July 23, 2025, 9:26 am | Read time: 4 minutes
Anyone currently looking for a smartphone from Sony will have trouble finding the right model. Only one somewhat current device is available in online stores. This may signal the manufacturer’s withdrawal from the European market.
Only One Sony Xperia Model Available
The new Sony flagship Xperia 1 VII was released in June but is not yet available in Europe. The device cannot be found in Sony’s online store, nor with mobile providers or electronics retailers. Earlier Xperia models have also completely disappeared from shelves and retailer websites.
On the Sony site, almost all Xperia models are currently listed as “Out of Stock” or “Price Not Available.” For the latter, there is at least the option to get a list of distribution partners (Amazon, 1&1, Media Markt, etc.) via the “Buy” button. However, as TECHBOOK has discovered, the links either lead to a blank page or only open the partners’ homepages. Searching for “Sony Xperia” often yields no results or only models with severely limited quantities or regional availability. These are almost exclusively outdated models–such as the Xperia 10 V.
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Is Sony Withdrawing from the European Market?
In effect, Sony has already largely withdrawn its Xperia smartphones from the European market. Whether this is due to a strategic decision to no longer serve the market or merely a restructuring of the online offering is currently unclear. In response to a TECHBOOK inquiry, Sony has issued a statement regarding its smartphone business in Europe:
“Sony remains committed to its Xperia business in Europe and continues to sell Xperia smartphones through our Sony online store and other online channels in selected markets to our valued customers.”
The sparse availability of Xperia smartphones, however, suggests that Sony is planning a strategic shift for its European business. The Finnish portal “SuomiMobiili” also received a statement from Sony in mid-July, providing insight into upcoming changes for customers–even though the company remains vague. In Finland, the Xperia 1 VII is currently unavailable. According to Sony, the focus is currently on online sales. The device is available on Amazon in “selected European markets.” TECHBOOK searched all European Amazon sites and found the Xperia 1 VII nowhere. As of mid-July, the smartphone was at least still available on Amazon Netherlands. The only somewhat current Sony device sporadically available is the Xperia 10 VI from 2024.
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Recently, Xperia smartphones have stood out mainly for their innovative camera technology and high-resolution 4K displays. Sony positioned its high-end models primarily as professional cameras and video monitors for its Alpha cameras. However, sales in the telecommunications division have been steadily declining for years, amounting to only about 1.6 billion euros in 2024–compared to a total revenue of more than 75 billion euros for Sony Corporation. In Germany, Sony had a market share of one percent with Xperia in March 2025.
Technical Problems with New Flagship Model
Recently, technical difficulties have also plagued the Xperia 1 VII. Users report crashes, spontaneous restarts, and even complete failures. Sony Japan has confirmed the issues and temporarily suspended sales. TECHBOOK received the following statement from Sony regarding the sales halt for the Xperia 1 VII:
“We have now conducted a thorough investigation and concluded that the manufacturing process for a small number of Xperia 1 VII smartphones may lead to a circuit board failure, potentially causing power supply issues. Customers can rest assured that this does not pose any safety concerns, and the manufacturing process was immediately changed to ensure this does not occur again.
We have successfully identified all affected smartphones and will offer replacements to all affected customers starting July 21. Customers are currently being contacted individually to coordinate the replacement, and we expect sales to resume soon. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused.”