The Sony Xperia Z Ultra is probably the largest smartphone in the market and can even be considered a small sized Tablet that supports phone calls. Like other Xperia Z series models, this device is water and dust proof. It is also suitable for visually impaired users and the Deaf. Amóvil was able to review this device for accessibility compliance thanks to a loan by the Vodafone Spain Foundation.

The Z Ultra has Android v4.4.2 and runs on a quad-core 2.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 chipset. It is also equipped with a 6.4-inch TFT display with 1080x1920 pixels resolution.

The handset features a rectangular minimalist design, and measures 179.4x92.2x6.5 mm. However, it is quite heavy. At 212 grams it is probably one of the heaviest smartphones in the market. It comes with a primary 8 megapixels camera with autofocus and a secondary 2 megapixels camera for videocalls. Regarding connectivity, it supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and NFC. It also includes GPS and is compatible with 4G data networks.

Accessibility review

Vision

The Z Ultra is suitable for blind users. It reads out loud most of the visual content available. However, because some elements are not labeled, these users may encounter a issues when dealing with native apps such as the calendar.

The handset is also adequate for some users with low vision. It comes with an inbuilt screen magnifier and allows increasing the size of the text. However, those who are color blind or have sensitivity to light may encounter difficulties using this device as it does not include a high contrast color scheme feature. Reversing foreground and background colors is not possible either.

Hearing

There is no information available on the Hearing Aid Compatibility Rating of the Z Ultra. Hearing aid users may be able listen to phone calls with their hearing devices in the M mode although there may be some interference. To use it in the T-coil mode a compatible loopset is required.

However, this handset supports instant messaging and videocalls which may improve the experience of these users.

Dexterity

The Xperia Z Ultra is unsuitable to users with dexterity disabilities. On one hand, it may be too heavy for some to hold and to carry. On the other, the voice recognition system that comes built-in did not work well during the testing. We were unable to open the Settings menu with voice command and to send emails.

However, it comes with an optical pen that opens menus and activates controls which may improve the experience of some of these users.

Comprehension

The Xperia Z Ultra is not adequate for users with poor comprehension skills. The display includes icons with a design that may be hard to identify and that do not comply with accessibility standards.

However, there is an app designed to guide users through the configuration process which may improve the experience of these users. It has been written in a simple and easy to understand language. Also, menus can be customized to meet users’ needs.

For more information about accessibility in Xperia Z Ultra, please consult the full accessibility report available in Amóvil.