Sony Xperia Z Ultra review: The Android 4.4.3 KitKat update for the Sony Xperia Z Ultra GPE edition has been available for a few weeks now. The International Business Times has noted at least 19 fixes included and additions included in the new 4.4.3 KitKat upgrade. The site noted that users wouldn’t notice any obvious changes to the user interface but will enjoy enhancements to apps and services.

Have you upgraded your Sony Xperia Z Ultra to Android 4.4.3? Tell us in the comments section below your experience when getting the new OS variant and if you had any issues.

Features of the Sony Xperia Z Ultra include a 2.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, 2GB RAM and an 8MP camera. The unit is the first phablet that the Japanese company is putting out and will walk that thin line between expensive smartphones and tablets. The screen comes in at whopping 6.4 inches with high-res display of 1080 x 1920 and pixel density of 342.

According to Tech Spot, the design is centered on a 6.5mm thick size that is still slimmer than the Galaxy S4. Users will like the different concept of having glass both on the front and back of the phone although this means more fingerprint smudges. The front speaker and microphone in the device are discretely tucked away in some small lines leaving for a lot of space for the Sony, NFC and Xperia logos on the minimalistic design.

Tech Spot further states the device has concealed microUSB on top and a dock connector that is magnetic. On the right, users will have a 3.5mm headphone jack, micro sim slots, power button and the up-down volume rocker.

Another quality that consumers are going to love is that it is waterproof claims Tech Spot. The device is supposed to be water resistant to a depth of 1.5 meters for up to half an hour. As much as this is a plus in case you drop your phone in water, it does not mean that one can operate the touchscreen underwater.

Sony has fully optimized on their cost-friendly e-IPS TFT LCD panel that you find on a majority of the expensive smartphone displays. Users who watch movies, love images and play games will be very satisfied with the 344 pixels per inch (PPI) despite Tech Spot claiming that the color will not be as good as the Galaxy S4’s super AMOLED. The Z Ultra however wins when it comes to outdoor use in terms of clarity and legibility.

One key challenge for the unit is its premium price. A quick look on Amazon.com shows an unlocked international version of the Xperia Z Ultra priced at around $400.

In an April 2014 report published on Phones Review, it noted that a Sony Xperia Z Ultra 2 may be made available and could be launched by the end of the year.