Sony is reportedly planning to outsource production of its entire Xperia smartphone series.
The Xperia series from Sony has been an enigma in the smartphone realm for quite some time, and its diminishing buzz against giants like Apple and Samsung has turned quite a few heads. Despite the hurdles, Sony has stood resolute in the production of its Xperia phones, but that could be about to change. Whispers are circulating that Sony's latest Android smartphone will usher in a new phase, where it no longer manufactures its devices internally.
A report from Smartphone Digest (via Android Authority) suggests that the Xperia 1 VII, recently announced, won't be handcrafted by Sony itself. Instead, it's likely that Sony will entrust third-party manufacturers with the assembly of their latest premium smartphone. This is hinted at by the omission of smartphones from Sony's manufacturing-centric website.
Sony has depended on other manufacturers for the assembly of their step-down smartphones in the past, including the mid-range Xperia 5 and the entry-level Xperia 10. It appears that the Xperia 1 could be following this trend.
While this doesn't necessarily mean the end of the Xperia lineage, Sony's muted approach to announcing its smartphones for the past couple of years is worth noting. The Xperia 5 V, launched in 2023, is yet to receive a successor. According to rumors, Sony cancelled the Xperia 5 VI last year, giving us little reason to hold our breath.
The Japanese-language publication Impress Watch (also via Android Authority) indicates that Sony opted to continue selling the five-star Xperia 5 V instead of launching a sequel. Sony has yet to confirm if the Xperia 5 series will return this year. Compared to the Xperia 10, which is often refreshed alongside the flagship model, there was no mention of an Xperia 10 VII at Sony's last launch event. Given that the last three generations of Sony's budget smartphones have garnered awards, we're keeping our fingers crossed for the next version's announcement.
Overall, it seems that Sony's Xperia phones are in a strange limbo state. However, the upgrades in picture and sound performance of the Xperia 1 VII are quite intriguing. Here's hoping the rest of the lineup receives similar attention later this year.
In terms of the manufacturing shift, it's unclear what repercussions this will bring for the new Xperia 1. Yet, judging from our reviews of the latest generation Xperia 10 and Xperia 5 devices, we didn't notice anything out of the ordinary. This change could either be the lifeline that the Xperia series needs, or an attempt by Sony to sideline its smartphone division while keeping it alive; only time will tell.
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More:
- Read our full Sony Xperia 1 VI review
- As well as our Sony Xperia 10 VI review
- And check out our picks for the best smartphones
- The news suggests that Sony might no longer be manufacturing the Xperia 1 VII internally, but instead, hand it over to third-party manufacturers for assembly.
- Sony has previously outsourced the assembly of its mid-range and entry-level smartphones, like the Xperia 5 and Xperia 10, to other manufacturers.
- Despite the change, the omission of smartphones from Sony's manufacturing-centric website hints at this possibility for the Xperia 1 VII.
- The Xperia 5 V, which was launched in 2023, hasn't received a successor yet, and rumors indicate that Sony cancelled the Xperia 5 VI last year.
- Impress Watch, a Japanese-language publication, reveals Sony's decision to continue selling the Xperia 5 V instead of launching a sequel.
- In the smartphone market, Sony's Xperia lineup appears to be in a limbo state, with the future of the Xperia 5 series uncertain.
- The upgrades in the Xperia 1 VII, particularly in the picture and sound performance, have piqued the interest of consumers, despite the uncertainty surrounding the Xperia lineup.
