Tokyo, Japan – July 5, 2025 – In a surprising move, Sony has temporarily suspended sales of its flagship Xperia 1 VII smartphone in its home market of Japan. The decision comes in response to a growing number of user reports detailing unexpected and seemingly random shutdowns occurring on the newly launched device.
The issue, described by affected users as "weird," "frustrating," and "unpredictable," involves the Xperia 1 VII powering down completely without warning, regardless of battery level. Attempts to immediately restart the phone are often unsuccessful, requiring users to wait several minutes or even connect the device to a charger before it will turn back on.
"One moment I was scrolling through my gallery, the next the screen went black," reported Kenji Tanaka, an early adopter from Osaka. "I thought the battery was dead, but it showed 70% when I finally got it back on ten minutes later. It’s happened three times now, completely at random."
Sony officially acknowledged the problem yesterday, July 4th, citing "reports of unexpected shutdowns occurring under specific conditions" as the reason for the sales halt. The company emphasized that this action is currently limited to the Japanese market, where the phone launched just weeks ago.
Investigation Underway, Software Fix Promised
In a statement posted on its Japanese support portal, Sony confirmed it is actively investigating the root cause of the shutdowns. While the exact trigger remains elusive, the company strongly suggested a software issue is to blame and not a fundamental hardware flaw.
"We deeply apologize for any inconvenience caused to our customers," the statement read. "Our engineering teams are prioritizing the identification and resolution of this issue. Based on our current analysis, we believe the cause can be addressed via a software update."
Sony has directed affected Japanese users to a dedicated support page outlining the known issue and basic troubleshooting steps (like performing a software repair via a PC). Crucially, they announced that a corrective software update is targeted for release by mid-July 2025.
- Sony Japan Xperia 1 VII Support Notice: https://www.sony.jp/xperia/support/software/update/info/20250704_xperia1vii.html
- Detailed User Reports & Community Discussion (Japanese): https://kunkoku.jp/xperia1vii-update2507-2.html
Sales Suspension: A Precautionary Measure
The decision to suspend sales, while drastic, is seen as a proactive step by Sony to prevent further customer dissatisfaction and potential returns while the fix is developed. Retail partners in Japan have been instructed to remove the Xperia 1 VII from shelves immediately. Online listings on major Japanese retailers now show the device as "Temporarily Out of Stock" or "Sales Suspended."
It's important to note that this sales suspension currently only affects Japan. Sales of the Xperia 1 VII in other global markets continue as normal. Sony has not indicated if similar shutdown issues have been reported outside Japan at this stage.
Impact on Availability and Consumers
For Japanese consumers, this means the highly anticipated flagship is currently unavailable for purchase new through official channels. Potential buyers are advised to monitor Sony's official channels for updates on when sales might resume, expected to follow shortly after the deployment of the mid-July software patch.
For existing Japanese owners experiencing the issue, Sony recommends keeping the device updated and monitoring the official support page for the upcoming fix. The promised update will be delivered over-the-air (OTA).
- Xperia 1 VII on Amazon (Japan - Currently Unavailable): https://amzn.to/4leF7i8 (Link provided for reference, shows current status)
Waiting for the Fix
The Xperia 1 VII suspension is a significant setback for Sony's flagship launch in its critical home market. While the company's swift acknowledgement and promise of a software fix are positive signs, the unexplained nature of the shutdowns has undoubtedly caused concern among early adopters and damaged initial momentum.
All eyes are now on Sony to deliver a robust and timely software update by mid-July that definitively resolves the "weird shutdown" problem. Only then is sales likely to resume, and confidence in the flagship device fully restored among Japanese consumers. Stay tuned for further updates as Sony works to resolve this unexpected glitch.
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