Iconic Sony pulls plug on smartphones in Europe? Xperia 1 VII vanishes from stores in major shift

Sony may be stepping away from the European smartphone market. Its latest flagship, the Xperia 1 VII, has gone missing from several local and partner stores across the continent, including Finland, raising concerns that the brand is abandoning retail channels in favor of online-only sales.

Is Sony exiting the smartphone market in Europe?

With stores in Germany and the United Kingdom among the few that still sell the model, signs point to a larger downsizing of Sony's smartphone operations, according to a story from the Finnish publication Suomimobiili.

The Xperia 1 VII and other Sony phones are not yet available on the websites of Sony Finland and its partners, and they are not anticipated to be available for some time.


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Sony stated that it will not be selling the Xperia 1 VII in Finland and that it is concentrating on "online shopping channels to provide customers with a smoother shopping experience."

According to Sony, its flagship can be purchased in a few European countries through Amazon and its own online store, as quoted in a report by GSMArena.

What does this mean for current Xperia users?

Sony's complete response to SuonmiMobiili is as follows, "The Xperia 1 VII is not available for purchase directly through Sony in Finland. However, we are constantly assessing market profitability and customer demand. We are currently focusing on online shopping channels to provide our customers with a smoother purchasing process. Currently, the Xperia 1 VII can be purchased directly from Sony's official online store and through Amazon in selected European markets. Sony remains committed to fulfilling all maintenance and upgrade obligations for existing customers as usual."

Why has the Xperia 1 VII vanished from European stores?

The situation in other European markets is comparable. The Xperia 1 VII is not available in the majority of European countries on Sony's online store; however, the UK and Germany are the two main exceptions.

It looks like Sony is actually scaling back its smartphone business in Europe. The future of Xperia phones is not looking good, especially in light of the recent problems Sony has been experiencing with its Xperia 1 VII in its home market of Japan.

FAQs

Can I still purchase the Xperia 1 VII in Europe?
In most countries, the answer is no. Sony has removed the model from its stores, but it is still available online in select countries such as Germany and the United Kingdom.

Is Sony discontinuing its phone business in Europe?
Not officially, but the move away from retail indicates a significant downsizing, with online sales now the primary focus.