Sony has officially unveiled the Xperia 1 VIII, introducing a mix of camera-focused upgrades, AI-driven software features, and hardware elements that are becoming increasingly rare in flagship smartphones. The latest Xperia model continues Sony’s creator-first approach while refining imaging performance, audio quality, and overall processing capabilities.

Sony Xperia 1 VIII specifications and features

The Sony Xperia 1 VIII features a 6.5-inch OLED LTPO display with up to 120Hz refresh rate support, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection, and creator-focused color tuning. One of the biggest highlights of the Xperia 1 VIII is its upgraded telephoto camera system. Sony has replaced the previous continuous zoom setup with a new 70mm telephoto camera featuring a much larger 1/1.56-inch sensor and 48-megapixel resolution.

According to the company, the larger sensor is designed to capture better detail and improved low-light shots. The phone also includes a 48-megapixel primary camera, a 48-megapixel ultra-wide sensor, and a 12-megapixel front camera. Sony says RAW multi-frame processing works across all rear cameras to improve dynamic range and reduce image noise.

The smartphone is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset. It comes with up to 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of UFS 4.1 storage. The support for microSD cards up to 2TB remains intact.

Sony has also retained several signature Xperia features, including a dedicated two-stage camera shutter key and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The phone includes stereo speakers with identical left and right speaker units for balanced audio output. A 5000mAh battery powers the device with support for 30W wired charging and wireless charging.

Sony Xperia 1 VIII price and availability

The Xperia 1 VIII is available for pre-orders starting May 13 in select regions. The standard 256GB variant is priced at €1499 / £1399, while the exclusive 1TB Native Gold edition costs €1999 / £1849 and will be sold through Sony’s online store in select markets. Sony is also bundling WH-1000XM6 headphones with eligible pre-orders for a limited period.

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