Sony on Wednesday launched its latest flagship smartphone, the Xperia 1 VIII, featuring an AI-powered camera system and upgraded telephoto lens as the company sharpens its focus on mobile photography.
The device introduces a new “AI Camera Assistant,” powered by Xperia Intelligence, which analyzes scenes in real time and suggests optimal color tones, lenses and bokeh effects to help users capture enhanced images with minimal effort.
Sony also upgraded the phone’s telephoto camera with a 1/1.56-inch sensor—around four times larger than its predecessor—aimed at improving detail and low-light performance. The handset’s triple-lens setup (16mm, 24mm and 70mm) uses RAW multi-frame processing to boost dynamic range and reduce noise, delivering clearer images in high-contrast and dark environments.
The Xperia 1 VIII features a redesigned “ORE” aesthetic inspired by natural gemstones, with color options including Graphite Black, Iolite Silver, Garnet Red and Native Gold. It retains hallmark Sony features such as a dedicated camera shutter button and a 3.5mm headphone jack, alongside upgraded stereo speakers for enhanced audio performance.
Powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, the device offers a 20% performance boost and up to two days of battery life, according to the company.
The smartphone will be available for pre-order starting May 13, priced at approximately $1,499 for the 256GB model, with a 1TB version priced at $1,999. Pre-order customers will receive Sony’s WH-1000XM6 headphones as part of the launch offer.