Sony to discontinue ‘Premium Standard’ high-end smartphones

Sony will be getting rid of more Xperia devices due to declining sales in key markets, the company revealed in their annual Investor Relations Day.

Let’s not be confused here, we’re talking about high-end devices that fall below the flagships such as the Xperia X and their Compact line of Android devices. As revealed in the documents, these ‘Premium Standard’ line of smartphones still has a massive following in their home country of Japan, but fall short of expectations everywhere else at a 31% rate versus the company’s target.

The company will make certain adjustments to maintain its profitability this year, and that includes focusing on markets where they can leverage their strengths, as a result. Beginning this year, expect only mid-range smartphones and flagships from the Japanese company. We’ll be treated with two more flagship devices coming later this year aside from the XZs and XZ Premium (X Performance successor, perhaps?).

Aside from discontinuing a line of high-end Xperias, Sony will also streamline its efforts into creating devices with technologies only they can deliver, such as unique antenna systems, display technologies, and their most-favored camera smartphone modules.

Source: Sony Investor Relation Files