock launcher, im in 4.4.4.
Get the Z2 If you want relatively smaller phone, 5 coll isnt really "Small" but compared to the Z ultra, it is.
The camera in the Z2 is also better and has flash LEd.
You should ask yourself, do you want a one handed phone thats fairly recent and a good camera or a 2 handed one, which is amaizing for multi media and reading.
Considering the price of the ZU, you get a premium phone for an amaizing price, just dont treat this phone as a normal phone, it might not fit in the pockets.
I love my ZU.
I snooze I lose, I should've gotten a Z Ultra from the Sony store US site while I still had the chance for it's great price, now it's gone and taken off the site. Now, I'm only looking at the Z2, and behold, my waiting has resulted in the Z2 being back ordered. I could really use a phone by mid January. So I'm still open, but the ZU is probably a closed door for me unless I can find it brand new for a great price and with a warranty. I'm also looking at the LG G pro 2(but it's really pricey for the F530-US At&t compatible LTE) or even a Samsung Galaxy Note 3 (the price has really fallen on that phone lately).
A lot of people are having this problem right now as ZU gotten much cheaper. First of all you should decide what's most important for you in your smartphone and how you're going to use it. Both are really great but designed for different kind of people. To help you choose, I'll give you some pros and cons of both devices.
Xperia Z Ultra (I own standard edition but this will mostly apply to GPE as well)
Pros:
- huge screen, which makes browsing the web and watching the movies very comfortable,
- excellent performance in applications and games, backed up by nicely optimized system and solid stock kernel,
- because of it's size ZU doesn't throttle, which is not common in most of the high end 5 inch +/- smartphones packed with Snapdragon 800+, including Xperia Z2, (actually ZU does throttle but just a little, which is not event felt in games)
- operating temperatures are acceptable during stress, which makes sure that battery and hardware will last a little longer (especially non replaceable battery),
- very solid stand by and calling battery life,
- excellent microphone which makes calls really great,
- it's very cheap, considering how premium it's.
Cons:
- lack of flash, this is a problem if you want to make a photos in bad lighting conditions or you need a lighter,
- still photos quality is decent, improved auto mode is kind of useless and makes photos with huge amount of noise. You can
make some of the nice photos during day out of the ZU using manual settings though, photos made in poor lighting conditions are out of question,
- it's too big to use single handed (unless you have huge hands) and you might have some problems putting it in your pocket, might be too heavy for some people,
- front camera is pretty bad,
- battery life is at best only decent, if you're using a lot of screen, you'll need to charge everyday,
- speakers could be louder.
Xperia Z2:
Pros:
- Excellent cameras, still photos and recordings have amazing quality, both selfie and back camera,
- Can record very detailed 4K videos,
- It's much more handy and can be used single handed without problems, it's also much lighter than ZU and easilly pocketable,
- Pretty great battery life, especially with screen on, in some cases almost 2 times better than ZU,
- Speaker is much louder and call quality is also very good,
- It has 3 GB of ram,
- Propably it will be updated to 5.0 faster than ZU.
Cons:
- it has updated specs but in real usage it's weaker than Z Ultra, especially in games because of bigger throttling,
- it's not that smooth, compared to Z Ultra, on 4.4.2 in Z2 i experienced a bit of lagging, opposite to silky smooth ZU on 4.4.4,
- has much smaller screen, which is not as comfortable as ZU screen to use,
- can get very hot during games,
- overheating problems during 4k recording.
Both are finely crafted devices, you can't go wrong with both of them. But keep in mind, that if you need a handy smartphone that can be used single handed then ZU it's not a good choice for you.
Been using it for over a year now. Absolutely loving it every day. I am on 4.4.4 (LB with root).
The battery life is just amazing. In sleep mode it drains just 1% in 8 hours. After rooting I got rid of much bloatware and the performance increased 5-10%.
I can't find any other phone with this screen size and this class except Nexus 6. Which is of course faster and has amoled screen. But is thicker and has poor battery performance (and smaller screen size).
I wish Sony brings Z Ultra II soon with same screen size as ZU but Amoled and Snapdragon 810 and double the RAM.
manigma said:
Been using it for over a year now. Absolutely loving it every day. I am on 4.4.4 (LB with root).
The battery life is just amazing. In sleep mode it drains just 1% in 8 hours. After rooting I got rid of much bloatware and the performance increased 5-10%.
I can't find any other phone with this screen size and this class except Nexus 6. Which is of course faster and has amoled screen. But is thicker and has poor battery performance (and smaller screen size).
I wish Sony brings Z Ultra II soon with same screen size as ZU but Amoled and Snapdragon 810 and double the RAM.
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The next Ultra device from Sony will be the Sony Xperia Z4 Ultra
Arent those just rumours? the Z4 ultra? or will it really be released? Cuz thinking of changing device been with zu too long already i was used to change yearly twice
shurensly95 said:
Arent those just rumours? the Z4 ultra? or will it really be released? Cuz thinking of changing device been with zu too long already i was used to change yearly twice
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It will be good for Sony (and us) if they release one good Ultra upgrade every 2-3 years. Keep it separate from normal Z series.
And name them as Z Ultra II and then Ultra III. Sounds cool to me.
Almost third year and still loving my ZU. I guess I will keep it for another year.
Playing most PSP games via PPSSPP at great detail. But many games like Tekken 6 run slow.
Here is a screenshot of The Third Birthday.
Maybe next year I will buy Samsung Note 7. Till then loving my ZU as ever. :good:
If you excuse my stupid word play ..we can go ahead with the actual question...
I have a Z ULTRA. Totally love it.however, over a period, have started to hate the camera quality and the size is tad too uncomfortable.
So if i were to convince my dad and get a XA ULTRA, would it be too much to ask?
So would the XA ULTRA be a worthy upgrade? Or am I just moving horizontally ahead?
Also, the ROM scene doesn't look very good on the XA Ultra..will it pick up over time? Can we root it at least ?
Thanks a lot!
X0LARIUM said:
If you excuse my stupid word play ..we can go ahead with the actual question...
I have a Z ULTRA. Totally love it.however, over a period, have started to hate the camera quality and the size is tad too uncomfortable.
So if i were to convince my dad and get a XA ULTRA, would it be too much to ask?
So would the XA ULTRA be a worthy upgrade? Or am I just moving horizontally ahead?
Also, the ROM scene doesn't look very good on the XA Ultra..will it pick up over time? Can we root it at least ?
Thanks a lot!
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Click to collapse
Well I'm rooted and running xposed. I also had a z ultra about two years ago. This phone runs fine to me no lag. Had it about 3 weeks now
X0LARIUM said:
If you excuse my stupid word play ..we can go ahead with the actual question...
I have a Z ULTRA. Totally love it.however, over a period, have started to hate the camera quality and the size is tad too uncomfortable.
So if i were to convince my dad and get a XA ULTRA, would it be too much to ask?
So would the XA ULTRA be a worthy upgrade? Or am I just moving horizontally ahead?
Also, the ROM scene doesn't look very good on the XA Ultra..will it pick up over time? Can we root it at least ?
Thanks a lot!
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Click to collapse
Even the normal xa is a great device my advice go and try the xa ultra if possible you'll soon make your mind up. Yes it's quiet it's a new device don't expect as many custom roms as the z ultra had but then from previous experience I think modified stock is much better anyway Just make sure you get a xa ultra with a unlockable Bootloader if you want to root it which I'm guessing you do there is also no way to back up ta keys currently either on any of the x range its why I'm holding off rooting for a while certainly shouldn't believe everything bad you hear about the xperia x range I think it's some of there best yet despite what people say.
Sent from my Xperia XA using XDA Labs
THANks both you guys...My other alternative was the Lenovo Vibe Z2 PRO. I don't know but even though it was an old device, the specs still rock. What do you guys think? I have my Lumia 1520 as my second device. An XA Ultra will really complement the 1520?
I am getting a really good deal on my Z Ultra. And it is working absolutely fine. I am not a heavy user. Just a few apps like WhatsApp, Twitter, Snapchat etc. And a few games sometimes. I wanted to know if the XAU will be a total mess? I saw some comparison videos and looks about just as fast as the Z5 Premium.
So should I take the plunge?
You won't gain any performance as they perform the same if you benchmark. That's kind of bad that the XA Ultra does not perform better than the Z Ultra which is very old. The device does lag a little from time to time and smaller hickups can occur. In general it's pretty smooth but stutters here and there. That being said, they also failed on the battery life department on this phone. It's bad for a 6" phone.
Good points are screen and camera. They do not disappoint. Because of them I really like the phone. The camera in the Z Ultra is easily the worst I have ever had. That will be a huge upgrade.
You might want to consider the Xiaomi Mi Max if you want to stay with 6,44" but get a little smaller device anyway compared to the Z Ultra. It has a Snapdragon 650 and it outperforms the Mediatek in the XA Ultra. The Mi Max is a lot faster and smoother in everyday operation and battery life is totally amazing and crushes the XA Ultra battery life.
dannejanne said:
You won't gain any performance as they perform the same if you benchmark. That's kind of bad that the XA Ultra does not perform better than the Z Ultra which is very old. The device does lag a little from time to time and smaller hickups can occur. In general it's pretty smooth but stutters here and there. That being said, they also failed on the battery life department on this phone. It's bad for a 6" phone.
Good points are screen and camera. They do not disappoint. Because of them I really like the phone. The camera in the Z Ultra is easily the worst I have ever had. That will be a huge upgrade.
You might want to consider the Xiaomi Mi Max if you want to stay with 6,44" but get a little smaller device anyway compared to the Z Ultra. It has a Snapdragon 650 and it outperforms the Mediatek in the XA Ultra. The Mi Max is a lot faster and smoother in everyday operation and battery life is totally amazing and crushes the XA Ultra battery life.
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I am actually done with anything above 6". I was looking for a decent 6" and after seeing this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDLtbJIOcaw
I am convinced XA is totally bang for the buck.
I am just waiting for developers to show some interest and get a couple of good ROMs.
Thanks!
Yeah it's a good phone. After all I'm using it and am happy
Sent from my Xperia XA Ultra
Happy here too ?
Enviado desde mi F3213 mediante Tapatalk
I've gone from the Z Ultra to the XA Ultra, but not by choice - my beloved Z Ultra died.
I didn't find it an upgrade, I didn't even find it a horizontal move, I think the XA Ultra can't hold a candle to the good ol' Z Ultra. But it is a little bit smaller (albeit much thicker) and the camera is indeed incomparably better. So you may be happy with it.
Azra4 said:
I've gone from the Z Ultra to the XA Ultra, but not by choice - my beloved Z Ultra died.
I didn't find it an upgrade, I didn't even find it a horizontal move, I think the XA Ultra can't hold a candle to the good ol' Z Ultra. But it is a little bit smaller (albeit much thicker) and the camera is indeed incomparably better. So you may be happy with it.
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Your trying to compare a ex flagship(specs wise at least) with a midrange device. I went from midrange xperia to midrange xperia and consider the xa a big leap all round compared to older midrange devices.
Sent from my Xperia XA using XDA Labs
aidy.lucas said:
Your trying to compare a ex flagship(specs wise at least) with a midrange device. I went from midrange xperia to midrange xperia and consider the xa a big leap all round compared to older midrange devices.
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Guilty as charged, the Z Ultra spoiled me royally. But it was not just the specs, it was the execution that made the Z Ultra like no other phone.
Azra4 said:
Guilty as charged, the Z Ultra spoiled me royally. But it was not just the specs, it was the execution that made the Z Ultra like no other phone.
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It's a nice phone bit way too big for its screen size. Too big for phone usage. Great hardware though but oh my god that horrendous camera.
Sent from my Xperia XA Ultra
dannejanne said:
It's a nice phone bit way too big for its screen size. Too big for phone usage. Great hardware though but oh my god that horrendous camera.
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Don't agree about the camera, the xa ultra has a larger camera than the xa so should be better. I've seen some good pictures taken with the xa+xa ultra on g+ and reddit, it's a massive improvement over previous midrange xperia devices in every way.
Sent from my Xperia XA using XDA Labs
aidy.lucas said:
Don't agree about the camera, the xa ultra has a larger camera than the xa so should be better. I've seen some good pictures taken with the xa+xa ultra on g+ and reddit, it's a massive improvement over previous midrange xperia devices in every way.
Sent from my Xperia XA using XDA Labs
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Yeah I meant the camera in the Z Ultra. I find the camera in my XA Ultra to perform very well.
Sent from my Honor 8
Correct me if I'm wrong, but XA Ultra isn't waterproof, right? That's is a spec that I look in a phone, and in a Sony should be standard at least at this level mid range...
danielvieira said:
Correct me if I'm wrong, but XA Ultra isn't waterproof, right? That's is a spec that I look in a phone, and in a Sony should be standard at least at this level mid range...
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No it isn't waterproof, only the xp and xz are waterproof
Sent from my Xperia XA using XDA Labs
So I have a question about the screen brightness even on lowest setting it's blinding in the dark, yes u have turned off auto brightness, live the phone I have cone from a 6s plus too
r8dooo said:
So I have a question about the screen brightness even on lowest setting it's blinding in the dark, yes u have turned off auto brightness, live the phone I have cone from a 6s plus too
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It's the latest firmware update that caused this. On previous firmware the minimum screen brightness was very very low. Quite the opposite now. It's so bright on lowest setting that I'm thinking of selling the phone as I can't use it without being blinded this time of the year here in Sweden where it's dark most of the day at winter.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
NO!!! Don't get yourself xa ultra, I always love Xperia and I convince my wife to get one and her phone after just a couple of months is completely rubbish, it lags a lot and battery life goes like from 100% to ZERO in about half an hour! I try the software repair a few times and all that stuff that Sony recommends on their support page and phone still a paperweight ( an expensive one). It works great for about 20 minutes then again the sluggish and the fast battery drain.
I'm getting both devices at same price but I'm confused which one to get in terms of camera performance and battery life? Please help me decide which one is better in honest opinion
Mastermind_hassan said:
I'm getting both devices at same price but I'm confused which one to get in terms of camera performance and battery life? Please help me decide which one is better in honest opinion
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Objectively looking at the specs, the HTC 10 has a bit bigger battery ( 3000 mAh compared to 2650 mAh of the Moto Z but the Moto Z is only 5.2mm thin and supports various mods, one of which is the battery mod line ) and in the GSMArena sample pics, the Moto Z produces a bit sharper images.
And in general, at least for me, the Moto Z looks better.
HTC was one of the good looking snobs among smartphone manufacturers but now they're that deformed incest child which is still alive because some people formed emotional bonds to it or somehow found beauty in it.
Don't get me wrong, the Moto Z has some small flaws but it looks and works great, at least for me ( I usually change my phones in intervals of 6 months or less but I bought the Moto Z in August 2017 and I'm still using it ) .
The only concern you could have is battery life expectancy but people say you can replace it with the warranty if it dies on you so that one is kinda solved.
The screen is excellent, the UI and games are snappy and you can taste even Android P thanks to our great dev.
I wouldn't sell this phone even if someone offered me the 400$ I paid for it.
If you're willing to tinker with it, the Moto Z is a phone with huge potential.