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Hey guys,
So I have been playing around with the camera on my Z Ultra and I wanted to share a few things with you.
1. DO NOT use Superior Auto at all!!
It destroys pretty much every photo and has too much noise and no sharpness. It's just shockingly bad.
2. Always use normal shooting mode.
3. Become comfortable adjusting settings and actually getting to know the camera so you know when to use appropriate ISO etc.
4. Adjust ISO yourself and keep it at 400 or below. Use in combination with HDR for some very pleasing results.
Those are the 4 most important tips I think. Never ever ever use superior auto. The results with normal mode are very crisp and have lots of sharpness and contrast.
Overall the camera I believe is better than the Xperia Z. I own both and with the right settings, the Z Ultras images appear sharper.
I'll post a few examples.
Thanks and how are you all liking the camera so far?
Sent from my Sony Xperia Z Ultra
Here are a few examples.
1 taking with Superior Auto. The other taking with Normal mode on ISO 100.
Be sure to zoom.in on the bottle. You can see so much noise on the photo taking with Superior Auto.
Hopefully the results speak for themselves
If you want other photos I'll be happy to provide them.
Sent from my Sony Xperia Z Ultra
Way to much red in the photos taken with Superior Auto. Hopefully Sony will fix this in the next update. Btw, do you have the old Sony UI or the new one? (Old has a dark settings menu, while the new one is white)
I have the Old UI with the Bravia Engine 2.
New UI should be released in about a months time. Hopefully sooner
When are you buying your Ultra?
Sent from my Sony Xperia Z Ultra
ScottishSwan said:
I have the Old UI with the Bravia Engine 2.
New UI should be released in about a months time. Hopefully sooner
When are you buying your Ultra?
Sent from my Sony Xperia Z Ultra
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I'm buying it as soon as it hits the stores in Norway, which i believe is in the first week of september(?), like the rest of Europe.
Unless a different beast emerges from the depths of hell somewhere, that is (which i highly doubt, so ZU it is.)
Is it not the last week of September it gets released in Europe?
Its funny right now, I am slowly becoming to accept the Z Ultras size as normal and the 6.4" display as normal.
Even when I pick up a 5" device now, it feels so tiny!! Haha
Sent from my Sony Xperia Z Ultra
According to news sources, the release date for europe is september 6th.
I had the same experience when i got my Note. I came from the Desire HD with a 4.3" display, so the Note's size was ridiculous at that time, and i remember laughing my ass of when i unboxed it! Now? Not big at all. It's the same thing with the iPhone. I had the first gen. from the states and a 3GS, and they were really big at the time, but i just laugh at its tiny body now
When do you think phones will stop growing? I imagine 7" with almost no bezels at all will be the limit.
Unboxing my Ultra though, I did laugh when I seen it and my first day carrying it to work etc, quite a surprise haha.
Me personally I love big phones though, can never understand people who say they don't want anything bigger than 4.5 - 4.7 inches.
Sent from my Sony Xperia Z Ultra
Good question, and i have no idea, but i think we are near the limit now. IF the OEM's are planning on something even bigger, then i guess they'll have to make them without any bezels. That would be awesome and i guess a little science fiction looking
Something like this:
ScottishSwan said:
Is it not the last week of September it gets released in Europe?
Its funny right now, I am slowly becoming to accept the Z Ultras size as normal and the 6.4" display as normal.
Even when I pick up a 5" device now, it feels so tiny!! Haha
Sent from my Sony Xperia Z Ultra
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Click to collapse
I agree. I love big devices and my Xperia Z feels really tiny in comparison but one thing is for sure: I think the Ultra is the biggest size that a phablet can have and still being pocketable.
It fits my pockets but I notice that I can't carry a bigger device in them. The future development could be smaller bezels and therefore perhaps a 6,8 and perhaps even a 7 inch screen. I would even guess that the small tablets like the Nexus 7 will be replaced by phablets with the same screen size but smaller body (Ultra size).
So the future market will offer phablets up to 7 inch, then tablets starting at 8 inches and upwards followed by dockable "tablets" with screens of 12 inches and bigger. The small tablet is going to become a phablet - adding smaller bezels and a smaller body to the existing 7 inch screen and putting a dialer on is a straight forward development, especially when the Nexus 7 has connectivity to mobile networks already and the old Galaxy Tab could make calls.
I wouldn't be surprised if the 2014 edition of the Nexus 7 will be a phablet and that Sony are creating a partly new market with the Z Ultra.
Coming from iPhone 5, the UZ produces astoundingly bad overprocessed images. What's coming off the sensor is actually pretty good as you can see if you shoot in burst mode since that is the only setting that doesn't add a massive sharpness filter to the output. All other modes are crap. Massive over sharpening and then saving at what has to be 50% jpg quality. I don't get the mentality of putting in user defined ISO settings but forcing sharpening and jpg quality.
Taco Jackson said:
Coming from iPhone 5, the UZ produces astoundingly bad overprocessed images. What's coming off the sensor is actually pretty good as you can see if you shoot in burst mode since that is the only setting that doesn't add a massive sharpness filter to the output. All other modes are crap. Massive over sharpening and then saving at what has to be 50% jpg quality. I don't get the mentality of putting in user defined ISO settings but forcing sharpening and jpg quality.
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I do not have these issues. The only problems i have is when the phone is using Superior Auto.
Any other mode is perfectly sharp and noise free. I have also compared it to my iPhone 5 and the photos are very very comparable when you get the settings right.
Please tell me the about camera settings for best output of images in Xperia Z Ultra .. i donno how to configure my z ultra for best output images .. so please any one help abt best camera settings
Xperia Z Ultra said:
Please tell me the about camera settings for best output of images in Xperia Z Ultra .. i donno how to configure my z ultra for best output images .. so please any one help abt best camera settings
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sounds like u need a crash course on photography instead.
Xperia Z Ultra said:
Please tell me the about camera settings for best output of images in Xperia Z Ultra .. i donno how to configure my z ultra for best output images .. so please any one help abt best camera settings
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Click to collapse
1. Always set the camera to Normal mode.
2. Set the ISO at a maximum of 400 and not higher.
3. Use HDR on occasions where it might be needed.
On those settings you will get sharp images. Of course, you have to learn the camera a little yourself too.
Xperia Z Ultra said:
Please tell me the about camera settings for best output of images in Xperia Z Ultra .. i donno how to configure my z ultra for best output images .. so please any one help abt best camera settings
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Click to collapse
Frankly, that's not how you learn stuff. What's wrong with just experimenting like normal people do?
Excuse Peppa pig, this was ISO 200, hdr with center focusing
Sent from my C6802 using Tapatalk 4
Looking good
What are your thoughts on the camera?
Sent from my Sony Xperia Z Ultra
Does it miss not having any kind of flash?
Super Chimp said:
Does it miss not having any kind of flash?
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For me personally, in the 10 days I have owned the Z Ultra I have not missed flash at all.
Sent from my Sony Xperia Z Ultra
Hi guys,
I am about to exchange my note 2 with z ultra amd some added cash ? Should I go forward ? Comparing the battery life after 4.3 update is it better, a little better or a ton better ?
Hard to tell what your needs are but I came from Note 1 to Note 2 then Xperia Z Ultra and aside from some things the spen can do, I couldnt be happier!
This thing is a beast but I wanted the extra large display so that made it a great option for me.
So it all depends on your needs..like for example why are you not considering the Note 3? Think is too small of a jump display wise?
shaolin95 said:
Hard to tell what your needs are but I came from Note 1 to Note 2 then Xperia Z Ultra and aside from some things the spen can do, I couldnt be happier!
This thing is a beast but I wanted the extra large display so that made it a great option for me.
So it all depends on your needs..like for example why are you not considering the Note 3? Think is too small of a jump display wise?
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yuo I kinda like to draw and I like added pixel. m very picky on display. I just never thought of note 3 as it didnt have the 'wow' factor for me. plus somehow the pixel are still visible to me. I love big working space but the only thing thats keeping me from buying it is the battery life. how good is it afer 4.3 update ?
Honestly, for battery life I cannot really help as I am most of the time connected to power and the few times I let it run a bit low on power, I didnt pay attention to how long it lasted but of course, I will never feel as confident as when I had my Note 2 and 4 extra batteries
Still, the Stamina mode is very nice in my opinion but hopefully someone else will provide feedback on battery life.
Battery life it's excellent in my experience: I use 2x Battery (search it into the Play Store), and I get two full days of usage. In line with my previous Galaxy Note. But for the rest, believe me, there is no comparison: the Ultra is totally in another league.
Sent from my C6833 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Pannam said:
yuo I kinda like to draw and I like added pixel. m very picky on display. I just never thought of note 3 as it didnt have the 'wow' factor for me. plus somehow the pixel are still visible to me. I love big working space but the only thing thats keeping me from buying it is the battery life. how good is it afer 4.3 update ?
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Click to collapse
Well if you don't mind the absence of pressure sensitve stylus, the z ultra will still cater you fine with its pencil sensitive screen. But better prepare it with screen protector (the anti glare one) so those shallow scratches won't bother you too much. Or if you have some extra dough you could buy the z ultra stylus or the adonit stylus.
The battery life for a non intense internet will have you around 6-7.5 hours of screen time. I have tried it by taking a note in evernote and the battery reaches 50% with 4 hours of screen time which can be calculated to be around 8 hours tops if i continue doing the same thing, plus i was using bluetooh mouse and keyboard too. So if you really focused while you're drawing, then the battery will not be a concern most of the time. Just don't try to browse with mobile data too often. It will drain the battery in 5 hours tops.
Plus the only concern with non removable battery is only after you use the phone for more than 2 years, but if you can take care of your battery (i.e don't charge it while it's hot or don't charge after its fully depleted), 3 years of lifetime is not impossible. In the mean time those slim sony powerbank will certainly help you to extend battery life should you want it.
So yeah nothing to worry i guess.
Sent from my C6802 using xda app-developers app
I would do it. I just came from the note 2 and not going to go back. Everything the Samsung has the Sony has way better. Sony quality is awesome.
Sent from my C6806 using XDA Premium HD app
Oh and the Sony stock ROM is the best I have ever tried stock. I dont feel the need to keep looking for Custom Roms as It was with my Note 2..then again, this thing is a beast so nothing can make it seem laggy lol
Go for it mate!
The following is just my own personal opinion and my experience using the z ultra...originally i had a note 2 and the moved over to the z ultra...after 3 months i sold the z ultra and bought a note 3 which iam very happy with. The main reasons why i decided to switch to the note 3 are as follows;
1) At first i didn't really mind the size, in fact the main reason i bought the phone in the first place was due to size. My main use of a smartphone are media consumption first and communication second. although the z ultra is a lot more portable than some 7 inch tablets, its still pretty big for a phone. often times i found my self getting frustrated due to not being able to fit it properly in some of my pockets. Unless i went out with a bag, i had to think carefully about the types of clothes i had to wear just so i can carry the z ultra. The note 3 seems to provide a big enough screen while not compromising portability, now i don't have to dress for the phone anymore.
2) the screen is not as good as i had thought. Now i have to reiterate this is my own opinion: after using the z ultra i found that the screen had some flaws which i just couldn't get over. The black levels are poor compared to other LCD like the htc one and LG G pro. When looking at the screen in bright ambient lighting you wont notice how poor the black levels are, its only in dimly lit light that it becomes evident, now i use my phone a lot in a dimly lit bedroom so it becomes an issue. The blacks also wash out becoming milky white if you view the phone off angle, the color does not shift, only the color of the blacks...this issue is not as apparent as like the xperia z. but its still far worse compared to other flagships out there.
The screen is very bright even at the lowest setting, i had to use a screen adjuster app just to get the screen to be comfortable to use at night.
X-reality is pure garbage, sony replaced bravia engine with x reality, why they did this i will never understand as x-reality brings along image sharpening and grain which makes videos look unwatchable. But turning it off makes the screen look washed out. I compared every phone i had to the z ultra without x-reality and the z ultra was the worse of the bunch. One color the z ultra the z ultra seemed to have trouble producing accurately was green, compared to other high end phones, any green that's not dark green always appeared to look yellowish green.
One issue i found annoying when viewing pictures and videos was that the screen had poor gamma levels. skin tones appear too bright for what they should be and shadows appear too dark. watching dark scenes was just unbearable as all the shadowy areas would loose all detail and look all black, while the faces especially for light skinned people would look pale white. other phones would show details in the shadows and skin tones would be full of color.
3) sound quality is pretty bad, coming from the note 2 i thought the speaker sound wouldn't bother me, after a few weeks it become annoying as the z ultra has the worst external speaker on any smartphone i have used.
4)The camera is complete utter crap...now i dont take photos much, and i didnt think it would be an issue, but the few times i did take pictures always thought of the note 2 which i had sold off to buy the z ultra. If you like taking picture, do not buy the z ultra.
5) the sony UI is very beautiful and snappy, but after using lg pro, htc one x and note 2 and 3 i found it the least functional especially when it comes to calling and messaging. don't have time to elaborate on this one.
6) The font and icons are so tiny, this for some people wont be an issue but it was for me. even though you can view more content on the z ultra screen, everything is so shrunk down that reading on the thing becomes straining on the eyes. even when you increase the font size in the settings menu, some apps still show font too small.
After a few months i just could not stand these flaws and sold the phone to buy note 3. So far i couldn't be happier. I can carry the phone with no issue, the screen is vibrant and clear with multiple modes to choose from. skin tones look better and shadows are represented accurately. sound quality is vastly improved, the list could keep going on.
trellva25 said:
The following is just my own personal opinion and my experience using the z ultra...originally i had a note 2 and the moved over to the z ultra...after 3 months i sold the z ultra and bought a note 3 which iam very happy with. The main reasons why i decided to switch to the note 3 are as follows;
1) At first i didn't really mind the size, in fact the main reason i bought the phone in the first place was due to size. My main use of a smartphone are media consumption first and communication second. although the z ultra is a lot more portable than some 7 inch tablets, its still pretty big for a phone. often times i found my self getting frustrated due to not being able to fit it properly in some of my pockets. Unless i went out with a bag, i had to think carefully about the types of clothes i had to wear just so i can carry the z ultra. The note 3 seems to provide a big enough screen while not compromising portability, now i don't have to dress for the phone anymore.
2) the screen is not as good as i had thought. Now i have to reiterate this is my own opinion: after using the z ultra i found that the screen had some flaws which i just couldn't get over. The black levels are poor compared to other LCD like the htc one and LG G pro. When looking at the screen in bright ambient lighting you wont notice how poor the black levels are, its only in dimly lit light that it becomes evident, now i use my phone a lot in a dimly lit bedroom so it becomes an issue. The blacks also wash out becoming milky white if you view the phone off angle, the color does not shift, only the color of the blacks...this issue is not as apparent as like the xperia z. but its still far worse compared to other flagships out there.
The screen is very bright even at the lowest setting, i had to use a screen adjuster app just to get the screen to be comfortable to use at night.
X-reality is pure garbage, sony replaced bravia engine with x reality, why they did this i will never understand as x-reality brings along image sharpening and grain which makes videos look unwatchable. But turning it off makes the screen look washed out. I compared every phone i had to the z ultra without x-reality and the z ultra was the worse of the bunch. One color the z ultra the z ultra seemed to have trouble producing accurately was green, compared to other high end phones, any green that's not dark green always appeared to look yellowish green.
One issue i found annoying when viewing pictures and videos was that the screen had poor gamma levels. skin tones appear too bright for what they should be and shadows appear too dark. watching dark scenes was just unbearable as all the shadowy areas would loose all detail and look all black, while the faces especially for light skinned people would look pale white. other phones would show details in the shadows and skin tones would be full of color.
3) sound quality is pretty bad, coming from the note 2 i thought the speaker sound wouldn't bother me, after a few weeks it become annoying as the z ultra has the worst external speaker on any smartphone i have used.
4)The camera is complete utter crap...now i dont take photos much, and i didnt think it would be an issue, but the few times i did take pictures always thought of the note 2 which i had sold off to buy the z ultra. If you like taking picture, do not buy the z ultra.
5) the sony UI is very beautiful and snappy, but after using lg pro, htc one x and note 2 and 3 i found it the least functional especially when it comes to calling and messaging. don't have time to elaborate on this one.
6) The font and icons are so tiny, this for some people wont be an issue but it was for me. even though you can view more content on the z ultra screen, everything is so shrunk down that reading on the thing becomes straining on the eyes. even when you increase the font size in the settings menu, some apps still show font too small.
After a few months i just could not stand these flaws and sold the phone to buy note 3. So far i couldn't be happier. I can carry the phone with no issue, the screen is vibrant and clear with multiple modes to choose from. skin tones look better and shadows are represented accurately. sound quality is vastly improved, the list could keep going on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1) I dont dress for my phone...never have. The Notes are not small enough to fit that good with what I wear anyway so i always carry them so no big deal for me.
2) To me the screen was the biggest surprise on how beautiful it looks. I was afraid of black levels coming from a long line of Samsung phones but the Pros far outweight the cons.
For someone so picky about the display its odd how you seem to "not see" the issues with the note 3 screen...
Yes x-reality creates too many issues for some media. Would be better to have options for it but all the stuff you mention I just dont buy it. Your opinion it may be and I disagree totally.
3) Really..comparing phone speaker qualities....oh boy. In any case, the less clarify of the speaker is of course due to the water proof nature of the phone. You cant get something for nothing in real life.
4) The camera is utter crap...mhm...actually is not. In low light it is pretty lame, which goes for most many phones but for me to call a phone camera utter crap means I am into photography (which I am) so I use a real camera for my photos so the phone camera is good enough for what I will use it.
To correct your statement "If you like taking pictures, do not buy a phone, buy a real CAMERA!"
But I am sure the Note A7R with FF sensor is much better...
5) Of course you wont ellaborate...I wanted to see what exactly you were going to claim here is as the issue since the Sony ROM has been one of the most impressive things I have found after moving from Samsung. Just clean and smooth without needing Custom Roms.
6) Straining on the eyes? Really...you got some eye problems, go to an eye doctor, dont blame the phone.
So lets see by your logic, you want a phone with a BIG screen to resize the Icons to fit the same lame quantity of Icons and things that will fit if the screen was smaller thus not really taking advantage of the bigger screen?
That is actually one of the greatest things about the Sony Rom even compared to Googles version of the Xperia.
So after a few months you sold the phone and yet you hang around the Xperia Z Ultra forum? Interesting behavior indeed...
To each its own..but the Note 4 would have to be DAMN good for me to leave the Xperia Z Ultra...that is how GOOD and impressive this phone is.
The following is just my own personal opinion and my experience using the z ultra...originally i had a note 2 and the moved over to the z ultra...after 3 months i sold the z ultra and bought a note 3 which iam very happy with. The main reasons why i decided to switch to the note 3 are as follows;
1) At first i didn't really mind the size, in fact the main reason i bought the phone in the first place was due to size. My main use of a smartphone are media consumption first and communication second. although the z ultra is a lot more portable than some 7 inch tablets, its still pretty big for a phone. often times i found my self getting frustrated due to not being able to fit it properly in some of my pockets. Unless i went out with a bag, i had to think carefully about the types of clothes i had to wear just so i can carry the z ultra. The note 3 seems to provide a big enough screen while not compromising portability, now i don't have to dress for the phone anymore.
2) the screen is not as good as i had thought. Now i have to reiterate this is my own opinion: after using the z ultra i found that the screen had some flaws which i just couldn't get over. The black levels are poor compared to other LCD like the htc one and LG G pro. When looking at the screen in bright ambient lighting you wont notice how poor the black levels are, its only in dimly lit light that it becomes evident, now i use my phone a lot in a dimly lit bedroom so it becomes an issue. The blacks also wash out becoming milky white if you view the phone off angle, the color does not shift, only the color of the blacks...this issue is not as apparent as like the xperia z. but its still far worse compared to other flagships out there.
The screen is very bright even at the lowest setting, i had to use a screen adjuster app just to get the screen to be comfortable to use at night.
X-reality is pure garbage, sony replaced bravia engine with x reality, why they did this i will never understand as x-reality brings along image sharpening and grain which makes videos look unwatchable. But turning it off makes the screen look washed out. I compared every phone i had to the z ultra without x-reality and the z ultra was the worse of the bunch. One color the z ultra the z ultra seemed to have trouble producing accurately was green, compared to other high end phones, any green that's not dark green always appeared to look yellowish green.
One issue i found annoying when viewing pictures and videos was that the screen had poor gamma levels. skin tones appear too bright for what they should be and shadows appear too dark. watching dark scenes was just unbearable as all the shadowy areas would loose all detail and look all black, while the faces especially for light skinned people would look pale white. other phones would show details in the shadows and skin tones would be full of color.
3) sound quality is pretty bad, coming from the note 2 i thought the speaker sound wouldn't bother me, after a few weeks it become annoying as the z ultra has the worst external speaker on any smartphone i have used.
4)The camera is complete utter crap...now i dont take photos much, and i didnt think it would be an issue, but the few times i did take pictures always thought of the note 2 which i had sold off to buy the z ultra. If you like taking picture, do not buy the z ultra.
5) the sony UI is very beautiful and snappy, but after using lg pro, htc one x and note 2 and 3 i found it the least functional especially when it comes to calling and messaging. don't have time to elaborate on this one.
6) The font and icons are so tiny, this for some people wont be an issue but it was for me. even though you can view more content on the z ultra screen, everything is so shrunk down that reading on the thing becomes straining on the eyes. even when you increase the font size in the settings menu, some apps still show font too small.
After a few months i just could not stand these flaws and sold the phone to buy note 3. So far i couldn't be happier. I can carry the phone with no issue, the screen is vibrant and clear with multiple modes to choose from. skin tones look better and shadows are represented accurately. sound quality is vastly improved, the list could keep going on.
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1. I fit it into my front chest pocket and never have any problem with it. in fact Sony engineers stated that it is the max that a pocket can be fitted because it is designed with a passport width in mind. So I'm not sure why can't you.
2. Blacks will never be a true black even with AMOLED one. Yeah the contrast is good when you push the brightness, but when you're reducing it you'll know that their blacks are not as black as you thought. I have had using razr Maxx fyi so there's that. If you don't like x reality then just turn it off simple. It's like you need to change color temperature mode first to get more accurate color in GS4 and Note 3. Plus those oversaturated colors.. I don't know but my eyes bleed when i saw my friend's Note 2 after using the Z Ultra. There's a reason why professional monitor doesn't use AMOLED.
3. Nothing beats HTC one in that regard i admit, but frankly all other smartphones can only produce so much sound too plus it is water proof so like shaolin said. You don't get something for nothing
4. Just switch to manual and reduce ISO to max 200. Boom done. Or better yet the qx100..
5. To each other's preferences then. But if we have to be honest, people loves to flash CM ROM on their Samsung/LG because of the bloated skin. Whereas with sony sometimes people regret doing that and came back to stock Sony ROM because the beautiful factor and simplicity is damn near AOSP one.
6. I have pity for you then. You are wasting all that ppi provided by the phone these days just for a bigger font. Granted if you have eye problem but if you do, better make it with some low end galaxy grand I suppose?
But i do understand that Note 3 has advantages over Z Ultra. S-pen and slighlty longer lasting battery, but none of the above you mentioned I'd consider as the disadvantages of the Z Ultra.
Sent from my C6802 using xda app-developers app
I clearly stated multiple times that everything i stated was based on my personal experience for the very reason that this is a z ultra forum, most people who frequent this forum will be z ultra owners of which there will be many people that do like the z ultra.
All the negatives i wrote about are based on my experiences and my uses of the phone, they wont be the same nor should they be the same as everyone's else...as of now i find the note 3 suits my needs better than the z ultra, does that mean i find the note 3 perfect....NO...does that mean the z ultra is a bad phone....NO
I use most of my phones stock, i seldom root much less use custom ROMS...if a phone does do or perform the way i want out the box then iam less likely to keep it...
The OP asked if its worth switching from the note 2 to z ultra....now since i used the note 2 for over a year before switching i felt my input could be of help, its up to the OP to look into the issues i stated and see for him/herself if 1) he can actually see the same issues stated in the phone 2) if he does see the issues are they a deal breaker for him
One thing i do know for sure is that iam not the only one who feels the way i do, each point i made has already been made by different forum members,
For example the font being too small, there is already a thread made about it in the forum, the screen issues i mentioned forum member angelofmusic has stated my experience with actual measurements made
Iam sure the z ultra is a good phone for some, but its just not for me
I have been using many phones before the Z.U. Honestly I only like Samsung phone for the Galaxy S1,S2. Since s3, the quality is, sorry for all Samsung users, never be able to beat Sony.
If you compare between the screen of Z.U and Samsung phone. Indeed the samsung will have brighter, more vivid colors, but not as real as the Z.U. I am an Z.U users and I am giving my personal opinion.
To the OP, I do NOT think it is worth to switch to the Note2. When you buy the Z.U, you know that the size is large and at some points, it may cause inconvenience. For the Note 2, it might be smaller, but I think you will miss the badass screen of Z.U soon.
With me, there is no reason to swith from Z.U to Note2, only if it is because of the battery. However, using a Phablet like the Z.U, you should prepare that the battery will not last all day long like smaller ones. Why? besides the badass screen, you have the Snap 800 inside, which is far too strong for any usual tasks.
justsomebody said:
I have been using many phones before the Z.U. Honestly I only like Samsung phone for the Galaxy S1,S2. Since s3, the quality is, sorry for all Samsung users, never be able to beat Sony.
If you compare between the screen of Z.U and Samsung phone. Indeed the samsung will have brighter, more vivid colors, but not as real as the Z.U. I am an Z.U users and I am giving my personal opinion.
To the OP, I do NOT think it is worth to switch to the Note2. When you buy the Z.U, you know that the size is large and at some points, it may cause inconvenience. For the Note 2, it might be smaller, but I think you will miss the badass screen of Z.U soon.
With me, there is no reason to swith from Z.U to Note2, only if it is because of the battery. However, using a Phablet like the Z.U, you should prepare that the battery will not last all day long like smaller ones. Why? besides the badass screen, you have the Snap 800 inside, which is far too strong for any usual tasks.
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Click to collapse
Seems like OP wants to switch from note 2 to z ultra not the other way around
Sent from my C6802 using xda app-developers app
thanx guys for ur input ,much appreciated. I have until tomorrow to make the deal so I am trying to consider all the facts. the pros and cons.very strong points from both end. I just met the guy. the screen looked washed out to me while the note 2 looked unnecessarily colorful him. the funny thing is now my note 2 looks so small and I cant get over it. wow! the screen size and all those extra space to work with but I just cant say abt the battery life if it suits my need.
lasts thank you for your time and all those long reviews. I hope I make the right choice.
Also, Z Ultra will survive a toilet dip , that's something to be bragged about.
trellva25 said:
I clearly stated multiple times that everything i stated was based on my personal experience for the very reason that this is a z ultra forum, most people who frequent this forum will be z ultra owners of which there will be many people that do like the z ultra.
All the negatives i wrote about are based on my experiences and my uses of the phone, they wont be the same nor should they be the same as everyone's else...as of now i find the note 3 suits my needs better than the z ultra, does that mean i find the note 3 perfect....NO...does that mean the z ultra is a bad phone....NO
I use most of my phones stock, i seldom root much less use custom ROMS...if a phone does do or perform the way i want out the box then iam less likely to keep it...
The OP asked if its worth switching from the note 2 to z ultra....now since i used the note 2 for over a year before switching i felt my input could be of help, its up to the OP to look into the issues i stated and see for him/herself if 1) he can actually see the same issues stated in the phone 2) if he does see the issues are they a deal breaker for him
One thing i do know for sure is that iam not the only one who feels the way i do, each point i made has already been made by different forum members,
For example the font being too small, there is already a thread made about it in the forum, the screen issues i mentioned forum member angelofmusic has stated my experience with actual measurements made
Iam sure the z ultra is a good phone for some, but its just not for me
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Good so like after I sold a phone, I dont keep hanging around the old forums to post stuff like you just did. Just does not make sense to hang around a forum for a device I only had for a few months and did not like...I move on with my life to the new phone I got and the corresponding forums...
I already replied to all your points before so I wont rehash that. I do not mean the Note 3 is a bad phone nor that the Ultra is perfect, it sure is not. But your post really blows things out of proportions. Your opinion it is and I totally disagree with most of it as I said...so that is MY opinion too.
The OP will decide at the end.
Pannam said:
thanx guys for ur input ,much appreciated. I have until tomorrow to make the deal so I am trying to consider all the facts. the pros and cons.very strong points from both end. I just met the guy. the screen looked washed out to me while the note 2 looked unnecessarily colorful him. the funny thing is now my note 2 looks so small and I cant get over it. wow! the screen size and all those extra space to work with but I just cant say abt the battery life if it suits my need.
lasts thank you for your time and all those long reviews. I hope I make the right choice.
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I always had to tame down the colors on my Note phones using a kernel feature or at least changing to movie mode or something like that. The sony just looks perfect to me but I am used to working on a calibrated monitor for photo editing so give it a bit of time for your eyes to adjust maybe.
In any case, good luck with your decision!
I wont deny I was afraid of changing from Samsung after so many phones and being a Note 1 and Note 2 fan but now I cannot see myself without my Ultra! :good:
Pannam said:
Hi guys,
I am about to exchange my note 2 with z ultra amd some added cash ? Should I go forward ? Comparing the battery life after 4.3 update is it better, a little better or a ton better ?
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I came from the note 2 myself... The battery on The Z Ultra is just fine, it actually got considerably better after a few weeks use. I was paranoid at first worrying when I got down to 50% etc, but honestly one the initial setup and benchmarking frenzy was over it easily lasts me a day now. I normally charge between 5 and 7 when I get home after work, and thats the only time I do charge, its left unplugged overnight. When I come to charge it the next day I've usually got 40%+ left in the tank. To summarise I don't worry about battery whatsoever with this device. :good:
People keep complaining about the black levels on the ZU's screen - but they don't seem to realize what accurate colours truly are.
If you are the type of person who sets their TV to 'vivid' or 'dynamic' or one of those other fake settings that artificially enhance the hues and saturation of colours to make them pop - then by all means, please go the Samsung route; to your eyes, the colours are most likely going to seem more vibrant and thus imply that the screen quality is actually better.
If you want colours that are as close to those you will get from a professionally calibrated television set or monitor - the Sony is hands down the way to go.
Even comparing the Sony ZU side by side with my first generation Galaxy Note, the colours on the Note can in some cases strike out a little more - but when I put them up against my 55" professionally calibrated Samsung TV - the Sony's colours are most in line with the calibrated display - the Samsung looks skewed.
In short, if you think skin tones actually are supposed to be orange - stick with a Samsung.
If you want accurate, realistic depiction of your media - go Sony.
hassanmahmood said:
People keep complaining about the black levels on the ZU's screen - but they don't seem to realize what accurate colours truly are.
If you are the type of person who sets their TV to 'vivid' or 'dynamic' or one of those other fake settings that artificially enhance the hues and saturation of colours to make them pop - then by all means, please go the Samsung route; to your eyes, the colours are most likely going to seem more vibrant and thus imply that the screen quality is actually better.
If you want colours that are as close to those you will get from a professionally calibrated television set or monitor - the Sony is hands down the way to go.
Even comparing the Sony ZU side by side with my first generation Galaxy Note, the colours on the Note can in some cases strike out a little more - but when I put them up against my 55" professionally calibrated Samsung TV - the Sony's colours are most in line with the calibrated display - the Samsung looks skewed.
In short, if you think skin tones actually are supposed to be orange - stick with a Samsung.
If you want accurate, realistic depiction of your media - go Sony.
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well, cannot agree more on that
Hi, I've had this season many phones, including the LG G3, SAMSUNG GALAXY S5, HTC ONE M8 and IPHONE 5S ... until 2 days ago that I bought my new SONY XPERIA ULTRA Z, and say, I'm delighted.
The Lg g3 is pure lag, lag everywhere, either version ko which is, anyway, this is very poorly optimized emovil.
The samsung galaxy s5 is fine, but still does not bring me too, has good camera and good video recording but little more.
The htc one m8 is the more fluid cell phone that I have had, is already playing and the screen where you indicated you ... wonderful, and also good materials etc (which I sold for hobby)
The iphone 5s is a good mobile but small screen and limitations ... that if enough of losd best camera ... and very quickly the photo shoot.
Tired of being a mobile almost every week (yes, believe me), I saw a good deal on a store in my city, the ultra z sony xperia 4G at a great price, and the truth or what I thought ...
Well, the screen is a delight while not ips is tft but with very good contrast, complete fluency .... and now that I just happen to fly this GOOGLE EDITION, also to watch movies, surf, play etc is lovely.
Also now I have the ionplementacion in art, and goes even faster, if that came out just one year ago but is still top mobile practically, with 2 gigs of ram, big screen of 6.44 inches 1080p FULL HD, processor 800 to 2.2 SNAPDRAGON rendering and long life you have left, water resistant up to 128 cards supports gigs, the safest thing we ANDROID L, even the GOOGLE EDITION.
Abri this post to comment that I like it a lot the phone, I've also had the note 3 and really, it looked like toy beside ..
a hug and long life to the ULTRA Z !!
Congrats and welcome One small correction though, the Ultra has an IPS panel and not a TFT. It was the first Sony phone (as far as i know) to use an IPS panel. The Z1 on the other hand (which got released around the same time as the Ultra) has a TFT panel.
H. E. Pennypacker said:
Congrats and welcome One small correction though, the Ultra has an IPS panel and not a TFT. It was the first Sony phone (as far as i know) to use an IPS panel. The Z1 on the other hand (which got released around the same time as the Ultra) has a TFT panel.
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I Always thought it looked a lot better but I stayed with tft doubt, that just solved me a hug and thanks !!:good:
H. E. Pennypacker said:
Congrats and welcome One small correction though, the Ultra has an IPS panel and not a TFT. It was the first Sony phone (as far as i know) to use an IPS panel. The Z1 on the other hand (which got released around the same time as the Ultra) has a TFT panel.
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Can not see if the internet ips haha, pass me a link if you can please
kevin_23 said:
Can not see if the internet ips haha, pass me a link if you can please
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Well, to make it a little more technical, TFT LCD - or "Thin-film-transistor liquid-crystal display" is what every LCD display out there is. IPS, or "In-Plane Switching" is still TFT, but improved in several areas (like viewing angles and contrast). The Z1 uses a TN VA-TFT LCD panel (which is the standard and older TFT technology with poor(er) viewing angles, while the Z Ultra, Z2, Z3 etc. uses AH-IPS TFT LCD panels which solves the viewing angle issues and also contrast. Most places will simply refer the panel as a TFT LCD, but devs and other more in-depth articles (which hilariously i can't seem to find now) have confirmed that the Z Ultra does indeed have an IPS panel.
There are to different types of panels used in the Z Ultra. A Sharp panel, which looks to be the best one (contrast is a little better) and an AUO panel. You can check your own display by using ADB or running a command directly from a mobile terminal on your Ultra. I do however (again) not remember the command, but i guess someone else around here will have it.
H. E. Pennypacker said:
Well, to make it a little more technical, TFT LCD - or "Thin-film-transistor liquid-crystal display" is what every LCD display out there is. IPS, or "In-Plane Switching" is still TFT, but improved in several areas (like viewing angles and contrast). The Z1 uses a TN VA-TFT LCD panel (which is the standard and older TFT technology with poor(er) viewing angles, while the Z Ultra, Z2, Z3 etc. uses AH-IPS TFT LCD panels which solves the viewing angle issues and also contrast. Most places will simply refer the panel as a TFT LCD, but devs and other more in-depth articles (which hilariously i can't seem to find now) have confirmed that the Z Ultra does indeed have an IPS panel.
There are to different types of panels used in the Z Ultra. A Sharp panel, which looks to be the best one (contrast is a little better) and an AUO panel. You can check your own display by using ADB or running a command directly from a mobile terminal on your Ultra. I do however (again) not remember the command, but i guess someone else around here will have it.
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thank you very much for the explanation !!, actually my screen seems very good, and I've not had a few phones, a hug !![emoji2]
I recently got a Google Play edition and it's been refreshing. My Mega (6.3) was killing me from all sorts of things, So glad to not have to deal with Samsung anymore. Also get to finally use LTE too.
Link: http://www.phonearena.com/news/Alle...-January-5th-alongside-a-5.9-Z4-Ultra_id63165
Highlights to look forward to:
Quad HD Triluminos display
4 GB of RAM
Running Android 5.0 Lollipop and its 64-bit kernel
A new camera sensor and two more lens elements for collecting more light. Dual LED flash expected.
3420 mAh battery
Bad points:
Z4 Ultra expected to feature a 5.9" screen, not a 6.4'' panel
Lower 16Mp Camera for Z4 Ultra. Z4 Expected to have 20.7Mp.
Source indicate the Z4 & Z4 Ultra will be equipped with an 805 generation
kanej2006 said:
Link: http://www.phonearena.com/news/Alle...-January-5th-alongside-a-5.9-Z4-Ultra_id63165
Highlights to look forward to:
Quad HD Triluminos display
4 GB of RAM
Running Android 5.0 Lollipop and its 64-bit kernel
A new camera sensor and two more lens elements for collecting more light. Dual LED flash expected.
3420 mAh battery
Bad points:
Z4 Ultra expected to feature a 5.9" screen, not a 6.4'' panel
Lower 16Mp Camera for Z4 Ultra. Z4 Expected to have 20.7Mp.
Source indicate the Z4 & Z4 Ultra will be equipped with an 805 generation
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Oh, smaller? Then meh...
maxld said:
Oh, smaller? Then meh...
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Yeah, when I read it'll be smaller I was put off.
I don't mind if it was decreased to 6.2 or 6.1 but under 6.
kanej2006 said:
Yeah, when I read it'll be smaller I was put off.
I don't mind if it was decreased to 6.2 or 6.1 but under 6.
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5.4 and 5.9 no point then. needs to be 6.25 to 6.5. Should be getting eaiser to make the beziles smaller to decrease the overall size
5.9 inch and Snapdragon 805? Completely uninteresting. It will be to use the Ultra and then hope that there will be a Z5 Ultra or a Z4 Tablet Compact with 810, otherwise time to switch brands. Coolpad has a 7 incher that is promising - not in the current version, though but they got the screen right (1080p).
6.5-7 inch is what I want for sure but in case of "emergency" (i.e. lack of suitable devices), a Z4 Tablet Compact could do the trick next year.
blueether said:
needs to be 6.25 to 6.5. Should be getting eaiser to make the beziles smaller to decrease the overall size
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Agreed. There are plenty of manufacturers producing large devices having super thin bezels.
Sony need to catch up and start making nicer slimmer bezels...
They could easily produce a 6.2-6.5'' phone having a nice thin bezel whilst being physically smaller than our current Z Ultras, nothing wrong with that...
should be same screen size + much smaller bezels
I dont care too much about camera - its a 'note' device
If you want good photos, you should buy a real camera - we all know that sony cameras are crap on own sony devices
S805 isn't worth the upgrade.
It's speed gains are neglible.
I'll happily stick with the ZU for a long time.
5.9? Yeah I will go back to the nexus line with the Nexus 6.
If this phone was actually a phone I would buy it!
http://www.intrinsyc.com/products/qualcomm/mdp-smartphone-powered-by-snapdragon-810-processor.aspx
I don't think Sony should even consider calling it an ultra unless it's at least 6.2" display.
I think i would rather go to a 7" tablet with small bezels than go smaller that that.
5.9 screen is false news. Ultra will remain 6.4 with QHD. SD810 and 4 GB of ram. Camera I do not know. Also the usb cap and magnetic charger pin wil be gone.
---------- Post added at 10:22 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:20 AM ----------
By the way no Z4 at CES. MWC it is.
---------- Post added at 10:27 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:22 AM ----------
http://www.androidorigin.com/sony-x...s-master-hx-amp-imx220-sensor/#comment-326750
thekingisnaked said:
5.9 screen is false news. Ultra will remain 6.4 with QHD. SD810 and 4 GB of ram. Camera I do not know. Also the usb cap and magnetic charger pin wil be gone.
By the way no Z4 at CES. MWC it is.
http://www.androidorigin.com/sony-x...s-master-hx-amp-imx220-sensor/#comment-326750
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the master has spoken
Time will tell young padavan
happy i bought the note 4 now with better specs
zurkx said:
happy i bought the note 4 now with better specs
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And TouchWiz and phone mode 640 DPI and....
I have checked the Note 4 and no, I don't see anything it can do that I can't do on my C6833. On the contrary, rather.
It is good that the Z4 Ultra seems to be 6.44 again. This is very good news, lets just hope for a Snapdragon 810. If not, I guess I will wait for it to come down in price (not interested in buying an 805 device full price since the upgrade from the 800 isn't worth it).
I would buy it, however, the Quad Hd combo with a relatively large screen is a concern for battery life.
panyan said:
the master has spoken
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That makes a sense as if its was 5.9 they couldn't call it ultra I'm happy too I will upgrade definitely.
shadowcore said:
I would buy it, however, the Quad Hd combo with a relatively large screen is a concern for battery life.
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Correct, however, Sony will need to upgrade the battery to at least 4000 mAh which is indeed very possible.
Simply make the phone a little thicker and throw in a larger battery.
There are several handsets already having 4000 mAh batteries yet remain very thin.
^^, especially as the current ultra is too thin as it is (and with only so so battery life). was hoping for a 4000mah battery in this to be honest, 5000 in next
Another decent rival for the Z Ultra
http://www.androidauthority.com/huawei-p8-max-hands-on-601694/
octa-core 64-bit Kirin 930 processor (in big.LITTLE formation)
3GB RAM
16 or 64GB storage
6.8-inch Full HD
6.8mm thick
13MP rear camera with optical image stabilisation
dual-color dual-LED flash
8MP front camera
^ Nice looking device, however, some things to consider:
- Far to big to fit in most pockets
- Lack of support/customer service should something go wrong
- Roms/Kernals and customization limited since compared with the big boys such as Samsung, LG, Sony & HTC...
Otherwise it's great looking and the specification is more than decent.
We are talking mere millimetres larger than the z ultra. Unnoticeable as far as I am concerned. I'm waiting with baited breath...
Sent from my C6833 using XDA Free mobile app
I really like size of the P8Max but the LeTv Le Max has much much better specs and it's about the same size as the SZU.
http://www.androidauthority.com/letv-announces-superphones-usb-c-600978/
However, I will probably wait and see which one has better band support for Tmobile before I jump in and get one.
kanej2006 said:
^ Nice looking device, however, some things to consider:
- Far to big to fit in most pockets
- Lack of support/customer service should something go wrong
- Roms/Kernals and customization limited since compared with the big boys such as Samsung, LG, Sony & HTC...
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These are all the same arguments people use about the XZU.
I'm surprised you didn't add "Would look too silly to hold against your head."
rickgillyon said:
These are all the same arguments people use about the XZU.
I'm surprised you didn't add "Would look too silly to hold against your head."
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Haha, forgot to add that one! I've had several looks and laughter when I've been talking on my Z Ultra...
Imagine talking using the 6.8'' Huawei P8 Max!!
That said, I WISH the Z4 Ultra is between 6-6.2'' and sports slim bezels. That way it won't look too big...
Anything larger than the current 6.4'' Z Ultra won't fit most of my pockets and therefore are not practical or portable.
kanej2006 said:
Imagine talking using the 6.8'' Huawei P8 Max!!
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It adds like 1mm length to the XZU, the size difference with the smaller bezels is trivial, for a bigger screen. Sounds like a good trade-off to me. The main problem for phones like this is that the XZU is insanely cheap at the moment...
rickgillyon said:
It adds like 1mm length to the XZU, the size difference with the smaller bezels is trivial, for a bigger screen. Sounds like a good trade-off to me. The main problem for phones like this is that the XZU is insanely cheap at the moment...
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Yeah, here in Dubai, a brand new Z Ultra is 999 AED which is £182!!
Once the new P8 Max is released, I'll be interested to see a review. If the battery performance is great, screen is superb, camera quality is excellent then I may be interested. Should it come with stereo speakers then it's a bonus...
I don't see why Sony have stereo speakers with every high end device accept for the Z Ultra. Also flash is missing. Hopefully we'll get these in the Z4 Ultra if it is ever released.
here in the UK you can pick up a XZU for under £200 brand new.
I keep saying I will buy a spare one because if mine broke and I couldn't buy a replacement, and since there's no real alternative, I would cry.
it is Kirin 935 not 930 with 2.2 gh
the p8 is the one with Kirin 930