Sony hikes Xperia 10 VIII price by £150 despite minimal hardware upgrades
The new mid-range Android smartphone retains its predecessor’s core specifications, with the primary changes being a brighter display and a significant increase in UK pricing.
Sony has announced the Xperia 10 VIII, a mid-range Android smartphone that marks a modest iterative update to the Xperia 10 VII. Although the Japanese electronics giant no longer sells Xperia phones in the US market, it continues production for other regions, with the new device scheduled for release in September.
The hardware specifications remain largely identical to the previous model. The device retains the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 processor, 8GB of RAM, a 5,000mAh battery, and 128GB of default storage. The camera configuration is also unchanged, featuring a 50MP f/1.9 main camera, a 13MP ultrawide lens, and an 8MP front camera.
The most notable hardware improvement is the 6.1-inch 2340 x 1080 OLED display, which is 50 per cent brighter than the screen on the Xperia 10 VII. Sony has also made the speakers 15 per cent louder and introduced a new feature allowing users to access digital payment tools via a double tap of the power button.
The phone adopts a "translucent" rear panel design and is available in three colours: Frozen White, Frosted Grey, and Misty Lilac. Despite the limited scope of upgrades, the pricing strategy reflects broader market pressures, particularly regarding memory costs.
In the UK, the Xperia 10 VIII is priced at £549, representing a £150 increase over the £399 cost of its predecessor last year. Analysts suggest this price hike is likely influenced by the "RAMpocalypse," a term describing the current surge in memory component costs.
For consumers in other markets, the device is priced at approximately $750. The September release date suggests Sony is targeting the late summer retail window, though the significant price gap may impact adoption in a competitive mid-range segment.
