Sony's earlier phablet - Xperia Z Ultra - was a high-end device. It was a very good phablet but with a price of over Rs 40,000, it did not find many takers. Equally good devices were available at a lower price.
The Xperia T2 Ultra is Sony's second attempt at wooing consumers who want an XL size screen in their smartphones. But unlike the Z Ultra, T2 is not a flagship product. It is priced more modestly and packs in hardware that won't make you go wow. The goal is to sell a device that is value for money and not the one that is fastest, best looking and priciest. Well, in our opinion that is not a bad goal at all.
T2 Ultra is just 7.7mm thick and weighs little over 170 grams. For a phablet, these figures are very impressive. The slim and sleek design makes using T2 Ultra easier even though it is a large device.
The is screen but not exceptional. The screen with its 720P resolution is not as sharp as 1080P screens that have become common on phones that cost around Rs 25,000. While mostly it is something that you will rarely notice, but if you are reading an ebook or a PDF file you will see not-so-sharp text.
One major addition to the stock Android is a task bar that opens after a user taps on the multi-tasking button. From this task bar, a user can launch mini apps like Notes or Recorder, which are useful and float on the top of any open app or homescreen.
The device comes with a few third-party apps like McAfee Security and TrackID TV preloaded on it. We don't find them particularly useful.
The Xperia T2 Ultra is Sony's second attempt at wooing consumers who want an XL size screen in their smartphones. But unlike the Z Ultra, T2 is not a flagship product. It is priced more modestly and packs in hardware that won't make you go wow. The goal is to sell a device that is value for money and not the one that is fastest, best looking and priciest. Well, in our opinion that is not a bad goal at all.
Build and design
T2 Ultra follows the same design pattern that Sony is using in high-end range of Z smartphones. It is a sleek, slim and good looking device. The difference between T2 Ultra and other high-end Sony smartphones is the build material. The high-end devices like Xperia Z1 use metal body and a glass back cover. T2 Ultra has a plastic shell, albeit the one that is so glossy that it looks like glass. But the build quality and finishing is top notch. There are no loose parts and the device doesn't look or feel cheap. Another difference is that unlike high-end Xperia devices, T2 Ultra doesn't have water or dust resistant body.T2 Ultra is just 7.7mm thick and weighs little over 170 grams. For a phablet, these figures are very impressive. The slim and sleek design makes using T2 Ultra easier even though it is a large device.
Display
T2 Ultra has a 6-inch TFT screen. The resolution is 1280 x 720 pixels though around 80 pixels at the bottom of the screen are taken by virtual buttons - Home, Multitasking, Back.The is screen but not exceptional. The screen with its 720P resolution is not as sharp as 1080P screens that have become common on phones that cost around Rs 25,000. While mostly it is something that you will rarely notice, but if you are reading an ebook or a PDF file you will see not-so-sharp text.
Software
T2 Ultra is powered by Android 4.3. However, just like other Xperia phones, it uses Sony's custom user interface (UI). In terms of usability, Sony's UI in T2 Ultra is similar to stock Android. This is a good thing and unlike the UI that some of the Chinese brands are putting in their phones, doesn't confuse a user. Multitasking, app launcher and installer, even options to customize home screen, are similar to how they are on the stock Android.One major addition to the stock Android is a task bar that opens after a user taps on the multi-tasking button. From this task bar, a user can launch mini apps like Notes or Recorder, which are useful and float on the top of any open app or homescreen.
The device comes with a few third-party apps like McAfee Security and TrackID TV preloaded on it. We don't find them particularly useful.
Gaming
The MSM8228 processor in T2 Ultra has Adreno 305 graphics chip. This graphics chip is capable of handling most of the Android games available today, though we feel it won't be able to run the demanding games in future all that well. During our tests, we were able to play games like Asphalt 8, Angry Birds Go Cart and Dots on the device without facing low frame rates or lag. Asphalt 8, which requires really good hardware, ran at its maximum graphics setting on T2 Ultra but the races were smoother and car handled better when we selected medium quality graphics.
Verdict
With an MRP of Rs 25,990, we feel Xperia T2 Ultra is overpriced. If you are looking for a big-screen device, T2 Ultra is definitely the best one in its class. It is much better than HP Slate 6 Voice Tab, even though the HP device is cheaper by a couple of thousand rupees. But given the performance, hardware and experience it offers, T2 Ultra is not a value for money device.
Performance
T2 Ultra is powered by Snapdragon 400 quad-core processor. If you are interested, it is a variant of MSM8228 processor. The four cores of the processor use A7 ARM architecture, which is meant to be used in mainstream devices. The cores run at 1.4GHz. T2 Ultra has 1GB RAM, 8GB internal storage and support for a up to 32GB microSD card.
Post a Comment