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Here is the Sony Ericsson VAIO phone that never was
August 04, 2025
Do you rememberEngadget‘s2010 rumorthat Sony Ericsson was working on a VAIO-branded Android phone that never came to market? It turns out this was real — and we now have a much better look at the handset.XDAhasobtainedhigh-quality photos of Sony’s VAIO prototype that both confirm its existence and show what you might have experienced if the phone had reached store shelves.
True to reports, the VAIO phone has a tall 5.5-inch screen (unusual for the time) with a hinged, slide-out QWERTY keyboard reminiscent of the HTCSwift. It has the Android navigation buttons you’d expect on a phone from the period, but it was clearly meant to be used more like a laptop — hence the VAIO branding. Sony’s phone prototype is reportedly a delight to type on between its “comfortable spacing” and “great travel,” not to mention Android keys at the bottom left.
There’s also a single rear camera (this wasn’t meant foran era of video meetings). The device shown here is running Android 2.1 Eclair.
Related:Are there still phones with a physical QWERTY keyboard?
It’s not certain why Sony axed the device, although it may have fallen prey to factors that sank niche devices like theXperia Play. Most importantly, it may have been premature — mobile computing power and the Android platform weren’t nearly as powerful in 2010, limiting its appeal as a laptop replacement. It’s now relatively easy to handle PC-like duties with a phoneor tabletif you’re truly determined.
You’re unlikely to see Sony return to this form factor. The company offloaded its VAIO division years later, and Sony’s mobile unit isn’t as powerful as it once was even with capable phones like theXperia 5 IIin its roster. Don’t despair, though. Companies likeFxtecandPlanet Computersoffer laptop-like phones if you’re still inclined, and they’re more capable than Sony’s cancelled product could ever have been.
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