Sony is back with a new imaging powerhouse that also happens to make calls. That’s right. There’s a new Xperia in town. Folks, meet the Xperia 1 VIII, Sony’s latest imaging flagship smartphone. This time, it has a brand new look (read: new camera layout). Though some people may find this new camera layout a little, well, eye-jabbing.
The Xperia 1 VIII adopts a square camera module with three cameras in a triangular layout, as opposed to the right-biased vertical layout Sony has used since Xperia 1 II all the way through Xperia 1 VII. All sounds normal until you realize this square is not lined up against the top edge as most phones do. It still aligns to the right side of the device, but vertically, it sits noticeably lower. The phone still retains the long aspect ratio, though.
As expected from Sony, the phone remains clean and uncluttered. It is generous on bevelled edges. Even the camera module has a chamfered edge that makes it flow better into the main body. In a world where every phone is trying to look like a shiny slab with giant camera rings glued on the back, the Xperia 1 VIII still somehow manages to look like… an Xperia.
The Xperia 1 VIII is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor paired with up to 16 GB RAM and as much as 1 TB storage, plus microSD expansion, because Sony continues to stubbornly refuse to kill useful features. The 5,000 mAh battery is rated for up to two days of use, while battery care features are said to maintain battery health for up to four years.
As expected from an Xperia flagship, imaging is the main event. The triple camera system consists of a 48 MP 24 mm main camera, a new 48 MP ultra-wide camera with a much larger 1/1.56-inch sensor, and a redesigned telephoto camera with a sensor nearly four times larger than before. Sony ditched the continuous zoom setup this time around in favor of a fixed 70 mm equivalent telephoto lens, prioritizing image quality over zoom flexibility.
Sony is also pushing AI this year with the new AI Camera Assistant. Features like AI Camerawork and Auto Framing, inspired by Sony Alpha cameras, are onboard too. Video capabilities remain serious business with 4K recording at up to 120 fps, while RAW multi-frame processing is now supported across all three rear cameras.
Sony also did not forget audio. The Xperia 1 VIII retains the increasingly endangered 3.5 mm headphone jack, while audio tuning borrows technology from Sony’s WALKMAN division. Front-facing stereo speakers are onboard, too.
The display remains classic Xperia territory: a 6.5-inch OLED panel with a 120 Hz refresh rate and BRAVIA tuning. It also benefits from Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 (Victus at the back), and the device is IPX5/IPX8 rated for water resistance and IP6X rated for dust resistance. Available finishes include Graphite Black, Iolite Silver, Garnet Red, and Native Gold.
The Sony Xperia 1 VIII Smartphone is available for pre-order now from Sony for 1,399 pounds (~1,893 USD) for the 256 GB version. During the pre-order period, purchases of Xperia 1 VIII will include Sony’s high-end headphones WH-1000XM6. Oh, the Native Gold finish is only available with 1 TB, and goes for a cool 1,849 pounds(~2,488 USD). Unfortunately, it does not appear that it will be available stateside.
Images: Sony [UK].
