Sony has unveiled the Xperia 1 VIII, showcasing a major upgrade in its telephoto camera with a 48MP sensor that is four times larger than the previous model. This new sensor allows for better low-light performance and is fixed at 70mm for enhanced zoom capabilities. The device is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, which offers a 20% increase in CPU performance and 23% faster GPU speeds while reducing power consumption by 20%. The Xperia 1 VIII maintains essential features such as expandable storage via microSD, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and stereo speakers optimized for better audio quality. The phone's 6.5-inch LTPO display retains a 120Hz refresh rate, but the 1080p+ resolution may seem lower compared to previous models known for their 4K displays. Available for pre-order starting at €1,500 for the 12/256GB model, customers will receive a complimentary pair of Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones during the pre-order period. The 1TB model is priced at €2,000 and will ship starting in June 2025.