Sony announces that the Airpeak S1 unmanned driving camera will be discontinued in 2025

Recently, Sony announced an important decision: its highly anticipated high-end autonomous driving camera, the Airpeak S1, will officially cease sales on March 31, 2025. This news not only marks an important strategic adjustment for Sony in the drone market, but also provides clear time planning for existing users and potential buyers.
It is reported that Sony also plans to stop selling most of the accessories for the Airpeak S1 in 2024. But in order to ensure the continuous use needs of users, Sony has promised to continue providing replacement batteries and critical components such as propellers before March 31, 2026. In addition, Sony also promises to provide long-term service support to users, including inspection, repair, and software maintenance, which will continue until March 31, 2030. The Airpeak S1 made its debut at the 2021 CES virtual exhibition and quickly caught the attention of the industry with its unique ability to be equipped with Sony's full frame mirrorless interchangeable lens Alpha camera. This drone is designed specifically for high-definition shooting and can fly continuously for 12 minutes with a camera connected. Its maximum flight speed can reach 55.9 miles per hour, showcasing its outstanding performance and shooting capabilities.
However, despite the unique positioning of the Airpeak S1 in the drone market, its high price has become a major obstacle to market acceptance. It is understood that even without considering accessories, the price of this drone is as high as about $9000, which undoubtedly limits its potential market expansion. Therefore, the Airpeak S1 did not receive the expected enthusiastic response in the market and instead faced some negative reviews.
Sony's decision to discontinue the sale of the Airpeak S1 may be based on a thorough consideration of market feedback, product performance, and future development strategies. For existing users, they can continue to enjoy professional technical support during Sony's promised service period and have the opportunity to purchase the necessary accessories. For potential buyers, they may need to reassess their purchasing needs or look for other suitable drone products.
Sony's move in the drone market will undoubtedly have a profound impact on the industry landscape. In the future, whether Sony will launch new drone products or further expand its business in this field will become a focus of attention for both the industry and consumers.