The Xperia 1 VII Should be the Last Phone Sony Makes

Despite being a major tech company, Sony’s smartphone division has struggled to establish itself as a leading brand, especially in the Western market. Statcounter data shows that Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, Realme, Motorola, Huawei, and Google are all ahead in terms of global market share. However, Sony has persisted in producing phones, with the recent announcement of its flagship for 2025, the Xperia 1 VII, featuring several upgrades compared to the previous Xperia 1 VI.

While the Xperia 1 VII introduces some new AI camera features, overall there is little to generate excitement. Given Sony’s small share of the smartphone market, it may be time for the company to consider discontinuing its smartphone division. Here are four significant reasons why:

No USP

Sony was once known for offering a unique tall 4K screen on its smartphones, but with the transition to a more common Full HD+ panel starting with the Xperia 1 VI, the Xperia 1 VII now features a 6.5-inch, 19.5:9 OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. While this screen may be impressive, it no longer sets Sony apart from its Android competitors, making it difficult to justify the premium price of the Xperia 1 VII.

While the Xperia 1 VII boasts premium features like a glass and aluminum design, the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, and a 5000mAh battery, these are standard offerings in the Android flagship market. The only standout feature is the inclusion of a 3.5mm headphone jack, which may not be a compelling reason for consumers to choose the Xperia 1 VII over other options.

Cameras still fall short

Sony is renowned for its camera technology, but its smartphones have often fallen short in delivering a top-tier photography experience due to software processing issues. While the Xperia 1 VII may improve on this aspect, it is unlikely to match the camera performance of competitors like Xiaomi, Samsung, and Apple.

For consumers seeking the best camera quality, Sony phones may not be the ideal choice.

What’s going on with software support?

Sony’s Android skin offers a light and user-friendly experience, but the company falls short in providing timely software updates. The Xperia 1 VII is slated to receive only three major OS updates and four years of security patches, lagging behind competitors like Samsung and Google in long-term support.

Considering the limited software support, the high price of the Xperia 1 VII may not be justified.

The price…

The Xperia 1 VII comes with a price tag of €1,499, which is likely to be similar to its predecessor’s pricing in the UK and US. This high cost may be prohibitive for a phone with notable shortcomings.

What Sony should focus on instead

While this article does not suggest that Sony should cease all tech product development, it recommends that the company redirect its focus from smartphones to other areas where it excels, such as TVs, cameras, audio equipment, and gaming consoles. Sony’s expertise in camera sensor technology could also be leveraged through partnerships with other phone manufacturers. It may be time for Sony to acknowledge the challenges in the smartphone market and reallocate its resources accordingly.

For those seeking alternatives, our guide to the best phones currently available may offer more appealing options, such as the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge.