Sony delivers final verdict on loss-making Xperia smartphone lineup
After years of lagging behind Samsung and Apple, Sony has finally revealed its decision on whether or not to continue its loss-making Xperia smartphone line.
Despite an operating loss of $879.45 million (£695.86 million), Sony will continue to manufacture smartphones, as it sees the devices as “necessary” for a sustainable hardware brand.
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Reuters reports that CEO Kenichiro Yoshida has said: “We see smartphones as hardware for entertainment and a component necessary to make our hardware brand sustainable. And younger generations no longer watch TV. Their first touch point is smartphone.”
Sony has reported record-breaking profit — but that’s no thanks to its smartphones business, which has a global market share of only 1% and ships just 6.5 million handsets annually. By comparison, Samsung sold 291.3 million units, ahead of Apple on 206.3 million (via Digital Trends).
Recently Sony gave its existing smartphone lineup a face lift, no doubt hoping to improve its flagging sales.
This includes the Sony Xperia 1, a new flagship that succeeds the Xperia XZ3. We haven’t yet given this unreleased device a full review, but when we tried it we dubbed it a “promising powerhouse” and a “step in the right direction”.
It features a Snapdragon 855 processor, like the one found in the OnePlus 7 Pro, and a 3330mAh battery. The rear triple camera comprises three 12-megapixel sensors, and it’s capable of shooting 4K HDR video at 24fps.
But the main selling point is its 6.5-inch screen, with a 21:9 aspect ratio for a widescreen experience when watching full-screen videos. It’s not just big: it’s also the first-ever 4K HDR OLED display in a smartphone, born from Sony’s Bravia TV technology.
If it lives up to the hype, this might just be the smartphone to reverse Sony’s fortunes for the better.
If you’re looking for a less expensive alternative from Sony, the Xperia 10 features the same 21:9 aspect ratio, but we were disappointed with its underpowered performance and below-average battery life.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
