NotebookCheck | Daniel Schuster

With all these possibilities, you can easily forget that this is a phone and you have to carry it around all day. This is not easy because of the sheer size, and operating the device with just one hand is a challenge, not everybody has large hands

phoneArena | Daniel P

The Xperia Z Ultra is an engineering marvel, with very thin and premium waterproof design, which is the only thing saving it from being called unwieldy.

SlashGear | Chris Burns

The Sony Z Ultra Google Play Edition carves out a rather unique place in the Google collection of devices. Here you've got an ideal middle-place between smartphone and tablet, edging a lot more in on the tablet side of things.

What Mobile | Jordan O'Brien

Out of all the phablets currently on the market, the Xperia Z Ultra is by far the best, with powerful internals and an immersive screen. If we had to choose between the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, which is Samsung's nearest competitor product, and the Sony Xperia Z Ultra we'd choose the Z Ultra every time.

The Mobile Indian | Samir Makwana

We would recommend the Xperia Z Ultra only for those folks who have no hassle carrying around and using a device with larger than 6-inch display.

Android Authority | Joshua Vergara

At one point it's brilliantly fun and the size is great for putting the world at your fingertips. In other instances it's just not a practical device unless it's used primarily in your office or home... All at once this is a phone that appeals to the toy driven kid in all of us, the spec hungry, and the part of us that is, for all intents and purposes, curious.

Digital Versus | Romain Thuret

The Sony Xperia Z Ultra is an atypical device when it comes to size and handling, making it a phone for niche users only (much more so than the Samsung Galaxy Note). But it has good battery life, a great screen and top-notch performance. This is a "different" type of product that requires a different approach. But if a device this size is what you're looking for, the Xperia Z Ultra just may be for you.

MSN Tech | David Phelan

Do you want a smartphone? Or a tablet? If you want both but really can't face carrying two gizmos at the same time, the Xperia Z Ultra could be the answer.

The Gadget Show

If you're willing to put that commitment int (sic), there's a lot to love - just please, try one out in a shop first. It really is that big.

T3 | David Phelan

If the size isn't a problem, this is a great phone - and the waterproof feature is a cool extra that makes great sense whether you're clumsy, eager to show off down the pub, or a mermaid.

Mobile Choice

Sony's Xperia Z Ultra sits somewhere between a smartphone and a tablet, offering an outstanding HD screen and packing plenty of power into a sexy frame, but proving cumbersome to carry around.

Wired UK | Dave Oliver

Too big to fit in a pocket, and too big for many to feel comfortable holding it to their ear for a phone call, it certainly isn't for everyone. But it's fast, and that screen is gorgeous -- if you want a phablet but don't want to carry a phone as well, it's worth a look.

Pocket-lint | Stuart Miles

You'll know in yourself whether you're one of those people who want a larger-than-life phone experience or not, but the Ultra really pushes the limits to what we'd call a phone. For us it brings too many compromises when it comes to practical use.

Trusted Reviews | Michael Sawh

The Sony Xperia Z Ultra is a big phone with a big performance but it's just too much to handle or keep in the pocket.

Mobile Syrup | Daniel Bader

The Xperia Z Ultra is a very fast, slim and capable smartphone, but too few apps take advantage of its almost-tablet screen, and its poor camera experience and high price makes it a hard sell to the average smartphone user.

The Verge | Dan Seifert

...most people looking for a big screen phone would probably be better off with the Galaxy Note 3.

pocketnow | Taylor Martin

At the end of the day, we're simply not sure where the Z Ultra fits into our lives, because it certainly doesn't fit in our pockets. And as a smartphone, it will likely spend too much time in our bags - rather than our hands and pockets - to be a primary device.

TechSpot | Tim Schiesser

Ultimately I can't recommend this phone over Samsung's Galaxy Note range, especially with the Galaxy Note III on the horizon, because it lacks an overall polish that you need from a large, note-taking-cum-multimedia device. In some respects the Sony Xperia Z Ultra is wonderful, but it's the critical areas where it falls behind the mark.

PC Advisor | Chris Martin

The phablet is extremely unwieldy and doesn't have a great camera. Sony would have been better off making this a 7in tablet rather than a 6.4in phone.

CNET UK | Andrew Hoyle

If you're after the largest screen you can find that will still just about fit into your pocket, the Xperia Z is worth checking out, but you might find its smaller siblings more usable.

Engadget | Brad Molen

For those dead-set on a larger smartphone, however, this is definitely the best 6-plus-inch device you can buy.

Digital Trends | Matt Safford

Sony's Xperia Z Ultra has a powerful processor and jaw-dropping 6.4-inch screen, but its camera, battery life, single speaker, camera, and sheer size make it just too big and boxy to use comfortably.

What Hi-Fi?

Even if its size does appeal, its poor video performance takes away one of the putative advantages of its USP in one fell swoop. And while music fares better, its camera is a disappointment too.