Sony Xperia 1 VIII Officially Announced with Bigger Telephoto Sensor and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5

Sony has officially introduced the new Sony Xperia 1 VIII, bringing major upgrades to its camera system and performance hardware. The latest flagship arrives with a redesigned camera module, a more advanced telephoto sensor, and Qualcomm’s newest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset while still keeping classic Xperia features alive.

Sony Reworks the Telephoto Camera

One of the biggest highlights of the Xperia 1 VIII is its upgraded telephoto camera. Sony has replaced the previous continuous optical zoom setup with a fixed 70mm telephoto lens paired with a much larger 48MP sensor.

The new sensor measures 1/1.56 inches, making it four times larger than the sensor used in the previous Xperia 1 VII model. Resolution also jumps four times higher, promising sharper zoom shots and better low-light photography.

The telephoto camera features an f/2.8 aperture and uses the 48MP resolution for digital crop zooming at higher magnification levels. While the older model supported continuous optical zoom between multiple focal lengths, Sony now focuses on image quality improvements through the larger sensor.

Triple 48MP Camera Setup Returns

Apart from the telephoto changes, the rest of the rear camera system remains familiar. The Xperia 1 VIII includes a 48MP primary sensor with optical image stabilization and a 24mm f/1.9 lens.

It also carries a 48MP ultra-wide camera with a 16mm f/2.0 lens. On the front, Sony includes a 12MP selfie shooter with a 24mm f/2.0 lens.

Sony says RAW multi-frame processing now works across all cameras. According to the company, this improves dynamic range and reduces image noise in low-light scenes while preventing blown highlights and crushed shadows.

Powered by Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5

The Xperia 1 VIII is powered by Qualcomm’s latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor. Sony claims the new chip delivers around 20% better CPU performance alongside a 23% faster GPU.

The chipset also improves power efficiency by up to 20%, which should help battery life despite the unchanged battery capacity.

Sony offers the phone in multiple memory variants starting from 12GB RAM and 256GB storage. Higher-end versions include up to 16GB RAM and 1TB internal storage.

Notably, Sony continues to include a microSD card slot, a feature now missing from most flagship smartphones.

AI Camera Assistant Added

Sony has introduced a new AI Camera Assistant powered by Xperia Intelligence. The feature analyzes scenes, subjects, and lighting conditions before suggesting camera settings such as color adjustments and lens effects.

Users can either accept the AI recommendations instantly or manually fine-tune settings themselves.

Headphone Jack and Stereo Speakers Stay

Sony continues to target audio enthusiasts with the Xperia 1 VIII. The phone still features a 3.5mm headphone jack for lossless wired audio playback without latency issues or battery concerns.

The device also includes symmetrical stereo speakers. Sony says the upgraded speakers now produce deeper bass, clearer highs, and a wider soundstage compared to previous Xperia models.

Display and Battery Remain Mostly Unchanged

The Xperia 1 VIII uses a 6.5-inch flat LTPO display with refresh rates reaching 120Hz. Sony keeps the bezel-mounted selfie camera design, avoiding display cutouts entirely.

However, the screen resolution remains at 1080p+, which may disappoint fans who remember Sony’s earlier 4K Xperia displays.

Battery capacity also stays unchanged at 5,000mAh. Charging support includes 30W wired charging and 15W wireless charging.

Colors, Pricing, and Availability

Sony has launched the Xperia 1 VIII in four color options inspired by natural materials. Buyers can choose between Graphite Black, Iolite Silver, Garnet Red, and Native Gold.

Sony is also offering an official translucent protective case with a built-in stand supporting both portrait and landscape viewing.

The Xperia 1 VIII is now available for pre-orders through Sony and selected online retailers. The base 12GB + 256GB model starts at €1,500 and £1,400.

Customers who pre-order the device will also receive free Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones for a limited time.

Meanwhile, the exclusive 1TB Native Gold version costs €2,000 and £1,850. Shipping is expected to begin in June.