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Sony has announced that it will continue to produce smartphones for a few more years, despite the fierce competition in the market. The Japanese tech giant has been struggling to keep up with the likes of Apple and Samsung, but it seems they are not ready to give up just yet.
How do we know? Sony just signed a multi-year deal with Qualcomm to use Snapdragon to continue to build handsets. This means Sony can’t give up on handsets any time soon.
“We’re thrilled to continue working with our longstanding partner Sony to deliver the next generation of premium mobile technologies to consumers,” said O.H. Kwon, senior vice president of Qualcomm CDMA Technologies and president of Qualcomm Asia-Pacific (APAC). “This collaboration is an exciting opportunity for us to deliver innovative user experiences to help meet the demands of consumers globally.”
A History of Innovation
Sony’s history in the smartphone industry dates back to 2001 when it released its first mobile device, the Sony Ericsson T68i. However, to understand the complete history of Sony smartphones, it is necessary to trace the evolution from the joint venture of Sony and Ericsson to the present day. Here’s a timeline of Sony’s smartphone journey:
1. Sony Ericsson Era (2001-2012):
– 2001: Sony Ericsson T68i was launched, featuring a color screen and the ability to send/receive multimedia messages.
– 2005: Sony Ericsson introduced the Walkman phone series, starting with the W800, which offered enhanced music capabilities.
– 2008: The Xperia brand was born with the release of the Sony Ericsson Xperia X1, running Windows Mobile.
– 2010: Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 was launched, the company’s first Android smartphone.
– 2011: Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc became popular for its slim design and advanced camera features.
– 2012: Sony fully acquired Ericsson, and the brand transitioned from Sony Ericsson to Sony Mobile Communications.
2. Sony Xperia Era (2012-Present):
– 2012: Sony Xperia S marked the beginning of the “Xperia NXT” series with a distinctive design featuring a transparent bar.
– 2013: Sony Xperia Z was introduced, showcasing Sony’s new “OmniBalance” design language and waterproof capabilities.
– 2014: The Xperia Z3 series was launched, focusing on camera improvements and remote gaming capabilities.
– 2015: Sony introduced the Xperia Z5 Premium, the world’s first smartphone with a 4K display.
– 2016: Sony Xperia X series replaced the Z series, with devices like Xperia XZ offering enhanced camera features.
– 2017: Sony Xperia XZ Premium became the first smartphone to feature a 4K HDR display.
– 2018: Sony Xperia XZ3 introduced the “Ambient Flow” design and focused on display and audio enhancements.
– 2019: Sony Xperia 1 was launched with a 21:9 CinemaWide display, catering to multimedia consumption and filmmaking.
– 2020: Sony Xperia 1 II (Mark 2) arrived with a renewed focus on photography, audio, and 5G connectivity.
– 2021: Sony Xperia 1 III (Mark 3) and Xperia 5 III continued the flagship lineup with advancements in camera technology.
Throughout its history, Sony smartphones have been known for their multimedia capabilities, camera technology, water resistance, and unique design choices. Sony has also leveraged its expertise in other product categories, such as TVs and audio equipment, to offer integrated experiences across its ecosystem of devices.
While it remains to be seen if Sony can truly make a comeback in the smartphone industry, it’s clear that they are not backing down without a fight.
