Clue for Sony Xperia 1 VI US release surfaces

Despite what seems to be a more and more niche existence for Sony’s Xperia 1 line, there are still plenty of vocal supporters for the costly devices. But rumors that the company was considering mothballing the Xperia name were only made stronger when it was revealed that the new Sony Xperia 1 VI would not enjoy a US release.

However, a device that appears to be the US variant of the Xperia 1 VI has turned up in Bluetooth documentation. The smartphone is given the model number XQ-EC64 in the relevant reports, and it is worth remembering that the model number for the US version of the Sony Xperia 1 V (available on Amazon) is XQ-DQ62, with the numbers differentiating it from other regions (DQ54: Europe; DQ72: Asia Pacific).

The certification date for the potential Sony Xperia 1 VI US model was May 28, so it is possible that Sony has now decided to release the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3-powered smartphone in that market. But it is also possible that it was originally planned for a US release and then cancelled, with the Bluetooth certification simply showing there was a US Xperia 1 VI variant at some point.