Sony's Xperia 1 flagships have looked more or less the same since 2020, but that is finally changing with the release of the Xperia 1 VIII, which features a massive square camera block. The phone also boasts a significantly improved telephoto camera and an AI shooting assistant, reminiscent of an advanced version of Google's Camera Coach. This was reported by The Verge, according to UNN.
Details
All previous Xperia 1 models featured three vertically arranged cameras, and the last six models had them in the same top-left corner. With the 1 VIII, Sony is changing its approach. Now, the three lenses are housed in a square module along with the flash and the Sony logo. The block protrudes slightly from the body and transitions smoothly to the edge of the phone. It somewhat resembles an iPhone, but even more so some recent Motorola Edge models, albeit with Sony's characteristic sharp geometry. This is the centerpiece of a long-awaited design update that refreshes Sony's style—elegant, but already somewhat dated. It is also a surprise, as the design looks nothing like the Xperia 10 VII, which also recently received a new look but with a horizontal camera strip.
The Xperia 1 VIII is available in four colors: black, silver, red, and gold, which is sold exclusively in Sony's online store. The camera block, the matte glass back panel, and the aluminum frames have a light texture, while the dedicated shutter button has a knurled finish. As with previous Sony phones, there is a 3.5mm headphone jack, a microSD slot, and IP65/68 protection (once one of the best ratings, though phones with IP68/69 now exist).
The redesign may be overdue from an aesthetic standpoint, but it likely serves a practical purpose as well—allowing Sony to install a significantly larger sensor in the telephoto camera. The 1/1.56-inch sensor is nearly four times larger than the one in the Xperia 1 VII, larger than counterparts in top models from Apple and Samsung, and close in size to the cameras in the Vivo X300 Ultra and Xiaomi 17 Ultra. Thanks to a fast f/2.8 aperture and 48MP resolution, this 70mm-equivalent lens could become one of the best telephoto solutions on the market—if Sony does a good job with image processing. The only downside is that for the sake of the larger sensor, Sony abandoned the continuous optical zoom used in the last four flagships, just as Xiaomi copied this feature for its 17 Ultra.
The telephoto camera works alongside the main and ultra-wide cameras—both of which also have 48MP and are largely unchanged from the previous model. The entire camera system has received a new RAW multi-frame processing algorithm, improved bokeh, and an updated macro mode, which is now integrated into the standard camera mode and supports autofocus.
Another major update is the AI photography assistant. Before shooting, it suggests filter options, framing, and lens selection, as well as more precise adjustments—such as lighting the subject without changing the background. Prompts appear before the shutter button is pressed, though Sony allows the feature to be turned off completely. This looks significantly more powerful than the basic AI Camera Coach in Google's Pixel 10, although many might prefer Google's approach where the mode is activated manually, whereas in Sony's case, it is on by default.
Sony also added several other improvements. New full-size stereo speakers were tuned in collaboration with Sony Pictures and Sony Music—they have become louder and clearer. The 5000 mAh battery and 30W charging remain unchanged, but Sony claims that thanks to optimizations, the phone will last an hour longer. The new model runs on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and has up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage (but only in the gold online version). A major drawback is the support for only four years of Android updates and six years of security patches—less than most modern flagships.
The phone is already available for order in Europe and Asia, but Sony does not plan to release it in North America.
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