Sony's upcoming Xperia smartphone is set to be released on August 24, but it is expected to miss out on a launch in the US.
Sony/YouTube
After launching its flagship Xperia 1 VIII in May, Sony is preparing to introduce another device. The company has just announced its upcoming Xperia launch event for August 24. Although the specific device has not been disclosed, indications suggest that it will be the mid-range Xperia 10 VIII.
When to watch, and what the leaks indicate
The event will be streamed live on YouTube at 11 AM Japan time on August 25, allowing US viewers to watch at 10 PM ET or 7 PM PT on August 24. Besides confirming the date and time, Sony has not provided additional details about what to expect, but recent leaks have revealed much of the information.
A Geekbench listing associated with a device codenamed Sony XQ-GH54 suggested it will feature a Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chipset paired with 8GB of RAM, similar to last year's Xperia 10 VII. If this is accurate, buyers should not expect a chipset upgrade this time, which has happened previously with the Xperia 10 IV and Xperia 10 V.
Additionally, a July FCC filing revealed some specifications, including a 3.5mm headphone jack, Wi-Fi 6, and compatibility with four LTE bands. The previous Xperia 10 VII had a 6.1-inch 120Hz OLED display and a 5,000mAh battery, specs expected to carry over to the new model. This represents a more modest offering compared to the Xperia 1 VIII, which was equipped with a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip and a significantly larger telephoto sensor.
US consumers should temper their expectations
It appears that Sony may again bypass the US market, despite earlier reports suggesting a broader release. IMEI database listings seen earlier this year for the Xperia 1 VIII and Xperia 10 VIII did not include a clear model number specific to the US, indicating that the upcoming mid-range phone might not be available in the US.
Sony's stream on August 24 is likely to confirm pricing, specifications, and availability information. If the leaks are accurate, the Xperia 10 VIII might be a modest update to last year's Xperia 10 VII, rather than a phone that warrants immediate preorders.
Pranob is an experienced tech journalist with over eight years in the field of consumer technology.
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Sony's upcoming Xperia smartphone is set to be released on August 24, but it is expected to miss out on a launch in the US.
Sony has announced a new Xperia launch event scheduled for August 24, with rumors suggesting the introduction of the mid-range Xperia 10 VIII.