Sony officially launched its Pixel 10a competitor, the Xperia 10 VIII. This model is a 10-series smartphone from the affordable Sony lineup, but it misses the mark in one key area. I think this is one of the most disappointing launches from Sony, and frankly we could've skipped this one.
Disappointing (lack of) upgrades
There's not much to write home about when it comes to upgrades. Sony made the screen of the Xperia 10 VIII 50% brighter than the panel of its predecessor and boosted the stereo speakers a bit. And that's pretty much it.
The Xperia 10 VIII features the same low-midrange Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chipset and the same amount of RAM, which at 8 GB is rather low in 2026. The camera system has been left untouched as well. It's a dual camera with a 50 MP main snapper and 13 MP ultrawide.
The battery and charging situation are also the same — a 5,000 mAh cell lives inside the Xperia 10 VIII's body, and it supports up to 30W wireless charging. That's disappointing in and of itself, but Sony's design seems to be stuck in the past.
Would you buy the Xperia 10 VIII at €599?
17 Votes
Design changes that are invisible
The phone looks identical to its predecessor. | Images by Sony
Sony boasts a new design for the Xperia 10 VIII, saying it uses a translucent concept as a base. In reality the phone looks identical to its predecessor, despite Sony's claims. There are new colors, though.
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[QUOTE width="100%" align="full" caption="- Sony official press release"]Based on the design concept of a translucent layer, the rear panel uses a transparent material with a matte clear coating. The result is a lightweight look and a simple, refined finish for everyday use with three colors, Frozen White, Frosted Grey, and Misty Lilac[/QUOTE
The design is very old school, for starters. Then there's the lingering feeling this phone is a very early Pixel prototype. I got the same feeling when I first saw the Xperia 10 VII, but now, one year later, it's even more "in your face."
Another interesting feature, at least according to Sony, is the new Quick Access to Payment and Rewards Apps. This allows users to double-press the power button and launch a payment app such as Google Wallet. It's a useful feature, but dedicating a big portion of the press release to this only goes to show how little upgrades this phone brings to the table.
But there's one area where things get ugly. The price.
Price hike for a phone that's unchanged from last year?
The Xperia 10 VIII starts at €599. | Image by Sony
The Xperia 10 VIII starts at €599 (around $699) for the 8/128 GB version. It's a last year's phone, if we take a look at the specs, and even the Xperia 10 VII already felt outdated when it launched back in September 2025.
The Pixel 10a comes with a brighter display, a better processor, and better cameras. It also has a bigger battery and wireless charging, and most importantly, it starts at $499. To top it all off, the Pixel 10a comes with Google's lengthy software support.
There are dozens of midranger that will wipe the floor with the Xperia 10 VIII, the Pixel is just the most obvious example. The Samsung Galaxy A56 is another great phone for under $500, and if you want something quirky, you can always get a Nothing Phone (4a) Pro.
Is it game over for Sony?
Honestly, I'm very disappointed in Sony. I used to be a huge Xperia fan, and still am deep inside. But this approach shows that the company has given up or it's just lazy. Both cases are not good enough in today's smartphone climate.
My hopes now lie with the Xperia 1 IX, but skepticism builds up day by day. Do you think people will buy the Xperia 10 VIII, and could Sony turn it around with the flagship Xperia 1 IX?
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Mariyan, a tech enthusiast with a background in Nuclear Physics and Journalism, brings a unique perspective to PhoneArena. His childhood curiosity for gadgets evolved into a professional passion for technology, leading him to the role of Editor-in-Chief at PCWorld Bulgaria before joining PhoneArena. Mariyan's interests range from mainstream Android and iPhone debates to fringe technologies like graphene batteries and nanotechnology. Off-duty, he enjoys playing his electric guitar, practicing Japanese, and revisiting his love for video games and Haruki Murakami's works.
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