Sony Xperia Z4 release date after MWC; Sony to drop mobile division?

The Sony Xperia Z4 could be the last flagship smartphone that the Japanese OEM manufacturer will release since reports are saying that the company will soon axe its mobile arm and will reportedly focus on PlayStation and other profitable products instead.

Apparently, the Sony Xperia smartphones did not sell well in the last couple of years, presumably causing immediate concern and prompting investors to consider pulling the plug on the handsets division. Instead, Sony would likely shift its attention to more popular products that are turning profits for the company like its game console and camera sensors. According to sales figures, although the Xperia smartphones recorded more sales last quarter, it still managed to put a dent on the company's net income. In addition, the company is foreseeing more losses in the future. Thus, rumors are claiming that Sony would be cutting off the smartphone and TV divisions. Sony has suffered from the competition, particularly against industry leaders like Apple and Samsung.

This is not the first time that Sony is cutting off business ventures. It previously dropped its PC division due to the same reasons. Sony CEO Kazuo Hirai declared that the company plans to boost its operating profit by 250 per cent between now and 2018.

"The strategy starting from the next business year will be about generating profit and investing for growth," Hirai told Reuters.

Meanwhile, the Xperia Z4 is rumored to skip the upcoming Mobile World Congress and will gun for a later release date. Sony is probably taking its time in developing the smartphone aiming to turn the table.

According to the rumor mill, the Xperia Z4 will have a screen panel measuring no less than 5 inches with quad HD (2560 x 1440 pixels) resolution. The handset will be powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 810 SoC with Adreno 420 graphics co-processor and 4 GB of RAM. Consumers can also expect a 24-megapixel back camera with dual LED flash and a 12-megapixel front facing camera, PlayStation Remote Play and IP68 certification for water and dust resistance, and longer battery life.