Sony is about to unveil its next Xperia phone

 

Image: Illustration / Digiopedia

Sony is preparing to unveil a new Xperia smartphone on August 25, giving its mobile lineup another update just months after introducing its latest flagship. The company has confirmed an Xperia product announcement for 11 a.m. Japan Standard Time, although it has not yet revealed exactly which phone will be introduced.

The announcement is widely expected to be the Xperia 10 VIII, Sony’s next mid-range Xperia smartphone. Sony has not officially confirmed the model name or its specifications, so details reported ahead of the event should be treated as unconfirmed until the company makes the phone official.

What we know so far

Recent leaks have provided an early look at what could be Sony’s next mid-range phone. Images reportedly show a design that remains close to the previous Xperia 10 series, with a flat body and a horizontal camera module on the rear. A light-colored finish has also appeared in leaked images.

A Geekbench listing for a device believed to be the Xperia 10 VIII points to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 processor and 8GB of RAM. If accurate, that would mean Sony is not making a major change to the phone’s core performance hardware compared with its predecessor.

Other reported certification details suggest the phone could retain features that have become increasingly uncommon among modern smartphones, including a 3.5mm headphone jack. Wi-Fi 6 and support for several LTE bands have also appeared in reports based on certification information.

These specifications have not been confirmed by Sony.

A new mid-range Xperia

The expected Xperia 10 VIII would sit below Sony’s flagship Xperia 1 VIII and continue the company’s more affordable Xperia line.

Sony has generally taken a conservative approach with the Xperia 10 series, emphasizing practical features and battery life rather than competing directly with flagship phones on raw performance. The company has also retained features such as expandable storage and a headphone jack that have disappeared from many competing devices.

The new model will show whether Sony plans to continue that approach or make broader changes to its mid-range strategy.

Sony’s announcement is close

Sony’s August 25 event should settle the major questions surrounding the new Xperia phone, including its official name, specifications, pricing and availability.

For now, the Xperia 10 VIII remains an expected product rather than an officially confirmed name. If Sony introduces the device at the event, it will provide a clearer picture of how the company plans to compete in the increasingly crowded mid-range smartphone market.