Sony Xperia T2 Ultra review: Big screen, long battery life
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.
After using the device for over a week, we think Sony largely succeeds. Xperia T2 Ultra is a good product. But on the pricing, Sony again misses a beat. However, before we talk about the price and value of T2 Ultra, let's take a look at the device.
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.
The touch response of the screen is fantastic.
The T2 Ultra screen displays rich and vibrant colours and has very good viewing angles. The brightness, however, is not adequate. It is sufficient for indoor use but in sunlight, the screen is too reflective. It is not unusable in sunlight if you manually bump up the screen brightness to full but we have seen brighter screens.
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.
Camera
T2 Ultra has a 13MP primary camera. The performance of the camera is decent. It is definitely not in the league of the cameras found on high-end Xperias or in phones like Galaxy S4, LG2 or even Gionee E7.
When we say decent, we mean that in good light T2 Ultra will click photos that your friends on Facebook or Twitter will not call shabby. It is particularly good when you shoot close ups or macros. But in low light, or if you shooting something indoor, T2 Ultra clicks images that have visible noise.
During our tests, we also didn't like the way the device processes images. It doesn't capture as much detail as some other 13MP cameras can do and tends to bump the sharpness in an image. The effect is that the images look processed and not natural.
The over-processing is also visible in 720P and 1080P videos that T2 Ultra can shoot. Thankfully, the final output is more than satisfactory, especially considering the price of the device. The videos capture adequate light (good exposure) and keep subjects in focus even when you are shooting from a moving vehicle.
The front camera can shoot images in 1.1MP. It is good enough for video chats.
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.
Compared to similarly-priced devices, the core hardware in T2 Ultra doesn't look too impressive. But Sony has optimized the software on the device very well. We did not face any lag on the device while opening apps, scrolling through lists or browsing images. With the native video player app the device can handle 1080P videos in MP4 well. But for some other formats like MKV and AVI, we had to use MX Player.
GPS in the device works very well. The satellite lock is acquired quickly and is maintained well.
Overall, we found the performance of T2 Ultra satisfactory. Despite its modest hardware, it doesn't lag. There are occasions when it feels a little slow, for example while installing apps or while multitasking between two three demanding apps, but these occasions are rare and not bothersome.
While making calls with T2 Ultra, we found the call quality to be good. The device has two sim slots.
Battery life is the highlight of T2 Ultra. After pairing the device with a 3G connection, we used it for nearly 20 hours before we had to recharge the phone. For a device with a big screen, this is fantastic battery life!
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.
Micromax Knight offers comparable performance, slightly better screen, more premium design and slightly better camera at less than Rs 20,000. But the screen measures five inches and we still don't hear great things about aftersales service of Micromax.
Similarly, Galaxy Grand 2 offers similar performance and a better camera compared to T2 Ultra at a price that is around Rs 3000 less. But then Grand 2 has a 5.2-inch screen (smaller) and doesn't look as good as T2 Ultra.
On the other hand, if you don't want a big screen, you can get Nexus 5 by spending around Rs 3,000 more. With Nexus 5, you will get much better hardware - in fact really top class hardware -- and great performance.
T2 Ultra is a good phablet but it would have been easier for us to recommend if it was selling for around Rs 21,000 to Rs 22,000. But at a price of around Rs 25,000, we can recommend it to only those who must have a device with six-inch screen or users who need great battery life from their phablets.
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.
After using the device for over a week, we think Sony largely succeeds. Xperia T2 Ultra is a good product. But on the pricing, Sony again misses a beat. However, before we talk about the price and value of T2 Ultra, let's take a look at the device.
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.
The touch response of the screen is fantastic.
The T2 Ultra screen displays rich and vibrant colours and has very good viewing angles. The brightness, however, is not adequate. It is sufficient for indoor use but in sunlight, the screen is too reflective. It is not unusable in sunlight if you manually bump up the screen brightness to full but we have seen brighter screens.
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.
Camera
T2 Ultra has a 13MP primary camera. The performance of the camera is decent. It is definitely not in the league of the cameras found on high-end Xperias or in phones like Galaxy S4, LG2 or even Gionee E7.
When we say decent, we mean that in good light T2 Ultra will click photos that your friends on Facebook or Twitter will not call shabby. It is particularly good when you shoot close ups or macros. But in low light, or if you shooting something indoor, T2 Ultra clicks images that have visible noise.
During our tests, we also didn't like the way the device processes images. It doesn't capture as much detail as some other 13MP cameras can do and tends to bump the sharpness in an image. The effect is that the images look processed and not natural.
The over-processing is also visible in 720P and 1080P videos that T2 Ultra can shoot. Thankfully, the final output is more than satisfactory, especially considering the price of the device. The videos capture adequate light (good exposure) and keep subjects in focus even when you are shooting from a moving vehicle.
The front camera can shoot images in 1.1MP. It is good enough for video chats.
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.
Compared to similarly-priced devices, the core hardware in T2 Ultra doesn't look too impressive. But Sony has optimized the software on the device very well. We did not face any lag on the device while opening apps, scrolling through lists or browsing images. With the native video player app the device can handle 1080P videos in MP4 well. But for some other formats like MKV and AVI, we had to use MX Player.
GPS in the device works very well. The satellite lock is acquired quickly and is maintained well.
Overall, we found the performance of T2 Ultra satisfactory. Despite its modest hardware, it doesn't lag. There are occasions when it feels a little slow, for example while installing apps or while multitasking between two three demanding apps, but these occasions are rare and not bothersome.
While making calls with T2 Ultra, we found the call quality to be good. The device has two sim slots.
Battery life is the highlight of T2 Ultra. After pairing the device with a 3G connection, we used it for nearly 20 hours before we had to recharge the phone. For a device with a big screen, this is fantastic battery life!
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.
Micromax Knight offers comparable performance, slightly better screen, more premium design and slightly better camera at less than Rs 20,000. But the screen measures five inches and we still don't hear great things about aftersales service of Micromax.
Similarly, Galaxy Grand 2 offers similar performance and a better camera compared to T2 Ultra at a price that is around Rs 3000 less. But then Grand 2 has a 5.2-inch screen (smaller) and doesn't look as good as T2 Ultra.
On the other hand, if you don't want a big screen, you can get Nexus 5 by spending around Rs 3,000 more. With Nexus 5, you will get much better hardware - in fact really top class hardware -- and great performance.
T2 Ultra is a good phablet but it would have been easier for us to recommend if it was selling for around Rs 21,000 to Rs 22,000. But at a price of around Rs 25,000, we can recommend it to only those who must have a device with six-inch screen or users who need great battery life from their phablets.
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