Sony announces Xperia T2 Ultra, its first selfie-loving emerging market phablet

This is Sony’s Xperia T2 Ultra, a six-inch Android smartphone that not only looks like a premium device, but has been made specifically for the emerging markets in mind. So that’s China, the Middle East, Africa and the Asia-Pacific — countries that will be the first, and perhaps the only regions to get this delight. Sony has said that it will be priced “in the mid-range” which is good news for everyone. But first, the obligatory specifications:

• 6” HD display (720p) with TRILUMINOSTM and Mobile BRAVIA Engine 2 for mobile
• 13 MP camera with Exmor RS for mobile
• 1.1 Mp front facing camera with Exmor R
• Access to Sony’s “one-touch” ecosystem of 132 NFC connected accessories
• Snapdragon Quad-core 1.4 GHz processor with 1GB of RAM and 8GB of on board storage (Micro SD slot expandable up to 32GB)
• Large 3000 mAh embedded battery with Battery STAMINA Mode

Look up at that, it’s a pretty damn decent set of specs. A large, clear display will most likely be the highlight of the T2 Ultra, which Sony says is ideal for “entertainment on the go!” Sony though, says that the 13MP camera is the selling point of the T2 Ultra, calling it an “innovative smart social camera” whatever that means. Let’s ignore for a moment that almost 99% of all smartphone cameras are both “smart” or “social” and concentrate on the new software features of the T2 Ultra’s camera.

Sony includes some cool software tweaks: Sweep Panorama, Timeshift Burst (32 shots taken in two seconds), Collage and Background defocus, which could be the best cameraphone feature yet. Just like with Lytro, The T2 Ultra will let us pick the focus point, be it the subject in the foreground or the background.

And here’s the kicker — Portrait Retouch. “Turn Xperia T2 Ultra into a virtual mirror and experiment with make-up effects before snapping the perfect self-portrait.” If that alone doesn’t sell Xperias, then the world is a cruel, bitter place.

There’s no release date or price set for the T2 Ultra, but what we do know is that it’ll be released in both LTE and non-LTE models. When it does launch, we’ll be happy to snap it up.