Sony has unveiled the latest version of its flagship smartphone line, the Sony Xperia 1 VIII, introducing a redesigned telephoto camera system alongside Qualcomm’s newest high-end mobile chipset while retaining several features that have largely disappeared from the premium Android market.

The most significant hardware change arrives in the phone’s telephoto camera. Sony has moved away from the continuous optical zoom approach used across several previous Xperia generations, including the Mark 4 through Mark 7 devices. Instead, the Xperia 1 VIII uses a fixed 70mm telephoto lens with 2.9x optical magnification relative to the main camera.

That lens is paired with a new 48-megapixel 1/1.56-inch sensor, which Sony says is four times larger than the sensor used in the Xperia 1 VII telephoto unit. The company has also increased resolution by four times compared to the previous model. The telephoto module uses an f/2.8 aperture, with Sony leaning on the higher-resolution sensor for digital zoom beyond the native focal length.

The change marks a notable shift in Sony’s camera philosophy. Earlier Xperia flagships emphasized variable optical zoom systems that physically adjusted focal length. The new setup simplifies the hardware while aiming to improve low-light performance and image quality through the larger sensor.

The rear camera array otherwise remains largely unchanged. Sony continues to use a 48-megapixel 1/1.35-inch main sensor with a 24mm f/1.9 lens and optical image stabilization, alongside a 48-megapixel ultra-wide camera using a 16mm f/2.0 lens. A 12-megapixel front-facing camera handles selfies and video calls.

Sony says RAW multi-frame processing is now applied across all camera modules. According to the company, the processing is intended to improve dynamic range and reduce noise in darker scenes while minimizing clipped highlights and overly dark shadow areas.

Powering the device is Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, replacing last year’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chip. Sony claims the newer platform delivers a 20% increase in CPU performance, a 23% faster GPU and lower power consumption under certain workloads.

The Xperia 1 VIII starts with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, while higher configurations increase memory to 16GB and storage capacity to 1TB. Sony has also kept the microSD card slot, a feature that has become increasingly rare in flagship smartphones.

The company is also continuing its emphasis on audio hardware. The phone retains a 3.5mm headphone jack and includes stereo speakers positioned symmetrically on both sides of the device. Sony says the speakers have been tuned for deeper bass response and a wider soundstage.

Several core elements remain unchanged from the previous generation. The Xperia 1 VIII uses a 6.5-inch LTPO display with refresh rates up to 120Hz. The panel remains flat and avoids display cutouts by housing the front camera in the upper bezel. Resolution stays at 1080p+, a notable departure from the 4K branding once associated with Xperia flagships.

Battery capacity also remains at 5,000mAh, with support for 30W wired charging and 15W wireless charging.

Sony is offering the phone in four finishes: Graphite Black, Iolite Silver, Garnet Red and Native Gold. An official translucent case with an integrated stand will also be available.

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Pre-orders for the Xperia 1 VIII opened on Wednesday through Sony and selected online retailers. The 12GB/256GB model starts at €1,500 and £1,400, with Sony bundling a pair of WH-1000XM6 headphones during the pre-order period. A 1TB Native Gold version, sold exclusively through Sony, is priced at €2,000 and £1,850. Shipping is scheduled to begin in June.