Sony has officially unveiled its first 200-megapixel smartphone image sensor, the LYT-901, marking its entry into the ultra-high-resolution mobile photography market and positioning itself as a direct competitor to Samsung’s established offerings.
The LYT-901 is engineered for integration into next-generation flagship smartphones. It is expected to challenge Samsung’s 200-megapixel sensors, which are already prevalent in various high-end mobile devices.
The new sensor features a significant 1/1.12-inch size and a pixel size of 0.7 micrometers (ÎĽm). It incorporates Quad-Quad Bayer technology. This hardware-based Remosaic system combines four individual pixels into one larger, higher-quality pixel.
This pixel-binning approach offers two primary modes. A 2×2 binning yields 50-megapixel images, while a 4×4 binning produces 12.5-megapixel images. These modes are designed to enhance performance in low-light conditions and improve the quality of highly zoomed or cropped photos, such as those taken at night concerts.
For superior image processing, Sony has integrated a circuit layer within the sensor to organize color data. This design minimizes resolution loss during data conversion and increases pixel data density, making it easier for smartphone chipsets to process.
The LYT-901 also includes a 12-bit Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC). This background processing component works to boost image brightness and effectively reduce visual noise.
Its HDR capabilities combine Dual Conversion Gain HDR with Hybrid Frame-HDR. The Hybrid Frame-HDR uses brief auxiliary frames to capture more detail in bright areas. This combined technology achieves a dynamic range exceeding 100 decibels, equivalent to approximately 17 stops in a single shot, a high figure by current photography standards.
The sensor supports 2x hardware zoom for still photography. It also offers 4x in-sensor zoom for both stills and video, which emulates a telephoto lens without requiring additional optical components. Sony states it is currently the only sensor on the market to support 4x hardware zoom.
Video recording features include 4K resolution at 30 frames per second (fps). It can also capture 4K video at 120 fps using its 4×4 pixel-binning mode.
Industry speculation suggests the OPPO Find X9 Ultra could be the first smartphone to launch with the Sony LYT-901 sensor in March 2026. The vivo X300 Ultra may follow in the second quarter of 2026.