Sony has officially launched the Xperia 1 VIII, its latest premium flagship smartphone, featuring a significant redesign and high-end specifications. The device showcases a new design language called “Ore,” characterized by a textured finish inspired by natural stone. Retaining signature features like front-facing stereo speakers and a dedicated camera shutter button, the Xperia 1 VIII introduces a square-shaped camera module on the rear.

Under the hood, it is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, with options for 12GB or 16GB of RAM and storage variants of 256GB and 1TB, expandable via microSD cards. The smartphone also includes a 3.5mm audio port, which is becoming rare in modern devices. The 6.5-inch LTPO FHD+ AMOLED display boasts a 120Hz refresh rate, enhancing media consumption experiences.

In terms of photography, the Xperia 1 VIII features a triple rear camera system consisting of a 48-megapixel main sensor, a 48-megapixel ultrawide camera, and a new 48-megapixel telephoto lens with 2.9x optical zoom. It also has a 12-megapixel front-facing camera for selfies. The device is powered by a 5,000mAh battery with 30W wired and 15W wireless charging capabilities. Currently, the Xperia 1 VIII is available for pre-order in Europe and the UK, priced at €1,499 and £1,399, respectively, and includes a free set of Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones with pre-orders.