Sony’s new flagship, the Sony Xperia 1 VIII, changes direction on cameras while keeping the features Xperia fans love: a 3.5mm headphone jack, a microSD slot and a two-stage shutter button. Here are the full specs, what’s new compared with the Xperia 1 VII, and the price.
Contents
- Sony Xperia 1 VIII specs at a glance
- The big change: a new telephoto camera
- Performance: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
- Features that stay the same
- Price and availability
- Should you buy the Xperia 1 VIII?
- Frequently asked questions
- Does the Xperia 1 VIII still have a headphone jack?
- Does the Xperia 1 VIII have optical zoom?
- How fast does it charge?
- Related on Froshvibes
Sony Xperia 1 VIII specs at a glance
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.5-inch LTPO OLED, up to 120Hz, 1080p+, flat with no cutout |
| Memory | 12GB/256GB base; up to 16GB RAM and 1TB storage; microSD slot |
| Main camera | 48MP, 1/1.35-inch, 24mm f/1.9, OIS |
| Telephoto | 48MP, 1/1.56-inch, 70mm (2.9x) f/2.8 |
| Ultrawide | 48MP, 1/1.56-inch, 16mm f/2.0 |
| Selfie | 12MP, 1/2.9-inch, 24mm f/2.0 |
| Battery | 5,000mAh, 30W wired, 15W wireless |
| Audio | 3.5mm headphone jack, symmetrical stereo speakers |
| Colours | Graphite Black, Iolite Silver, Garnet Red, Native Gold |
The big change: a new telephoto camera
For several generations (Mark 4 to Mark 7), Xperia 1 phones used a true continuous optical zoom lens, like a compact camera. The Xperia 1 VIII drops that approach. Its telephoto is now fixed at 70mm (2.9x from the 24mm main camera) but uses a much bigger 48MP 1/1.56-inch sensor, four times the size and four times the resolution of the Mark 7’s telephoto sensor.
The idea is that the larger, high-resolution sensor can crop for longer zoom levels while capturing more light. Its f/2.8 aperture is a little narrower than the Mark 7’s f/2.3 at 3.5x, but the much larger sensor should still help in low light. Sony also applies RAW multi-frame processing on every camera to widen dynamic range, reduce noise and avoid blown highlights and crushed shadows.
Performance: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
Moving from the Snapdragon 8 Elite to the 8 Elite Gen 5 brings, according to Qualcomm’s figures, about 20% faster CPU performance, a 23% faster GPU and up to 20% lower power use. The chip’s AI engine powers Sony’s new AI Camera Assistant (branded Xperia Intelligence), which looks at the subject, lighting and weather and suggests settings such as colour tone or lens effects. You can accept a suggestion with one tap or adjust the dials yourself.
Features that stay the same
- 3.5mm headphone jack: lossless, latency-free wired audio, a nod to Sony’s Walkman heritage.
- microSD slot: rare on any phone today, let alone a flagship.
- Display: the same 6.5-inch 120Hz LTPO panel. It’s flat and has no punch-hole, but its 1080p+ resolution is modest for a series once known for 4K screens.
- Battery: 5,000mAh with 30W wired and 15W wireless charging, which feels dated next to rivals offering larger batteries and faster charging.
Sony also improved the stereo speakers for deeper bass, clearer highs and a wider soundstage.
Price and availability
The Sony Xperia 1 VIII 12GB/256GB starts at €1,500 / £1,400. Pre-orders included a free pair of Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones. The 1TB Native Gold edition is sold only by Sony at €2,000 / £1,850. Shipping began in June 2026. Sony also sells an official translucent case with a built-in stand that works in portrait and landscape.
Should you buy the Xperia 1 VIII?
Buy it if you value wired audio, expandable storage, a physical shutter key and manual camera control. Look elsewhere if battery life, fast charging or a high-resolution screen matter most. For another camera-focused flagship alternative, see our look at the Honor 600 Pro specs, which pairs a 200MP camera with a 7,000mAh battery.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Xperia 1 VIII still have a headphone jack?
Yes, it keeps the 3.5mm jack and a microSD card slot.
Does the Xperia 1 VIII have optical zoom?
It has a fixed 2.9x (70mm) telephoto with a large 48MP sensor, replacing the continuous zoom lens used on earlier models.
How fast does it charge?
30W wired and 15W wireless.
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