Sony’s new LYT 901 sensor launched, will power the optics of the next wave of flagships

When Sony pivots, the camera smartphone world pays attention. The company has unveiled the new 200MP Sony LYTIA 901 stacked CMOS sensor built specifically for the next wave of ultra-premium smartphones.

With this cutting-edge sensor, Sony is bringing AI-based remosaicing and real-time HDR processing directly onto the mobile sensor, signalling a fresh direction in its mobile imaging strategy. And yes, it’s meant for the Ultras, the elite-grade devices that treat photography as sport, not recreation.

The LYTIA 901 debuts with a sizeable 1/1.12-inch format, which measures 14.287 mm diagonal with 0.7 μm pixel pitch. That combination isn’t just about collecting light, it’s about giving flagship phones enough pure detail to crop, zoom and frame without layering multiple lenses.

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Sony’s Quad Quad Bayer Coding pushes sensitivity, colour richness and pixel-level accuracy, while the AI remosaicing engine reconstructs data on the fly. The result is up to 4X in-sensor zoom without the usual softness or digital noise.

High dynamic drama, no compromise

Dynamic range is where this sensor flexes its muscles. Sony has combined Fine 12-bit ADC, DCG HDR and Hybrid Frame HDR to push past 100 dB, engineered for sunsets that don’t drown silhouettes, city nights that actually look like night, and interiors where faces don’t fade into shadows. This extended dynamic range could bring DSLR-like responsiveness to mobile imaging, especially in tricky, contrast-heavy scenes.

Video modes keep things similarly future proof. There’s 200MP RAW at 10 fps, 50MP at 30 fps with 2×2 binning, 12.5MP HDR at 60 fps, plus 8K at 30 fps and 4K at a silky 120 fps using 4×4 binning. What stands out is the ability to hold a 4X hardware zoom during 4K recording; a claim no other smartphone sensor in 2025 can confidently make.

Sony has tuned the LYTIA 901 for the flagship chipsets of 2026, including the Snapdragon 8 Elite family. So, this sensor is designed to slot right into next-generation computational imaging systems without heavy restructuring.

According to industry chatter, the OPPO Find X9 Ultra and vivo X300 Ultra are eyeing first adoption, which is fitting given both brands’ track record with Sony’s top-tier silicon. Mass production begins in November 2025, setting the stage for early 2026 launches.