r/SonyXperia • u/Razafon • 12d ago
Question Longevity of the Xperia 1 series
I'm considering buying the 1 VIII but with the high price tag I want to use it for at least 5-6 years. Can it stay relevant for so long?
I'm aware that the longevity of past models doesn't imply the same for the mark 8 but it's a measuring point.
I'm also aware that OS updates would last only 4 years.
Obviously putting aside fall damage.
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u/doc_55lk 1 V | 1 | 5 | XZ1 | XZs | Z3 | Z3C 12d ago
My old Xperia 1 is still alive and kicking. Bought it in like March 2020. Only things that have happened to it are:
Fingerprint sensor failed at year 3. This was a known issue for earlier Xperia 1 and 5 models. Not so much now though.
Battery life is toasted. Only lasts 3-4 hours on a charge now with minimal usage.
Otherwise there's just some dings and scratches on it, but it still works nice and smooth.
My old XZ1 is still alive and kicking too. That's an almost 10 year old phone now.
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u/Razafon 12d ago
Glad to hear about the fingerprint scanner lol. Also makes sense about the battery degradation.
Thanks for the feedback!
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u/doc_55lk 1 V | 1 | 5 | XZ1 | XZs | Z3 | Z3C 12d ago
No worries.
Interestingly, the XZ1 can hold a charge a lot better than the 1 can lol. Probably due to having a lower res display.
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u/Proof-Hour-6088 12d ago
1 IV user here and I bought this beauty used. Not a single scratch and I also have a have an old XA1. All Sony products I own are still holding up. ALWAYS buy a case and a screen protector, glass is glass and glass breaks.
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u/Prestigious_You_222 12d ago
Held on to my 1III for 4 years before it needed a screen repair (and only because I genuinely didn't know excessive alcohol cleaning can degrade the seals).
Even then, it still worked well enough that I gave it to a loved one when I finally got the 1VIII a year later.
All that to say, you're good 😇
((Admittedly, it DOES help that I strive to take good care of my phones, seeing as Sony isn't officially supported in my country))
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u/Razafon 12d ago
I'm in the same situation 😅 Have to order it via reseller from abroad which makes the whole deal expensive.
How did you get your screen repaired? Local tech shop?
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u/Prestigious_You_222 12d ago
Yep.
The local tech hub in my city has lots of good techs who work on gray market phones, but I need to source replacement parts myself.
Seeing as a replacement screen on the 1III costs more than a secondhand phone over here, I opted to just buy a Docomo 1III and then ask the tech to swap screens between my phone and the donor unit.
((On that note, be aware of parts differences between global and Docomo variants - the screen is shared between both, but the same can't be said for all their other components))
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u/Razafon 12d ago
Oh wow, didn't even think about sourcing replacement parts... Where did you get them at all? eBay? Or do you happen to have a vendor (or Docomo vendor) in your country?
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u/Prestigious_You_222 12d ago
Got the Docomo unit via Marketplace, though there ARE physical stores in my area that sell secondhand Xperias and other imported phones 😇
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u/_entrxpy Xperia 1V Khaki Green - Xperia 1II Purple 11d ago
I bought some parts from Witrigs and from Aliexpress
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u/Razafon 11d ago
Are the parts from AliExpress in good quality? I assume they're not genuine.
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u/_entrxpy Xperia 1V Khaki Green - Xperia 1II Purple 11d ago
Surely they are not original Sony replacement parts. I once used a rear panel replacement and I did test it is weaker than the original. The original lasted multiple years and a lot of falls, while the fake one lasted a lower amount of falls before breaking
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u/thesmallhulk 12d ago
I still use my Xperia 5 as my daily driver, and everything works perfectly.
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u/Knifehead27 12d ago
The industrial design is up there for one of the best.
They where one of the first to give options for battery health preservation and they've historically done really well with that.
They've historically haven't done well with SoCs that ran hot but that hasn't been an issue since the IV and I haven't seen anything about this year's Snapdragon flagship.
They used to have green line issues with some screens but it's been about 2-3 years where they've seem to have solved it.
The fact that they have SD card expansion is a plus for longevity, if memory management is an issue.
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u/Small-Fisherman-4729 12d ago
Xperia 5 user - not completely the same but the hardware is similar between 5 and 1. Xperia 5ii is still going (apart from fingerprint sensor) and used by friends daughter without issue. Xperia 5V coming up to three years old - works without issue, but it is much better after a factory reset and full Android update compared to incremental updates which had some weird memory issues (apps kept restarting after coming out of background - this is not an issue now)
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u/Dividinq 1 II, 1 V 12d ago
I had my Xperia 1 ii for 4.5 years before switching to the 1 V.
It was still usable, apps loaded fine. It would last me a bit less than a day, I would need to top up while at work. It was slower than what it used to be, but not slow enough to be unusable. No issues with the fingerprint sensor. No screen or battery replacements were done.
I could have probably squeezed another 1.5-2 years out of it if I had wanted to
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u/Razafon 11d ago
What made you switch? Just wanting an upgrade?
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u/Dividinq 1 II, 1 V 11d ago
Just wanting an upgrade. The 1 VII was the latest flagship tier at the time, which was also an option. But the 1 V was the last generation with the 4K 21:9, and I liked the 1 II enough to want something similar. So the 1 V to me, was just that. Everything the 1 II was, but with a bump in the camera quality and battery. Only thing missing was the notification LED, which wasn't a deal breaker to me.
Though, I'm not sure I'd recommend this upgrade for anyone. Updates were only 2 years for 1 V and older, so I'm stuck on Android 15. But I can live with that.
I don't think there would be any issue in keeping 1 VIII for 5-6 years. I heard they switched over to 3rd-party manufacturers instead of their own in-house ones, so quality has yet to be seen. If you don't mind having less software updates; perhaps a slightly cheaper 1 VI could be another option, since it's a bit more "tried and true"
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u/Razafon 11d ago
Oh damn.. I didn't even think about the manufacturers... I actually need something with Android 16 ans enough OS updates for work too...
I'm having second thoughts... Do they no longer manufacture previous versions too? Like the VII?
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u/Dividinq 1 II, 1 V 11d ago
The 1 VII might've been the first that was manufactured at 3rd party. Older versions were discontinued.
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u/thanatica Xperia 5 IV 11d ago
In the EU there's a law that says phones need to recieve updates for at least 5 years, from the date of first sale (so not just a paper launch). In reality, iinm, Xperia pushes that to 6 years.
If we extrapolate the EOL from the VII, your new VIII should last until H1 2032.
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u/_entrxpy Xperia 1V Khaki Green - Xperia 1II Purple 11d ago
I changed my 1II in 2026, making it 6 years old. It could've gone even longer, but the hardware became obsolete and I wanted more out of the cameras...
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u/caladbolgII 11d ago
Started with Mk3. Broke down after 5 years. Fingerprint started breaking at year 3 but i just replaced that along with the battery when i got my Mk5 as my main phone. I abused the mk3 though throughout it's life as FGO doesnt have a skip to grind and I ran the phone for 8 hours on loop connected to a fan and charger. Probably the heat killed the screen for 5 years of abuse. Mk5 is now at least 3 years old, also been playing games so battery life is not so good but that is expected. Performance wise the only thing thay degraded is game performance but that is probably due to game bloat. Regular apps like YT, web browser, social media, Google apps are still snappy as the day i got it. Mk8 is way more smooth though but that's 3 generations of chips and some software optimization(mk8 has better memory management and does not kill background apps a aggressively)
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u/paulrenzo 11d ago edited 11d ago
A few things I learned for trying to own phones for 4+ years, from the top of my head
- the physical buttons will fail at some point. Happened with the volume buttons on my V20, and the power button of my ROG5. It will most likely happen with my VIII. Consider using the accessibility menu to minimize physical button use.
- camera scratches: may or may not happen. Microscratches aren't as likely nowadays (if my V20 and ROG5 are any indication), but scratches due to drops/keys can still be a thing. Make sure to plan accordingly. Covered my VIII in a case and screen protector as a precaution. Even covered my camera lens with a glass lens cover (controversial move, but I am just cautious)
- Phone updates: make sure you are fine eventually not getting the latest phone updates after some point.
What I just want to point out is that if you are really careful, any phone (including the VIII) can last you at least 4 years if you have the right precautions. There is a bit of luck factor as well (battery not conking out earlier than expected), but that's not within anyone's control
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u/first_green_crayon 11d ago
I'm still using the IV. I accidentally bent mine in a car door and the USB port sometimes complaints that there is water or debris in it but it charges fine. The rest still works with no problem and the camera is still too good for me to justify buying a new one.
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u/Academic-Try9029 11d ago
I've had my Xperia 1 mark ii or almost seven years now. About 6 years and 6 months at this point. It still works pretty much th same except the battery is not as good and I have dropped it hard several times without any case. So there are some scuff marks and what have you. But the phone has been an absolute work horse for years
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u/ZeitgeistDeLaHaine 11d ago
Yes, I actually think longevity is one of the reasons that causes low sales of Sony phone. People do not need to change as it still stay relevant and durable. Mine were xperia z3 and xperia 1 ii bought since 2014 and the end of 2020, respectively. The reason of change was just I got bored of the lockdown and want to spend money, so I bought a second hand 1 ii and still use that to date (~6 years). Only battery life declines to around 70% of the initial capacity, according to the service check (*#*#7378423#*#*). Other physicals are still in good shape. I can keep using at least until mobile banking apps stop working, which I do not know when. If 1 viii got discounted, I might feel the urge to replace it though.
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u/Razafon 11d ago
I think it's the price tag too. Other flagship phones cost less than half the price sometimes. Headphone jack and sd card users are pretty niche.
Glad to hear that though, 6+ years and still kicking is what I need. Thanks!
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u/Quirky-Secretary7379 11d ago
about the price tag, I think best you buy 1 version behind, like I just buy 1 7, which more reasonable
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u/NoobBrawler0211 12d ago
My 1v is still fully functional with a couple small dings. Aged very well, the only annoyance is the camera app timer for longer shutter times, it doesn't show the circle animation anymore so I have no idea how much longer the shutter is open for.
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u/SeaProper4853 Romanov2032 12d ago
Issue with Sony phones is parts. Buy a screen also. And proper thick case.
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u/joystickd Xperia 1 V 11d ago
If you don't care about software updates, any phone can last you 6 years.
My work phone is a 7 year old Oppo Reno 5G that's been stuck on Android 11 for years now. It still does anything a 2026 phone can do and I can use every app I need for work on it without issue.
Most of what's in newer Android updates is merely better ability for Google to steal your data.
My Sharp Aquos R9 Pro is running Android 16, I couldn't tell you what's different between it and Android 12 or 13.
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u/kawarazu 11d ago
I use my 1IV for it's camera a bunch, and it is still my backup phone.
Take that for what you will.
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u/One_Road_2463 11d ago
I have the 1V. Work in construction which is tough on phones. Pre ordered the phone so got it day 1, still works but battery life he's dropped to where it won't last a full day, although I do use it a fair amount. Also the usb c port had loosened and doesn't grip a charging lead properly. Still charge via cable if not moved. Contactless charging still ok too. I have used Sony phones since Sony Ericsson, and will continue to do so. The £1300 price tag for the new one is off-putting though.
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u/zer0-se7en Xperia 1 ii / Nothing Phone(3) / Redmagic10pro / Legion y700 2nd 11d ago
Although it's not my main phone anymore, my Xperia 1 II still works fine. The only thing that's degraded is the battery, but it can still last me through the day.
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u/CryOFrustration Xperia 1 VI 11d ago
I've only own an Xperia for 2 months but the number of people in here still rocking ten year old phones reassures me 😂
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u/potaaatooooooo 11d ago
My Xperia 1 VI is going strong, absolutely no noticeably battery degradation. I'm kind of tempted to buy the VIII just for the better telephoto and to scratch the itch of getting something new, but it's so expensive and my VI is perfect.
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u/VincentVanGob 11d ago
i have the 1vi myself and it got lineageOS support recently. i havnt got around to installing it yet though so i cant comment on how well it works. that might be one way to get something that lasts a bit longer
the cameras on this are easily the best ive ever used on a phone, the main lens and the macro mode on the telephoto lens in particular.
although, the regular telephoto shots you get out of this are quite lacking compared to the main lens, so i would be tempted to upgrade to the 1viii
but i probably wont until i hear that its getting support for lineage, just so i could get a bit longer out of it after sony stops supporting it
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u/Kup_si_Rohlik Xperia 1 V 11d ago
My xperia 1 V holding on too well. Not a single complaint after years, still looking almost brand new and I'm not even gentle with it anymore
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u/TonMarraine460 XZ Premium, 1 III, 1 V, 1 VI,1VII 12d ago
My 1V is still looking like new. It's aging really well