Sony Xperia 1 VIII expected June 26, loses variable zoom telephoto
According to a leaked Amazon listing, the Sony Xperia 1 VIII is set to arrive on Friday, June 26, 2026. This suggests that Sony will officially unveil the new flagship on that date. The phone will feature new cameras and a modified rear camera layout. However, it will also lose quite a bit.
Thanks to previously leaked CAD renders, we know roughly what the Sony Xperia 1 VIII will look like. After years of using the same design, the device will feature a revised layout on the back. The cameras will be placed on a separate island and will no longer be stacked vertically, but arranged in a square grid.
Where previous Sony Xperia 1 models excelled was the variable aperture setting. Sony introduced this in 2024 with the Xperia 1 VI. This allows the telephoto lens to variably zoom from 85 to 170 mm (3.5 to 7x zoom). Sony calls this "true optical zoom." The beauty of this technique is that it is completely stepless, which makes for much smoother transitions.
Sony Scraps Variable Zoom Telephoto Lens
The main advantage is visible in video mode, where smooth zooming is possible during filming. Apparently, this is not very common, as Sony is scrapping the feature on the upcoming Xperia 1 VIII. Instead, you can zoom in up to 3x as the focal length is a fixed 70 mm. Sony is swapping the 12MP sensor for a sharper 48MP one that is also larger in size (1/1.56" versus 1/3.5").
While you lose some zoom range, your shots will be sharper and clearer. Larger sensors capture more light, which results in better shots, especially in low-light conditions.
Expected Xperia 1 VIII Specs
We also expect a 6.5-inch smartphone that still features bezels at the top and bottom of the screen for the speakers and the selfie camera. Sony also appears to be sticking with the 3.5 mm audio jack port for plugging in wired headphones.
Prices will be announced on or after June 26, but based on previous years, they will be steep. The Sony Xperia 1 series continues to appeal to a niche group of buyers who primarily focus on content creation and earn a good living from it.
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