Not more than a few days after rumors of two new Xperia smartphones set to arrive in the first half of 2016 and we already have more to report on Sony Mobile. This time around though, instead of what may be coming, it’s about what may not be coming. Specifically, if the rumors pan out, Sony will introduce fewer phones in 2016 compared to previous years.

 The company has released 10 or more smartphone models each year since 2012. Sony Mobile only launched four models back in 2010, the year the company first produced an Android smartphone with the launch of the Xperia X10 series. Well, it looks like Sony could be back to a similarly sized portfolio in 2016 judging by a latest report from Digitimes. 

I’ve always argued that Sony Mobile has offered far too many devices, making it hard for consumers to choose and even harder for them to convince carriers which models they should carry and promote. Fewer smartphones from them will not only solve both of those issues, but also make inventory management and a whole host of other infrastructural challenges for Sony much easier.

More on this after the jump.

According to Digitimes which tend to have many sources in manufacturing, Sony will reduce their smartphone line starting in 2016 and are

 likely to release only two models 

That last part is harder to believe and could simply be a misunderstanding or translation error. However, even if it were true, there is this small company named Apple who only offers two lines a year: whatever the flagship model is for the year (iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s+, currently) and last year’s model (iPhone 6). This allows Apple to have a clear flagship device that they can heavily promote while giving carriers only 3 SKUs to worry about.

This simplified model lineup also means that Apple can continue to reap in profits from devices introduced last year. Not only do components cost less the following year which means Apple can make even a greater profit on the iPhone 6, but it also creates a great value proposition for consumers who might not be able to afford to latest. This again also removes the burden from Apple for having to create a ‘mid-range’ line like Sony does with the Xperia C5 Ultra and Xperia M5 this year. Their mid-range devices are simply last year’s flagship models.

On the other hand, Sony in 2015 and prior had released 10 new devices each year with no tangible rhyme or reason. SKUs change, designs get tweaked from year to year, and models come and go. Not only is this confusing for consumers who have a phone they can choose from at nearly every price range (which only makes it more confusing when you have too many options), but it also becomes a logistical nightmare for Sony. They now have to juggle an infinitely more complex supply chain to build each unit.

Once built, Sony then has to look at each region and attempt to strike deals with carriers, knowing full well that they might only offer one or two of their devices. Finally, this also makes it that much harder for Sony to support devices after release, seeing how there is such a wide variation of them. Think about it; since 2012, Sony has had at least 40 SKUs for phones versus 6 from Apple.

The fewer the devices, the more of a chance Sony will have to win over consumers by focusing on a more clear vision of what they offer all while behind the scenes, being able to not only better support, but more efficiently build them which in turn can only mean more profitable devices. It’s no wonder Sony Mobile sales have hit a four-year low. Hopefully this is a plan that Sony will execute come 2016.

Discuss:

How many devices would you like to see Sony Mobile offer each year?

[Via XperiaBlog]