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Sony
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Sony Xperia 1 VIII

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Specifications
GSMArena Official
GSMArena Official
5/13/2026
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Sony Xperia 1 VIII review: A diamond in the Ore?

Pros

  • The battery life has significantly improved, offering nearly 18 hours of active use.
  • The 6.5-inch OLED screen provides solid brightness and a 120Hz refresh rate.
  • The ultrawide camera delivers standout performance with sharp and detailed shots.
  • The new telephoto camera offers sharp images and better detail rendition.
  • It retains legacy features like a headphone jack and expandable storage.

Cons

  • Charging speeds are very slow, taking over an hour for a full charge.
  • Heavy thermal throttling significantly reduces performance under sustained load.
  • The main camera's daylight photos are often overly contrasty with unexciting colors.
  • The selfie camera is average and lacks autofocus.
  • The phone is expensive and lacks a significant competitive edge over rivals.
The Sony Xperia 1 VIII delivers a typical brand flagship experience, featuring a bright 120Hz OLED screen and significantly improved battery life, alongside a commendable new telephoto camera and a strong ultrawide lens. However, it struggles with slow charging speeds and heavy thermal throttling, which impacts sustained performance. While video recording is a strong point, overall camera sharpness is not ideal, and the main camera's still processing can be inconsistent. Ultimately, the Xperia 1 VIII is an expensive, iterative refresh that, despite unique features, fails to establish a competitive edge, making it a less compelling upgrade for existing users.
“Overall, Sony has delivered the flagship we've come to expect from the brand. We again have the full set of legacy features like the headphone jack, the wider top and bottom bezels, the expandable storage, and the side-mounted fingerprint.”
“But while it doesn't make any major missteps, the Xperia 1 Mark 8 also misses the mark when it comes to scoring any real competitive edge. In the end, it just seems like a refresh of last year's Mark 7. And if you already have last year's model, it might not be worth upgrading to.”