Sony is getting ready to enter the phablet market with the Xperia ZU. The device will be one of the first devices to be powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor and it will also feature a large 6.44-inch display. Screenshots of the phablet have appeared online and they confirm that this is going to be one very big smartphone.
Screenshots of the Xperia ZU's home screen and settings app were posted to XDA, and as you can see in the photo, Sony is using a very large display in its first phablet. The ZU's screen has already been a hot topic in the mobile world since Sony is pushing the envelope between phablet and tablet by using a 6.44-inch display.
Sony is positioning the Xperia ZU to take on two highly anticipated phablets, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and HTC One Max. The Xperia ZU will use the same design that Sony has been winning praise for in its most recent smartphones and tablets. The company has focused on using quality materials like aluminum and glass while shying away from using plastic like some of its rivals. The Xperia ZU will also be one of the first devices to ship with Qualcomm's newest Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor. The new processor will give the Xperia ZU the power it needs while also conserving battery life.
The Xperia ZU is expected to feature a 6.44-inch 1920 x 1080 IPS LCD X Reality Display with 342ppi (pixels per inch), Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, powered by a 2.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor with Adreno 330 graphics, include 16GB of internal storage, 2GB or RAM, an 8-megapixel rear camera, 1.3megapixel front facing camera, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, a microSD expansion slot with support for up to 64GB cards, and a 3,000 mAh battery.
The device will also use the same water and dust-resistant case the company is using on its flagship Xperia Z smartphone and Xperia Tablet Z. Like the Galaxy Note series, Sony is expected to include stylus support, although current rumors claim a stylus won't ship with the Xperia ZU. Instead users will reportedly be able to use any kind of pen or pencil for input on its scratch-resistant display.
We'll have to wait until July 4 for the official announcement but if the specs are true, Sony will have one of the largest and most powerful smartphones of 2013.
