A compact Sony Xperia could return in 2025, but with one major limitation

For years, fans of compact smartphones have The return of a smaller Xperia model is expectedHowever, each new rumor has ended in disappointment, with Sony focusing on larger devices and prioritizing specific markets. Now, information has begun to emerge that suggests that in 2025 we could see a new compact model from the brand, but with a restriction that could leave many users out of its reach.

According to leaks from the Chinese platform Weibo and compiled by SumahoDigest, Sony is reportedly preparing to launch a smaller Xperia phone, described as “tiny” in the machine translation. While this might be great news for those looking for a compact alternative in the current market, there is one notable drawback: this model would be designed exclusively for the Japanese market.

A possible Xperia ACE IV for Japan

The alleged new addition to the Xperia series could be the Xperia ACE IV, the successor to the ACE III, a 5,5-inch model that was sold only in Japan. This is in line with Sony's more recent strategy, which has been gradually reducing its Xperia smartphone lineup globally and focusing on the domestic market, where it still maintains some market share.

Currently, Sony has little presence in the international smartphone market.According to StatCounter, it accounts for 3,82% of the mobile market in Japan, but its share in the rest of the world is minimal. This difference could justify the decision to launch a compact Xperia only in its home country, where small phones are still in demand among certain users.

Specifications still uncertain

While the existence of this compact Xperia has not yet been officially confirmed, some rumors have emerged about its possible features. One of the most striking speculations is that this model could incorporate a MediaTek processor Instead of using a Snapdragon, which would mark a significant shift in Sony's hardware strategy.

Over the years, The Xperia series has been synonymous with Snapdragon processorsA transition to MediaTek could be due to a search for more competitive costs or an attempt to differentiate device ranges.

Will it be released outside of Japan?

Although a possible global release of the ACE series has been rumored in the past, those reports never materialized.Given Sony's track record and the lack of concrete information about this supposed compact model, the possibility of its arrival on the international market should be taken with caution.

Sony's plans for its Xperia line have been uncertain in recent years. It was characterised by an increasingly reduced range and several models cancelled before their launch. It would not be surprising if the company changed its strategy at any time, even if the Xperia compact finally reached production.

After much speculation over the years, the possibility of Sony releasing a compact Xperia in 2025 has resurfaced. Although with the caveat that it will likely only be available in Japan. The leak points to a possible Xperia ACE IV that could be differentiated by adopting a MediaTek processor instead of SnapdragonThis would be an unexpected move from the brand. However, as this is an unconfirmed rumour, this information should be taken with a grain of salt. This is because the history of rumours about a compact Xperia has proven to be unreliable in the past.