Sony’s annual Xperia lineup has been decreasing over recent years. Back in 2021, there were seven phones to choose from: the ACE II (Japan only), the PRO and PRO-I, the Xperia 1 III, 5 III, and 10 III, and a Lite version of the 10 III. The following year there were four devices to pick from (three for international buyers as the ACE III was for Japan), and only three Xperia phones were released in 2023. By 2024, Sony had shrunk the line to the two models mentioned above. It is possible that in 2025 there will only be one Xperia model released.
An Esato forum user called spektykles, who has been used as a somewhat reliable source in regard to Xperia-related information in the past, has recently offered up the following statement:
As for future Xperia, nothing really changed. Sony canceled some unannounced Xperia model(s) at the end of 2024 because they are unsaleable. 2025 will be even more bleak.
It’s not mentioned which models were canceled, but the chances are the Sony Xperia 5 VI was one of them. Other candidates include the once much-rumored global Xperia ACE IV, a successor to the PRO line, and potentially even a compact foldable (“Xperia Fold”). If 2025 is to be even more bleak than 2024, then this could suggest yet another model has been cut, with the Sony Xperia 10 VII being the likely victim.
Sadly, it doesn’t seem the further lineup trimming necessarily means that the Sony Xperia 1 VII will come out swinging with all sorts of bells and whistles. The X account for Insider Sony shared an unofficial wish-list for the Mark 7 model of the Xperia 1 (see below), which was later mostly rejected by a supposed tipster on Weibo. Once again, an official US launch seems to be not on the cards (just like the Xperia 1 VI) while the only hardware change alluded to here appears to be in relation to the display.
Source(s)
Esato & SumahoDigest (1/2 - in Japanese) & @INSIDERSONY
Teaser image: Sony UK