Sony Xperia 1 VII: Why It Could Have Been a Great Flagship

Sony has long had the potential to challenge tech giants like Apple and Samsung, but it seems like the company is determined to squander that opportunity. Over the years, Sony has been one of the few manufacturers that could shake up the monotonous smartphone market, but it appears this was never truly a goal for them.

Even worse, rather than getting closer to achieving this feat, Sony seems to be doing everything possible to hinder the success of its flagships, including the latest Xperia 1 VII.

Recently, Sony halted the sales and shipments of the Xperia 1 VII in Japan due to reports of technical issues. Users reported their phones shutting down, rebooting unexpectedly, or even failing to turn on. While any technical issues are concerning, when it comes to Sony, this feels like just another in a long series of setbacks. And the worst part is that many of these problems seem to be Sony’s own doing.

The Xperia 1 VII Had Great Potential

The Xperia 1 VII could have been a standout flagship. The phone packs incredible features that could easily differentiate it from the usual crop of flagships, especially in the US market. Sony’s commitment to quality is evident in the phone’s specifications. It boasts a stunning 6.5-inch 4K OLED display, the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, and impressive battery life.

What really sets Sony apart is its refusal to cut corners. Unlike its competitors, Sony includes every hardware feature in its flagship phone. The Xperia 1 VII is one of the few remaining devices to feature a 3.5mm headphone jack, a microSD card slot, and front-facing stereo speakers.

On top of all this, Sony has also thought of the little details that would excite enthusiasts. The phone includes a Creator Mode for the display, ensuring color accuracy for photo and video editing. Audiophiles will appreciate the high-res audio and LDAC support. And camera enthusiasts will be thrilled with the continuous optical zoom, ranging from 3.5x to 7.1x, along with a two-step camera shutter button.

On paper, the Xperia 1 VII has everything a smartphone enthusiast could ask for. However, it hasn’t been able to live up to the hype.

Disappointment With the Xperia 1 VII

While the Xperia 1 VII offers some incredible hardware, its software is another story. Sony has released a flagship phone that suffers from unacceptable software issues. Despite the impressive camera sensors, the phone’s camera delivers inconsistent results due to software problems. Last week’s suspension of sales was likely tied to these same software issues.

Additionally, the Xperia 1 VII will only receive four years of OS updates and six years of security updates, far fewer than what competitors like the Pixel 9 and Galaxy S25 offer. Sony also has a reputation for being slow to release software updates, further dampening the appeal of the device.

To make matters worse, the Xperia 1 VII launched at a hefty price tag. Starting at €1,499 in Europe and £1,399 in the UK for the 256GB version, it’s more expensive than both the iPhone 16 Pro Max and the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. And to make matters worse, Sony doesn’t even sell the Xperia 1 VII in the United States.

What Could Have Been

In today’s world, smartphone upgrades are often small and incremental, leaving consumers unimpressed. We are constantly bombarded with flashy announcements about new smartphones that are largely the same as the previous models, with only minor updates.

Sony is one of the few companies that could offer something different, and it seems there’s a demand for it. When we asked whether readers would buy the Xperia 1 VII if it were available, 46% of respondents said they would, despite the device not being available in their market. While this poll was on a specialized website, it shows that a significant portion of Sony enthusiasts are interested in their flagship device-if Sony would only make it more affordable.

So, what can Sony do? First, they need to find a way to lower the price of their devices. If the Xperia 1 VII were slightly cheaper than its rivals, its flaws might be overlooked. Sony could also follow in the footsteps of Motorola, which has successfully regained momentum in the smartphone market, instead of repeating the mistakes of LG, which exited the market despite producing quality devices.

If Sony can lower the price, address software issues, and return to the US market, it might just have a chance at success. Hopefully, Sony will see the potential in its products and do what’s necessary to turn things around.