Previously leaked render of the Xperia 1 VIII. | Image by My Mobiles
Sony was never known for offering affordable flagships, and it would’ve been naive to expect that to change amid the memory shortage crisis. Still, the leaked price of the Xperia 1 VIII is staggering.
Xperia 1 VIII leak reveals a shocking price tag
Sony is going to announce the Xperia 1 VIII soon, and the device was mistakenly listed on Amazon in Germany and the UK. The listings, spotted by GSMArena, reveal a price of €1,868.99 in Germany and £1,728 in the United Kingdom. When directly converted, those are $2,197 and $2,349.13, respectively.
An important caveat is that those could be just placeholder prices, put in place before the official pricing becomes clear. Another detail that’s worth attention is that the listings are for bundles with Sony’s premium headphones WH-1000XM6.
What would make you pay such a high price for the Xperia 1 VIII?
Specs details
The Xperia 1 VIII may have a new camera island design. | Image by My Mobiles
Some of the Xperia 1 VIII specs were also included in the listings. According to them, the device will feature a 6.5-inch FHD+ OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate.
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Most interestingly, the device will feature a triple rear camera with a 16mm ultra wide, a 24mm main, and a new 70mm telephoto lens. As it was previously rumored, the device may feature a 3.5 mm headphone jack, with mentions of “Xperia AI” and a “2-day battery.”
The listings didn’t include any photos but mentioned three colors:
Graphite Black
Iolite Silver
Garnet Red
Disheartening, but not surprising
As outrageous as those prices may sound at first, they’re far from shocking in the current environment. Last year’s Xperia 1 VII launched in the European Union at €1,499, which made it one of the most expensive flagship smartphones on the market.
Forecasts about raising smartphone prices are nothing new, and we’ve already seen many companies reaching new heights. Most recently, Motorola’s Razr Foldlaunched at $1,899, which was a far cry from the rumored $1,500 price. Similarly, the Moto G series saw increases ranging from 35% to 50% across different models
In that context, the potential 30% price hike of the Xperia 1 VIII over its predecessor is not such a big surprise. This doesn’t change the fact that Sony will have to face the Galaxy S26 Ultra and the iPhone 17 Pro Max, which are €300 cheaper.
Another disappointing year for Sony fans
It’s been a very long time since Sony was last considered a successful smartphone company, and I don’t expect the Xperia 1 VIII to change things for the better. Even if the design refresh and camera upgrades are fantastic, I’d be surprised if many people feel compelled by that price.
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Ilia, a tech journalist at PhoneArena, has been covering the mobile industry since 2011, with experience at outlets like Forbes Bulgaria. Passionate about smartphones, tablets, and consumer tech, he blends deep industry knowledge with a personal fascination that began with his first Nokia and Sony Ericsson devices. Originally from Bulgaria and now based in Lima, Peru, Ilia balances his tech obsessions with walking his dog, training at the gym, and slowly mastering Spanish.
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