Sony ships the first stable Android 16 for Xperia 1 VII (71.1.A.2.68, 1.13 GB). What's new, what's missing, and how to update, plus key security improvements.
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Sony has pulled ahead of the pack, becoming the first major smartphone maker to ship a stable build of Android 16. While OnePlus, Xiaomi, vivo and OPPO are still running beta programs, owners of the Sony Xperia 1 VII can already install the final release.
The firmware carries version 71.1.A.2.68 and weighs in at roughly 1.13 GB. It’s the first of four major updates Sony promised for the Xperia 1 VII. Installation is straightforward: head to Settings → System → Software update.
In practice, the upgrade feels restrained: the interface is largely unchanged, and some headline Android 16 additions—such as Live Updates and the new Material 3 Expressive design—are absent for now. The security level also remains at August 2025, even though Google has already introduced the September patch.
Still, the release brings meaningful safeguards. Advanced Protection is active to block malicious apps and risky sites, and there are improvements to smarter notification sorting as well as better support for hearing aids.
Only three Sony devices are left to move to Android 16—the Xperia 10 VII, Xperia 1 VI and Xperia 10 VI—so a full lineup transition looks set to wrap up soon.