yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Sony Xperia Z Ultra] Rommul:
If Z3x is a no go what passed through the fcc a few weeks back?
[Sony Xperia Z Ultra] Rommul:
I mean Antutu not the FCC
[Sony Xperia Z Ultra] Leechoonhwee:
Probably just a prototype.
[Sony Xperia Z Ultra] Leechoonhwee:
I guess we all have to take this with a grain of salt, the Z3x as I've read somewhere could be true. Personally, I hope it's true but well, I've already quite decided on the Nexus 6 as my next phone until Sony has a Successor for Ultra.
[Sony Xperia Z Ultra] E90 Commie:
I have been pretty much set on the Z3 Tablet Compact but Sony seems to price it to death: $499 for a 32 GB WiFi Only model (SGP612) when a Nexus 9 is $399.

Considering the complete lack of a phablet between 6.5-7 inch (Nexus 7 size is my sweetspot) and still no rumors about upcoming options (the competitors seems to hover around 5.5-6 inches), I start to lean toward the idea of replacing my C6802 with a C6833 in order to get LTE and then just wait and hope that something will happen when the Snapdragon 810/815 is out.

Going down to 5.9-6 inch screen is to much of a downgrade for me since I use the device for reading and that is also why I consider 6.5-7 inch or rather Nexus 7 size the best compromise between portability and screen estate.

The more I think about it, the more I start leaning toward getting a C6833 since I start to feel that a decent Ultra successor won't be available until late 2015 and most probably from a different manufacturer since it looks like Sony has taken a step down from the category.
[Sony Xperia Z Ultra] adfurgerson:
This sounds like quite a chore to do but may be worth a look if you haven't seen it.

http://xdaforums.com/crossdevice-dev/sony/thread-progress-please-leave-im-updating-t2871269
[Sony Xperia Z Ultra] E90 Commie:
The discussion has been on before and it seems like the C6802 has the non-LTE version of the chipset. The thread contains no references to the model either and there is a another discussion that is negative when it comes to LTE support for the C6802.

I have not taken any decision yet but I am leaning toward a C6833 more and more since it seems like there's no viable Ultra replacements available. As it looks now, I start to suspect that a decent alternative isn't going to arrive before later next year.
[Sony Xperia Z Ultra] Leechoonhwee:
Anything more than 6 inches is a niche in smartphones I guess. Probably it's too close to be a tablet and hence they avoided it. For me, I've been waiting for a Ultra Successor and I've even considered Huawei mediapad X1 or the ZTE Nubia X6 but they all fall short in some areas.

The Ultra will get Lollipop real soon and given its decent hardware spec minus the camera, it may still be a decent device for the next year or so until end of 2015.

Having said that I'm a sucker for spec and most probably I'll get the Nexus 6 once it's available.
[Sony Xperia Z Ultra] E90 Commie:
I have checked the Nexus 6 but going down to 5.9 inches is a no go to me, it is much worse for reading etc. The problem with the Ultra was their marketing, by selling it as a smartphone, people complained about size and camera. It is evident that devices in this category should be sold as tablets or phablets first, i.e. as a tablet with a dialer while the word "smartphone" is avoided completely.

Since Samsung has a 7 inch Mega in the market (Asia) and the Nexus 7 sold well, there is clearly space for devices in this category provided that they are sold as "tablets" with phone capabilities rather than "smartphones". To me, the screen size is important for reading, browsing etc, which I consider much worse on smaller (below 6 inch) screens. The Ultra has been the first device where I feel that a tablet can be replaced.

The only device that can be regarded as a "successor" is the Z3 Tablet Compact but it should be a 32 GB LTE model and at the moment, only 16 GB seems to be available in the SGP621 while the larger internal storage is reserved for the SGP612 WiFi model. This is a drawback and the latest information about $499 for that version is a bummer, Sony will fail if they think that a higher price tag than the Nexus 9 will get them somewhere.;)

It feels more and more like a C6833 is the way to go for now and keep the C6802 as a spare/experimental device for Lollipop (will keep 4.4.4 for primary use until Xposed is up and running on 5.0) and then just wait for a decent 6.5-7 inch device with Snapdragon 810, 4 GB RAM, 32-64 GB internal storage and microSDXC card and so forth.
[Sony Xperia Z Ultra] polargirl:
The biggest problem with the marketing of Z Ultra was that it was never offered by any major US carrier on a two year plan. The second biggest problem was probably the 16GB storage.

Sony made the mistake of trying to market this phone as a rich person's phone hence no two year contract breaks rather than as a gamer phone the latter being doomed by 16GB storage.
[Sony Xperia Z Ultra] E90 Commie:
I don't think US carriers would be the savior of this device since Sony concentrates on other markets.

The problem with their marketing has rather been that they sold it as a "smartphone" - which immediately sent people out in rage about the camera and lack of flash. The most common complaint about the Ultra is those two things.

If they had sold it as a tablet, it would have led to different expectations and more people would have bought it (tablets are excused for having worse cameras....). The small internal disk didn't help either but it is worth to mention that the Z3 Tablet Compact SGP621 LTE has the same capacity...

It is evident that devices in this category should be sold as compact tablets with phone capabilities rather than "smartphones". It is evident that people don't get it if it is called "smartphone" since they focus on the "phone" part and then complain about the size.
[Sony Xperia Z Ultra] Rommul:
Its a smartphone not a tablet. Marketing wouldn't change that. There is a market for large phones it just needs to be cultivated. Theere are still people talking about the fact that the Samsung Notes are too big despite it selling tens of millions.

The size of the device is a problem. The Xperia design with with those huge top and bottom bezels makes the damn phone 1 1/2" longer than it needs to be. If a phone this size was done by most other manufacturers it would have been done right.
[Sony Xperia Z Ultra] blueether:
I feel the phone would be hard to hold in landscape with no bezels. You could go 10 - 15mm less on the bezel size top and bottom - that is only 1 inch.
[Sony Xperia Z Ultra] Rommul:
A 10-15mm difference is less than 5/8 of an inch.

At any rate I find it awkward that people would hold a tablet in that way.

I have held an inew i6000 which has the same screen and the whole package is considerably smaller.

The phone just wastes space in the wrong places.

Ironically being so damn thin makes it yard to hold as well.

---------- Post added at 05:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:56 PM ----------

I take that back the inew is about the same size.
[Sony Xperia Z Ultra] thekingisnaked:
Only problem was the lack of ads and Sony was not very into the US market at that time. So they could not catch attention since all the big magazines and such are in US. If they could rival note in the stylus category the beast would make a stand in business market very easily. I hope they will do that with the next ultra. Put the 20 mp camera with led flash keep the slim profile, more leather cases, 2K display, better stylus features, less fingerprint back, Al frame, and if possible stereo speakers. After these a goodbye letter to Note series. But heck they won't
[Sony Xperia Z Ultra] E90 Commie:
I bought a C6833 today and will stick to the Ultra until a decent replacement shows up.

The Note 3/4 suffers from similar problems, which make them no-go devices to me:

1. Un-standardized hardware - different carrier versions and lack of LTE models with EU/US bands. ROM incompatibility because of those differences, then add different chipset depending on market....

2. Knox/efuse. Complete dealbreaker.

3. 480 DPI phone mode and apps that break down when DPI is lowered to 240, thus requiring special ROMs modded for this setting. 480 DPI is just... pathetic for a phablet, especially when it comes to web browsing etc (the phone mode management of tabs is... clumsy and so forth).

4. TouchWiz - In order to use S-Pen properly, TW bloat is necessary. Flashing CM leads to loss of features including NFC.

5. Samsung is unwilling to cooperate with developers and this results in crippled features on AOSP/CM ROMs.

6. Region-locked SIM cards. No comments needed.

This is my main objections against the Note series and is the reason why I consider the Ultra to be superior even if it is possible to argue about the camera. The smaller screen is another problem - 5.7 inch just doesn't cut it for me.

There are positive aspects with the Note 4 such as heavily improved build quality, great display and camera etc but those issues in combination with the LTE problem and TouchWiz is just... dealbreakers. I just can't accept the need for a carrier branded device just in order to get LTE and then being stuck with an inability to travel and use the network standard in question because Samsung is the "Carrier's Best Friend" and sell devices with "customized radios".

In fact, the Ultra is the device I have been most happy with since I had the Nokia E90 Communicator.
[Sony Xperia Z Ultra] CCJ22:
I yearn for the z3x
[Sony Xperia Z Ultra] speculatrix:
I've had use of tablets - 8" and over - and found I've preferred the Xperia Z Ultra for portability, or my 14" ultrabook for functionality and performance, and not used the tablet much.

Because the XZU is biggest possible device I can carry as a phone, it's perfect.

If Sony haven't launched the XZU2 or Z3X by the time the full sized Z3 tablet is launched, then i think we're not going see it ever, and that's when i will buy a spare XZU.
[Sony Xperia Z Ultra] Visa Declined:
I don't think Sony will make a successor to this phone, I don't think it sold well enough. My first Sony phone was an Xperia Play, and I've been chomping at the bit dreaming for a successor to that device to be made. But since it sold poorly, it'll never happen.
[Sony Xperia Z Ultra] doctahjeph:
I think after the Play sold poorly, they moved on to the remote play feature/playstation now that turned any Sony phone, TV, Playstation device into a gaming system. I could see Sony returning to the phablet market, but just not this big. I think they are waiting to see how Google does with the Nexus 6. Just wait until a Playstation Now app is released.
[Sony Xperia Z Ultra] jplempka:
Man, so do I...

I almost got the Z Ultra but went for the Z1 instead. I (partially) regret my decision.
[Sony Xperia Z Ultra] jaime4272:
I love my ultra ever since I bought it and waiting for a successor hopping that the rumors would be true to the Z3X but when people said that it wasn't true I bought the Z3 tablet compact 4G/LTE to use phone feature. but lets hope that there will be a successor for the ultra
[Sony Xperia Z Ultra] digitalbenny:
I see the phone-capable version of the Z3 Tablet Compact as the only logical upgrade to the Z Ultra. I highly doubt the Z3X is going to exist. And if it does, not as interested as I am in a bigger screen...
[Sony Xperia Z Ultra] jess91:
Considering the above average price drops and continued stock levels, the ZU seems to have been a commercial failure. I wouldn't be surprised if the current prices are at cost or very little margin. There are far lower spec devices from Samsung, Nokia selling at similar prices- mainly because they don't have "such a ridiculous size screen". For most, even 6" is too big as a phone, 5.7" is about max people will accept as a phone. This is the problem with being on the limit/edge- most buying ZU do it to use as a small tablet (over Nexus 7, etc.). Perspective and marketing play a role.

I am looking to purchase a ZU so anything (rumor or release) that brings the ZU's price lower is good news to me! I could never afford a ZU at the initial price or even now had it depreciated in line with other devices (e.g. compare against Galaxy Note price evolution)
[Sony Xperia Z Ultra] E90 Commie:
I suspect that they are still making them since my brand new C6833 came with .108 preinstalled. If it would have been an "overstock" device, it would have been equipped with something older.

So it seems like the sales must have accelerated with the price drop to such an extent that they keep a small-scale production.
[Sony Xperia Z Ultra] H. E. Pennypacker:
The Z3X doesn't exist. It's possibly the Z4. The "Z4" has all of the features that the non-existing "Z3X" has, according to leaks, but it has a 5.5 inch display, so the Z3X is probably a prototype of the Z4, and therefore the Z3X, or the Ultra 2 if you want, (probably) doesn't exist.

Or Sony is simply making the "Ultra 2", or Z4 Ultra, along with the Z4, and we'll see it when the Z4 launches. We haven't seen any leaks of the Z4 or any other device yet, but we know the Z4 leaks will start sooner than later, and if a big version of it doesn't leak, we can certainly debunk the whole Ultra sequel this time around.
[Sony Xperia Z Ultra] E90 Commie:
I wouldn't expect a "Z4 Ultra" in February when they release the Z4 but rather later during the year in a similar was as in 2013 with the Z and Z Ultra. The most sensible thing to do would be to tie the Ultra line with the Tablet Compact ditto and then give us a Z4 Ultra and Z4 Tablet Compact during the IFA fair in Berlin.

I would also guess that a lot depends on the reception of a 5.5 inch Z4. Their best bet would be the following line-up:

Z4 - 5.5 inches

Z4 Compact - 4.6 inches

Z4 Ultra - 6.5 inches (or 7)

Z4 Tablet Compact - 8.4 inches
[Sony Xperia Z Ultra] adfurgerson:
Isn't the ZU closer to the Z1 as far as hardware?
[Sony Xperia Z Ultra] H. E. Pennypacker:
Yup, identical CPU/GPU.
[Sony Xperia Z Ultra] Triflot:
According to rumours, you guys may be right!
[Sony Xperia Z Ultra] E90 Commie:
If a Z4 Ultra is coming next year, I will be all over it. Keeping the same display size (or increasing it) is the only sensible thing to do.

Edit: I guess that increased sales since the price drop demonstrated that the Ultra has followers and that a better camera would enable a great success - the arrival of some other devices in the same size category (Galaxy Mega, ZTE Nubia X6, CoolPad's 7 incher) is another sign that they should re-enter.

What they should do is to introduce the Z4 first and Z4 Ultra later, using the same camera module and flash. That itself would increase sales enormously.
[Sony Xperia Z Ultra] abdel12345:
Sounds expensive...

Sent from my VS980 4G
[Sony Xperia Z Ultra] Hilmhaz:
Browsing google newsstand app and stumble upon rumour about Xperia Z4, Z4 compact, Z4 ultra , Z4 tablet surface Android Headlines, article by Kristijan Lucic
[Sony Xperia Z Ultra] H. E. Pennypacker:
http://www.stuff.tv/sony/sony-xperia-z4-z4-tablet-z4-compact-and-z4-ultra-details-leak/news

PLEASE be real!
[Sony Xperia Z Ultra] Hilmhaz:
The rumour about the sd card will be drop to maintain the IP rating is a bit of a let down considering sony 16gb flagship trademark.

Thanks for the link :good:
[Sony Xperia Z Ultra] corrado85:
i am surprised I am holding on to a phone for greater than 12months.. I'll pay any price for that Z4 Ultra when it launches.
[Sony Xperia Z Ultra] abdel12345:
I'm hoping if this releases it'll come early 2015, I'm on the border between a z ultra and a nexus 6 right now. The z ultra is so much cheaper but the nexus 6 still looks amazing and has some great specs. But since nexus 6 will be hard to actually get until December I might as well wait for more info on this. Plus if I'm gonna pay 700 for a nexus 6 might as well wait for z4 and see if its similar price it'll be much more worth it. I just hope z4 ultra isn't more than z4 because if it is then I'll probably get the z4. I hope Sony releases it earlier than march though that seems a bit unlikely considering MWC being in march and the z3just came out a month or two ago
[Sony Xperia Z Ultra] H. E. Pennypacker:
Don't expect to see the "4 series" until march/april. If the rumours are true, and they'll use the Snapdragon 810, then it'll be a while until we'll see them.
[Sony Xperia Z Ultra] abdel12345:
I'm gonna just wait until January 5th when they have the ces. It was just confirmed that's when its scheduled for Sony so I'll see what they show off there. If there's still a while I may just go with nexus 6. I'm still really interested in the z ultra but I'm a bit worried after seeing lots of complaints about cracking and bending. At its price its still great option and if it goes down even more on cyber Monday I'd buy it for sure, but right now I may just wait till then.
[Sony Xperia Z Ultra] H. E. Pennypacker:
Keep in mind that the complainers are the loudest ones out there. There are some people around here that tend to overdramatize the smallest things, and they will not shut up no matter what. If John dropped his phone in an active vulcano, he'll damn sure pop up around here and complain that the phone couldn't teleport itself out of there, and will swear to never ever buy another Sony device. I see them every single week. Oh, you managed to sit on it? It didn't handle your 300 pound ass? Totally the OEM's fault. No.

The Ultra will bend if you keep it in your pants pocket while sitting down, for example, so you'll have to learn to live with removing it from the pocket before you sit down. It'll be the same thing with the Nexus 6, minus the bending issue. The Nexus will probably crack at one point, since it's made of plastic. Again, treat it as what it is; a very expensive piece of tech, and not a bag of skittles.

- There were some units that cracked, so that's correct.

- People are stupid, and carry their phones in the back pocket. Somehow they're surprised when something snaps or cracks.

- People don't know how to take care of stuff. It's a god damn 6mm sheet of glass, with electronics sandwiched between them. What type of care do you think that requires? Yes, that's right.

Short story: I went jogging with my Ultra (holding it in my hand, plus it's waterproof), and i tripped and literally flew down an asphalt hill, making me drop my Ultra so it flew a couple of feet away from me, and landed with the screen facing down. I knew it was shattered before i picked it up, but when i did i quickly noticed that the screen didn't have a single scratch. Not a single one. It had landed on one of the corners, and all i got was some tiny scrathes that aren't even visible in certain angles.

Case in point, if i'm going to be as loud as the other guys, this is clearly the best prosuct in the history of man kind, and it's literally undestructable. Iron Man has nothing on this thing.

No, i was extremely lucky, and the other guys with cracked Ultras were very unlucky, and that's all. Most of them have been unlucky. No conpiracy or anyhting. So will your Ultra crack, snap or bend? Well that depends 100% on you, and how you treat it. Waiting won't solve anything at this point.
[Sony Xperia Z Ultra] abdel12345:
Well thats a good way to put it. But thats not the only reason i was gonna wait. I just feel like if i got this and a z4 ultra came out then i wont really be able to uograde to it considering it wont be very long till then. But i guess i could say that for every device. If i have to i could just sell the z ultra again later. Im still gonna wait till cybermonday though just to see if it gets even cheaper which I highly doubt but will hold out hope. If I could get it from sony for 315 instead of amazon (Sony has it 380) I'd be happy because v it'll have warranty at least. And if not then maybe amazon will have it even cheaper for like 280 or something. I just don't want to spend too much on this (I know this is already a great price) in case I want to upgrade again soon (as in when the next z series release)
[Sony Xperia Z Ultra] fastest83:
That's exactly the same thought I have every time I see a new phone.

M8, Z3, Note 4, Note Edge, Moto X and Nexus 6.. they're all new and shiny and beautiful and have more functions and they have (or they will have) 5.0 before long but..... simply put, they're not and they never will be another Ultra.

Set aside the first couple of days when you realise this thing is ENORMOUS, I challenge anyone that used the Ultra for some time to say they're not in love with it.

Sure, camera, bezels, flaps, whatever, all flaws that Sony can adjust on the next model, I don't care.

That's it, this is MY phone, THE phone for me.

I will throw whichever amount Sony will set to get it as soon as the (hypothetical) new version hits the shelves.

If not, I may settle for another Xperia, or a Moto for a change, but it'll be a sad, sad day.

100% with you man, I couldn't have said it better.
[Sony Xperia Z Ultra] doctahjeph:
I love this phone, but I disagree with you a bit. I have had this phone twice now, and my first one cracked. Yes it was in my pocket, but I don't wear tight jeans. I am a big boy who wears bigger looser clothing(carpenter jeans). I didn't sit on my phone at all. I got up, put the phone in my front pocket, walked down a small flight of stairs and got in my truck. Once I pulled my phone out of my pocket they was a crack at the bottom of my screen. That is it. Two of my co-workers also cracked their ultras, now I don't know how they did theirs, but they did.

While I do believe some misuse is to the reason for all these cracked Ultras, I still think the phone is a lot more fragile then others on the market. That is probably due to the size, but also the glass quality. When mine cracked I was sad and sent it in to Sony for repair. They wanted $200, while others had reported Sony fixing their for free. I declined, but later bought another new one because I liked this phone so much.
[Sony Xperia Z Ultra] H. E. Pennypacker:
Sure, but what can we expect by dropping a 6 inch piece of glass? It will crack/shatter, unless you have my Ultra, which i dropped again today on solid concrete. Not a single scratch. It's super weird. You had yours in your pocket, and it decided to end it right there, while mine just takes it right to the face several times - like a god damn boxer, without taking damage. I don't use any protection, by the way.
[Sony Xperia Z Ultra] doctahjeph:
Neither do I, besides not like any decent protection out there anyways. My second Ultra has been a god send right now. *knock on wood. I don't know maybe there are some duds out there?
[Sony Xperia Z Ultra] H. E. Pennypacker:
Definitely.
[Sony Xperia Z Ultra] zurkx:
ive basically given up. i bought a samsung galaxy note 4 (910U version). screen is small but good enough @ 5.7 inches, camera is not great @ 16MP but good enough and it has everything else including 64 bit cpu, decent note taking ability, decent storage with a 128GB microsd added on etc etc.

and its available now. with wireless charging thru the official samsung wireless back and an otterbox case its good enough for me.
[Sony Xperia Z Ultra] H. E. Pennypacker:
The Z3X just leaked. It's all over Reddit.

Aaand i'm joking :victory: How much wouldn't that have sucked?
[Sony Xperia Z Ultra] zurkx:
it wouldnt. my current phone is dying anyway and i waited 4 months for the Z3X. enough time i think.

even if the Z4 X or whatever is announced in feb it takes at least 2 months to get it in stock somewhere. by that time tons of phones will have 20MPx cameras and large screens. sony missed a good chance for getting people on board end of this generation.
[Sony Xperia Z Ultra] aalupatti:
Like?
[Sony Xperia Z Ultra] Visa Declined:
I should have the Nexus 6 next week. It's gonna be sweet.