Sony Xperia 1 VIII
Pros
+ Strong telephoto camera
+ Powerful Snapdragon chipset
+ Expandable microSD storage
+ Headphone jack included
+ Clean Android software
+ Uninterrupted OLED display
+ Excellent stereo speakers
Cons
- Very expensive pricing
- Slow charging speeds
- Software feels barebones
- AI camera disappoints
- Limited update promise
- Battery merely solid
The Sony Xperia 1 VIII is a premium Android flagship with a 6.5-inch 120Hz OLED display, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, and up to 16GB of RAM. Its redesigned rear camera system highlights a much stronger 48MP telephoto camera, supported by 48MP main and ultrawide sensors. Reviewers praise Sony’s commitment to rare flagship features, including a headphone jack, microSD card slot, front-facing stereo speakers, a dedicated shutter button, and an uninterrupted display. Performance is strong, the design remains sleek and durable, and the phone carries IP65/IP68 protection. However, critics note that charging is slow, battery life is only solid, software features feel limited, and AI camera tools can underperform. Overall, the Xperia 1 VIII is a capable but niche flagship that will appeal most to loyal Sony fans and creator-focused users rather than mainstream iPhone or Galaxy buyers.
Specifications
Sony Xperia 1 VIII (Xperia 1 Series)
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 8c/8t, 2 x 4.6 GHz Qualcomm Oryon Gen 3 Prime, 6 x 3.6 GHz Qualcomm Oryon Gen 3 Performance, Oryon v3
Graphics adapter
Memory
12 GB
, LPDDR5x
Display
6.50 inch 19.5:9, 2340 x 1080 pixel 396 PPI, Capacitive touchscreen, OLED, Gorilla Glass Victus 2, glossy: yes, HDR, 120 Hz
Storage
256 GB UFS 4.1 Flash, 256 GB
Connections
1 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, USB-C Power Delivery (PD), 1 HDMI, 1 DisplayPort, Audio Connections: 3.5 mm, Card Reader: microSDXC, 1 Fingerprint Reader, NFC, Brightness Sensor, Sensors: accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass, OTG, Miracast
Networking
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/ax = Wi-Fi 6/ Wi-Fi 6E 6 GHz be = Wi-Fi 7), Bluetooth 6.0, 2G (850/900/1800/1900), 3G (B1/B2/B4/B5/B8), 4G (B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B7/B8/B12/B13/B17/B19/B20/B25/B26/B28/B32/B34/B38/B39/B40/B41/B66), 5G (n1/n3/n5/n7/n8/n20/n28/n38/n40/n41/n75/n77/n78/n79), Dual SIM, LTE, 5G, GPS
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 8.3 x 162 x 74 ( = 0.33 x 6.38 x 2.91 in)
Battery
5000 mAh, 30 Watt wired, 15 Watt wireless
Charging
wireless charging, fast charging / Quickcharge
Operating System
Android 16
Camera
Primary Camera: 48 MPix (f/1.9, 24 mm, OIS, 1/1.35", Zeiss T* lens coating) + 48 MPix (2.9x optical zoom, f/2.8, 70 mm OIS) + 48 MPix (f/2.0, 16 mm, 1/1.56")
Secondary Camera: 12 MPix (f/2.0, 24 mm. 4K@60fps)
Secondary Camera: 12 MPix (f/2.0, 24 mm. 4K@60fps)
Additional features
Speakers: Stereo, Keyboard: Virtual keyboard, USB cable, Sony UI, 24 Months Warranty, SAR: 0.97W/kg head, 1.09W/kg body | SBC, AAC, LDAC, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless | IP68, fanless, waterproof
Released
05/13/2026Weight
200 g ( = 7.05 oz / 0.44 pounds)
Price
1499 Euro
Price comparison
Average Score:
Average of 9 scores (from 20 reviews)
Average of 9 scores (from 20 reviews)
price: 54%, performance: 85%, features: - %, display: 91% mobility: 82%, workmanship: 75%, ergonomy: - %, emissions: - %
Reviews for the Sony Xperia 1 VIII
Sony Xperia 1 VIII Review | Most Punk Flagship Phone?
Source: Tech Spurt
Reviewing the Sony Xperia 1 VIII, the burgundy sheep of the 2026 flagship line-up. I've been testing this phone for a fortnight, including a jaunt to Mexico to see how the camera tech, battery life and performance hold up under pressure. So, is the Sony Xperia 1 VIII worth that sky-high UK price?
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 06/16/2026
Source: Tech Spurt
Reviewing the Sony Xperia 1 VIII, the burgundy sheep of the 2026 flagship line-up. I've been testing this phone for a fortnight, including a jaunt to Mexico to see how the camera tech, battery life and performance hold up under pressure. So, is the Sony Xperia 1 VIII worth that sky-high UK price?
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 06/16/2026
Sony Xperia 1 VIII Specifications, Pros and Cons
Source: OI Spice Tech News
The Sony Xperia 1 VIII keeps its signature tall and sleek look with a 6.5-inch LTPO OLED screen that supports 1 billion colors and a buttery-smooth 120Hz refresh rate. In plain English, that means scrolling feels incredibly fluid, and videos look stunning with deep blacks and vibrant colors. It is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the front and Victus on the back, all wrapped in an aluminum frame. The phone is also built to survive the elements it has an IP65/IP68 rating, so it can handle low-pressure water jets and being submerged in up to 1.5 meters of water for 30 minutes. Under the hood, it runs on the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip built on a super-efficient 3nm process, which makes multitasking, gaming, and AI tasks lightning fast. You can choose from storage options ranging from 256GB to 1TB, with 12GB or 16GB of RAM, and there is even a dedicated microSD card slot if you need more space.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 05/22/2026
Source: OI Spice Tech News
The Sony Xperia 1 VIII keeps its signature tall and sleek look with a 6.5-inch LTPO OLED screen that supports 1 billion colors and a buttery-smooth 120Hz refresh rate. In plain English, that means scrolling feels incredibly fluid, and videos look stunning with deep blacks and vibrant colors. It is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the front and Victus on the back, all wrapped in an aluminum frame. The phone is also built to survive the elements it has an IP65/IP68 rating, so it can handle low-pressure water jets and being submerged in up to 1.5 meters of water for 30 minutes. Under the hood, it runs on the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip built on a super-efficient 3nm process, which makes multitasking, gaming, and AI tasks lightning fast. You can choose from storage options ranging from 256GB to 1TB, with 12GB or 16GB of RAM, and there is even a dedicated microSD card slot if you need more space.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 05/22/2026
Sony Xperia 1 VIII Review | Huge Camera Upgrade, Frustrating Software — Very Sony
Source: Tech Edit
My Xperia 1 VIII review called out the software before Sony’s own AI Camera Assistant samples made headlines for making photos look worse. The camera hardware upgrade is real, but the software doesn't always do it justice. The Sony Xperia 1 VIII is one of the most interesting Xperia flagships in years, with a much stronger telephoto camera, classic Sony hardware features, a headphone jack, microSD support, front-facing speakers and a clean uninterrupted display. But after real-world testing across photography, video, zoom, low light and everyday use, the camera app and AI features left me with serious concerns. This review covers the Xperia 1 VIII camera system, telephoto upgrade, AI Camera Assistant, software experience, battery life, design, display, video, selfie camera and whether Xperia fans should upgrade from the Xperia 1 VII.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 05/15/2026
Source: Tech Edit
My Xperia 1 VIII review called out the software before Sony’s own AI Camera Assistant samples made headlines for making photos look worse. The camera hardware upgrade is real, but the software doesn't always do it justice. The Sony Xperia 1 VIII is one of the most interesting Xperia flagships in years, with a much stronger telephoto camera, classic Sony hardware features, a headphone jack, microSD support, front-facing speakers and a clean uninterrupted display. But after real-world testing across photography, video, zoom, low light and everyday use, the camera app and AI features left me with serious concerns. This review covers the Xperia 1 VIII camera system, telephoto upgrade, AI Camera Assistant, software experience, battery life, design, display, video, selfie camera and whether Xperia fans should upgrade from the Xperia 1 VII.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 05/15/2026
Sony Xperia 1 VIII review
Source: GSM Arena
The Sony Xperia 1 VIII is, once again, a Sony phone through and through. It has a personality, it has a loyal target audience, and it has a number of features that are practically extinct elsewhere - a headphone jack, microSD expansion, a toolless SIM tray, a clean Android build, front-facing stereo speakers, USB video output, a dedicated two-stage shutter key and a display that's uninterrupted by a punch hole. That alone will be enough to keep some Xperia fans interested. The problem is that outside of that niche, the Xperia 1 VIII is a hard sell. The display is good, but not class-leading. Battery life is solid, but not exceptional. Charging is slow by current flagship standards. The software is clean, but light on features and the update promise is no longer particularly impressive.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 05/13/2026
Rating: Total score: 86%
Source: GSM Arena
The Sony Xperia 1 VIII is, once again, a Sony phone through and through. It has a personality, it has a loyal target audience, and it has a number of features that are practically extinct elsewhere - a headphone jack, microSD expansion, a toolless SIM tray, a clean Android build, front-facing stereo speakers, USB video output, a dedicated two-stage shutter key and a display that's uninterrupted by a punch hole. That alone will be enough to keep some Xperia fans interested. The problem is that outside of that niche, the Xperia 1 VIII is a hard sell. The display is good, but not class-leading. Battery life is solid, but not exceptional. Charging is slow by current flagship standards. The software is clean, but light on features and the update promise is no longer particularly impressive.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 05/13/2026
Rating: Total score: 86%
Sony Xperia 1 VIII review: the features iPhone and Galaxy killed off, but can it compete?
Source: Phone Arena
The Xperia 1 VIII is a genuinely good phone, but it's a hard sell at £1,400. You're getting great cameras, incredible speakers, and a handful of features no other flagship bothers with anymore — and that counts for something. But at this price, the slow charging, bare-bones software, and shorter update window are real sticking points that are tough to ignore. If you've been a Sony fan for years and you want a phone that does things differently, this won't disappoint you. But if you're coming from a Samsung or an iPhone and wondering whether the grass is greener — honestly, probably not at this price. Sony still makes a case for itself, just not a strong enough one to pull most people away from what they already know.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 05/13/2026
Rating: Total score: 72% performance: 90% display: 80% mobility: 73% workmanship: 70%
Source: Phone Arena
The Xperia 1 VIII is a genuinely good phone, but it's a hard sell at £1,400. You're getting great cameras, incredible speakers, and a handful of features no other flagship bothers with anymore — and that counts for something. But at this price, the slow charging, bare-bones software, and shorter update window are real sticking points that are tough to ignore. If you've been a Sony fan for years and you want a phone that does things differently, this won't disappoint you. But if you're coming from a Samsung or an iPhone and wondering whether the grass is greener — honestly, probably not at this price. Sony still makes a case for itself, just not a strong enough one to pull most people away from what they already know.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 05/13/2026
Rating: Total score: 72% performance: 90% display: 80% mobility: 73% workmanship: 70%
Sony Xperia 1 VIII Debuts Big Redesign, Adds More Powerful Telephoto Camera
Source: PC Mag
Sony avoided a major redesign of its flagship smartphone for over half a decade, keeping the same look since 2020’s Xperia 1 II. Rather than vertically oriented cameras, Sony is now moving to a raised camera island at the top left of the rear of the new Xperia 1 VIII. The redesign is to accommodate an exciting telephoto camera upgrade, which Sony says is four times more powerful than its last-gen option at 1/1.56-inch, enabling improved low-light shooting. The aperture is f/2.8, and the focal length is 70mm. Alongside the telephoto are two more cameras with specs similar to the last-gen phone, as well as a flash and an emblazoned Sony logo. The main camera is a 48MP shooter with an F/1.9 aperture, while the ultrawide is a 48MP with a 104-degree field of view. The front of the phone has a 12MP selfie camera.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 05/13/2026
Source: PC Mag
Sony avoided a major redesign of its flagship smartphone for over half a decade, keeping the same look since 2020’s Xperia 1 II. Rather than vertically oriented cameras, Sony is now moving to a raised camera island at the top left of the rear of the new Xperia 1 VIII. The redesign is to accommodate an exciting telephoto camera upgrade, which Sony says is four times more powerful than its last-gen option at 1/1.56-inch, enabling improved low-light shooting. The aperture is f/2.8, and the focal length is 70mm. Alongside the telephoto are two more cameras with specs similar to the last-gen phone, as well as a flash and an emblazoned Sony logo. The main camera is a 48MP shooter with an F/1.9 aperture, while the ultrawide is a 48MP with a 104-degree field of view. The front of the phone has a 12MP selfie camera.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 05/13/2026
Sony Xperia 1 VIII review: a bit more mainstream – but probably not enough
Source: Stuff TV
Underneath the sleek new shell, the Xperia 1 VIII doesn’t fully feel like the evolution Sony needs it to be. That new zoom lens might put the rear camera trio on par with mainstream rivals from Google and Samsung, but serious phone photographers have now moved on to Chinese alternatives with even more impressive hardware. Then at the other end of the spectrum, the AI composition tips are too small and subtle for the amateur audience the firm is hoping to attract. It comfortably keeps pace on performance and you won’t find its combination of uninterrupted screen, expandable storage and wired listening options anywhere else. Yet battery life and charging speeds continue to tread water while rivals push forward with long lasting silicon-carbon tech, and the price hasn’t come down at all to make up for it. The Xperia’s creator-first positioning remains, then – but that at least means Sony fans who keep coming back year after year will be very happy here.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 05/13/2026
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: Stuff TV
Underneath the sleek new shell, the Xperia 1 VIII doesn’t fully feel like the evolution Sony needs it to be. That new zoom lens might put the rear camera trio on par with mainstream rivals from Google and Samsung, but serious phone photographers have now moved on to Chinese alternatives with even more impressive hardware. Then at the other end of the spectrum, the AI composition tips are too small and subtle for the amateur audience the firm is hoping to attract. It comfortably keeps pace on performance and you won’t find its combination of uninterrupted screen, expandable storage and wired listening options anywhere else. Yet battery life and charging speeds continue to tread water while rivals push forward with long lasting silicon-carbon tech, and the price hasn’t come down at all to make up for it. The Xperia’s creator-first positioning remains, then – but that at least means Sony fans who keep coming back year after year will be very happy here.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 05/13/2026
Rating: Total score: 80%
Sony Xperia 1 VIII review: A diamond in the Ore?
Source: GSM Arena
Sony’s Xperia 1 VIII continues to defy industry trends by pairing legacy features like the headphone jack and microSD slot with the powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. While the refined design and improved battery life impress, the conservative charging speeds and familiar camera processing remain polarizing. Does this niche flagship finally do enough to challenge the mainstream competition, or is it just another iterative refresh? Check out our video review to learn ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW about the phone's top features, build and screen quality, battery life, performance, and camera image quality.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 05/13/2026
Source: GSM Arena
Sony’s Xperia 1 VIII continues to defy industry trends by pairing legacy features like the headphone jack and microSD slot with the powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. While the refined design and improved battery life impress, the conservative charging speeds and familiar camera processing remain polarizing. Does this niche flagship finally do enough to challenge the mainstream competition, or is it just another iterative refresh? Check out our video review to learn ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW about the phone's top features, build and screen quality, battery life, performance, and camera image quality.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 05/13/2026
Foreign Reviews
Sony Xperia 1 VIII gegen den Testsieger: Punktet die Kamera im Vergleich?
Source: Chip.de
DE→EN
Comparison, online available, Very Short, Date: 06/15/2026
Rating: Total score: 97% price: 54%
Source: Chip.de
DE→ENComparison, online available, Very Short, Date: 06/15/2026
Rating: Total score: 97% price: 54%
Sony Xperia 1 VIII im Test
Source: Chip.de DE→EN
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 05/20/2026
Rating: Total score: 97% price: 54% performance: 99% display: 95% mobility: 96%
Source: Chip.de
DE→ENSingle Review, online available, Short, Date: 05/20/2026
Rating: Total score: 97% price: 54% performance: 99% display: 95% mobility: 96%
Sony Xperia 1 VIII è ufficiale: cambia tutto, soprattutto la fotocamera
Source: Mister Gadget
IT→EN
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 05/13/2026
Source: Mister Gadget
IT→ENSingle Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 05/13/2026
Sony Xperia 1 VIII review: de vreemde oom onder de smartphones
Source: Android Planet
NL→EN
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 06/25/2026
Rating: Total score: 75%
Source: Android Planet
NL→ENSingle Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 06/25/2026
Rating: Total score: 75%
Sony Xperia 1 VIII review: een en al kippenvel
Source: AndroidWorld.nl NL→EN
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 06/19/2026
Rating: Total score: 73%
Source: AndroidWorld.nl
NL→ENSingle Review, online available, Medium, Date: 06/19/2026
Rating: Total score: 73%
Test du Sony Xperia 1 VIII : l’anti-iPhone pour les puristes
Source: Journal du Geek
FR→EN
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 06/22/2026
Rating: Total score: 85%
Source: Journal du Geek
FR→ENSingle Review, online available, Long, Date: 06/22/2026
Rating: Total score: 85%
TEST | Sony Xperia 1 VIII po prostu chce się fotografować, choć wcale nie jest najlepszym telefonem do zdjęć
Source: GSM Maniak
PL→EN
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 06/19/2026
Rating: Total score: 84% performance: 70% display: 90% mobility: 80%
Source: GSM Maniak
PL→ENSingle Review, online available, Short, Date: 06/19/2026
Rating: Total score: 84% performance: 70% display: 90% mobility: 80%
Sony Xperia 1 VIII. Z przodu stagnacja, z tyłu rewolucja. Dobra promocja na start
Source: Komputerswiat PL→EN
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 05/13/2026
Source: Komputerswiat
PL→ENSingle Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 05/13/2026
Sony Xperia 1 VIII trình làng: Thay đổi thiết kế camera, chip Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, giá bán khiến fan "vỡ mộng"
Source: VNReview
VN→EN
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 05/13/2026
Source: VNReview
VN→ENSingle Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 05/13/2026
Xperia 1 VIII 実機レビュー｜使って感じたメリット・デメリットと評価
Source: Mobile-com JP
JA→EN
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 05/22/2026
Rating: performance: 80% display: 100% mobility: 80% workmanship: 80%
Source: Mobile-com JP
JA→ENSingle Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 05/22/2026
Rating: performance: 80% display: 100% mobility: 80% workmanship: 80%
Xperia 1 VIII 開封レビュー。値上げされたけどびっくりするくらい進化
Source: Gadget leaker 64 JA→EN
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 05/20/2026
Source: Gadget leaker 64
JA→ENSingle Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 05/20/2026
実現すれば神機種？Xperia 1Ⅷのカメラに期待したいこと
Source: Gadget leaker 64 JA→EN
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 04/03/2026
Source: Gadget leaker 64
JA→ENSingle Review, online available, Short, Date: 04/03/2026
Comment
Qualcomm Adreno 840: Integrated graphics unit in the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 SoC for smartphones with three slices at 1.2 GHz each. According to Qualcomm, 23% faster than the previous generation (Adreno 830).
Modern games should be playable with these graphics cards at low settings and resolutions. Casual gamers may be happy with these cards.
» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Graphics Cards and the corresponding Benchmark List.
SD 8 Elite Gen 5: High-end SoC (System on a Chip) for smartphones which was introduced at the end of 2025. It integrates two fast Oryon Gen 3 Prime Cores with up to 4.6 GHz and 6 smaller Oryon Gen 3 Performance Cores with up to 3.62 GHz.» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Processsors.
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