Sony Xperia 1 VIII Review: Full Specs, Pros, and Cons
out of 10
Sony launched its flagship Sony Xperia 1 VIII with its biggest redesign in years and a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset. It sparked controversy over its AI Camera Assistant feature.
Display and Design
6.5-inch LTPO OLED display at 1080×2340, 120Hz refresh rate. Retains 3.5mm jack, memory card slot, and two-stage shutter button.
Chipset and Performance
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 with Adreno 840. Up to 16GB RAM and 1TB storage.
Camera
Triple 48MP-per-lens, Zeiss optics. The AI Camera Assistant sparked controversy due to over-processed promotional images.
Battery and Charging
5,000mAh, 30W wired charging only.
Sony Xperia 1 VIII Price
Starts at approximately €1,499. Unconfirmed in Egypt.
✅ Pros
- +Fundamental redesign while retaining identity.
- +Most powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.
- +Upgraded triple Zeiss camera.
- +Rare 3.5mm jack and memory card in flagship tier.
❌ Cons
- −Limited 30W charging vs rivals.
- −Controversy over AI Camera Assistant.
- −Very high price.
- −Shorter software support than some rivals.
Frequently asked questions
What controversy did the phone spark?
How fast is charging?
Does it support a 3.5mm jack?
How much better is performance vs previous gen?
Is it available in Egypt?
Quick verdict
Sony launched the Xperia 1 VIII with a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset and an upgraded triple Zeiss camera, priced from €1,499.
| Network & connectivity | |
| 5G | Yes |
|---|---|
| Design & build | |
| Dimensions | 162.0 × 74.0 × 8.3 mm |
|---|---|
| Weight | 200 g |
| Back material | Glass front (Victus 2), glass back (Victus), aluminum frame |
| Water resistance | Yes |
| IP rating | IP65/IP68 |
| Display | |
| Display type | LTPO OLED |
|---|---|
| Screen size | 6.5 inches |
| Resolution | 1080 × 2340 pixels |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz |
| Pixel density | 396 ppi |
| Performance | |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3nm) |
|---|---|
| GPU | Adreno 840 |
| Operating system | Android 16 |
| Memory | |
| RAM | 12GB or 16GB LPDDR5X |
|---|---|
| Storage | 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB UFS |
| Card slot | Supported (shares SIM slot) |
| Camera | |
| Main camera | Triple: 48MP per lens, Zeiss optics |
|---|---|
| Battery & charging | |
| Battery capacity | 5,000 mAh |
|---|---|
| Charging | 30W wired + 15W wireless charging |
| Connectivity & ports | |
| Headphone jack | Supported |
|---|---|
| Availability & price | |
| Announced | May 13, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Availability | Available in Europe and Asia |
| Price | Starts at approximately €1,499 |
| Device type | Flagship smartphone |
No photos yet.
No video yet.
No ratings yet. Be the first to rate!
Rate your experience
New reviews, straight to your inbox
Every new review and buying guide, once a week. No spam.
No spam. Leave with one click, any time.