Sony Xperia turns camera monitor into subscription: Difference between revisions

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 {{IncidentCargo
 |Company=Sony
-|StartDate=2025-08-31
+|StartDate=2025-08-26
 |Status=Active
 |ProductLine=Xperia
-|Product=Xperia
+|Product=Xperia 1, Xperia 5, Xperia PRO series
 |ArticleType=Product
 |Type=Ownership
-|Description=Sony turned external monitor feature of phone into a subscription; this was NOT marketed as a subscription when buying the phone
+|Description=Sony converted the External Monitor feature from a free, built-in function to a paid subscription service requiring $4.99/month, affecting phones already sold to customers
 }}
-{{Ph-I-Int}}
+Sony converted the External Monitor feature from a free, built-in function to a paid subscription service requiring $4.99/month, affecting phones already sold to customers
 ==Background==
-{{Ph-I-B}}
+The External Monitor feature has been a big differentiator for Sony's Xperia smartphones since 2020, allowing the phones to work as high-quality displays for Sony Alpha cameras via USB-C connection.<ref name="helpguide">{{cite web |title=Using the External monitor app |url=https://helpguide.sony.net/mobile/xperia-pro/v1/en/contents/TP1000380352.html |publisher=Sony Help Guide |access-date=2025-09-02}}</ref> This professional-grade feature supported 4K resolution at 30fps with tools like waveform monitors, false color, & focus peaking. This helped justify the premium pricing of Xperia devices ranging from $1,299 to $2500.<ref name="notebookcheck">{{cite web |date=2025-08-31 |title=Sony annoys Xperia users by making previously free feature part of subscription |url=https://www.notebookcheck.net/Sony-annoys-Xperia-users-by-making-previously-free-feature-part-of-subscription.1102082.0.html |publisher=Notebookcheck |access-date=2025-09-02}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-01-31 |title=At $2,500, the Sony Xperia Pro is so much more than a phone - CNET |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/at-2500-dollars-sony-xperia-pro-is-so-much-more-than-a-phone/}}</ref>
-==[Incident]==
+The feature was marketed as a built-in capability of Xperia phones. This appealed to professional photographers & videographers already invested in Sony's camera ecosystem. Xperia models including the 1 IV, 1 V, 1 VI, 5 V, PRO, & PRO-I all shipped with the External Monitor app pre-installed at no additional cost.<ref name="xda">{{cite web |date=2025-08-26 |title=External Monitor Functionality Changes on Xperia 1 VII (and Later) |url=https://xdaforums.com/t/external-monitor-functionality-changes-on-xperia-1-vii-and-later.4748765/ |publisher=XDA Forums |access-date=2025-09-02}}</ref>
-{{Ph-I-I}}
-===[Company]'s response===
+==Sony Implements Subscription Paywall==
-{{Ph-I-ComR}}
+On August 26, 2025, Sony released Monitor & Control app version 2.4.0, which moved the External Monitor functionality behind a subscription paywall.<ref name="reddit">{{cite web |author=super_hot_juice |date=2025-08-26 |title=Xperia External Monitor feature is now subscription feature in Monitor & Control 2.4 app |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/SonyXperia/comments/1n47leu/comment/nbj7zj4/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button |access-date=2025-09-02 |publisher=Reddit r/SonyXperia}}</ref> The new pricing structure requires users to pay $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year for the "Basic" plan to get access to wired monitoring functionality that was previously free.<ref name="creatorscloud">{{cite web |title=Monitor & Control | Creators' Cloud |url=https://creatorscloud.sony.net/catalog/en-us/monitorcontrol/index.html |publisher=Sony Corporation |access-date=2025-09-02}}</ref>
+The Xperia 1 VII, released in 2025, ships without the standalone External Monitor app entirely, forcing users to use the subscription-based Monitor & Control app for any camera monitoring functionality.<ref name="androidauthority">{{cite web |date=2025-08-31 |title=Sony just locked one of the best Xperia features behind a paywall |url=https://www.androidauthority.com/sony-xperia-monitor-and-control-camera-3593061/ |publisher=Android Authority |access-date=2025-09-02}}</ref> The subscription model affects compatibility with Sony's entire professional camera lineup including the FX6, FX3, FX30, and Alpha series cameras.
-==Lawsuit==
+===Sony's response===
-{{Ph-I-L}}
+Sony has issued no official press release, announcement, or executive statement explaining the transition to a subscription model.<ref name="notebookcheck" /> The company's documentation states only that "certain functions can only be used by purchasing a license" without addressing concerns about post-purchase feature removal.<ref name="creatorscloud" />
+Sony support representatives have reportedly provided no consistent messaging when contacted directly by affected users.<ref name="reddit" /> The absence of FAQ sections addressing the transition or acknowledgment of customer feedback has been noted by technology media as particularly problematic given the significant nature of the change.<ref name="androidauthority" />
 ==Consumer response==
-{{Ph-I-ConR}}
+The announcement sparked negative reactions across the tech community. Android Authority described Sony's approach as "distasteful," noting that the feature ''"requires neither a server nor complex software"'' to operate.<ref name="androidauthority" /> Reddit user "cliffr39" called it "super dirty" with 85 upvotes, while "hoverborg" suggested contacting consumer advocate Louis Rossmann with 49 upvotes.<ref name="reddit" />
+Professional photographers expressed frustration about paying monthly fees for offline functionality. Reddit user "joeybetamaxpt2" stated: ''"I'm just so taken back with Sonys what appears like a deliberate attempt to make one of their failing brands even worse."''<ref name="reddit" />
+Despite widespread discontent, no organized resistance has materialized. No Change.org petitions, coordinated boycott campaigns, or consumer advocacy group interventions specifically targeting the External Monitor subscription have been identified.<ref name="notebookcheck" />
+Users have discovered workarounds including installing Monitor & Control version 2.3.1 (the last free version) from APKMirror, or using the legacy External Monitor app version 7.0.A.0.8 for older devices.<ref name="apkmirror">{{cite web |title=Download Sony | Monitor & Control APKs for Android |url=https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/sony-corporation/monitor-control/ |publisher=APKMirror |access-date=2025-09-02}}</ref> However, these solutions lack ongoing support and compatibility with newer camera models.
 ==References==