Sony’s Xperia 1 VIII went on sale in Europe on Thursday, June 19, priced at £1,399 in the United Kingdom and €1,499 in Germany. The phone ships with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor and a redesigned camera system built around artificial intelligence-assisted shooting, which drew attention during benchmark tests ahead of launch.

The camera island has been redesigned from the vertical strip layout of the previous generation to a square format housing three lenses, a flash, and additional sensors. The new 70mm telephoto lens features a sensor four times larger than the model it replaces, which Sony says improves low-light performance at that focal length. The phone ships with Android 16 and carries a guarantee of four major Android version updates.

One feature that has drawn comment is the retention of the 3.5mm headphone jack, making the Xperia 1 VIII one of the few flagship smartphones in 2026 to include the port. Sony has maintained this feature across the Xperia 1 series as a selling point for its audio-focused user base. Customers who pre-ordered received a free pair of Sony WH-1000XM6 wireless headphones with their purchase.

Sony has ruled out a North American release for this generation. The Xperia 1 VIII is available in Europe and select Asian markets only. The decision continues a pattern from earlier years where Sony’s flagship phones skipped the US market entirely. The phone’s storage starts at 256GB with 12GB of RAM, and benchmark results from early reviewers placed it above the Pixel 10 Pro XL in several performance tests.

The Xperia 1 VIII is positioned primarily at camera enthusiasts and audiophiles rather than the broader smartphone market. Sony’s approach contrasts with rivals like Samsung, which targets mainstream consumers with its Galaxy line. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 is expected in late July. Apple’s foldable iPhone is also slated for September.

The Xperia 1 VIII is available from Sony’s European website and select retail partners from today. Full availability and pricing in Asian markets will be confirmed separately. Sony’s official product page with full specifications is listed at sony.com.