The 'new' Xperia 10 VIII confirms that Sony isn't even trying anymore
Sony's latest Android mid-ranger is pretty much identical to last year's Xperia 10 VII, only (a lot) costlier.
The Xperia 10 VIII looks unremarkable in basically every conceivable way. | Image by Sony
Sony is one of the biggest global corporations still involved in the mobile industry after LG and Nokia's retirements a few years back, but when it comes to new smartphone announcements, the Japan-based tech giant insists on not showing its pedigree in any shape or form, instead constantly making the types of mistakes even the most inexperienced rookies would never make.
The Xperia 10 VIII (Mark Eight) is the latest in a long line of totally unremarkable and arguably overpriced Android mid-rangers I find virtually impossible to recommend over the best budget 5G phones out there from brands like Samsung, Google, or Nothing. At first glance, there are almost no redeeming qualities about Sony's newest extra-tall 6.1-incher, especially if you compare it to last year's Xperia 10 VII (Mark Seven). But you don't have to trust me on that. Instead, take a look for yourself.
The specs are virtually unchanged
- 6.1-inch OLED screen with 2340 x 1080 pixel resolution and 120Hz refresh rate technology;
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 processor;
- 8GB RAM;
- 128GB storage;
- microSD card slot for up to 2TB expansion;
- Android 16;
- Up to four OS upgrades and six years of security updates;
- 50MP primary rear-facing camera with f/1.9 aperture;
- 13MP secondary camera with f/2.4 aperture;
- 8MP front-facing camera with f/2.0 aperture;
- 5,000mAh battery;
- 30W charging support;
- Wi-Fi 6E;
- Bluetooth 5.4;
- 3.5mm headphone jack;
- Stereo speakers;
- IP68 water and dust resistance;
- Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 screen protection;
- 153 x 72 x 8.3mm dimensions;
- 168 grams weight;
- Frozen White, Frosted Gray, and Misty Lilac color options.
Sony is hyping up a few (subtle) upgrades
Because Sony can't just admit this is the exact same device as its predecessor in its official Xperia 10 VIII marketing materials, the "new" phone is advertised as sporting a display that's "approximately 50 percent brighter than the previous model", as well as "enhanced" stereo speakers capable of delivering "clearer and more powerful sound with improved overall volume and stronger bass."
The third "big" improvement is of a software nature, granting you quick access to a new "Rewards & Pay" menu via a double press of the handset's side-mounted power button, and if that sounds like the kind of subtle change that you'd normally discover in the 14th paragraph of a phone's comprehensive review than the sub-heading of its formal company announcement, well, I totally agree with you.
And while I realize how tough it's become for smartphone manufacturers to change their devices (especially their mid-rangers) in truly meaningful ways in this very challenging time for the mobile industry as a whole, there's simply no excuse for not even upgrading the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 SoC inside the Xperia 10 VII. Or the secondary rear-facing camera. Or the charging speeds. Any improvement would have been... better than nothing.
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The price is bad, and Sony should feel bad
If the Xperia 10 VIII is literally the same phone as the Xperia 10 VII (down to the exact product dimensions and weight), that must mean the recommended price is going unchanged too, right?
Would you ever consider buying the "new" Xperia 10 VIII?
That's actually wrong, and it's another reason for me to wonder why Sony is even bothering launching "new" mobile devices in the year of our lord 2026.
Yes, the Xperia 10 VIII is officially priced at £549 in the UK and €599 in other European territories, which represents a hike of no less than £150 and €150, respectively, over the Xperia 10 VII's original list prices around this time last year. No, there's almost certainly no US release in the pipeline, but just for fun, I should probably point out that those tags currently translate to roughly $750 and $700, respectively.
What other options should you consider?
Basically anything that qualifies as a mid-range handset where you live. Google's Pixel 10a, for instance, costs £499 in Great Britain with a 6.3-inch screen in tow, pretty great cameras, and better long-term software support than any of Sony's best-ever phones.
Then you have something like Samsung's Galaxy A57 5G, which can be purchased in countries like France starting at only €479 with essentially the same unrivaled software support as the Pixel 10a, but a much larger display, three rear-facing cameras, and faster charging as well.
The Galaxy A57 5G provides much better value for your money than the Sony Xperia 10 VIII. | Image by PhoneArena
And how could the Sony Xperia 10 VIII ever compete with the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro, which packs a Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 processor, a 50W charging-capable battery, the world's first 140X Ultra Zoom camera system, and a stunning 6.83-inch AMOLED screen with 144Hz refresh rate technology at a UK price of just £469 right now?
Clearly, Sony needs to take a long hard look around and radically reimagine its smartphone portfolio to keep up with the modern competition. This should have probably happened years ago, but it might still not be too late.
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