Sony Xperia 1 VIII Launched with Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 SoC, 48MP Cameras: Price, Specifications, Features

The Sony Xperia 1 VIII arrives with a larger telephoto sensor, a faster Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset and familiar Xperia touches like a 3.5mm headphone jack and microSD slot. The phone keeps the same 6.5-inch LTPO display and 5,000mAh battery, but overhauls the camera island, audio tuning and storage options while fixing the telephoto lens at one focal length.

Sony moves away from the continuous optical zoom design used from the Xperia 1 III to the Xperia 1 VII. The Xperia 1 VIII instead relies on a 48MP telephoto sensor locked at 70mm, then uses cropping for longer zoom levels. Key traits from older models remain, including expandable storage, a two-stage shutter key and a flat screen with no camera cutout.

Sony Xperia 1 VIII Camera Upgrades

The rear camera setup still centres on a 48MP 1/1.35-inch main sensor paired with a 24mm f/1.9 lens and optical image stabilisation. Alongside sits a 48MP 1/1.56-inch ultra-wide camera using a 16mm f/2.0 lens, plus a 12MP selfie unit with a 1/2.9-inch sensor and 24mm f/2.0 optics. All cameras support RAW multi-frame processing to widen dynamic range and lower noise in dim scenes.

RAW multi-frame processing also helps reduce clipped highlights and crushed shadows across the Xperia 1 VIII's cameras. Sony applies this advanced image combination to each module rather than reserving it for the main sensor. That approach aims to keep colour and exposure more consistent between focal lengths, whether users shoot landscapes, portraits, interiors or night scenes with any camera.

The telephoto camera sees the most dramatic redesign on the Xperia 1 VIII. Sony fits a new 1/1.56-inch sensor with 48MP resolution, four times larger and denser than the Xperia 1 VII telephoto sensor. The lens now sits at 70mm, giving 2.9x magnification over the 24mm main camera, and uses an f/2.8 aperture that targets better low-light performance.

Earlier Xperia 1 models from the Mark 4 to Mark 7 offered continuous optical zoom, while the Xperia 1 III switched between two telephoto lengths. The Xperia 1 VII telephoto featured a wider f/2.3 aperture at 3.5x, narrowing to f/3.5 at 7.1x. The Xperia 1 VIII drops that variable zoom, instead depending on its higher resolution 48MP telephoto sensor for extended zoom through smart cropping.

Sony Xperia 1 VIII Specifications

The Sony Xperia 1 VIII is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, which Sony claims delivers a 20% CPU boost, 23% faster GPU performance, and improved power efficiency over the previous generation. The upgraded AI engine also powers Xperia Intelligence features, including the new AI Camera Assistant that suggests scene-based camera settings while still allowing manual adjustments.

The phone comes with up to 16GB RAM and 1TB storage, alongside a rare microSD card slot for expandable storage. It retains a 6.5-inch flat LTPO display with a 120Hz refresh rate and bezel-mounted selfie camera, though the resolution remains at 1080p+.

Battery specifications stay unchanged with a 5,000mAh cell, 30W wired charging, and 15W wireless charging. Audio remains a major focus, with a 3.5mm headphone jack and upgraded front-facing stereo speakers tuned for richer bass and wider sound. Sony will offer the device in Graphite Black, Iolite Silver, Garnet Red, and Native Gold colour options, alongside an official translucent case with a built-in stand.

Sony Xperia 1 VIII Price and Availability

The Sony Xperia 1 VIII is open for pre-orders through Sony's own channels and select online retailers. The 12GB RAM and 256GB storage variant starts at €1,500 or £1,400. During the pre-order window, this base model includes Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones at no extra cost. The 1TB Native Gold edition, sold only directly by Sony, is priced at €2,000 or £1,850.