Sony Xperia Z vs Z Ultra: Specifications Compared

Sony Xperia Z / Xperia Z Ultra (2013)

Definition: The Sony Xperia Z (model: C6603/C6606) and Xperia Z Ultra (model: C6802/C6833) are flagship Android smartphones launched by Sony in February 2013 (Xperia Z) and June 2013 (Xperia Z Ultra), marking Sony’s post-Ericsson era (Sony acquired Ericsson’s stake in 2012) push into premium waterproof, large-screen mobile devices. The Xperia Z targets mainstream flagship users with a balanced 5-inch design, while the Xperia Z Ultra caters to phablet enthusiasts with a massive 6.4-inch display and stylus support. Both devices feature Sony’s OmniBalance design language, IP57 dust/water resistance, and Bravia Engine 2 displays, setting new benchmarks for premium Android hardware in 2013.

Core Technical Specifications Comparison

Component	Sony Xperia Z (Flagship)	Sony Xperia Z Ultra (Phablet Flagship)
Display	5.0-inch TFT LCD Reality Display, 1920×1080 (FHD, 441 PPI), 16M colors, capacitive touchscreen, Bravia Engine 2, scratch-resistant shatterproof glass (Dragontrail), 60 Hz refresh rate	6.4-inch TFT LCD Reality Display, 1920×1080 (FHD, 342 PPI), 16M colors, capacitive touchscreen, Bravia Engine 2, scratch-resistant shatterproof glass (Dragontrail), stylus support (Sony S Pen & any pencil/stylus), 60 Hz refresh rate
Processor & Chipset	Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro APQ8064 (28 nm), quad-core 1.5 GHz Krait 300 CPU, Adreno 320 GPU	Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 MSM8274 (28 nm), quad-core 2.2 GHz Krait 400 CPU, Adreno 330 GPU
Memory & Storage	2 GB LPDDR2 RAM; 16/32 GB internal storage; microSD slot (up to 64 GB, hybrid SIM)	2 GB LPDDR3 RAM; 16/32 GB internal storage; microSD slot (up to 64 GB, hybrid SIM)
Camera System	Rear: 13.1 MP Exmor RS CMOS (back-illuminated), f/2.2, 1/3.06” sensor, OIS, auto-focus, LED flash, 1080p video at 30 fps, HDR, face detectionFront: 2.2 MP, f/2.4, 720p video at 30 fps	Rear: 8.1 MP Exmor RS CMOS, f/2.4, auto-focus, LED flash, 1080p video at 30 fps, HDRFront: 2.2 MP, f/2.4, 720p video at 30 fps
Battery & Charging	2330 mAh non-removable Li-ion; 10W micro-USB 2.0 charging; up to 11 h 3G talk time; no wireless charging	3050 mAh non-removable Li-ion; 10W micro-USB 2.0 charging; up to 24 h 3G talk time; no wireless charging
Connectivity	4G LTE (Cat 3, 100 Mbps downlink), Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, GPS/GLONASS, DLNA, micro-USB 2.0, 3.5 mm headphone jack	4G LTE (Cat 4, 150 Mbps downlink), Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, GPS/GLONASS, DLNA, micro-USB 2.0, 3.5 mm headphone jack
Operating System	Launched with Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean; upgradable to Android 5.1.1 Lollipop; custom UI: Sony Xperia UI (minimal skin over stock Android)	Launched with Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean; upgradable to Android 5.1.1 Lollipop; custom UI: Sony Xperia UI
Design & Durability	OmniBalance design; glass front/back, aluminum frame; dimensions: 139×71×7.9 mm; weight: 146 g; colors: Black, White, Purple; IP57 rating (dust-tight, waterproof up to 1m for 30 mins)	OmniBalance design; glass front/back, aluminum frame; dimensions: 179×92×6.5 mm; weight: 212 g; colors: Black, White, Purple; IP57 rating
Unique Features	One-touch mirroring (NFC), Sony Media Remote app, PlayStation Mobile support	Stylus compatibility (no pressure sensitivity), one-touch mirroring, Sony Media Remote, PlayStation Mobile support

Key Model-Specific Selling Points & Innovations

1. Sony Xperia Z: The Balanced Waterproof Flagship

OmniBalance Design & IP57 Durability: The Xperia Z’s symmetrical glass-aluminum build was a design breakthrough in 2013, blending premium aesthetics with practical IP57 dust/water resistance. Users could submerge the phone in 1m of water for 30 mins without damage— a rare feature for flagships at the time, beating competitors like the Samsung Galaxy S4 (no IP rating) and iPhone 5 (no waterproofing).
13.1 MP Exmor RS Camera: The rear camera’s back-illuminated Exmor RS sensor delivered sharp, low-light photos and 1080p video, leveraging Sony’s Cybershot imaging expertise. Optical image stabilization (OIS) reduced blur in handheld shots, making it one of the best camera phones of 2013.
FHD Reality Display with Bravia Engine 2: The 5-inch 1080p display offered vibrant colors and deep contrast, optimized for multimedia consumption (videos, photos, gaming). Dragontrail glass prevented scratches from daily use, addressing a common pain point for glass-backed phones.

2. Sony Xperia Z Ultra: The Phablet Powerhouse

6.4-Inch Large Screen & Stylus Support: The Xperia Z Ultra’s 6.4-inch FHD display was one of the largest smartphone screens in 2013, ideal for media streaming, document editing, and gaming. Unlike Samsung’s S Pen-exclusive Galaxy Note series, it supported any stylus or pencil (no pressure sensitivity), making it accessible for casual note-taking and drawing.
Snapdragon 800 Performance: The 2.2 GHz Snapdragon 800 chipset was a significant upgrade over the Xperia Z’s Snapdragon S4 Pro, delivering faster app launches, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance (support for graphically intensive games like Asphalt 8).
Long Battery Life: The 3050 mAh battery provided up to 24 hours of 3G talk time, addressing the battery drain issues of large-screen devices. Its slim 6.5 mm profile also defied expectations— it was thinner than many 5-inch phones of the era, including the Xperia Z (7.9 mm).

Universal Limitations & Criticisms

Non-Removable Battery: Both phones used sealed batteries, which was controversial in 2013 (many flagships still had removable batteries). If the battery degraded over time, users had to replace it via a service center instead of swapping it out themselves.
Glass Back Scratch Vulnerability: While Dragontrail glass was scratch-resistant, the glass back was prone to shattering if dropped on hard surfaces. Users often needed a case to protect the premium build.
Limited Software Updates: Sony only upgraded the Xperia Z/Z Ultra to Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, skipping Android 6.0 Marshmallow. This left users with outdated features (e.g., no Doze mode for battery optimization) and security vulnerabilities after 2016.
Camera Performance Trade-Offs (Z Ultra): The Xperia Z Ultra’s 8.1 MP rear camera was a downgrade from the Xperia Z’s 13.1 MP sensor, prioritizing slimness over imaging quality. Photos lacked the sharpness and low-light performance of the Xperia Z.
Fingerprint Magnet Design: The glass front/back collected fingerprints easily, requiring frequent cleaning to maintain the OmniBalance aesthetic.

Release & Market Performance

Launch Dates: Xperia Z (February 2013, global); Xperia Z Ultra (June 2013, global).
Pricing: Xperia Z (~€599 unlocked); Xperia Z Ultra (~€649 unlocked) — positioning both as premium flagships competing with the Samsung Galaxy S4 (~€599) and Galaxy Note 3 (~€699).
Sales Highlights: The Xperia Z was a commercial hit for Sony, selling over 10 million units worldwide and establishing Sony as a serious contender in the premium Android market. The Xperia Z Ultra performed well in productivity-focused markets (e.g., Japan, Europe) but struggled in regions where large phones were less popular (e.g., North America).
Discontinuation: Phased out in 2014, replaced by the Xperia Z2 (flagship) and Xperia Z3 Ultra (phablet), which added better cameras, faster charging, and Android 4.4 KitKat at launch.

Legacy

The Xperia Z and Xperia Z Ultra are remembered as defining flagships of Sony’s post-Ericsson era, popularizing the OmniBalance design language and waterproofing as a standard premium smartphone feature. The Xperia Z proved that Sony could blend style, durability, and performance, while the Z Ultra paved the way for Sony’s future large-screen devices (e.g., Xperia 1 series). Both phones solidified Sony’s reputation for multimedia excellence, with their Bravia displays and Exmor RS cameras setting benchmarks for the industry. Today, they are sought-after collector’s items for Android enthusiasts, prized for their iconic design and role in Sony’s mobile renaissance.