Sony Xperia Phones To Lose Their Rectangular Form Factor

Sony Xperia phones have looked the same for far too long — the company has been using the “Omni-Balance” rectangular form factor, ever since it revealed the Sony Xperia Z in 2012. It is basically a rectangular design with rounded edges.

The design came with thin side bezels, but with large top and bottom bezels if compared to even phones such as the Samsung Galaxy S7.

While Samsung, Apple and others have reinvented their form factors many times, Sony has been stuck with the same form factor for a while. The company will be opting for a new form factor, which it calls Mirai. Mirai means “the future” in Japanese.

While the design change has been rumored for long, it was finally confirmed to the Indian publication, the Indian Express by Sony Mobile’s India managing director Kenichiro Hibi on Wednesday. It has even done some innovation to retain the form factor — on the current Sony Xperia XZ phones, the power button doubles up as the fingerprint sensor and takes up far less space on the device than Apple’s now outdated TouchID or Samsung rear fingerprint sensor.

Yet, the rectangular form factor does make Sony phones difficult to hold especially the 6-inch ones unlike other smartphones, which have a much more compact soap bar form factor.

It seems that Sony has finally made the change with the coming of bezel-less phones such as the Samsung Galaxy S8, Note 8 and iPhone X. Sony’s current design comprises of aluminum buttons and thick bezels, which seem unappealing as a design in comparison to the 2017 flagships. Chances are that the Mirai design might be bezel-less, but Hibi did not confirm it to the publication.

While the company continuously revamps its camera and updates its processors on its handsets it has continued with the same form factor. Instead of using the displays made by LG and Samsung, the company is expected to go for Japan Display’s 18:9 displays, which might make for a taller display.

The company might launch its new phones at the Mobile World Congress 2018, which takes place in February. The company traditionally launches its phones twice a year at the MWC event and the IFA event, which takes place in Germany every year.

What’s not known yet, is whether the company will also ditch its buggy user interface (UI) which has many pre-installed apps, an outdated camera interface, icons and a layout, which look inferior, even to a stock Android user interface.

But, chances are that the company goes in for a full overhaul both the UI and form factor. Prior to 2012, the company was actually working with multiple form factors, but ever since it broke its partnership with Ericsson, it has followed the OmniBalance form factor.

2018 might be an interesting year for Sony as it will finally compete with the likes of Samsung, LG and Apple in terms of form factor.