Sony recently paused sales of its flagship Xperia 1 VII smartphone in Japan after multiple user reports surfaced of random reboots, unexpected shutdowns, and devices refusing to power on. Now, Sony UK has confirmed that these issues stem from a faulty circuit board affecting a limited number of units.
Sony confirms investigation findings
According to Sony’s official statement, the company has completed its investigation and traced the problem to a manufacturing flaw that may cause circuit board failure. The issue could result in various power problems, including total device failure. In response, Sony has modified its production process to prevent future occurrences and issued an apology to customers.
Replacement program to start 21 July
Sony will launch a free replacement program on 21 July 2025 across Europe. Affected users can verify their Sony Xperia 1 VII device status using a dedicated IMEI checker on Sony’s support portal. Those eligible will receive instructions on how to claim a replacement unit. Sony has advised customers to back up any important data before returning their devices.
Temporary workaround for affected users
While users wait for replacements, Sony has recommended a temporary solution: pressing and holding the power and volume-up buttons for around 20 seconds may restart a frozen device. However, the company acknowledges that this may not work in all cases. Installing the latest software update is also advised, although it is unlikely to resolve the hardware issue.
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