Sony Xperia 1 VIII launched Globally with 6.5-inch FHD+ OLED 120Hz display, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 SoC, Upgraded telephoto sensor

By Ashwini Kuldeep on May 13, 2026 07:56 AM

Sony Xperia 1 VIII launch global.

Sony has officially launched its latest flagship smartphone, the Xperia 1 VIII in the Global Market, as anticipated. The new model brings a range of hardware and software enhancements, with major emphasis on an upgraded camera system, refined design, and improved performance.

Enhanced Camera System with AI Features -

One of the key highlights of the Xperia 1 VIII is the debut of the new AI Camera Assistant, powered by Xperia Intelligence. The system leverages artificial intelligence to evaluate subjects and environmental conditions, then recommends ideal camera settings such as color profiles, lens choices, and bokeh effects. These suggestions are integrated with Sony’s “Creative Look” presets inspired by its Alpha camera lineup.

Sony Xperia 1 VIII Telephoto camera global.

The smartphone also introduces major camera hardware improvements, particularly for the telephoto setup.

Telephoto Sensor - Sony has equipped the device with a new 1/1.56-inch telephoto sensor, which is nearly four times larger than the sensor used in the previous Xperia 1 VII. This upgrade is aimed at delivering better detail and sharper long-range photography.
Low-Light Imaging - According to Sony, all three primary rear cameras — 16mm, 24mm, and 70mm — support RAW multi-frame processing. The technology enhances dynamic range and reduces image noise, enabling improved low-light photography performance comparable to that of full-frame cameras.

Design and Audio Enhancements -

Sony Xperia 1 VIII design global.

The Xperia 1 VIII adopts Sony’s new “ORE design” language, featuring textures inspired by natural minerals and raw gemstones.

Color Variants - Graphite Black, Iolite Silver, Garnet Red, and Native Gold.
Classic Hardware Features - Sony continues to include a dedicated physical camera shutter button and a 3.5mm headphone jack, both of which have become uncommon in modern flagship smartphones.
Audio System - The device is equipped with Advanced Full-Stage Stereo Speakers featuring symmetrical left and right speaker units, designed to deliver richer bass, clearer high frequencies, and a broader soundstage.

Performance and Battery -

Powering the Xperia 1 VIII is Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Mobile Platform. Sony claims the chipset delivers up to a 20% boost in overall performance over the previous generation, improving multitasking efficiency and content creation workloads.

The smartphone retains a 5000mAh battery. Sony says the device can offer up to two days of battery life on a single charge while maintaining long-term battery health for as long as four years. Additionally, a new “Processing Optimization” feature helps reduce power consumption during intensive tasks such as navigation and map usage.

Sony Xperia 1 VIII colors global.

Sony Xperia 1 VIII Specifications -

Display	6.5-inch FHD+ OLED HDR display, 1080 × 2340 pixels resolution, 19.5:9 aspect ratio, 1-120Hz refresh rate, 240Hz motion blur reduction, 240Hz touch sampling rate, Creator Mode, DCI-P3 100%, ITU-R BT.2020 (REC.2020), Illuminant D65 White Point, 10-bit tonal gradation, X1 for mobile, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection
Processor	Octa Core Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 3nm Mobile Platform with Adreno 840 GPU
RAM & Storage	12GB / 16GB LPDDR5X RAM, 256GB / 1TB UFS 4.1 internal storage, expandable up to 2TB via microSD card
Operating System	Android 14 with 4 OS upgrades and 6 years of security updates
SIM	Dual SIM (nanoSIM + eSIM / eSIM + eSIM)
Rear Camera	48MP main camera with Exmor T sensor for mobile, 1/1.35-inch sensor, f/1.9 aperture, Hybrid OIS/EIS; 48MP ultra-wide camera with 104° FoV, 16mm focal length, f/2.0 aperture; 48MP 70mm telephoto camera with 1/1.56-inch Exmor RS sensor, f/2.8 aperture, 3x optical zoom, up to 17.5x hybrid zoom, ZEISS T* coating, Real-Time Eye AF (Human/Animal), Real-Time Tracking, 4K HDR video recording
Front Camera	12MP front camera with 1/2.9-inch Exmor RS sensor, f/2.0 aperture, 84° wide-angle lens, 4K video recording
Audio	3.5mm audio jack, 360 Reality Audio, 360 Reality Audio hardware decoding, 360 Spatial Sound, Full-Stage stereo speakers, Dolby Atmos, DSEE Ultimate, Stereo Recording, Qualcomm aptX HD audio
Security	Side-mounted fingerprint sensor
Dimensions & Weight	162 × 74 × 8.3 mm; 200g
Durability	IPX5/IPX8 water resistance, IP6X dust resistance
Connectivity	5G (sub-6GHz), 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 7 802.11 be (2.4GHz / 5GHz) 2×2 MIMO, Bluetooth 6.0 LE, GPS, GLONASS, NFC, USB 3.2 Type-C
Battery	5000mAh battery with 30W USB PD fast charging, Xperia Adaptive Charging, Battery Care, STAMINA Mode, Qi wireless charging, Battery Share

Accessories, Pricing, and Availability -

Sony has also introduced an optional translucent protective case designed to match the smartphone’s overall aesthetic. The accessory includes an integrated stand that supports both portrait and landscape viewing modes, while the material is engineered to minimize yellowing over extended use.

The Xperia 1 VIII will go up for pre-orders starting May 13.

Standard Edition (256GB) - Priced at around €1499 (USD 1759 / Rs. 1,68,300 approx.) / £1399. It will be available via Sony’s official channels and selected online retailers. As part of the launch offer, customers who pre-order during the initial sales period will receive Sony’s WH-1000XM6 headphones bundled with the device.
Exclusive Edition (1TB) - Sony will also offer a Native Gold variant with 1TB storage exclusively through its online store in select markets. This model is priced at €1999 (USD 2346 / Rs. 2,24,440 approx.) / £1849.