Recent reports that Sony plans to discontinue the Xperia 5 series may not be true. A fresh leak suggests the Xperia 5 VI is very much in the company’s pipeline. A third-party accessory maker is already selling a rugged case for the unannounced Android phone, hinting at a nearing launch. The leaked case images reveal a few design details.
Sony is readying the Xperia 5 VI, new leak reveals
Sony’s smartphone lineup consists of three models. The Xperia 10 series is its entry-level or budget offering, while the Xperia 1 series is a flagship. The Xperia 5 slots in between the two, closer to the latter. It’s a mix of premium-ness and affordability. Last year, Sony launched the Xperia 10 V and Xperia 1 V in May and followed up with the Xperia 5 V in September. The Xperia 10 VI and Xperia 1 VI debuted in May too, and we were expecting the Xperia 5 VI around September.
However, a tipster last month claimed that Sony won’t launch an Xperia 5 series phone this year. The source even said that the Japanese company plans to entirely discontinue the lineup, keeping only two models. While the tipster didn’t have an excellent track record of leaks, it did seem to be a logical decision. People wanting a high-end Sony phone are more likely to buy the Xperia 1 model than the Xperia 5, which costs a little less and comes with some compromises.
It appears the information was inaccurate. A German retailer recently listed an alleged Spigen Rugged Armor case for the Xperia 5 VI in Matte Black. The accompanying images show a slight redesign of the camera housing, suggesting a new phone rather than a fake listing. Instead of a circular LED flash unit next to a microphone hole between the two rear cameras, the device has a rectangular dual-LED solution placed centrally with the microphone hole sitting slightly under it.
The device may lack a dedicated camera shutter button
This leak reveals a few more design details of the Xperia 5 VI. Well, we can see a 3.5mm headphone jack and a microphone hole at the top, but their positions are unchanged from the Xperia 5 V. The button placement is also the same, with the power button doubling up as a fingerprint scanner. The upcoming model seemingly lacks a dedicated camera shutter button. Or maybe this leaked case doesn’t accurately depict its design. If the Xperia 5 VI exists in Sony’s pipeline, expect more leaks in the coming weeks.
