Sony Xperia 1 VIII Sales Are Strong — Here's Why the Headphone Jack and microSD Slot Are Staying

About two months after the June 2026 launch of the Xperia 1 VIII, Sony executives Shohachi Ike (Marketing) and Eri Kitazawa (Product Planning) sat down with ITmedia Mobile to discuss the phone's reception, pricing strategy, and the features that define the brand. Here's what they shared.

Strong Sales in Japan and Europe

Despite a price increase that pushed the SIM-free model past the ¥200,000 mark in Japan, Sony reports that the Xperia 1 VIII is enjoying strong sales with high customer satisfaction . The success isn't limited to Japan. In Europe, after Sony strengthened its direct-to-consumer (D2C) sales channels, sales have grown "significantly" compared to previous models .

Sony attributes this performance to a combination of factors: the improved camera system, the addition of a 1TB storage option, and the exclusive Native Gold color available only for SIM-free models . However, the company did not disclose any specific unit sales figures, describing performance only in qualitative terms .

Legacy Features as Identity Drivers

In an era where nearly every flagship smartphone has abandoned the 3.5mm headphone jack and microSD card slot, Sony has made these features a cornerstone of the Xperia identity. Sony explicitly described both the 3.5mm headphone jack and the microSD card slot as "integral" to the Xperia brand .

Kitazawa noted that in Sony's purchasing-reason surveys, support for microSD cards ranks very high . Ike added that the microSD slot and headphone jack are features that Xperia users care about deeply . The company pins much of the phone's success on these distinct features, which virtually all rival flagships have dropped, and says this strongly suggests they will remain in future Xperia phones .

No Plans to Revive the Xperia 5 Series

Sony confirmed that the Xperia 5 series is effectively discontinued. The ITmedia interview makes clear that the lineup has been consolidated around the Xperia 1 and Xperia 10 series, and there are no plans to bring back a mid-range Xperia 5 .

Why the Price Went Up

The Japanese SIM-free model of the Xperia 1 VIII starts at around ¥236,000, crossing the ¥200,000 mark and representing a roughly ¥30,000 increase over the Xperia 1 VII . Sony cited two main cost drivers:

• A much larger telephoto sensor — The new 48MP periscope telephoto uses a 1/1.56-inch sensor, roughly four times larger than the Xperia 1 VII's telephoto sensor. This significantly increased the component cost . Sony also ditched the variable zoom mechanism (85-170mm) in favor of a fixed 70mm lens to accommodate the larger sensor without making the phone thicker .
• Rising DRAM and NAND flash costs — Global increases in memory and storage component prices also contributed to the higher retail price .

Notably, European pricing remained at €1,499 / £1,399 for the base 12/256GB model, the same as the Xperia 1 VII .

The Bottom Line

Sony's strategy with the Xperia 1 VIII is clear: lean into the niche. By retaining features that rivals have abandoned and investing heavily in camera hardware, Sony is betting that a loyal fanbase will pay a premium for a device that feels different from the rest. So far, the company says, that bet is paying off — even if they won't share the exact numbers.