Flagship Android Smartphone Features Enhanced Optics and AI Capabilities
Sony has officially launched the Xperia 1 VIII, its latest flagship Android smartphone, in Japan on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, featuring a redesigned camera module and the new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset. Pre-orders are now open across Europe and select Asian markets, with shipments commencing June 26, 2026.
The Xperia 1 VIII marks a significant design departure for Sony's flagship line, moving away from the long-standing vertical camera strip. The new model features a distinctive square-shaped camera island on its rear panel, a fresh aesthetic Sony calls the "ORE design," incorporating textures inspired by natural materials and raw gemstones. This overdue refresh aims to inject new life into the Xperia's slick, yet previously consistent, look.
Beyond aesthetics, the camera system receives substantial upgrades. The triple rear camera setup includes a significantly larger telephoto sensor, approximately four times the size of its predecessor in the Xperia 1 VII. This 1/1.56-inch sensor promises improved detail and clarity for distant subjects. All three main lenses (16mm, 24mm, and 70mm) utilize RAW multi-frame processing, enhancing dynamic range and noise reduction for low-light performance. Sony also integrates an AI Camera Assistant, powered by its Xperia Intelligence branding, to further refine intelligent shooting enhancements.
At its core, the Xperia 1 VIII is powered by Qualcomm's flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Mobile Platform. Built on a 3nm process, this octa-core chipset features two 4.6 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix L cores and six 3.62 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix M cores, paired with the Adreno 840 GPU. Sony states this new chip delivers a 20% increase in overall processing performance compared to the previous generation, alongside improved power efficiency for demanding tasks like gaming and content creation.
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5's Neural Processing Unit (NPU) handles on-device AI tasks, driving features like the AI Camera Assistant and a new Processing Optimisation feature designed to reduce power consumption in demanding applications. Early benchmarks indicate impressive performance, with AnTuTu 10 scores around 2,312,684 and Geekbench 6 scores at 9,278.
Sony continues its commitment to creators by retaining beloved features such as the 3.5 mm headphone jack, a microSD card slot for up to 2TB expansion, a dedicated two-stage shutter button, and front-firing stereo speakers. The device sports a 6.5-inch Full-HD+ OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and HDR support, offering an immersive visual experience.
The Xperia 1 VIII ships with Android 16 and promises up to four major OS upgrades and six years of security updates, ensuring long-term software support. It packs a 5,000 mAh battery, supporting 30W wired and 15W wireless charging, along with reverse wireless charging. Sony claims a two-day battery life and maintains battery health for up to four years.
Available in Garnet Red, Graphite Black, Iolite Silver, and Native Gold, the Xperia 1 VIII offers configurations up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of onboard storage. Pricing starts at JPY 2,35,400 (approximately €1,499) for the base 12GB RAM and 256GB storage variant. An exclusive 1TB Native Gold version is available through Sony's online store for €1,999. Initial pre-orders include a bundled pair of Sony’s WH-1000XM6 headphones.
