Sony’s Xperia 1 VIII is still a phone for the fans (opens original article in a new tab)

Sony's Xperia 1 VIII features a redesigned camera system and premium features but faces criticism for high pricing, performance issues, and AI camera assistant problems. It remains a niche device for dedicated fans rather than mainstream users.

• Xperia 1 VIII has a new design and camera system but retains features like headphone jack and microSD slot
• The phone has high price starting at £1,399 / €1,499 with 1TB storage version at £1,849 / €1,999
• Camera is praised as best yet but suffers from AI assistant issues and performance problems
• Phone offers 4 years of Android updates but has middling battery life and slow charging