Xperia Z1 f (Xperia Z1 mini) now official in Japan

Sony just unveiled the Xperia Z1 f (SO-02F), a 4.3-inch variant of the Xperia Z1 that will be carried exclusively by Japanese operator Docomo.

Sharing most of the specifications of its older sibling, the Xperia Z1 f is targeted to Android users who prefer smaller devices but don’t want to skimp on quality. The petite flagship features a 4.3-inch TFT LCD screen of 720p resolution, a Snapdragon 800 processor, 2GB of RAM, a 2300 mAh battery, and the same 20.7MP camera that equips the Xperia Z1.

Sony Xperia Z1 tipped to receive Android 4.4 KitKat update in November

A new rumour claims that Sony will release the Android 4.4 KitKat update for its flagship smartphone, the Xperia Z1, in November.

As per AndroidSaS, the Japanese giant is working on its update platform based on Android's latest mobile and tablet iteration, which was announced a few months back. The site reveals that the company plans to roll out the update for the flagship in the first week of November, and further claims that November 7 might be the Android 4.4 update rollout date for Xperia Z1.

Moreover, the site expects that after rolling out Android 4.4 KitKat update for Xperia Z1, the company might roll out the latest Android update for a few other Xperia devices like, Xperia Z Ultra and Xperia Z.

Sony Xperia Z1

Sony Xperia Z1 review

Sony Xperia Z1: Size and build

The new handset builds on the success of the Xperia Z, with the same 5-inch display and similar metal frame and front-and-back glass design language.

It’s even marginally bigger than the Xperia Z, an already hefty handset. The dimensions, for those who like stats, are: 144 x 74 x 8.5 mm. That’s taller and wider than the Xperia Z, but a touch thinner. It’s not light, either, at 170g.

But the benefit here is that the corners are smoother. The Z’s edges were slightly sharp but this is much gentler so it makes it much more comfortable to hold. It’s a more sumptuous, confident build quality than the Z.

It’s still pretty big and those with small hands should probably look elsewhere or be prepared for pained hands caused by stretching fingers across the glass.

The aluminium frame is demure and understated – you barely notice it but for the carefully-detailed power button, the same as the one on the Xperia Z. And further down the right hand edge there’s a new button, a dedicated camera shutter, hinting at the photographic focus of this phone.

The Z1 is available in three colours – white, black and purple. Black is the subtlest, white gleams and purple is gorgeous. Sony says the purple was arrived at because it’s a combination of red which is warm and reassuring and blue, which is a colour that excites. Whatever, it’s a very nice purple, which should be enough.

This is a well-built, beautifully styled handset. Only the iPhone 5 and HTC One better it in the design stakes.

Sony Xperia Z Ultra

Sony Xperia Z Ultra Review

Design

We could dance around the subject for a paragraph or two, but this reviewer believes in facing the big issues head on: the elephant in the room, if you will. The Sony Xperia Z Ultra is it -- the elephant in the room. With a 6.4-inch display, the Z Ultra is one of the biggest phones we've ever reviewed. And yes, it

is a phone, and not a tablet masquerading as something you can make a call on.

Though its size says otherwise, this device works exactly as a phone should. Though it can be turned, it is obviously supposed to be used in portrait mode. The lock screen is you first clue, as is the awkward layout of shortcuts when you view the phone's home screens in landscape view. It is a little strange at first to hold it to your face to take a call, but this passes in time.

It is an exceptionally big phone, one of those devices that will attract attention from strangers at the bus stop. It's not bad attention necessarily, many of the people who eyed of this reviewer with the Z Ultra seemed to be thinking, "who is that guy that he needs such a huge phone". The Z Ultra acts as a curious status symbol in this regard.