Sony Xperia T2 Ultra: Entertainment at your fingertips

SINGAPORE — There is always a trade-off when it comes to owning a large-screen phone: You get to enjoy the perks of having a big screen when, for instance, watching videos, but the phone cannot fit comfortably into your pocket, nor allow a good grip considering that it is bigger than the average palm. Sony’s latest release, the Xperia T2 Ultra, however, solves such problems.

The smartphone, which comes with a mid-range price tag, has a large screen but is only 7.6mm thick. It is convenient to carry and can be easily kept in a pouch or the pocket of a jacket. Its slimness allows users to hold it without worrying that they might drop it.

Powered by a Snapdragon quad-core 1.4GHz processor with 1GB of RAM and 8GB of on-board storage, loading apps is painless with minimal likelihood of the phone lagging.

The 6-inch HD Triluminos display provides a better experience when watching videos or viewing images in terms of brightness and sharpness, an upgrade from previous Sony smartphone releases. However, it is not perfect for viewing under direct sunlight — it has to be tilted slightly for better visibility.

The large screen is great for watching YouTube videos. There was no need to hold the phone up close as with smaller devices.

Smartphone photography is easy with the Xperia T2 Ultra, as users no longer have to keep a whole folder of third-party apps for editing pictures: The phone’s camera app has a variety of built-in editing apps such as portrait retouch, background defocus and sweep panorama.

But while the 13-megapixel rear camera shoots good photos thanks to the in-built apps, the 1.1-megapixel front camera will disappoint selfie fans as it makes pictures appear noisy, especially in dark-lit areas.

Besides the camera app, Sony has installed some of its own unique apps, such as the Walkman music-player app and a movie-editing app. These apps are easy to use and with a few simple clicks and swipes, you are good to go.

Like most of its predecessors, the Xperia’s design catches the eye with its sleek appearance. There were times during testing when people asked what the phone model was when it was used in public.

The T2 Ultra comes with an embedded 3,000mAH battery and the phone can survive a whole day’s use even with 4G data usage. It also comes with battery STAMINA mode, which automatically turns off functions to save power when apps are left unattended.

The Sony Xperia T2 Ultra is built to make users more than just contactable: Its slim and sleek design and great battery life make it a better option for those who seek entertainment on the go.

It is now available at S$598. The phone also comes in a dual-SIM version, the Sony Xperia T2 Ultra Dual, which retails at S$548.