Sony Launches First 200MP Smartphone Image Sensor, Challenging Samsung’s High-Resolution Lead

Sony Semiconductor has introduced the LYTIA 901, its first 200-megapixel CMOS image sensor for smartphones, marking a major strategic shift as it moves directly into Samsung’s high-resolution territory. The new sensor features a large 1/1.12-inch format, 0.7 µm pixels, and a Quad-Quad Bayer Coding (QQBC) structure enabling 16-to-1 binning for enhanced low-light performance.

A key highlight is Sony’s on-sensor AI remosaic engine, designed to reconstruct fine textures and deliver up to 4× in-sensor zoom with strong detail retention—reducing the need for multiple dedicated zoom cameras in flagship devices. The LYTIA 901 also integrates advanced HDR technologies, including Dual Conversion Gain HDR, a 12-bit ADC, and Hybrid Frame HDR, achieving over 100 dB dynamic range.

The sensor supports high-speed capture across formats, including 200MP/10 fps, 8K/30 fps, and 4K/120 fps, all with full-pixel autofocus. Sony has already begun mass production, with the LYTIA 901 set to debut in vivo’s 2026 ultra-flagship lineup.

Sony enters the 200MP market as smartphone OEMs increasingly demand larger sensors and higher resolutions for next-generation computational photography. Samsung currently leads the segment with its ISOCELL HP-series sensors, while SmartSens continues strengthening its position in China with recent Xiaomi design wins.

With the LYTIA 901, Sony aims squarely at the growing demand for high-resolution flagship imaging—and positions itself to compete head-to-head in the rapidly expanding 200MP sensor category.