Sony’s Xperia 10 VIII is on sale in Singapore at S$799, and buyers until 4 November get a matching case and a pair of LinkBuds Clip earbuds with it. Sony Electronics Singapore put the phone on sale on 6 October in three colours: Frozen White, Frosted Grey and Misty Lilac.
What S$799 buys
The Xperia 10 VIII is Sony’s mid-range model, a step below the Xperia 1 VIII flagship, which costs S$2,599 for the 1TB version on Sony Store Online. The price is the same across all three colours.
The phone has 8GB of RAM, with up to 6GB of virtual RAM on top for switching between apps. The display runs at 120Hz. A dedicated shutter button on the side opens the camera even when the screen is off.
Software support is one of the stronger lines on the sheet at this price. The phone gets up to four Android upgrades and up to six years of security updates.
The changes from the Xperia 10 VII
There are three upgrades over last year’s model. The screen is 50 per cent brighter, with automatic colour adjustment for bright sunlight. The front stereo speakers are 15 per cent louder, and the bass is 30 per cent stronger.
The third change is a shortcut. A double press of the power button opens a “Rewards & Pay” menu, which holds frequently used payment and retail rewards apps. Google’s Gemini, Circle to Search and Ask Photos are built in.
The rear panel uses a transparent material with a matte clear coating, for a translucent layer design.
Battery claims
Battery life is rated at up to two days. The figure comes from Sony’s own test profile of 360 minutes of daily use, with 1,080 minutes of standby, covering browsing, video and games. It is the manufacturer’s claim, not an independent test, and real use will vary.
The battery is designed to keep its performance after four years of charging, on Sony’s simulations of repeated charge cycles.
The early bird gift and the Hello Kitty set
From 6 October to 4 November, every Xperia 10 VIII bought from Sony comes with a matching Xperia 10 VIII case and a pair of LinkBuds Clip open earbuds, while stocks last. The LinkBuds Clip gift is worth S$299.
A separate Sony x Hello Kitty set is on pre-order at S$919, S$120 more than the standard phone. It bundles the same Xperia 10 VIII with a Hello Kitty shoulder pouch and a tote bag, in Frosted Grey, White or Lavender. It ships from the end of October in limited quantities, and only through Sony Store channels.
The standard phone is sold at Sony Stores, Sony Store Online and selected authorised dealers.
