Sony is on the verge of releasing a new Xperia smartphone with the Sony Xperia 10 VIII expected to be announced in the company's global Xperia event on August 25, 2026. Sony has confirmed that a new Xperia device will be announced on that date though it has not officially announced the Xperia 10 VIII. Recent leaks, benchmark listings and images are all pointing to the next-generation Xperia 10 model.
The smartphone will be in Sony's mid-range Xperia portfolio after Xperia 10 VII. Based on the information we have now, Sony seems to have a fairly conservative approach to the new model. Leaked images seem to show that the design is very similar to the predecessor and benchmark data supports the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 processor.
One of the biggest features of Xperia 10 VIII that is always a talking point is its processor. A recent Geekbench listing shows the phone running on Qualcomm's Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 platform. The benchmark listing also shows 8GB of RAM in the phone which is 871 points in single-core testing and 3,028 points in multi-core testing. These numbers are preliminary and are not yet confirmed by Sony.
If the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 is used, it would mean that Sony is still using the same chipset in the Xperia 10 VII. So the Xperia 10 VIII could be more of an evolutionary upgrade than a big performance boost. For existing users of the Xperia 10 VII, the similarity would make upgrading less interesting even though software upgrades, battery efficiency and other changes might still affect the overall experience.
On the software side, the Xperia 10 VIII is expected to be available with Android 16. The previous Xperia 10 VII was released with Android 15 and the new one could be one of the more obvious differences between the two generations. Sony’s software support of the OS and long-term update commitment may also matter to consumers looking to buy a smartphone for long-term support and long-term update commitment for the phones, which will be key for them to buy.
The display is also going to stay with Sony's familiar compact design. The current report is the 6.1-inch OLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate. This would make the Xperia 10 VIII rather small compared to many of the modern smartphones with displays of more than 6.5 inches. The high refresh rate should also provide smoother scrolling and animations compared to the conventional 60Hz screen.
Photography is another area Sony will continue to work with dual cameras on the rear. The exact camera sensors and specifications for the Xperia 10 VIII have not been officially revealed by the company yet. The Xperia 10 VII has a 50-megapixel main camera with optical image stabilisation (in the main camera) but it is not known if Sony will still use the same hardware or make a few improvements or new features with the new generation.
The leaked images show that the rear design is still going to have a horizontal camera module like the Xperia 10 VII. The handset is also expected to retain Sony's flat-sided design language. A side-mounted fingerprint sensor that is integrated into the power button is also seen in the leaked images.
Another feature that may appeal to traditional smartphone users is the 3.5mm headphone jack. While the port has disappeared from almost all modern smartphones, Sony still supports wired audio on its mid-range Xperia devices. The FCC information and recent reports suggest that the Xperia 10 VIII could retain the headphone jack.
According to leaks, the battery capacity will be around 5,000mAh. A battery of this size, along with a mid-range Snapdragon chipset and a relatively compact OLED display, could potentially offer strong everyday battery life. Real-world performance will depend on Sony’s software optimisation and the hardware configuration.
Storage is currently expected to start at 128GB, but the final configurations have not been officially announced. Connectivity is also expected to include 5G, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth, so that the device is compatible with today’s mid-range smartphone standards.
Design leaks suggest that Sony may come up with a subtle new colour option while maintaining the overall appearance of the Xperia 10 VII. A light mint or greenish finish has been reported but its availability will vary market by market. The leaked images also show that Sony is not going to have a drastic redesign with this generation.
Pricing is still one of the big unanswered questions. The Xperia 10 VII launched at around €449 and current estimates for the Xperia 10 VIII are around €449–€499. These numbers are not official, so they are just speculation until Sony announces regional pricing.
Sony's August 25 event is scheduled for 11:00 AM Japan Standard Time (7:30 AM IST). The company has also described the event as a worldwide Xperia announcement but it has not been officially disclosed what the device will be.
Overall, the Sony Xperia 10 VIII looks more like a thoughtful update than an all-new radical change. A 6.1-inch OLED display, Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chipset, 8GB RAM, Android 16, a 5,000mAh battery and headphone jack could make it an attractive phone for people who like compact phones and Sony’s style of design.
However, many of the specifications currently being leaked and benchmarked are based on leaks and benchmark information. Sony’s official announcement on August 25 will be clear on the final specifications, pricing, availability and key improvements.
