The update and the new features included
Sony has begun rolling out Android 17 for the Xperia 10 VIII and Xperia 10 VII smartphones, according to IT之家, citing the technology publication Android Authority. However, the update does not bring the full experience of the new version of the operating system: the two phone models remain excluded from some of the main changes introduced by Google.
On the available features front, the update expands interface customization through the section dedicated to wallpapers and styles. There are new wallpapers and new clock options, along with the ability to change the shape and style of icons. The quick settings panel also changes, with users able to resize and reorder tiles and get brief descriptions on larger tiles. Screen recording also improves, now allowing users to choose whether to capture the entire display or only the app in use, with the option to record the device’s internal audio and microphone audio simultaneously.
The exclusions and the Xperia 10 VI case
The limitations concern the cross-platform integration of Quick Share, which will not be available on these models, the advanced AI-based camera assistant, and Android 17’s desktop mode. These are features that the material indicates are inaccessible, without providing technical details on the reasons.
A further point concerns the update schedule: Sony had initially indicated that the Xperia 10 VI would also be updated to Android 17, but in October it changed its plans. According to the company, the decision is linked to limitations in the device’s memory configuration, which led to this model being excluded from the rollout.
What remains to be verified
The facts confirmed by the material concern the start of the rollout for the Xperia 10 VIII and Xperia 10 VII, the list of added features and the list of excluded features, as well as the decision not to update the Xperia 10 VI. Still to be clarified are the actual release timelines for the various markets and the possible impact of the limitations on everyday use. The material also does not specify whether the exclusions are temporary or permanent, nor whether Sony has planned subsequent updates to close the gaps with the full version of Android 17.
