Sony

Sony sells 12 million Xperias in Q4, smartphone division swings to profit

posted by Daniel P. / Feb 04, 2015, 1:57 AM

Sony sells 12 million Xperias in Q4, smartphone division swings to profit

Sony’s smartphone business logged an operating profit of $80 million last quarter, as it sold 12 million handsets by simplifying and refreshing its product lineup. Compared to 8.8 million sold in the same quarter a year before, or 9.9 million during the summer quarter, Sony demonstrates good solid growth in the mobile department.

Flagships like the Xperia Z3 and Z3 Compact with their waterproof chassis and amazing battery life are proving to be a hit among consumers, and Sony managed to differentiate itself with waterproof midrangers, too.

The company will still lose about $1.45 billion for its fiscal year, but this loss is less than predicted due to the strength in the PS4 sales, and the image sensor business. Most smartphone makers are now either directly using Sony's phone cameras, or repackaging their sensors, adding OIS and other technology, then labeling them with their own brand. Sony also did a U-turn in its forecast going forward, as it now expects to swing to profit instead of a small loss this current quarter that ends in March.

source: Sony (PDF)

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34 Comments

1. Amir1 unregistered

Go sony!

posted on Feb 04, 2015, 2:03 AM 22

17. itsdeepak4u2000

Posts: 3718; Member since: Nov 03, 2012

That's some positive news from Sony.

posted on Feb 04, 2015, 3:52 AM 3

2. warlok

Posts: 3; Member since: Aug 13, 2014

or 9.9 billion during the summer quarter... Seriously..!!!! If they were selling a billion phone they would been marking huge profilts already...!!!

posted on Feb 04, 2015, 2:08 AM 4

3. Kruze

Posts: 1285; Member since: Dec 30, 2014

Go, Sony! Ganbatte!

posted on Feb 04, 2015, 2:13 AM 9

4. hellbread

Posts: 309; Member since: Nov 21, 2014

I wouldn't like to see Sony leave phone scene.

posted on Feb 04, 2015, 2:16 AM 16

5. LeBrownJames

Posts: 201; Member since: Mar 17, 2014

Sony won't go down that easy. Hope this trend will continue this year. Sony FTW!

posted on Feb 04, 2015, 2:23 AM 18

19. KParks23

Posts: 740; Member since: Oct 13, 2010

If they keep improving there phones like they have been and can manage to get on all the usa carriers on time they should do very well. and a commercial here and there wouldnt hurt!

posted on Feb 04, 2015, 4:20 AM 2

6. hboy857

Posts: 367; Member since: Jun 03, 2013

I really hope they that they wouldn't sell their mobile division. HTC and Sony are the only android manufacturer that bring genuine gorgeous looking and premium feeling smartphone in the market. Motorola has also created a very good looking and premium feeling smartphone with their moto X (2014). I hope this trend continue with other manufacturers. I also hope they continue their gorgeous omnibalance design but reserve that design language for their flagship devices. They should employ new design for their mid-low end phones. They shouldn't water down their design language just like samsung did with their galaxy series.

posted on Feb 04, 2015, 2:30 AM 10

7. meanestgenius

Posts: 22520; Member since: May 28, 2014

Great job, Sony! I have always personally thought that Sony was one of the better Android OEM's. Glad to see that their smartphone division is bouncing back. Keep it up, Sony!

posted on Feb 04, 2015, 2:45 AM 15

13. faizan-sharif

Posts: 98; Member since: Jun 26, 2013

great to see there are some other people like me who think sony is best +1

posted on Feb 04, 2015, 3:29 AM 8

15. meanestgenius

Posts: 22520; Member since: May 28, 2014

Sony is a great company with a fantastic ecosystem. I truly hope that their smartphone division remains on an upward track. If I ever decide to go full-on Android, it would be a Sony smartphone.

posted on Feb 04, 2015, 3:35 AM 5

8. vuyonc

Posts: 1091; Member since: Feb 24, 2014

As long as they stick to one full size flagship for the year, one SD610/615 midranger with the 16MP IMX230, SD410 version of the E4, get their 2014 midrangers to Lollipop with their Z series and unify kernels for more custom ROMs, things can only go up. The 10 hour on screen time/3 day battery life mark is theirs for 2015 too. 70 million units sold for 2015 I bet if they keep things streamlined.

posted on Feb 04, 2015, 2:54 AM 5

9. deanylev

Posts: 234; Member since: Mar 11, 2014

Absolutely fantastic! I thought Sony's mobile division would die off after bleeding so much money, but glad they didn't, but Z2 is AMAZING

posted on Feb 04, 2015, 3:02 AM 3

29. Djz89

Posts: 447; Member since: Aug 25, 2014

Yes! Z2 is a great phone. Absolutely no problems for almost a year now. I will stick to the xperia line-up as long as they keep this(z2) quality standard!

posted on Feb 05, 2015, 2:53 AM 0

10. livyatan

Posts: 867; Member since: Jun 19, 2013

Best business news of the year so far

posted on Feb 04, 2015, 3:04 AM 1

30. Djz89

Posts: 447; Member since: Aug 25, 2014

Agreed, it's been some sad news lately. Finally something good happends for sony aswell

posted on Feb 05, 2015, 2:54 AM 0

11. Chuck007

Posts: 1416; Member since: Mar 02, 2014

Hmm.. so their plans to sell off their mobile unit is put on hold I take it? Happy to see them making profits again. I love Sony.

posted on Feb 04, 2015, 3:06 AM 1

12. ArtSim98

Posts: 3535; Member since: Dec 21, 2012

Oooo this is great news! Now Sony needs to get innovating and change their business strategy.

posted on Feb 04, 2015, 3:28 AM 3

14. rency0722

Posts: 158; Member since: Jun 12, 2013

Now, unleash the beast of IMX230 and SD810-4GB RAM tandem in the Z4

posted on Feb 04, 2015, 3:33 AM 5

16. SuperNova

Posts: 649; Member since: Jan 15, 2015

Congrat Sony!

posted on Feb 04, 2015, 3:37 AM 1

18. josephnero

Posts: 789; Member since: Nov 16, 2011

lets hpe this is the first of many good news for sony to come

posted on Feb 04, 2015, 4:09 AM 4

20. pyradark

Posts: 895; Member since: Jun 10, 2012

Finally they hit 12M, cant wait For the corresponding revenue with that sales!! Congrats and hope to see 15M quarterly

posted on Feb 04, 2015, 4:32 AM 2

21. Supraman21

Posts: 467; Member since: Jun 09, 2010

Papasmurf where are you ? :)

posted on Feb 04, 2015, 7:03 AM 3

28. Odiin

Posts: 373; Member since: Apr 23, 2013

This /\

posted on Feb 04, 2015, 11:15 PM 0

22. JaroB

Posts: 112; Member since: Feb 13, 2013

SONY XPERIA Z3 Compact is the BEST ....GO SONY GO

posted on Feb 04, 2015, 9:13 AM 2

23. isprobi

Posts: 797; Member since: May 30, 2011

Well maybe there is hope for production of the Z4 Ultra after all. My Z Ultra is nice but the technology is starting to get old.

posted on Feb 04, 2015, 10:18 AM 1

24. techloverNYC

Posts: 601; Member since: Nov 20, 2012

Sony time to take the Andriod throne :}

posted on Feb 04, 2015, 11:27 AM 1

25. GeekMovement unregistered

Good news!

posted on Feb 04, 2015, 1:32 PM 1

26. checkmymike

Posts: 222; Member since: Dec 28, 2011

This is a positive news for sony! I just love them!

posted on Feb 04, 2015, 6:03 PM 0

27. Skizzo

Posts: 405; Member since: Jul 14, 2013

It's great to see. It would be a big shame to lose such an important player in the game. Sony has played an important role (dare I say a leading role) in the tech world for so long, and their phones are finally showing the maturity that comes from such a strong history. They just need to continue on this path and not ease up or give up. Same goes for HTC. The more players, the better the game!

posted on Feb 04, 2015, 10:23 PM 0

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