Sony Launches 200MP LYTIA 901 Sensor With Built-In AI & 4x Zoom for Next-Gen Smartphones
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Sony Semiconductor Solutions has lifted the curtain on the LYTIA
901, its first 200-megapixel camera sensor crafted specifically for
next-generation smartphones. Previously known under its development code IMX09E,
this large-format 1/1.12-type sensor with 0.7μm pixels is now ready for mass
production, scheduled to begin in November 2025.
The LYTIA 901 marks Sony’s serious entry into the ultra-high-resolution
smartphone camera battle, positioning it against the leading 200MP sensors
currently dominating premium flagships.
A New Approach to Pixel Structure
At the heart of the LYTIA 901 is a Quad-Quad Bayer Coding
layout, where groups of 16 pixels share the same colour information. This
arrangement helps the sensor deliver crisp detail while still maintaining
strong light-gathering ability.
During everyday shooting, these 16 pixels behave as one larger pixel—boosting
low-light performance. When users zoom in, the sensor reverts to a more
traditional pixel pattern through a remosaicing process, helping it recover
fine textures and small details.
AI Takes Center Stage Inside the Sensor
Sony has integrated an AI-powered remosaicing engine
directly into the sensor hardware—a first for any mobile CMOS sensor.
This built-in AI helps the sensor reconstruct fine patterns, difficult
textures, and small text that typically challenge mobile cameras. It also
ensures fast processing speeds, enabling 4K video recording at up to 30fps
even while using 4x in-sensor zoom.
Boosted Dynamic Range for Challenging Scenes
To handle extreme lighting conditions, the LYTIA 901 uses
several HDR methods working together:
- Dual
Conversion Gain HDR – reads the sensor at two different gain levels in
a single frame.
- Fine
12-bit ADC – increases precision during data conversion.
- Hybrid
Frame HDR – blends short-exposure frames with DCG data to retain
detail.
Combined, these technologies achieve a dynamic range of over
100dB, helping preserve highlights while retaining shadow detail.
Designed for Versatility and Future Flagships
With up to 200 effective megapixels, pixel-binned
modes including 50MP and 12.5MP, all-pixel autofocus, and multiple
hardware zoom stages, the LYTIA 901 is engineered for flexibility.
Sony says the sensor should deliver better colour accuracy, cleaner low-light
output, and improved tonal consistency—especially useful in tough environments
like concerts and indoor events.
The Oppo Find X9 Ultra and Vivo X300 Ultra are
widely expected to be among the first smartphones featuring this new sensor
when they debut in 2026, though Sony has not yet named any official
partners. Shipments to manufacturers have already begun.
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#SmartphoneCamera #200MP #AIImaging #MobileInnovation #NextGenTech #TechMintora
