Billed by Sony as "the world's slimmest and largest Full HD smartphone display," the 6.4-inch Xperia Z Ultra is the latest upscale gadget from the Japanese firm, possibly to upend Samsung's upcoming Galaxy Note 3 and the rumoured iPhone 6 from Apple.

This device, without doubt, ramps up the already searing global phablet fever sparked by Samsung's 2011 gamble - the introduction of the first Galaxy Note, initially ridiculed now unabashedly duplicated.

Target release date is Q3 2013 with no definite pricing at this point but one thing is sure - its price tag exceeds that of the original Xperia Z, which sells for more than $600 in many markets around the world.

However, there are certain things about the Sony phablet that could convince buyers to look beyond the Note 3, the 5.7-inch iPhone 6 and even the HTC One Mega. Three of them are outlined below.

A sleek and sexy beast indeed

The awkwardness of holding a gigantic smartphone is already past us and at 6.4-inch, the Xperia Z Ultra remains a comfortable mobile phone compared to the 7-inch Galaxy Tab and 8-inch Galaxy Note from Samsung.

Brandishing phablets is a matter of preference and with the specs offered by Sony on Ultra Z, it seems easy to reconfigure one's favour for the device. It is powered by a 2.2GHz Snapdragon 800 CPU that brings to life a Full HD 1080p TRILUMINOS Display for mobile powered by X-Reality.

Connectivity is in wide options, topped by NFC and 4G-LTE plus HD Voice for crystal clear calls, all of which are amply supported by the Battery STAMINA features that ensures power juice is efficiently used.

Sony will not provide a companion stylus but the screen display technology utilised with the Xperia Ultra Z allows the device to recognise handwritings using any pen or users' choice of digitizer.

A durable and versatile Sony flagship

Xperia made its mark by adding durability to high-end gadgets, which means owners do not need to worry of malfunction setting if water is splashed on their device or too much dust crept in on openings. The Xperia Z's water and dust proofing qualities added to its appeal and with the Xperia Z Ultra, such features are gradually being pushed to the limits.

The 8MP shooter of the Ultra Z is actually capable of capturing images and clips underwater (on limited depth and time though) with same quality as that on normal shooting situations. Easily, this capability will put the Xperia Ultra Z under the radar of smartphone buyers looking to score gorgeous-looking toys but with enough resistance from elements intrusion.

This is Android Jelly Bean 4.2

Android means for the new Xperia member a wider world of options for users, be it in the official Sony channel or the more exciting world of custom ROMs. Sony using Google's mobile OS will still enable users to access popular services such as the fully-revised Sony Walkman that offers millions of tunes and wide-array of movie titles.

Outside the Sony environment, the possibilities are virtually without borders though a bit of a downside is the still fragmented Android update system. While the Xperia Z Ultra is debuting with the latest official Android build, there's no telling how soon the Jelly Bean 4.3 or Key Lime Pie will be delivered by Sony and its telco partners once the upgrade goes live.

Nonetheless, like any other Android-based branded handsets, Sony's Xperia is getting by and this should be the case with the new Ultra Z on its release date in the few months ahead.