Sony’s Xperia 1 VII Pre-Order Woes: Fans Frustrated as Orders Vanish Without Notice
Sony’s latest flagship, the Xperia 1 VII, generated buzz not just for its cutting-edge specs but also for its enticing pre-order campaign across Europe, which bundled a free pair of the highly regarded Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones. 
Unfortunately, the buzz has quickly turned into frustration for some fans.
Across Reddit and other forums, a growing number of users are reporting that their Xperia 1 VII pre-orders were mysteriously cancelled – without warning, and without any explanation. What’s worse, many say they were told to reorder, but the free headphones promo had already ended, leaving them empty-handed.
The issue isn’t isolated: complaints have emerged from the UK, Netherlands, Germany, France, and beyond. Despite the increasing volume of reports, Sony has yet to issue any official response or clarification, leaving fans in the dark.
While some speculate a server overload may have caused the cancellations, others believe Sony simply underestimated the demand – particularly for the limited promotional headphone bundle. Another theory floating around is that Sony ran out of headphones far quicker than it expected, while still having phones available for shipment.
Interestingly, some models, like the purple 16/512GB version in Japan, are already out of stock, suggesting a supply crunch in specific variants.
To add fuel to the fire, customers in certain regions – like Switzerland – can’t even buy the Xperia 1 VII at all, as Sony decided not to launch the phone there. Meanwhile, U.S.-based fans are also feeling left out, wondering why the pre-order perks seem so regionally limited.
What’s ironic is that many fans were surprised there were pre-orders at all. Some cynically joked that they expected Sony to make only a handful of units – just enough for reviewers.
It’s a shame, as Sony phones often attract a niche but loyal following. People remember classics like the Xperia Z3 fondly, even if the design hasn’t kept up with 2025 standards. Fans argue that Sony still makes solid devices, but its marketing and logistics often fail to match the product quality.
For a brand once known for its iconic devices – from Walkmans to MP3 players – many users wish Sony would recapture some of that magic and appeal. A clear apology and a fix for these botched pre-orders might be a good place to start.