Sony finally made the perfect Android phone, then priced it out of reach for everyone

Published Aug 28, 2026, 8:15 AM EDT Jon Gilbert is a Features Writer for Android Police. I've covered Android since 2021, focusing on writing features and guides about Android apps and features that directly affect users. I've attended CES to uncover powerful hardware that isn't dominated by Google like the Mudita Kompakt. I trawl through Android news daily, hunting for stories that have real-world consequences. I hold a BA in History & Classics. In May 2026, a new smartphone launched. This smartphone features a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, a minimum 12GB RAM and 256GB storage configuration, three 48-megapixel cameras, a headphone jack, and a microSD slot. It's the Sony Xperia 1 VIII, and it's the perfect Android phone. So why haven't you heard of it? The simple answer is that it's not available in the US. But I think that's a shame, as this is the most consumer-friendly Xperia. I'm ready to buy one, but not quite yet. The Sony Xperia 1 VIII maintains features we miss Practical features we've otherwise forgotten Remember the outrage when Apple removed the headphone jack from the iPhone 7 in September 2016? Then the subsequent outbursts when every other phone manufacturer followed suit? My first phone without a headphone jack was the Google Pixel 2, and while I had switched to Bluetooth headphones, I felt its loss keenly. Credit: Sony But amidst all the headphone jack controversies of the late 2010s, Sony didn't falter. The fact that the Xperia 1 VIII keeps it alive is nothing short of miraculous. The Xperia 1 VIII also features a microSD card slot, something I miss when confronted with the pitiful 128GB storage on my Pixel 10 for the third time in a month. So why isn't Sony trading punches with Google and Samsung? Sony caters its phone to professionals who value exclusivity They're too expensive to justify buying otherwise The Sony Xperia 1 VIII costs £1,400 in the UK, which is equivalent to roughly $1,900. That's the same price as the recently launched Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8. Sony markets its Xperia phones to professionals who want the best with no bloatware. Their cameras are top of the range (there's a reason Google uses Sony's components for its Pixel cameras) and offer a minimalist software experience. On top of that, Sony slaps a markup to further differentiate its devices. The result is phones for people who want the best, but are irrelevant for those of us who just want a phone that works. However, I think it's time for Sony to approach the everyday buyer again. It's time for a manufacturer to show us that you don't need to cram AI into a phone to make it great. Practical features like microSD card slots are valuable. Sony can bring us the Android phone we need in 2027 It has all the tools to create the perfect modern Android phone Let's jump into a fantasy world for a moment and imagine that the Sony Xperia 1 VIII sold for $1,100, the same as the Google Pixel 11 Pro. Which one would I buy? The Xperia 1 VIII would offer more powerful camera features, faster performance, and the aforementioned microSD card slot and headphone jack. In general, it offers significantly better hardware than the Pixel 11 Pro. The Pixel 11 Pro would offer longer software support (seven years compared to four for the Xperia 1 VIII), and all the software tricks one expects from a modern Pixel phone. But here's the kicker. The Xperia 1 VIII only offers the bare minimum of AI features. Gemini Assistant and Circle to Search are present, but there's no avoiding them now that Google Assistant has been unceremoniously dumped. Instead, Sony has focused on improving the camera with AI smarts. However, they are optional, which we're grateful for after examining the results. So here we are. A modern Android smartphone with the bare minimum of AI features, a microSD card slot, and a headphone jack. It's like if Sony took the best Android smartphone of 2016 and brought it to the modern age. Price is holding Sony back from delivering us the phone we need By now, a Sony enthusiast is likely screaming at me to mention the recently announced Sony Xperia 10 VIII, which will retail for £550. But in the same way that the Xperia 1 VIII is too premium to justify its price, the Xperia 1 VIII is too budget to justify its price. The big problem is that Sony's Xperia phones don't offer good value for money. The midrange market is packed with phenomenal devices, and competing with foldables isn't a good look for a standard-format phone. Credit: Source: Winfuture.de Even though I live in a country where I can buy an Xperia 1 VIII, I'll be avoiding it. The cameras are already too good, and a minimal software experience is not enough of a sell. But if Sony compromises effectively, I'll be the first in line for a new Xperia.