Sony might be planning a big design refresh for its next Xperia flagship. Fresh images of the Sony Xperia 1 VIII (via Insider Sony) reveal a design that doesn’t quite follow the company’s recent playbook.

The phone is noticeably different from earlier Xperia models, which have typically stuck to a tall, minimalist look with subtle changes year over year.

What stands out here is the camera layout. It feels familiar, not to Sony users, but to those who remember the OnePlus 10 Pro. Of course, the resemblance isn’t one-on-one, but the overall arrangement and styling do give an old OnePlus vibe. 

Up front, things are more in line with Sony’s usual approach. The renders show a flat display with relatively standard bezels, rather than the ultra-thin borders seen on many competing flagships. 

The front-facing camera sits within the top bezel instead of a punch-hole or notch. And in classic Sony fashion, there are also visible stereo speakers on the front. 

Sony Xperia 1 VIII could bring notable camera upgrades 

Beyond the design, early rumors also suggest some changes in the camera system. The Xperia 1 VIII is expected to feature a triple-camera setup built around 48-megapixel sensors. While the ultrawide camera may remain unchanged from the previous generation, the main and telephoto cameras could see more meaningful updates.

Specifically, leaks suggest a larger primary sensor, which typically helps with low-light performance and overall image quality. There’s also talk of a new telephoto sensor, possibly falling somewhere between 1/3-inch and 1/2-inch in size.

That said, it’s still just a rumor at this point. Sony has not confirmed anything yet, and details like the final design, hardware, and feature set could change before launch.

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A new leak suggests two Xperia devices are now in development. Qualcomm has already confirmed that Sony will be one of the launch partners for its latest flagship chipset, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.

In recent weeks, rumors have centered on the Xperia 1 VIII, the presumed successor to this year’s Xperia 1 VII. Earlier evidence showed Sony registering multiple model numbers believed to correspond to the upcoming flagship. Now, The Walkman Blog has uncovered a separate set of model IDs pointing to a second unreleased Xperia smartphone, shifting speculation away from a possible revival of the Xperia 5 series.

Sony’s mobile division has been in a state of uncertainty, yet it expanded its lineup earlier with the Xperia 1 VII and Xperia 10 VII. The flagship 1 VII runs on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite platform, while the 10 VII uses the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3, a mid-range chipset. With the new model numbers PM-152xx understood to correspond to the Xperia 1 VIII, the six additional codes—PM-1530-BV, PM-1531-BV, PM-1532-BV, PM-1533-BV, PM-1534-BV, and PM-1555-BV—are believed to represent regional variants of a new mid-range entry.

This device is most likely the Xperia 10 VIII, rather than a new Xperia 5. Sony discontinued the Xperia 5 line after its fifth-generation release due to declining demand, making a comeback unlikely. Instead, it appears Sony will maintain a simplified two-tier strategy: a high-end Xperia 1 and a mid-range Xperia 10.

This also means the Xperia 1 VIII will likely be Sony’s only smartphone powered by Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset. Qualcomm has already confirmed that Sony will be deploying the chip soon, cementing the flagship’s place in Sony’s 2025 portfolio.

If these leaks hold true, Sony fans can expect both a next-gen flagship and a refreshed mid-range offering in the months ahead.

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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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(Source: 1, 2)

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