Another revolution in mobile photography! Sony will introduce its very first 200MP sensor and give the competition a run for its money

For years, it was true that if you wanted a 200MPx camera in your phone, you had to opt for a Samsung sensor. The Koreans practically had a monopoly in this segment, supplying chips to everyone – from Motorola to Xiaomi to their own Galaxy series. But that’s about to change. According to leaked information, Sony is preparing its first 200MPx sensor, designated LYT-910, and if the specifications are true, Samsung will face serious competition.

A larger sensor than Samsung, but what does that mean?

The key parameter of the new Sony LYT-910 is its physical size of 1/1.11 inches. For comparison: the 200MPx sensor in the Galaxy S25 Ultra is 1/1.3 inches. The difference looks small on paper, but in practice, it means a larger area for capturing light, which translates into better photo quality – especially in low-light conditions.

The new king of 200MP sensor is here, Sony LYT-910, Sony's first 200 million pixel sensor, 1/1.11 inch, 0.7um pixel size, supports two levels of Remosaic, QBC to 50MP, QQBC to 200MP.
Guess who will be the first to launch? vivo X300 Ultra? OPPO Find X9 Ultra? or Xiaomi 17 Ultra? pic.twitter.com/R0HHYwVU7Q

— fenibook (@feni_book) October 24, 2025

Yes, there are even larger sensors with a diagonal approaching 1 inch, but these typically have “only” 50 MPx. Sony offers a compromise here: four times the resolution at a size close to top-tier 50MPx chips. Individual pixels have a size of 0.7 µm, which isn’t much on its own – but this is where pixel binning comes into play.

Pixel binning: turning 200 megapixels into 50, but correctly

If you’re wondering why we actually need 200 MPx when nobody views the resulting photos at full resolution anyway, you’re right. That’s why Sony will use a technology called pixel binning – combining multiple pixels into one larger one. The LYT-910 supports two modes:

• QBC (Quad Bayer Coding) – combines four pixels into one, resulting in a 50MPx image with an effective pixel size of 1.4 µm
• QQBC (Quad Quad Bayer Coding) – combines sixteen pixels, creating a 12.5MPx photo with a 2.8 µm pixel (ideal for night)

In practice, this means that in good light, you have detailed 50MPx images available; in dim light, the phone automatically switches to a mode with larger pixels and captures more light. And if you really want to, you can shoot full 200 MPx – for cropping or large-format printing, for example.

Dynamic range over 100 dB and lossless zoom

Another interesting parameter is the dynamic range exceeding 100 dB. In translation, this means that the sensor can capture details in both shadows and highlights, as well as in scenes with extreme contrast – for example, when shooting against the sun. Samsung does not officially state this value for its 200MPx chips, so we don’t have a direct comparison, but if Sony delivers what it promises, it’s a significant step forward.

The sensor is also expected to offer 2× and 4× lossless zoom directly on the chip. This is not optical zoom (which requires a periscope), but a crop from the full resolution, which still looks sharp thanks to the 200 MPx.

Video in 8K and 4K at 120 fps

Sony doesn’t forget about video either. The LYT-910 is expected to support 8K recording at 30 fps with HDR, which is standard for flagships, but also 4K at 120 fps – ideal for slow-motion shots. This is a parameter that Samsung also offers, so in this regard, it’s more about matching the competition than a groundbreaking innovation.

Who will use the sensor and when can we expect it?

According to sources close to Asian manufacturers, three brands plan to implement the new Sony sensor: OPPO in the Find X9 Ultra model, Vivo in the X300 Ultra, and possibly Xiaomi in the 17 Ultra model. All these phones are expected to arrive during 2026.

The official launch of the Sony sensor is also expected during 2026, which corresponds to the production cycle of these flagship models. The question remains whether Sony will try to supply the LYT-910 to other brands as well, or if it will remain exclusive to selected partners.

Why is this important?

Samsung practically had a free hand in the 200MPx sensor segment. This carries the risk of stagnation – if you have no competition, there’s no reason to push prices down or parameters up. Sony’s entry into this category means that both manufacturers will have to work harder on quality, price, and innovation.

For users, this is good news. Greater competition usually means better products at more reasonable prices. And if Sony truly delivers a larger sensor with better dynamic range, Samsung will have to react – perhaps as early as with the Galaxy S27 Ultra.

What do you think about Sony’s upcoming sensor?

Source: @fenibook (X/Twitter)