Sony Xperia 1 VIII released: starting at 12,000 yuan.

This morning, Sony officially released its annual flagship Xperia 1 VIII.

The starting price for this new phone is 1,500 euros, which is approximately 12,000 yuan. The memory configuration starts with 12GB + 256GB, while the top-of-the-line 1TB version is priced at 2,000 euros, which is approximately 16,000 yuan.

The new device is now officially available for pre-order. Users who participate in the pre-order will receive a free pair of Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones. The first batch of stock will be shipped out in June.

As Sony’s top flagship this year, the biggest highlight of the Xperia 1 VIII is its imaging system. The phone is equipped with three 48-megapixel cameras, including a 48-megapixel periscope telephoto lens with a 1/1.56-inch super-large sensor, which is four times the size of the previous generation flagship and also has four times the resolution.

Meanwhile, the Xperia 1 VIII features a redesigned rear camera DECO area with a highly recognizable square module layout. The Sony brand logo is directly embedded in the module area, and the entire device also features an exclusive gold color option, making it easily distinguishable from other models.

It’s worth mentioning that Sony’s continuous optical zoom solution, which it had insisted on for many years, was officially discontinued on the Xperia 1 VIII.

The camera’s periscope telephoto lens has a fixed focal length of 70mm, primarily relying on its 48-megapixel high-resolution hardware to achieve high-magnification lossless zoom. This telephoto module also features a large f/2.8 aperture, resulting in a significant improvement in low-light performance compared to its predecessor.

The remaining two rear camera modules have the same specifications as the previous generation: a 48MP 1/1.35-inch main camera with a 24mm f/1.9 lens and OIS optical image stabilization, and a 48MP 1/1.56-inch ultra-wide-angle camera with a 16mm f/2.0 lens. The front camera is 12MP.

According to Sony’s official introduction, all three rear cameras support RAW multi-frame processing technology. This technology can significantly expand the dynamic range of the image, reduce image noise in low-light scenes, and effectively avoid the problems of highlight clipping and complete loss of shadow details. The dynamic range of the output image will be quite excellent.

In terms of basic hardware configuration, the Xperia 1 VIII features a 6.5-inch 120Hz high refresh rate screen, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Ultra flagship platform, a built-in 5000mAh battery, supports 30W wired fast charging and 15W wireless charging, retains Sony’s signature 3.5mm headphone jack, and also supports memory card expansion storage.