The Sony Xperia 1VI is off to a strong start in Taiwan, where pre-orders for the new model exceeded those for the 2023 flagship by 50% – this information comes from Sony Taiwan General Manager Tomotaka Tsutsusushio.
Pre-orders started on the 23rd and came with a perk: a free upgrade from the 256GB model to the 512GB model, plus a two-month subscription to the music streaming service KKBOX (with lossless audio). Local pricing has the 256GB Xperia 1 VI for NTD40,000 and the 512GB for NTD44,000 (this works out to $1,245 and $1,370 respectively).
Pre-orders ended today, but there are still some benefits to be had before the proper launch (shipping is expected to begin on the 31st). If you buy the phone from a Sony store, you'll get NTD 1,000 credit to spend on accessories, NTD 2,000 if you go for the 512GB model (which is now a paid upgrade).
Remember that leaked red color, which isn't part of the global colorways for the Xperia 1 VI? Well, it's exclusive to the region and very popular with local buyers; it has eclipsed the other three options in terms of demand. Not surprisingly, it's a great color and the other options are a bit boring.
While Taiwan got the Sony Xperia 1 VI early, other regions are still waiting – Europeans, for example, will have to wait until early June. But once it launches, it will be interesting to see if the Mark 6 beats the Mark 5 by a similar margin on the Old Continent.
Thanks for the tip, Josip!
Source (in Mandarin)