Sony still manufactures Xperia phones, but purchasing one in the United States has become a challenging task. The company’s official US mobile store now features only three products, none of which are smartphones, marking a stark contrast to its past lineup that included the water-resistant Xperia Z1.
Why Sony struggled to compete
Following the 2023 release of the Xperia 1 V, which was the final high-end Sony phone sold officially in the US, subsequent models have skipped the American market entirely. Sony heavily prioritized photography by incorporating extensive manual camera controls, a physical shutter button, and the capability to use the Xperia 1 V as a display for compatible Alpha cameras. Although these features appealed greatly to photographers, they proved difficult to market to everyday consumers purchasing phones through standard carrier plans.
Apple captured over 50 percent of smartphone purchases in Japan during October and November 2014, and by the end of 2022, iPhones accounted for half of all smartphones used in the United States. Meanwhile, Chinese brands such as Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo expanded globally, while competitors like LG exited the smartphone market in 2021.
Sony’s annual smartphone sales dropped from 39.1 million units in the fiscal year ending in March 2015 down to 2.9 million by fiscal year 2020. When Sony launched the unlocked Xperia 1 V in 2023 for about $1,400 via authorized US retailers instead of major carriers, its market presence continued to shrink. According to Counterpoint Research, Apple and Samsung captured 84 percent of US smartphone shipments in the second quarter of 2026, leaving Sony’s market share too low to be listed separately.
While Microsoft previously acquired Nokia’s phone business in 2014 before the Nokia name returned on HMD-made Android devices, Sony chose a quieter approach by keeping the Xperia brand alive for a much smaller customer base.
Xperia phones aren’t extinct yet
Sony launched the Xperia 1 VIII in May 2026, followed by the Xperia 10 VIII in August. The flagship model debuted in the UK at £1,399, equivalent to approximately $1,880, retaining traditional features like a dedicated shutter button, a headphone jack, and expandable microSD storage. The midrange Xperia 10 VIII was priced at £549, or about $737.
These devices remain available in Japan and select European nations, including the UK, Germany, and France. Because Sony has announced no US release plans for either model, American fans must resort to importing them.
Imported Xperia 1 VIII owners on Reddit have shared mixed experiences, with some receiving LTE service while missing out on 5G connectivity. Another user reported losing 5G on T-Mobile following an update to an Xperia 1 VI. Sony’s official carrier documentation previously indicated that network compatibility in the US was already complicated even when the company officially sold phones there.
Sony continues to support the Xperia line, with the latest flagship promising up to four Android operating system upgrades and six years of security updates. However, investing a significant amount of money in a flagship device that lacks full carrier support presents a major hurdle for US consumers.
