Sony’s new Xperia phone gets an overdue redesign

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FollowSee All NewsSony’s new Xperia phone gets an overdue redesignThe Xperia 1 VIII has a new look, but still no US release. The Xperia 1 VIII has a new look, but still no US release. by Dominic Preston Dominic PrestonNews EditorPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.

Technical Details

FollowSee All by Dominic PrestonMay 13, 2026, 2:00 AM UTC Sony’s new flagship doesn’t look much like its predecessors. Image: Sony / The Verge Dominic Preston Dominic PrestonPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. FollowSee All by Dominic Preston is a news editor with over a decade’s experience in journalism.

He previously worked at Android Police and Tech Advisor. Sony’s Xperia 1 flagships have looked more or less the same since 2020, but that’s finally changing with the Xperia 1 VIII, which moves to a chunky square camera island. The phone also boasts what should be a substantially improved telephoto camera, along with an AI camera assistant that looks like an improved version of Google’s Camera Coach.

While every previous Xperia 1 phone has had three vertical cameras, and the last six have positioned them in the same top-left corner spot, the 1 VIII mixes things up. The three lenses are now laid out in a square block, together with the flash and a Sony logo, that’s raised from the phone but slopes towards its edge. It’s a little bit iPhone, but more closely resembles the design of some of Motorola’s recent Edge phones, though with an angularity that feels distinct to Sony.

Industry Implications

It’s the main part of an overdue design refresh, blowing fresh air into Sony’s slick, but now slightly stale, aesthetic. It’s a surprise too, not least because it doesn’t at all match the Xperia 10 VII, which also got a whole new look recently, but adopted a horizontal camera bar instead. The Xperia 1 VIII is available in four colors: black, silver, red, and a gold that’s exclusive to Sony’s online store.

There’s a subtle texturing to the camera island, the frosted glass back, and the aluminum edges, along with a knurled finish on the dedicated camera shutter button. Like previous Sony phones there’s a 3. 5mm headphone jack too, plus a microSD slot and a combined IP65/68 resistance rating (this used to be the best around, though has since been bested by a number of IP68/69 phones).

1 / 3There’s the welcome return of a dedicated shutter button. Image: SonyThe redesign may be overdue aesthetically, but it probably serves practical purpose too, allowing Sony to fit in a substantially larger sensor for the phone’s telephoto lens.

This advance offers important signals about the future of the sector, and the tech world is watching closely.