Sony CFO Affirms Xperia Smartphones Key Amid Market Challenges

Despite Sony Xperia smartphones holding only a minor share of the global market and facing significant challenges such as a recall of Xperia 1 VII units in Japan due to a shutdown bug, Sony’s CFO Lin Tao reaffirmed that Xperia remains a very important business for the company. Sony has outsourced production of its Xperia phones to third-party manufacturers and has scaled back sales efforts in regions like Europe and the U.S., yet it continues to emphasize the importance of communication technology, which extends beyond smartphones. The company acknowledges the competitive landscape, particularly with Google's Pixel gaining traction in Japan, and recognizes the barriers posed by the high prices of Xperia flagship models. Sony intends to nurture its smartphone business and continue offering niche features such as advanced manual camera controls, microSD card slots, and headphone jacks. While the future roadmap for Xperia smartphones remains unclear, Sony's leadership has consistently stated their commitment to sustaining the brand and possibly leveraging communication technologies in broader applications. This ongoing dedication suggests Sony is not ready to exit the smartphone market despite recent setbacks and market pressures.