Official-looking Xperia 1 VIII images show new design, colors; launch date, price increase tipped

Excitement is building for Sony’s 2026 flagship, the Xperia 1 VIII, as a wave of notable leaks has pulled back the curtain on its design, pricing, and release schedule.

Now, freshly-leaked renders (which appear to be official marketing images) finally give us a look at what should be the final design of the Xperia 1 VIII - one that aligns nicely with previous CAD render leaks.

Marketing images show Xperia VIII in new colors, confirming redesigned camera island

The marketing images confirm the new design, including the square camera island, which seems to be the new home of the Sony logo. The flagship is expected to launch in four distinct colors - Graphite Black, Iolite Silver, Garnet Red, and a Native Gold.

The design leaks have gained further credibility thanks to an accidental Xperia 1 VIII listing on Amazon. The retailer not only confirmed the color names but also listed core specifications, including a 6.5-inch 120Hz OLED display, the retention of the 3.5mm headphone jack, and the debut of "Xperia AI".

No continuous zoom, higher price, May 20 launch date tipped for Xperia 1 VIII before June release

In related news, Sony is likely to discontinue the continuous optical zoom from the Xperia 1 VII’s telephoto snapper. By the looks of it, the Japanese giant is pivoting toward a more traditional 48MP 1/1.56-inch sensor, fixed at 3x optical zoom, which should deliver dramatically better low-lights photos and videos.

However, the most jarring leaked detail might be the expected price. Alleged Hong Kong pricing suggests a 19% increase over the Xperia 1 VII, with the 256GB version listed at 12,099 HKD. It is said that Sony might release the Xperia 1 VIII as early as May 20th (at least in Hong Kong), while the Amazon listing leak suggests European units (possibly bundled with WH-1000XM6 headphones) might ship in late June.

Leaked Sony Xperia 1 VIII specs and launch date info:

• Processor: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, 12GB of RAM
• Display: 6.5-inch 19.5:9 FHD+ HDR OLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate.
• Camera system: Triple lens setup featuring a 48MP 1/1.56-inch periscope camera, fixed at 3x zoom
• Artificial Intelligence: Integration of "Xperia AI" for enhanced performance.
• Battery life: Rated for "2-day battery"
• Audio: Yes, there is a 3.5mm audio jack.
• Connectivity: Dual SIM support.
• Color options: Available in Graphite Black, Iolite Silver, and Garnet Red
• Release date: Scheduled for release on June 26, 2026 - according to (deleted) Amazon listing; May 20th launch possible in Asia