Sony just proved that 'three OS updates' doesn't really mean anything

Sony started rolling out Android 17 to its flagship Xperia 1 VIII early last month. At the same time, the company released a list of phones eligible for the update, which surprisingly did not include the Xperia 10 VI. While that raised doubts about Sony’s plans for the phone, we now know that it’s simply never getting Android 17.

In a notice posted on its website, Sony confirmed that the Xperia 10 VI, released in 2024, will not be updated to Android 17. According to the company, “technical limitations due to the device’s storage configuration” prevent it from offering an Android 17 experience that Sony considers adequate.

The Xperia 10 VI launched in 2024 as a mid-range smartphone packed with 128GB of internal storage. At launch, Sony promised three Android OS updates for the device, which implied that Android 17 would be its final major update.

To make matters more confusing, the Xperia 10 VII, which will get Android 17, also comes with 128GB of storage. The technical limitations Sony refers to could point to a slower storage type in the Xperia 10 VI; Sony never specified whether the phone uses UFS 2.2, UFS 3.1, or another type of storage altogether.

However, several devices from other manufacturers equipped with UFS 2.2 storage are scheduled to receive Android 17. Clearly, that alone shouldn’t be reason enough for Sony to backtrack on its promise of three Android OS upgrades.

The company has specified that the issue only affects the Xperia 10 VI and doesn’t impact any other Xperia devices. If your Sony smartphone is on the list of models scheduled to get Android 17, you don’t have any reason to worry, at least for now.