Sony Xperia Z has yet to see the light of retail stores, but rumours are quickly spreading about an upcoming Sony Mobile 6.44-inch phablet. How did such a speculation start?

An ambiguous photo posted to Digi-wo, a Chinese forum, shows what appears to be a Sony device component.

After Xperia Z, Sony Testing 6.44-inch Phablet? (Photo: Digi-wo)

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The way the component frame is held easily tickles the imagination. It could be a phablet device in the works. The gloves suggest a location akin to a laboratory, which brings to mind a possible testing going on. Engadget.com picked up the photo and used the 6.1-inch Huawei Ascend Mate for comparison reference.

"The bezels on the side look slightly skinnier than those on the similarly sized 6.1-inch Huawei Ascend Mate -- although we might be imagining that, and in any case the Ascend Mate has the advantage of definitely being real," says the Engadget report.

"(T)his component could be from a one-off prototype or even a fake, but it's not a stretch to say that Sony is likely interested in releasing a gargantuan smartphone in the near future," reports The Verge.

The Mobile World Congress (MWC) is coming up in February. Without specific announcements from Sony, gadget watchers predict the company could unveil a bigger phablet to directly compete with Samsung devices.

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Sony Mobile recently confirmed in Singapore the Asian release of its new flagship handsets, the Xperia Z and Xperia ZL. The Xperia Z price tag has been set at AU$749 in Australia. The waterproof and dustproof device will come in black, white and purple.

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