Sony Xperia 1 VIII: New design, but still a phone for enthusiasts

Sony has unveiled the Xperia 1 VIII, its latest flagship, marking a significant departure from previous models. The phone features a completely redesigned look with a blocky camera island and an unusual textured finish that feels like a very fine nail file. However, Sony has retained some signature elements: a 3.5mm headphone jack, a microSD card slot, and thick bezels housing stereo speakers.

The Xperia 1 VIII is not launching in the US. In the UK and Europe, it starts at £1,399 / €1,499 (approximately $1,850) for the 256GB version, while the 1TB model with 16GB of RAM costs £1,849 / €1,999 (about $2,450).

Camera and performance

The biggest change is the camera system. Sony has dropped the continuous optical zoom telephoto lens that defined the last four generations, replacing it with a 2.9x (70mm equivalent) telephoto lens with a large 48-megapixel sensor — the same size as the ultrawide sensor. Sony claims this is their best phone camera yet, but the new AI Camera Assistant, which suggests filters before you take a shot, is often more distracting than useful.

Under the hood, the phone packs a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, but during testing, it exhibited stuttering, slowdowns, and overheating, especially when using the camera or switching between apps. The 5000mAh battery is rated for two days but barely lasts a full day under moderate use. Charging is also slow at 30W, well behind competitors.

Software and verdict

The phone runs near-stock Android 16, but Sony promises only four OS updates and six years of security patches — a modest commitment. There are also some software quirks, such as the phone automatically creating folders on the home screen.

The Sony Xperia 1 VIII offers a striking design, capable cameras, and nice features like a headphone jack, but its high price, uneven performance, and average battery life make it a phone for the fans. Others will find better value in rivals like the Xiaomi 17 Ultra or Vivo X300 Ultra.