Sony Xperia 10 VIII: The best alternatives

The Xperia 10 VIII has one major problem: At $699, its Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 faces significantly more powerful competition. If you don't need a headphone jack or expandable storage, you can get more for your money elsewhere.

The Google Pixel 10a (buy here on Amazon) is the obvious alternative for fans of compact smartphones. Its 6.3-inch OLED supports 120 Hz and HDR and, according to Google, reaches a peak brightness of up to 3,000 nits. The Tensor G4 also provides more performance headroom. On the camera side, the Pixel offers features such as 4K video at 60 fps, while Google promises seven years of OS and security updates. At 183 grams and 9 mm thick, however, it is heavier and thicker. It also lacks a headphone jack and microSD support. Its $499 MSRP is even lower than Sony's.

The Samsung Galaxy A57 5G offers a larger display. Its 6.7-inch AMOLED panel also runs at 120 Hz. Samsung pairs the 50 MP main camera with an ultrawide and a macro camera. At 179 grams, the A57 remains relatively light, but it is considerably larger than the Xperia. It also lacks a headphone jack and expandable storage. On the other hand, the 128 GB version officially costs $550 and can now be found for considerably less.

Those looking to get as much hardware as possible for their money should consider the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro. For $499, it offers a Snapdragon 7 Gen 4, fast UFS 3.1 storage, and a 120 Hz display. The difference is particularly noticeable when it comes to the camera setup: In addition to its main and ultrawide cameras, the Nothing features a 50 MP periscope telephoto camera with 3.5x optical zoom. However, this model is also considerably larger than the Sony.

This leaves the Xperia 10 VIII in an unusual niche. Hardly any competitor combines a 6.1-inch display with a lightweight design, microSD support, a headphone jack, and an IP rating. If those are exactly the features you're looking for, finding a true alternative is difficult. If you can live without them, however, the Pixel 10a, Galaxy A57, and Phone (4a) Pro offer more in key areas for less money. Those looking to save even more can also opt for the previous-generation Xperia, whose main drawback by comparison is its dimmer display.