Sony’s Xperia 1 VIII Remains a Must-Have for Enthusiasts

The Xperia 1 VIII represents a significant evolution in Sony’s flagship smartphone lineup. It features a fresh design and a completely overhauled camera system, moving away from the continuous optical zoom telephoto lens that has characterized the last four generations of Xperia devices.

However, some familiar elements remain. The beloved 3.5mm headphone jack and microSD card slot are still present, along with design features like the thick front bezel that houses stereo speakers. Sony’s ambitious pricing strategy continues, with the Xperia 1 VIII launching in the UK and Europe starting at £1,399 / €1,499 (around $1,850), and going up to £1,849 / €1,999 ($2,450) for the 1TB storage option.

For loyal Sony fans, this device offers essential flagship features, including a solid camera, all wrapped in an attractive package. Yet, for those outside the Sony ecosystem, there are more compelling Android options available at this price point, such as the Xiaomi 17 Ultra or Vivo X300 Ultra.

The design of the Xperia 1 series has remained largely unchanged since 2020, which, while stylish, was due for an update. The 1 VIII introduces a blocky camera island and a unique textured finish that sets it apart from its predecessors. The design has a bold, brutalist aesthetic, with a subtly grippy texture that differentiates the back from the frame, enhancing the overall feel of the device. This texture adds to the premium vibe, even more so than a smooth glass finish would, as it features Gorilla Glass Victus on the back and Victus 2 on the front.

The camera island’s design is particularly striking, with steep edges on three sides and a sloped edge on the fourth that meets the frame. The classic knurled two-stage camera shutter button is back, providing tactile feedback and improved camera controls. However, the recessed power button and fingerprint sensor are less impressive, often failing to recognize my fingerprint about a third of the time. There’s also a puzzling rectangular patch above the volume button that has a rough texture but serves no apparent purpose.

Sony has moved away from its unique 21:9, 4K displays in the Xperia lineup, opting for a more standard 1080p display in the 1 VIII. While the resolution may seem low for a flagship, the 6.5-inch, 120Hz OLED panel performs well in terms of brightness and clarity. The display is free from any camera cutouts or notches, but the trade-off is a thicker bezel that houses the front camera and stereo speakers.

Internally, the Xperia 1 VIII is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, which is standard for high-end smartphones. It comes with either 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage or 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, with the latter only available in gold. Unfortunately, the performance of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is underwhelming, with noticeable stuttering and slowdowns, particularly when using the camera or switching apps. The device also heats up significantly during intensive tasks, such as recording audio with real-time AI transcription.

Battery life is another area of concern. Sony claims the 5,000mAh battery can last up to two days, but in practice, even light to moderate usage often leads to single-digit battery levels by the end of the day. While it can last a full day under moderate use, expect to recharge daily, and the 30W charging speed is slower than many competitors.

On the camera front, there’s good news. Sony has shifted its strategy, moving away from the continuous zoom lens to a more traditional telephoto sensor. The new 2.9x (70mm-equivalent) telephoto lens, paired with a large 48-megapixel sensor, offers impressive quality, compensating for the loss of versatility. The ultrawide and selfie cameras remain unchanged from the previous model.

The telephoto and ultrawide lenses stand out, both featuring larger sensors compared to competitors. Sony’s daytime photo processing tends to favor higher contrast and slightly muted colors, while low-light performance is commendable, though it can struggle with bright lights. Overall, this is Sony’s best camera setup yet, holding its own against rivals.

However, the new AI Camera Assistant feature is a frustrating addition. When using the rear camera, a pop-up suggests edits before taking a shot, often resulting in overzealous filters that detract from the original image quality. While it claims to offer useful suggestions, the reality is that these edits are usually inferior to the default settings, and the pop-up can slow down the camera app. Fortunately, this feature can be disabled.

The Xperia 1 VIII encapsulates the duality of Sony’s Xperia line: it boasts impressive specifications and features but often stumbles in execution. The inclusion of a headphone jack, expandable storage, and stereo speakers is commendable, and the new design is visually striking. The camera is the best it has ever been, and the streamlined Android experience has its merits. However, the limited promise of software updates, along with performance issues and a high price tag, make it difficult to recommend to the average flagship buyer.

Ultimately, Sony finds itself in a familiar position. Despite redesigning the Xperia, rethinking its camera, and simplifying its software, it remains a device primarily for dedicated fans. For everyone else, there are better options available.