Xperia is currently developing two devices, according to new leaks. Sony will be one of Qualcomm’s launch partners for its latest flagship chipset, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.
It has been rumoured that Sony’s Xperia 1 VIII will succeed this year’s Xperia 1 VII. Earlier, there was evidence that Sony had registered multiple model numbers for the upcoming flagship. As a result, speculation has shifted away from a possible revival of the Xperia 5 series after The Walkman Blog uncovered another set of model IDs.
Sony’s mobile division has been in a state of uncertainty, but it expanded its lineup earlier this year with the Xperia 1 VII and Xperia 10 VII. In addition to the new model number PM-1525, the additional codes PM-1530, PM-1531, PM-1532, PM-1533, PM-1534, and PM-1555 are believed to represent regional variants of the Xperia 1 VIII.
Rather than a new Xperia 5, this is most likely the Xperia 10 VIII. Due to declining demand, Sony discontinued the Xperia 5 line after the fifth generation. Sony has instead opted for a simplified two-tier strategy: a high-end Xperia 1 and a mid-range Xperia 10.
The Xperia 1 VIII will be Sony’s only smartphone powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset. According to Qualcomm, Sony will deploy the chip soon, cementing its position in Sony’s 2025 portfolio.
