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Marques Brownlee - Why Don't People Buy Sony Smartphones?

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Author: Marques Brownlee
Categories: Technology
Tags: technology
Views: 2 · Last viewed: 2026-10-16 08:10 UTC

Short Summary

Main recommendation: Buy the Sony Xperia 1 Mark II if you want a phone with enthusiast-level camera control, a 4K display, and features rare on other phones, but expect weak mainstream appeal due to its poor launch timing and lack of basic features. Reviewer Marques Brownlee argues that Sony's smartphone sales have collapsed because the phone targets a small enthusiast audience and was launched poorly, not because the device lacks merit.

Key Points

  • The phone's standout strengths are its 6.5-inch 4K 21:9 display, the tool-less microSD/SIM tray, retained headphone jack, and a vibration motor that adds bass.
  • Its Photo Pro and Cinema Pro apps bring Sony Alpha-style manual controls, autofocus, and Venice color science, but require a learning curve on a touchscreen.
  • The phone lacks a simple night mode and has only a 1080p 30fps front camera, which matter to mainstream buyers.
  • Sony's smartphone sales fell from nearly 40 million a year to about 6.5 million in 2018, roughly equal to how many iPhones Apple sells in a week in a strong fourth quarter.
  • The phone was unveiled in May and only reached the reviewer about six months later in October, while its successor, the Xperia 5 Mark II, was already announced, hurting hype and review relevance.
  • Sony lacks awareness of its phones despite strong camera, TV, and PlayStation brands, and the reviewer notes Sony's poor naming.

Details Worth Noting

  • Concrete instructions: Turn on Creator Mode in the display settings to get the most accurate color and best-looking photos and videos.
  • Concrete instructions: Turn the always-on display on to see recent app icons that pulse when they have new notifications.
  • Concrete instructions: Use the middle button to open a split multitasker for two-app groups, switching or quitting apps.
  • Concrete instructions: Enable or disable the vibration bass feature depending on use, since it buzzes the phone with each bass kick.
  • Concrete instructions: Set the customizable bottom button to launch apps or act as a camera shutter.
  • Concrete instructions: In Cinema Pro, set focus points A and B to rack focus smoothly between them.
  • Bundles may include Sony's $350 Mark IV headphones for free, according to the reviewer.
  • The Xperia 5 Mark II is a slightly smaller version with a 120Hz display and a lower price, not available until December at the time of review.

Bottom Line

The Xperia 1 Mark II is a well-built, feature-rich phone for enthusiasts, but Sony's weak launch timing and limited mainstream appeal explain its poor sales.