New Delhi, May 13(CXO Media): Sony has launched the Xperia 1 VIII in Japan, betting on features many flagship smartphones have quietly removed over the years.
At a time when premium smartphones are moving away from expandable storage and headphone jacks, Sony’s latest Xperia device brings both back. The company launched the Xperia 1 VIII on Wednesday with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, a new camera system, and support for up to 2TB MicroSD storage — features that could appeal to users frustrated with limited storage options on high-end phones.
The Xperia 1 VIII comes with a triple 48-megapixel rear camera setup, including an upgraded telephoto sensor that is larger than the one seen in the previous Xperia 1 VII. Sony appears to be focusing heavily on mobile photography, especially for users who prefer dedicated camera controls and long zoom capabilities.
The smartphone features a 6.5-inch Full-HD+ OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and runs on Android 16. Sony has promised four years of OS upgrades and six years of security updates, placing it closer to rivals competing in the premium Android segment.
However, the biggest talking point may be pricing. The Sony Xperia 1 VIII starts at JPY 235,400 (roughly Rs 1.43 lakh), while the top-end model goes up to nearly Rs 1.81 lakh. That puts Sony directly against ultra-premium smartphones from rivals, making price a key question for buyers.
With brands increasingly removing legacy hardware features, Sony’s strategy with the Xperia 1 VIII appears different: hold on to features loyal users still search for, while upgrading performance and cameras. Whether that approach works in a market dominated by bigger smartphone brands remains to be seen.
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