Sony has officially launched the Xperia 1 VIII flagship smartphone, featuring a refreshed design while retaining many core specifications. The device introduces a new 1/1.56-inch telephoto camera, boasting a four times larger sensor with quadruple resolution compared to its predecessor, the Mark VII.
The 48MP telephoto camera is fixed at a 2.9x (70mm) zoom. The other two cameras remain unchanged, offering a 24mm f/1.9 and a 16mm f/2.0. The smartphone is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, comes with 12GB of RAM, and is equipped with a 5,000mAh battery.
The starting price for the Xperia 1 VIII is €1,500/£1,400 for the base 12/512GB configuration.
Meanwhile, Xiaomi has confirmed the imminent launch of the 17 Max, set to debut later this month in China. The smartphone features a flat 6.9-inch display, is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 SoC, and boasts an impressive 8,000mAh battery with 100W fast charging. Its camera setup includes a triple-rear arrangement with a 200MP 1/1.4-inch main sensor, a 50MP periscope telephoto, and another 50MP ultrawide lens.
Sony Xperia 1 VIII Unveiled with Enhanced 48MP Telephoto Sensor, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
Notably, the telephoto camera lacks continuous focus capabilities.
Leaked Details on Sony Xperia 1 VIII Prior to Launch
A fourth gold color option is anticipated to be available later.
Xiaomi 17 Max Launch Confirmed; Design and Color Options Teased
The device is currently open for pre-order in China.
Sony Xperia 1 VIII Now Available for Pre-Order in Europe with Complimentary WH-1000XM6 Headphones
Note that this is a pre-order; shipping will commence on June 19.
Leaked Details on Sony Xperia 1 VIII Prior to Launch
A fourth gold color option is anticipated to be available later.
In other news, Samsung has begun rolling out One UI 8.5 to its Galaxy S (S23, S24, and S25), Fold, Flip (6 and 7), and Tab (S10 and S11) series worldwide, bringing a host of AI enhancements.
Additionally, the company has announced the beta release of One UI 9 for the Galaxy S26 series. This beta will be available in select regions including Germany, India, Korea, Poland, the U.K., and the U.S. starting this week, with users able to apply via the Samsung Members app.
Samsung has also started selling refurbished smartphones in India. Customers can currently purchase a certified re-newed Galaxy S25 Ultra with 256GB for INR 97,499, a Galaxy S25 with 256GB for INR 58,749, a Galaxy A56 with 8GB RAM and 256GB for INR 31,499, another Galaxy A56 with 12GB RAM for INR 32,749, and a Galaxy A36 with 128GB storage for INR 23,249. All refurbished devices come with the same one-year warranty as new products.
Samsung Begins Global Rollout of Stable One UI 8.5 for Galaxy S, Fold, Flip, and Tab Series
The update includes numerous AI features and improvements for older models.
Samsung Announces One UI 9 Beta for Galaxy S26 Series
Availability is confirmed for Galaxy S26 users in select markets, including Germany, India, Korea, Poland, the U.K., and the U.S. starting this week.
Samsung Launches Officially Refurbished Smartphones in India
These devices come with the same warranty as new models.
Lastly, don't miss our in-depth comparison between three premium active noise-canceling headphones: the Apple AirPods Max 2, the Sennheiser HDB 630, and the Sony WH-1000XM6.
Comparison: Apple AirPods Max 2 vs. Sennheiser HDB 630 vs. Sony WH-1000XM6
A thorough examination of top-tier noise-canceling headphones.
Introducing the RedMagic 11S Pro
This device is set to showcase the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Leading Version chipset.
