It seems like the Sony Xperia X devices will take the place of the Z series, which makes the Xperia Z5 the last device in the Z lineup. While this has been implied when the Xperia X Performance, X and XA were announced, Sony Mobile DACH has seemingly confirmed our suspicion on its Facebook page. Update (26/2): Sony Mobile has issued a statement on the status of the Xperia Z series. Read on to find out more.
When a curious user on Facebook asked Sony Mobile DACH if there will be an Xperia Z6, Sony Mobile DACH replied by saying that “there will be no Z6.” “The X series is under a completely new concept and will replace the Z series,” a translation of another reply read.
The Sony Xperia X series is definitely a very interesting lineup, and considering that the X Performance is packed with Qualcomm’s flagship chipset, the Snapdragon 820, it’s entirely possible that the X series is replacing the Z lineup as Sony’s top-tier offering for 2016. Whether or not Sony will still stick to the six-month cycle of its flagship devices remains to be seen.
While the Facebook reply may seem like a confirmation from Sony, there is a chance that the X series isn’t replacing the Z series at all; it could simply be a case of miscommunication. Update: Unfortunately, there is no miscommunication: the Xperia Z lineup has ended with the Xperia Z5 series. Here is Sony Mobile’s full statement on the matter:
The Xperia Z line has reached its culmination – Xperia X series represents a new chapter and evolution of our product strategy. Whilst the Xperia Z series was all about bringing the best of Sony’s advanced technologies to smartphones, Xperia X series is based on bringing smart, adaptive Sony user experiences across camera, battery performance and hardware / software design.
While Sony did not explicitly state that the Xperia X devices will take the place of the Z lineup when the former smartphones were announced, Sony Mobile’s official statement has confirmed this. For better or worse, this is the end of the Xperia Z lineup.
(Source: Sony Mobile DACH (Facebook) via Reddit, PhoneArena, Xperia Blog)
