Sony discontinues Airpeak S1 drone

Sony has discontinued its Airpeak S1 drone, only three years after announcing the $9,000 USD ($13,500 AUD) flying device.

The Airpeak was compatible with all of Sony's mirrorless offerings, including the A1, A9, A7S and 7R series, but seemed to struggle with consumer cut-through - it never received particularly good reviews, and last year Sony unveiled a full-frame box camera designed for drones that bizarrely did not work with it.

The Airpeak's biggest challenge however was consumer drone juggernaut DJI, which remains the industry's most dominant player. Combine this with the relatively high cost of the Airpeak, and it was clearly a challenging product for the company to sell.

Despite this, Sony did seek to address some of the criticism of the Airpeak. A lighter gimbal and improved navigation features were released last year, alongside firmware updates, but it wasn't enough to ensure the drone's future. 

“Due to recent changes in the business environment, sales of the Airpeak S1 and related products, except for some accessories, will end at the end of March 2025. Please see below for a list of products to be discontinued and details of the end of support, including repair services after the end of sales,” Sony said in a translated statement on its corporate website.

That said, for owners wondering if they're now stuck with a $9,000 brick, there is some hope. Sony have said that it will continue to offer regular inspection and repair services, plus software maintenance, until March 31, 2030.