[Sony Xperia Z Ultra] E90 Commie:
I have fast HSPA+ here and haven't noticed any problems with HD streaming (YouTube etc) due to any particular 'slowness' of the connection. I typically reach around 15-16 Mbit/s HSPA+ and that is also why I can accept some 'compromise' on the LTE side of things in exchange for a better device.

The optimum device has 20-40 LTE bands, obviously (it would be the best solution since it would cover everything) but the reality is different. Just skipping devices due to LTE bands when no other options are available (I don't consider 'keep using the Ultra' as the best option anymore).

I fully agree that the best solution is a lot of LTE bands, Snapdragon 8xx and a 6.44-7" display with a lot of RAM and storage. As it is now, those things aren't available (yet) and compromises has to be made.

My key priorities are certainly powerful hardware, 6.44-7" display and excellent battery life (8-13 hours SOT as an upgrade from the Ultra 5-6 hours SOT). The XA Ultra is just not even close to be an interesting 'upgrade' and this Amazon link says it all:

https://www.amazon.com/Sony-Xperia-...id=1466713400&sr=8-6&keywords=xperia+xa+ultra

For $329 I can buy the XA Ultra with 3GB RAM (same as the Z3TC in 2014), 16GB storage (same as the Ultra in 2013), 2700 mAh battery (smaller than the 3000 mAh in the Ultra) and a MediaTek Helio P10 offering similar performance as the Snapdragon 800. Yes, the XA Ultra has seriously improved cameras and it can also be argued that it has Marshmallow out of the box (an improvement over 5.1.1 in the Ultra).

It doesn't participate in the Open Devices Program, though (thanks, MediaTek) and even if its stock ROM is 'faster' than the Ultra 5.1.1 - the Ultra has no problem keeping up using something like PAC, Sony Concept ROM or one of the MM or Nougat builds. So buying the XA Ultra because the stock ROM is 'faster' isn't a too good idea.

For approximately $330-344 I can buy a Xiaomi Mi Max offering substantial upgrades in comparison with the XA Ultra and the Ultra:

4GB RAM (3GB in the XA Ultra, 2GB Ultra), 128GB storage (16GB XA Ultra and Ultra), Snapdragon 652 (80K AnTuTu in comparison with the 40-45K of the XA Ultra and Ultra), same display size as the XZU and 0.44" bigger than the XA Ultra and so forth. Its battery is 4850 mAh compared to 2700 (XA Ultra) and 3000 (Ultra).

The only thing the XA Ultra has to offer is.... LTE and a camera that seems to be good. 'It runs Marshmallow' or 'the Sony ROM has a lot of improvements over Ultra 5.1.1' doesn't sound like compelling reasons to buy it.

Buying the XA Ultra as an 'upgrade' from the Ultra, citing 'LTE frequencies' as a reason why it becomes 'better' than a device with way more powerful hardware isn't a particularly good idea.

I just don't see how the XA Ultra can be something worth buying when comparing with the competitors. If we accept downgrading the display size, then a lot of options are available around the price point of $330 and they are way more powerful (a Snapdragon 820 can be fitted if the budget is stretched a couple of tens).

Making a statement such as 'the XA Ultra beats the Asus Zenfone 3 Ultra, Huawei/Honor Note 8, Lenovo Phab2 Pro and Xiaomi Mi Max because it has LTE bands x, y and z' sounds really... backwards. It is like arguing that 'this computer with Intel Celeron and Intel HD4000 beats this powerful gaming rig because it is connected to a 100 Mbit/s broadband line while the gaming rig has a 10 Mbit/s line....

I always compare with competitors and I am just unable to see any reason to buy the XA Ultra in comparison with the other options. Buying it because.... it is a Sony Xperia and it has LTE frequency x, y and z just doesn't feel particularly logical.

If Sony give as a proper XZU successor (Snapdragon 821 or faster, 4-8GB RAM, 64-128GB storage, 4500-500 mAh battery, 2K 6.44" display, XZ camera, microSD or UFS card slot and so on I will be all over it. But getting the XA Ultra 'instead' because of LTE and 'it is what Sony offers' rather than switching brands (until Sony get their acts together) isn't logical either, I am afraid.