Sony Xperia 10 VI owners have been dealt an unwelcome surprise: the phone will no longer receive the Android 17 update, despite Sony originally promising three major Android upgrades for the device.
The Xperia 10 VI launched in June 2024 with Android 14, and buyers reasonably expected it to move through Android 15, Android 16, and Android 17 during its software support period. However, Sony has now changed course, confirming on its support page that Android 17 is no longer planned for the handset.
According to Sony, the decision comes down to the Xperia 10 VI’s hardware configuration. The company claims the phone’s storage setup would not allow it to deliver a satisfactory user experience on Android 17. The Xperia 10 VI was sold with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage, a configuration that is still common in mid-range Android phones.
That explanation may not satisfy many users. Sony’s newer Xperia 10 VIII is available with the same 8GB RAM and 128GB storage configuration, yet it is reportedly scheduled to receive updates all the way through Android 20. This makes Sony’s reasoning difficult to accept at face value, especially for customers who bought the Xperia 10 VI expecting longer Android version support.
One possible explanation is that Sony may be referring not simply to storage capacity, but to storage performance. Slower storage can affect app loading, system responsiveness, and long-term performance. Even so, it is unclear why this would be serious enough to block Android 17 entirely, particularly when the Xperia 10 VI is only a couple of years old.
Sony says the issue is specific to the Xperia 10 VI and does not affect update plans for other Xperia smartphones. The company has apologized for cutting short the device’s major Android upgrade support, but it has not announced any compensation for affected owners. There is no mention of a trade-in offer, discounted upgrade, or other benefit for customers who expected the full update commitment.
The better news is that Sony still plans to provide security updates for the Xperia 10 VI for the originally promised four-year period. That means the device should continue receiving security patches until around mid-2028, helping protect users from vulnerabilities even after major Android version updates stop.
Still, the move is likely to frustrate Xperia 10 VI users. Software support has become a major factor when choosing a smartphone, especially as brands increasingly promote longer update policies. When a company reduces promised Android upgrades after launch, it can damage trust and make buyers more cautious about future devices.
For now, Xperia 10 VI owners can expect Android 15 and Android 16, but Android 17 is officially off the table. Security patches will continue, but the phone’s major Android update journey will end earlier than originally advertised.
