A new look and an upgraded telephoto aren’t enough to make this a mainstream contender
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The Xperia 1 VIII marks an attempt at a step change for Sony’s flagship phone line.
Key facts
Sony’s ambitious pricing hasn’t changed either: The Xperia 1 VIII isn’t launching in the US, but in the UK and Europe, it starts from £1,399 / €1,499 (about $1,850), rising to £1,849 / €1,999
Sony’s Xperia 1 phones have looked almost identical to one another since 2020
The Xperia 1 VIII marks an attempt at a step change for Sony’s flagship phone line
The 1 VIII does that, moving to a blocky new camera island and an unusual textured finish that make the phone feel different to every previous Xperia
Summary
A new look and an upgraded telephoto aren’t enough to make this a mainstream contender. It’s not all different. For Sony diehards, this delivers the flagship essentials, including a capable camera, and looks good doing it. Sony’s Xperia 1 phones have looked almost identical to one another since 2020.