Sony updates Xperia Z and Xperia ZL, improves performance

A month back on June 24, Xperia Z was officially update to  Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean 10.3.A.0.423 firmware and some days back we saw another Jelly Bean 10.3.1.A.0.236  firmware OTA update being rolled on Xperia Z but only on developer handsets, which was a lot curious why such a firmware was rolled and users reporting it were very few.


But now, in INDIA region, we have just spotted another 10.3.1.A.0.244 firmware on our Xperia Z C6602 HSPA+ version via PC Companion as well as via SUS. No such update is seen listed on PTCRB site also. Update also confirmed on Xperia Z C6603 LTE version now.
10.3.1.A.0.244 firmware update confirmed in India, Sweden, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Poland till now. Same 10.3.1.A.0.244 firmware update is also confirmed on Xperia ZL C6503.

We can confirm that 10.3.1.A.0.244 firmware update for Xperia Z C6602 is just a patch update of Android 4.2.2  Sony must have patched the perf_event exploit. So Root from previous 10.3.A.0.423 firmware will now be lost sadly.

Xperia ZR C5503 / C5502 has also been updated to same Android 4.2.2 10.3.1.A.0.244 firmware update, check below link.
[ Update ] 

Xperia ZR C5503 / C5502 Android 4.2.2 10.3.1.A.0.244 firmware update Rolled Out – Install it.

[ UPDATE ]

How to Root Xperia Z, ZL, ZR Android 4.2.2 10.3.1.A.0.244 firmware by DooMLoRD Easy Rooting Toolkit v18 – ROOT ACHIEVED 

Xperia Z C6602 Android 4.2.2 10.3.1.A.0.244 firmware details

Xperia Z C6602 10.3.1.A.0.244 firmware update is a full update of 758.5 MB size as like last one.

• Android – Jelly Bean 4.2.2
• Phone Model – Xperia Z C6602
• Baseband version – 9x15A-ACEFWMAZQ-30110057-39
• Build Number – 10.3.1.A.0.244 firmware
• Kernel – 3.4.0-g3865184 BuildUser@BuildHost #1 Tue Jul 07:57:34 2013

10.3.1.A.0.244 firmware update has some old kernel 3.4.0 as like 10.3.A.0.423 firmware

Xperia ZL C6503 Android 4.2.2 10.3.1.A.0.244 firmware details

Xperia Z C6602 Android 4.2.2 10.3.1.A.0.244 firmware update via PC Companion

Connect your Xperia Z to PC Companion and check whether a firmware update notification is available or not. If yes, then please proceed as shown below.
PC Companion says, latest android software, may be it’s a new version
Click on “Update” button and proceed to confirm the new 10.3.1.A.0.244 firmware as old 10.3.A.0.423 firmware.
Xperia Z C6602 10.3.1.A.0.244 firmware update will be automatically download and phone will be updated. First reboot after update will be a bit slow, it will get back to normal soon
As soon as phone boots, it will say Android is upgrading, total files are 74, it means they are fixing some bugs in this firmware. Let it happen then applications will start.

Xperia ZL C6503 Android 4.2.2 10.3.1.A.0.244 firmware update via PC Companion

Connect your Xperia ZL to PC Companion and look for update notification and proceed if update is available.

Xperia Z C6602 Android 4.2.2 10.3.1.A.0.244 firmware update via SUS – Sony Update Service

If any Xperia Z user is not able to get any update notification via PC Companion, do check your phone with SUS also.
To update via SUS, Switch off your phone, Wait for 30 seconds and now press volume down button ( Saw Green LED ) now holding volume down button connect phone to PC, let SUS detect your phone and you will see an update notification of 10.3.1.A.0.244 firmware just like below.

After clicking on Software Update ( Recommended ) option, proceed with the update.

As soon as phone updates, it will be shown on screen.

Xperia Z C6602 / C6603 Android 4.2.2 10.3.1.A.0.244 firmware update ftf – Manual Updating

[ UPDATE ]

XDA Developer DooMLoRD has just tweeted that all Xperia Z / ZL users who have rooted handset, shouldn’t flash this 10.3.1.A.0.244 firmware ftf file directly. They should use OTA ROOT KEEPER, otherwise root will be lost in this new firmware. 

How to keep Root in Xperia Z, ZL Android 4.2.2 10.3.1.A.0.244 firmware update ?
If you are updating your Xperia Z, ZL directly via Flashtool, everything in (the /system partition) gets formatted completely, so you loose root :/ So update it over OTA to keep root.

Root Access will be lost, if flashing via FlashTool.

Use OTA RootKeeper, if you want to have root access remain to your phone. If you are updating your Xperia Z, ZL by “Update Center” app, then using OTA RootKeeper, you can save your root access.
All those who have not got update yet can download the ftf file and install it manually.
Download Xperia Z C6603  Android 4.2.2 10.3.1.A.0.244 firmware update ftf file from below link. Flashing doesn’t require any root or unlocked bootloader.
Below files extracted from:- (Works on any Xperia Z)

• Phone Software Version: 1269-5309_10.3.1.A.0.244 GENERIC – user
• File System Version: GLOBAL-LTE_10.3.1.A.0.244
• Customization Version: 1270-9081_R5B
• Branding – Belgium

Download Xperia Z C6603 - Branding: Generic NCB (unbranded) ( Nordic Combined)  file from below. ( via XDA member Rekoil )

Xperia ZL C6503 Android 4.2.2 10.3.1.A.0.244 firmware update ftf – Manual Updating

You can download the ftf file from below link and update your Xperia ZL manually by flashing the ftf file.

• Phone Software Version – 1269-5309_10.3.1.A.0.244 Generic User
• File System Version – INDIA_HSPA_10.3.1.A.0.244
• Customization version – 1270-7186_R5B

Xperia Z C6602 Android 4.2.2 10.3.1.A.0.244 firmware – Review / Changelog

• More smooth Boot animation.
• Efficient RAM management, 1784 MB RAM available for usage.
• Home launcher is more smooth, No lags here.
• Update Center has got a new UI. Check image below.

• Album app taking a bit time to load pics ( even from UHS Class 10 card ).
• 3G Signal strength improved.
• Touch response is improved a lot.
• AnTuTu Benchmark score dropped after 10.3.1.A.0.244 firmware update to 20483 from 21456. Battery dropped by 2% During test and a lot heated during test.

• Sleep and Wake is a bit faster now.
• Camera Image quality in dark improved.
• Changes in car mode app.

• High resolution image is captured in normal mode with HDR off. ( Around 2.8 MB )
• No screen flickering now.
• No unusual battery reading bug till now. Booted twice in between 30-20% battery and having no issues.
• Battery backup has increased, checked  ( reporting after 24 hours of update ).

[ BUGS ]
Users are reporting now Heating issues on their Xperia Z after Android 4.2.2 10.3.1.A.0.244 firmware update :/ Can’t say much on this now, need to test.