Sony Xperia C5 Ultra Dual is the third’Ultra’ device to have launched in India. Sony introduced the moniker with the Xperia Z Ultra, which was a flagship-level device in terms of specifications, but had a screen that was almost tablet-like as far as the size is concerned. The device got good reviews, though it was perhaps a little ahead of its time as far as people’s comfort with huge phones is concerned, and in the end, perhaps just a little bit too big for its own good.
With the next member of the series, Sony toned things down a bit with the launch of the Xperia T2 Ultra Dual, which had a 6-inch display. Sadly, the rest of the specs were watered down as well. The T2 Ultra was a mid-ranger at best in terms of specifications; a correction that diverged a bit too far from the Xperia Z Ultra.
In that sense, the Sony Xperia C5 Ultra Dual, which was announced in August this year, seems to strike the right balance between size and specifications while still living up to the’Ultra’ moniker. A little over two years after the Xperia Z Ultra was launched, how will Sony’s latest attempt perform in the real world? Let’s find out.
Design and display
If you are even considering buying the Sony Xperia C5 Ultra Dual, you hopefully know this very basic fact about the device - it’s a big phone. While Sony has managed to shave a millimetre of length and more than 4mm of width compared to the Xperia T2 Ultra dual, the Xperia C5 Ultra is still large enough to be noticed wherever you go. The Sony Xperia C5 Ultra Dual is heavier and slightly thicker than the T2 Ultra, while also sporting a marginally smaller battery.
In terms of build quality, we have no complaints about the Sony Xperia C5 Ultra Dual. Our white review unit had a glossy back finish, which is also the case with the other two colours the phone is available in - Black and Soft Mint. The glossy back means the phone is a little prone to smudges, but they aren’t really noticeable until you look carefully, at least on the white version. Though plastic and glass dominate most of the back and front, the Sony Xperia C5 Ultra Dual is built around a metallic frame, with plastic corners ostensibly to allow for better antenna performance.