As Sony's mobile sales fall fast, I still don't know why Xperia exists — and that's the problem

Sony Xperia Pro-I and Xperia 5 III side-by-side on desk.

What you need to know

• An IDC analyst shared in a Bloomberg newsletter that sales for Sony's smartphone business dropped 40% last year.
• The drops are expected to continue as Sony's Xperia brand struggles to compete with the likes of Apple and Google.
• Sony is teasing the launch of a new Xperia phone during a May 15 announcement, and it is rumored to be targeting more of a mainstream audience.