Latest news with #Xperia
Time of India
19 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Iconic Sony pulls plug on smartphones in Europe? Xperia 1 VII vanishes from stores in major shift
Sony may be stepping away from the European smartphone market. Its latest flagship, the Xperia 1 VII, has gone missing from several local and partner stores across the continent, including Finland, raising concerns that the brand is abandoning retail channels in favor of online-only sales. Is Sony exiting the smartphone market in Europe? With stores in Germany and the United Kingdom among the few that still sell the model, signs point to a larger downsizing of Sony's smartphone operations, according to a story from the Finnish publication Suomimobiili. The Xperia 1 VII and other Sony phones are not yet available on the websites of Sony Finland and its partners, and they are not anticipated to be available for some time. ALSO READ: Foldable iPhone in 2026? Apple's game-changer may launch at $1,800 with limited stock Sony stated that it will not be selling the Xperia 1 VII in Finland and that it is concentrating on "online shopping channels to provide customers with a smoother shopping experience." Live Events According to Sony, its flagship can be purchased in a few European countries through Amazon and its own online store, as quoted in a report by GSMArena. What does this mean for current Xperia users? Sony's complete response to SuonmiMobiili is as follows, "The Xperia 1 VII is not available for purchase directly through Sony in Finland. However, we are constantly assessing market profitability and customer demand. We are currently focusing on online shopping channels to provide our customers with a smoother purchasing process. Currently, the Xperia 1 VII can be purchased directly from Sony's official online store and through Amazon in selected European markets. Sony remains committed to fulfilling all maintenance and upgrade obligations for existing customers as usual." Why has the Xperia 1 VII vanished from European stores? The situation in other European markets is comparable. The Xperia 1 VII is not available in the majority of European countries on Sony's online store; however, the UK and Germany are the two main exceptions. It looks like Sony is actually scaling back its smartphone business in Europe. The future of Xperia phones is not looking good, especially in light of the recent problems Sony has been experiencing with its Xperia 1 VII in its home market of Japan. FAQs Can I still purchase the Xperia 1 VII in Europe? In most countries, the answer is no. Sony has removed the model from its stores, but it is still available online in select countries such as Germany and the United Kingdom. Is Sony discontinuing its phone business in Europe? Not officially, but the move away from retail indicates a significant downsizing, with online sales now the primary focus.
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Fears ‘powerhouse' phone brand to VANISH as all models suddenly out of stock in UK after 33 years
Bosses have reportedly said they are withdrawing from one country - and the rest of Europe could follow next BAD SIGNAL Fears 'powerhouse' phone brand to VANISH as all models suddenly out of stock in UK after 33 years Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MAJOR mobile brand has quietly made all its devices out of stock prompting fears the firm could withdraw from the phone business after 35 years. Many big names that were popular in the early 2000s have been decimated by the popularity of iPhone and Samsung, as well as cheaper rivals. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Forgotten mobile brands have lagged behind iPhone and Android Credit: Getty 3 Fears Sony could follow LG and pull out entirely Credit: AFP And Sony Mobile could be the next to bow out. The company made waves with Sony Ericsson handsets which helped make it a "powerhouse" in the mobile scene. Sony has continued to make Xperia smartphones, which have even won awards as recent as last year. But its market share is reported to be less than one per cent in multiple regions across the world. All the company's current smartphones are marketed as "out of stock" on Sony's website, fuelling speculation of a mobile exit. A Finnish news website reported that the company is leaving Finland and claims it plans to withdraw from Europe too. Experts told The Sun that the writing has been on the wall for some time. "It seems that the company is retrenching from some markets given the ongoing challenges in the handset business and changing market dynamics," said Paolo Pescatore, an analyst from PP Foresight. "Once a powerhouse, it was one of the few companies to boast a strong a presence in consumer electronics glass-to-glass from content creation with professional cameras through to smartphones and TVs. "Ultimately with lacklustre sales, stepping back makes sense given the competitive nature of the industry. Android users warned as major brand shuts down phone business "However, the company under Sony still seems to remain committed to smartphones under its premium brand which resonates in other markets. "Moving forward it will still be faced with tough decisions on whether pulling the plug should be made as it currently pivots towards a leaner and more agile business model. "There's also pride at stake for a company that is rich in consumer electronics." LG withdrew from the smartphone industry in 2021 and only recently put out its final software update to existing handset owners. The Sun has approached Sony for comment. END OF AN ERA? By Jamie Harris, Assistant Technology and Science Editor at The Sun It's not looking good for Sony Mobile. If all the signs do point toward a withdrawal from the UK and beyond, this will be the end of some 33 years in the mobile business. The Japanese tech giant's first commercially available mobile phone, nicked named the "Mars Bar", was released way back in 1992. Most people will think of Sony Ericsson as the firm's mobile heyday, with some featuring branding from its iconic Walkman too. At its peak, Sony Ericsson is reported to have had a 9 per cent market share globally. Most people had forgotten that Sony even made mobiles, so it would be no surprise if the company gave up now. Of course, Sony has other more successful electronic ventures to focus on instead, such as headphones, cameras, TV and of course PlayStation. MOST POPULAR MOBILE BRANDS Samsung holds the crown for top mobile manufacturer based on shipments. The company sold an estimated 60.6million units in the first quarter of 2025, according to data from IDC. That's a 20.1 per cent share, meaning one in five smartphones are made by Samsung. Apple follows very closely behind in second, with a 19.5 per cent share. See the full list below: Samsung - 20.1 per cent Apple - 19.5 per cent Xiaomi - 13.9 per cent OPPO - 7.8 per cent Vivo - 7.5 per cent Others - 31.2 per cent
The Sun
a day ago
- Business
- The Sun
Fears ‘powerhouse' phone brand to VANISH as all models suddenly out of stock in UK after 33 years
A MAJOR mobile brand has quietly made all its devices out of stock prompting fears the firm could withdraw from the phone business after 35 years. Many big names that were popular in the early 2000s have been decimated by the popularity of iPhone and Samsung, as well as cheaper rivals. And Sony Mobile could be the next to bow out. The company made waves with Sony Ericsson handsets which helped make it a "powerhouse" in the mobile scene. Sony has continued to make Xperia smartphones, which have even won awards as recent as last year. But its market share is reported to be less than one per cent in multiple regions across the world. All the company's current smartphones are marketed as "out of stock" on Sony's website, fuelling speculation of a mobile exit. A Finnish news website reported that the company is leaving Finland and claims it plans to withdraw from Europe too. Experts told The Sun that the writing has been on the wall for some time. "It seems that the company is retrenching from some markets given the ongoing challenges in the handset business and changing market dynamics," said Paolo Pescatore, an analyst from PP Foresight. "Once a powerhouse, it was one of the few companies to boast a strong a presence in consumer electronics glass-to-glass from content creation with professional cameras through to smartphones and TVs. "Ultimately with lacklustre sales, stepping back makes sense given the competitive nature of the industry. Android users warned as major brand shuts down phone business "However, the company under Sony still seems to remain committed to smartphones under its premium brand which resonates in other markets. "Moving forward it will still be faced with tough decisions on whether pulling the plug should be made as it currently pivots towards a leaner and more agile business model. "There's also pride at stake for a company that is rich in consumer electronics." LG withdrew from the smartphone industry in 2021 and only recently put out its final software update to existing handset owners. The Sun has approached Sony for comment. END OF AN ERA? By Jamie Harris, Assistant Technology and Science Editor at The Sun It's not looking good for Sony Mobile. If all the signs do point toward a withdrawal from the UK and beyond, this will be the end of some 33 years in the mobile business. The Japanese tech giant's first commercially available mobile phone, nicked named the "Mars Bar", was released way back in 1992. Most people will think of Sony Ericsson as the firm's mobile heyday, with some featuring branding from its iconic Walkman too. At its peak, Sony Ericsson is reported to have had a 9 per cent market share globally. Most people had forgotten that Sony even made mobiles, so it would be no surprise if the company gave up now. Of course, Sony has other more successful electronic ventures to focus on instead, such as headphones, cameras, TV and of course PlayStation. MOST POPULAR MOBILE BRANDS Samsung holds the crown for top mobile manufacturer based on shipments. The company sold an estimated 60.6million units in the first quarter of 2025, according to data from IDC. That's a 20.1 per cent share, meaning one in five smartphones are made by Samsung. Apple follows very closely behind in second, with a 19.5 per cent share. See the full list below: Samsung - 20.1 per cent Apple - 19.5 per cent Xiaomi - 13.9 per cent OPPO - 7.8 per cent Vivo - 7.5 per cent Others - 31.2 per cent
Android Authority
a day ago
- Business
- Android Authority
Sony phones are disappearing across key markets: Is the Xperia era coming to an end?
Alex Walker-Todd / Android Authority TL;DR Sony may be on the verge of completely exiting the European market. The company has already confirmed a full retreat from Finland, but its devices are no longer available through official channels in multiple European countries. Sony's smartphone presence looks just as weak outside of Europe, with the mobile phone category completely wiped off from its US website. Sony may be heading toward a full retreat from the smartphone market, with clear signs of a major pullback from Europe already underway. While the company hasn't officially announced an exit from the region, it has confirmed to Finnish outlet SuomiMobiili that Xperia phones will no longer be sold directly in Finland, one of the first European countries where an official withdrawal has been acknowledged. The situation doesn't look any better across the rest of Europe. A quick check of Sony's websites in major markets like Germany, France, Spain, and the UK shows that nearly all current and recent Xperia models, including the new flagship Xperia 1 VII, are either out of stock or unavailable. Although some devices are still listed on Amazon, Sony's own channels seem to be drying up fast. In its statement to SuomiMobiili, Sony offered a vague explanation for its decision to exit the Finnish smartphone market: The Xperia 1 VII is not available for purchase directly through Sony in Finland. However, we are constantly assessing market profitability and customer demand. We are currently focusing on online shopping channels to provide our customers with a smoother purchasing process. Unless Sony offers a better explanation, this shift to 'online sales' seems more like a wind-down than a strategy change. The Xperia 1 VII itself has been plagued by problems, including random shutdowns and reboot issues. The situation is serious enough that Sony had to temporarily halt sales of the device in Japan and also issued apologies to affected customers in Europe and the UK. Global state of affairs Outside of Europe, Sony's smartphone presence looks just as weak. In the US, the company no longer lists smartphones on its official website, and last year's Xperia 1 VI never made an official debut there. Even in Japan, where Sony once dominated, it's now absent from the list of the top five smartphone makers. Google's Pixel line has rapidly gained popularity in Japan, pushing Sony further out of the spotlight. Moreover, Sony also recently started outsourcing the manufacturing of its flagship phones. The company was already relying on third-party manufacturers to make its mid-range devices, but outsourcing high-end phones further signals its intent to distance itself from the smartphone market. The future of Sony's mobile business looks more uncertain than ever. Despite having a dedicated fan base of camera and tech enthusiasts, Sony's phones hold only a tiny global market share and are difficult to find at retail stores in many places. The company's mobile division has been struggling for years, and these recent moves in Europe suggest it may be closer than ever to scaling down or potentially exiting the business altogether. Sony Finland says it will continue to support existing customers with software updates and maintenance. But for a brand that once stood alongside giants like Samsung and Apple, the gradual retreat from key global markets feels less like a repositioning and more like a slow, quiet exit. It is unclear if this is the beginning of the end for Xperia phones. However, with sales halted, markets seemingly abandoned, and few new devices in sight, the future of Sony's mobile business looks more uncertain than ever.
GSM Arena
2 days ago
- Business
- GSM Arena
Sony reportedly downscaling its smartphone business in Europe
A story from Finnish outlet Suomimobiili reports that Sony is pulling its smartphones from the local market and turning its focus to online channels. Sony's latest phones, including the Xperia 1 VII, are currently unavailable on Sony Finland's website and those of its partners, and are expected to remain unavailable. Sony confirmed that the Xperia 1 VII won't be sold in Finland and that the company is focusing on 'online shopping channels to provide customers with a smoother shopping experience'. Sony says its flagship is available from its own online store and via Amazon in selected European countries. It's a similar story in other European markets. Sony's online store doesn't list the Xperia 1 VII in most European countries - Germany and the United Kingdom are notable exceptions. It appears Sony is indeed downscaling its smartphone business in the European market. Combined with the recent issues Sony's been having with its Xperia 1 VII in its home market of Japan, it doesn't bode well for the future of Xperia phones. Here is Sony's full response to SuonmiMobiili: "The Xperia 1 VII is not available for purchase directly through Sony in Finland. However, we are constantly assessing market profitability and customer demand. We are currently focusing on online shopping channels to provide our customers with a smoother purchasing process. Currently, the Xperia 1 VII can be purchased directly from Sony's official online store and through Amazon in selected European markets. Sony remains committed to fulfilling all maintenance and upgrade obligations for existing customers as usual," Sony Xperia 1 VII 5G Source
