Sony’s Xperia 1 lineup has always stood apart — built for Android purists and creators who value pro-level camera tools. But while Sony has been quietly scaling back its smartphone ambitions, early traces of the Xperia 1 VIII have started appearing online, and it’s expected to ship with Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset.
The new chip, announced at Qualcomm’s recent Summit, promises serious gains over the 8 Elite — up to 20% faster CPU, 23% faster GPU, and 35% increase in power efficiency. It’s already powering flagships like Xiaomi’s 17 series, Honor’s Magic 8 Pro, and will power upcoming flagships like Samsung’s Galaxy S26 Ultra, and gaming-focused phones like the iQOO 15, RedMagic 11 Pro series, and Asus ROG Phone 10. Sony’s inclusion in this list suggests it isn’t ready to compromise in performance, even though it’s not aimed at gamers. The new chip should give it more headroom to make the most of its camera hardware.
Model numbers such as PM-1502-BV, PM-1503-BV, and now PM-1521-BV have been spotted in eSIM databases, hinting at both global and regional versions. For Japan, listings point to SO-51G for Docomo and possibly SOG17 and A601SO for other carriers — a pattern that aligns with past Xperia releases.
While Sony hasn’t confirmed anything, these sightings are a good indication that the Xperia 1 VIII is well into testing. Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5’s performance numbers compete neck and neck with Apple’s A19 Pro, suggesting the next Xperia could pack some serious horsepower. What’s still under wraps are the camera details, design tweaks, and whether Sony plans to bring the device back to North America.
If it follows the usual schedule, the Xperia 1 VIII could arrive in the first half of 2026, roughly a year after the Xperia 1 VII’s June debut.
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