Toggle Sidebar
Save
Compare Phones
Xperia 1 VIII
Released June 19, 202612GB + 256GB / 5GKES 164,999
12GB + 512GB / 5GKES 184,999
Display | 6.5-inch FHD+ HDR OLED display, 1080 × 2340 resolution, 19.5:9 aspect ratio, 120Hz refresh rate, 10-bit tonal gradation, DCI-P3 100% and Powered by BRAVIA |
|---|---|
Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Mobile Platform |
Storage | 256GB, 512GB or 1TB internal storage depending on market, with microSDXC expansion up to 2TB |
Brightness | High-brightness OLED display with Sunlight Vision and front and rear ambient-light sensors; Sony does not publish an official peak-nits figure |
Colors | Graphite Black, Iolite Silver, Garnet Red and Native Gold |
Camera | Rear: 48MP f/1.9 24mm main camera, 48MP f/2.8 70mm telephoto and 48MP f/2.0 16mm ultrawide; Front: 12MP f/2.0 camera |
Video | Rear cameras record up to 4K HDR at 120fps with Optical SteadyShot, Eye AF, object tracking, S-Cinetone, AI Camerawork and Auto Framing |
Battery | 5,000mAh non-removable battery with up to two days of typical use and up to four years of healthy battery performance |
Charging | 30W USB Power Delivery wired charging, Qi wireless charging, Battery Share, Xperia Adaptive Charging and Battery Care |
Audio | Improved full-stage stereo speakers, 3.5mm headphone jack, Hi-Resolution Audio, LDAC, Dolby Atmos, DSEE Ultimate, 360 Reality Audio and aptX Adaptive; Powered by WALKMAN |
Connectivity | 5G, dual SIM using nano-SIM and eSIM or dual eSIM, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, NFC, GPS, USB-C 3.2 with 5Gbps transfers and DisplayPort 4K/60fps |
Durability | IP65/IP68 water and dust resistance, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 front and Gorilla Glass Victus rear |
Biometrics | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor |
Software | Up to four major Android OS upgrades and six years of security updates; Xperia Intelligence, AI Camera Assistant, AI Camerawork, Auto Framing, Game Enhancer and PS Remote Play |
In the Box | Sony Xperia 1 VIII handset and documentation; charger and USB-C cable are sold separately in most markets |
Video Review
Summary
The Sony Xperia 1 VIII is Sony's latest premium flagship, combining the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 with three 48MP rear cameras, a 120Hz OLED display and an upgraded AI Camera Assistant. It retains enthusiast features such as a physical camera shutter button, headphone jack and expandable storage, but its high price, slow charging and limited software-upgrade period make it a specialised choice.
Key Advantages
- Powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 flagship processor
- Three capable 48MP rear cameras with improved telephoto quality
- AI Camera Assistant makes advanced photography more accessible
- Excellent audio with improved stereo speakers and headphone jack
- Expandable storage through microSDXC up to 2TB
- Bright 120Hz OLED display with accurate colours
- Strong IP65/IP68 water and dust resistance
Critical Limitations
- Very expensive compared with competing Android flagships
- 30W wired charging is relatively slow for its price
- Only four major Android OS upgrades
- The fixed 70mm telephoto replaces Sony's continuous optical zoom
- Limited official availability and after-sales support in Kenya
- Charger and USB-C cable are not included in most markets
Recommended For
- Photography and video enthusiasts
- Sony Alpha camera and PlayStation users
- Music lovers who use wired or high-resolution headphones
- Power users who need flagship performance and expandable storage
- Buyers who want a premium phone without a notch or punch-hole
Not Recommended For
- Buyers looking for an affordable flagship
- Users who prioritise extremely fast charging
- People who want seven years of Android version upgrades
- Users who prefer a long-range continuous optical zoom camera
- Buyers who need widely available local repairs and spare parts
