Sony Suspends Xperia 1 VII Sales After Major Software Glitches

Date: July 11, 2025 | NewsMakers Web Desk

Sony officially announced a temporary suspension of sales and shipments of the Xperia 1 VII in Japan. The move follows multiple customer complaints reporting serious device malfunctions, including unexpected shutdowns, random restarts, and failing to power on.

Sony is actively investigating the issues, as per notices posted on its official support pages in Japan and the UK. Although the problem appears to affect only a limited batch of units, the company is proceeding cautiously and has also started assessing the extent of the issue in Europe. On the other hand, sales continue outside Japan for now.

Troubleshooting Guidance for Affected Users

Sony has advised users experiencing these problems to back up their data immediately to avoid potential loss. The company recommends trying the following:

Press and hold the power button and volume up button simultaneously for 20 seconds until the device vibrates.
Ensure the device is updated to the latest available software.
Use Wi-Fi for software updates to avoid high mobile data consumption.

Customers who are still facing issues are encouraged to reach out to Sony’s smartphone customer service for assistance. European users can also stay updated via Sony UK’s support page.

Pakistan’s Auto Industry Accelerates in FY25

Xperia 1 VII: Global Launch and Features

Despite the issues identified, Xperia 1 VII remains a significant release for Sony. The phone is expected to launch in Malaysia by mid-July 2025, meaning it could arrive any day now.

Visually similar to its predecessor, the Xperia 1 VII brings major hardware upgrades, including:

Snapdragon 8 Elite processor
A new 48MP ultra-wide camera, alongside a 48MP main and 12MP telephoto lens
A 6.5″ Full HD+ 120Hz LTPO OLED display
Retained 3.5mm headphone jack and microSD slot — rare features in today’s flagships
Runs on Android 15 out of the box
Promises 4 years of major OS updates and 6 years of security patches

The phone also introduces Xperia Intelligence, Sony’s new smart system focused on enhancing visuals, camera output, and audio quality. However, unlike Apple Intelligence or Galaxy AI, Sony’s feature set currently excludes generative AI tools or productivity-focused enhancements.