Highlights
- Sony has stopped in-house Xperia phone manufacturing.
- The company is no longer producing smartphones at its sites in Thailand and China, marking a strategic shift.
- Flagship devices like the Xperia 1 VII are made by third-party manufacturers.
Caption – The Latest report suggests that in-house manufacturing has stopped for Xperia phones. (Image credit – Sony)
Sony has reportedly stopped building its own Xperia smartphones, marking a big shift for the company. While Xperia has never been a major player in the smartphone world, Sony has stuck with the lineup for years. Now, it seems the company has decided to step back from making these devices itself.
A Japanese news outlet named Sumaho Digest reports that this change isn’t just temporary.
According to the report, it’s likely part of a long-term strategy. In fact, “smartphones” are no longer listed among the products made at Sony’s production sites in Thailand. These sites, along with one in China, used to handle all of Sony’s smartphone manufacturing. Now, none of them mention smartphones anymore.
Sony has already been outsourcing its mid-range phones for a while, but this shift means that even its high-end models are now being built outside the company. This could help Sony cut production costs in the long run, possibly making it easier to price their flagships more competitively.
As for now, the Sony Xperia 1 VII still carries a hefty price tag of £1,399.
So, the question now is, what does this mean for the Xperia brand? Is it done for? Apparently not.
The report notes that the recently launched Sony Xperia 1 VII is still being produced, but this time, it’s being made by a third-party manufacturer, not by Sony’s own teams.
As of now, Sony has not responded to reports or replied to any media queries.
FAQs
Q1. Has Sony completely stopped manufacturing Xperia smartphones?
Answer. Yes, Sony has stopped in-house production of Xperia smartphones at its sites in Thailand and China. However, Xperia phones are still being produced by third-party manufacturers.
Q2. Will high-end Xperia models continue to be made?
Answer. Yes, Sony has outsourced manufacturing even for its flagship models. The recently launched Xperia 1 VII is still being produced, but not by Sony’s own teams.
Q3. Why is Sony outsourcing Xperia phone production?
Answer. Sony has already been outsourcing mid-range models, and expanding this to high-end devices is likely a cost-cutting strategy to reduce production costs and stay competitive.
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