Sony Introduces LYTIA 901, a Large Format Mobile Sensor with Two Hundred Megapixel Power

Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation has announced the forthcoming release of the LYTIA 901, a 1/1.12-type large-format mobile image sensor offering approximately 200 effective megapixels. The new flagship device brings together Sony’s next-generation pixel architecture, advanced HDR technologies and an industry-first AI learning-based remosaicing engine mounted directly on the sensor. The result is a step change in mobile imaging quality, delivering crisp detail, enhanced sensitivity and exceptional clarity even at up to 4x zoom.

Designed for premium smartphones launching in 2026 and beyond, the LYTIA 901 reflects Sony’s ambition to redefine what mobile cameras can capture, whether in low-light conditions, fast-action scenes or high-magnification zoom.

Mass-production shipment for the LYTIA 901 is scheduled to begin in November 2025.

A New Benchmark: 200 Effective Megapixels with Quad-Quad Bayer Coding

At the heart of the LYTIA 901 is a 0.7-micron pixel design that delivers approximately 200 effective megapixels on a generous 1/1.12-type sensor. Refinements to the pixel structure and colour filter improve saturation signal levels, supporting wider dynamic range and superior tonal control.

The sensor adopts Sony’s Quad-Quad Bayer Coding (QQBC), grouping 16 neighbouring pixels of the same colour into a single unit. In standard photography, this clustering provides high sensitivity, allowing users to capture sharp, noise-controlled images even in low-light settings such as night scenes and dimly lit interiors.

During zoom shooting, the sensor performs an array conversion process that restores the 16-pixel clusters into a conventional pixel layout, preserving the high-resolution detail required for sharp telephoto images.

Industry-First AI Learning-Based Remosaicing for Sharper Zoom Detail

Sony has developed a new AI learning-based remosaicing technology specifically for the QQBC structure and integrated this processing circuit directly within the sensor — a first for mobile CMOS sensors.

This on-sensor AI engine enables precise reconstruction of high-frequency detail that typically challenges conventional remosaicing. Fine patterns, text and intricate textures are more accurately rendered, maintaining crispness even at high zoom levels.

Because the remosaicing happens on-chip, processing is significantly faster. Users can record high-quality video at up to 30 frames per second in 4K resolution with zoom up to 4x.

Expanded HDR Technologies for Wide Dynamic Range and Natural Tonal Expression

The LYTIA 901 incorporates several HDR technologies that broaden dynamic range and deliver tonal richness across the entire zoom range:

Dual Conversion Gain-HDR (DCG-HDR)
Combines signals at different gain levels within a single frame, enhancing highlight and shadow retention.

Fine12bit ADC
Improves quantisation from 10-bit to 12-bit, providing smoother tonal transitions and reduced banding.

Hybrid Frame-HDR (HF-HDR)
Combines short-exposure frames with DCG-processed data to achieve a dynamic range exceeding 100 dB in 16-pixel additive mode. This reduces highlight blowout and shadow loss, producing images that more closely reflect real-world human visual perception.

Unified Naming for the LYTIA Series

To strengthen recognition of the LYTIA brand, Sony will adopt a unified naming format for all future releases. Beginning with the LYTIA 901, each model will follow the structure “LYTIA (product number).”

Key Specifications of the LYTIA 901

Availability

Mass-production shipments for the LYTIA 901 begin November 2025.

Sony’s latest innovation sets a new direction for mobile imaging, offering smartphone manufacturers a powerful platform to deliver next-generation camera experiences built on resolution, intelligence and high dynamic range performance.