Sony has been saying 5G connectivity is key to revitalizing its Xperia smartphone business since early 2018 yet, oddly enough, the company has so far shied away from releasing a compatible device. But if a new rumor is anything to go by, this could all change next year. 

Sony will presumably be looking to position itself as a viable alternative to the upcoming 5G devices from Samsung, Apple, and Xiaomi. The company may also try to capitalize on Huawei’s misfortune if the US trade ban situation remains unchanged next year.

Despite Sony’s efforts to improve profitability by focusing on premium devices, the company is still expected to continue releasing a handful of mid-range and budget smartphones. In these cases, the brand will stick to 4G LTE for the time being although an eventual switch to 5G is inevitable.

As for the company’s focuses in the near future, successfully marketing the Xperia 5 and maximizing sales is likely at the top of the list. Sony expects to sell 4 million smartphones in its current fiscal year which ends in March, although this estimate has already been revised down from 5 million.