Sony Imx Sensor - List For Mobile ^new^
Sony’s IMX series has long been the backbone of smartphone photography, powering everything from budget-friendly devices to the most advanced flagship cameras. As of 2026, Sony is increasingly transitioning its high-end mobile branding toward the LYTIA (LYT) line, though the IMX nomenclature remains standard for mid-range and legacy models.
Current Sony IMX & LYTIA Sensor List for Mobile (2024–2026)
The following sensors represent the most common and cutting-edge hardware found in modern smartphones:
Sony IMX sensors List: Compare All Models + Free PDF Download
Sony's mobile sensor lineup is currently undergoing a massive evolution as the company transitions its high-end smartphone hardware from the classic IMX branding to the newer LYTIA (LYT) series. While IMX remains the standard for many devices, the LYTIA line represents the next generation of "stacked" sensor technology, prioritizing higher dynamic range and superior low-light performance. The "Big Guns": Flagship 1-Inch & High-End Sensors
These sensors are designed for primary "main" cameras in flagship devices, focusing on large physical sizes to capture more light. LYT-900 (The New King)
: A 1-inch type sensor with 50MP resolution and 1.6μm pixels. It is the direct successor to the and is found in elite flagships like the Xiaomi 14 Ultra Go to product viewer dialog for this item. and Vivo X100 Pro Go to product viewer dialog for this item. . IMX989 (The Original 1-Inch)
: The first true 1-inch mobile sensor, famous for its incredible natural bokeh and low-light prowess. Still a top-tier performer in several 2024-2025 flagships. sony imx sensor list for mobile
: High-end 1/1.28" sensors with 50MP. They offer up to 17 stops of dynamic range, aimed at closing the gap between mobile and cinema cameras. LYT-T808 (Pixel-Stacked)
: A 1/1.43" sensor that uses a "Pixel Stacked" architecture to achieve light sensitivity comparable to much larger sensors while maintaining a thinner profile. The Performance All-Stars: Upper Mid-Range & Secondary
These are the workhorses often used for high-quality secondary (telephoto or ultrawide) lenses or as the main sensor in mid-range "flagship killers."
The story of Sony’s IMX mobile sensors is a transition from basic digital eyes to sophisticated, AI-driven "intelligent vision" systems that power nearly 53% of the global market The Early Years: From CCD to CMOS Sony's imaging journey began in the 1970s with CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) sensors. However, the real shift for mobile came in , when Sony pivoted toward CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor)
technology, which consumed less power and allowed for faster data readout—perfect for the burgeoning smartphone market. Sony launched the first CMOS sensor with a Column-Parallel A/D Conversion Circuit , significantly reducing noise. The introduction of Back-Illuminated (BSI)
sensors roughly doubled light sensitivity compared to traditional designs. The Stacked Revolution (2012–2018) , Sony commercialized the stacked CMOS sensor
, which separated the pixel layer from the logic circuit. This allowed for more complex processing power without increasing the physical footprint, leading to features like high-speed video and better low-light performance. Sony’s IMX series has long been the backbone
One of the early stacked sensors that brought high-quality 13MP imaging to mobile.
These became the workhorses of mid-to-high-end smartphones like the Google Pixel and early Xiaomi flagships, known for their reliability. A major breakthrough that introduced
resolution using a Quad Bayer filter, making high-resolution mobile photography a mainstream standard. The Era of Large Sensors (2020–2024)
As computational photography matured, the race for larger physical sensors began to overcome the limitations of small mobile lenses.
The Sony IMX & LYTIA Mobile Sensor Guide (2026 Edition) Sony remains the dominant force in smartphone photography, providing the "eyes" for nearly every major flagship and mid-range device on the market. As of 2026, Sony is in the final stages of a major branding transition, moving its legendary series under the new
banner to better align with its mobile-first imaging philosophy. www.sony-semicon.com The 2026 Branding Shift: IMX to LYTIA
Sony is phasing out the "IMX" prefix for smartphone-specific sensors in favour of the "LYT" (LYTIA) brand. This transition aims to differentiate high-performance mobile sensors from industrial or professional camera components. (Formerly IMX989 successor): The current flagship 1-inch type sensor. The rebranded version of the popular The rebranded version of the Core Sensor Categories and Key Models Telephoto / Zoom Sensors | Model | Resolution
Sony's mobile sensor lineup is divided into tiers based on sensor size (optical format) and target device performance. realme.com 1. Flagship "1-Inch Type" Sensors
These represent the pinnacle of mobile imaging, offering the largest surface area to collect light and create natural bokeh.
Telephoto / Zoom Sensors
| Model | Resolution | Optical Format | Pixel Size | Notes | |-------|------------|----------------|-------------|-------| | IMX758 | 50 MP | 1/2.51" | 0.7 µm | 2x or 3x tele. Vivo X90 Pro+ (portrait) | | IMX754 | 50 MP | 1/2.8" | 0.8 µm | 3x-10x zoom. Samsung Galaxy S22/S23 Ultra (periscope) | | IMX713 | 12 MP | 1/3.4" | 1.0 µm | Tele/zoom. Pixel 4, iPhone 11 Pro | | IMX520 | 5 MP | 1/5" | 1.12 µm | Dedicated macro or depth | | IMX663 | 12 MP | 1/2.93" | 1.22 µm | Telephoto/portrait. Pixel 6 Pro, Zenfone 9 |
Sony IMX471 (16MP)
- 1.0µm pixel, used in OnePlus 9 series (front camera).
Tier 2: High-Resolution Workhorses (48MP & 64MP)
These sensors dominated Android flagships from 2019 to 2023, balancing resolution and light capture.
| Sensor | Resolution | Size | Pixel Size | Key Devices | Notes | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | IMX586 | 48MP | 1/2.0-inch | 0.8µm (1.6µm binned) | OnePlus 7 Pro, Xiaomi Mi 9, Honor 20 Pro | The legendary 48MP that enabled lossless zoom via cropping. | | IMX689 | 48MP | 1/1.43-inch | 1.12µm (2.24µm binned) | OnePlus 8 Pro, OPPO Find X2 Pro | Larger pixels than IMX586 for better low-light. | | IMX686 | 64MP | 1/1.72-inch | 0.8µm (1.6µm binned) | Xiaomi Mi 10, ROG Phone 3 | Successor to IMX586, offering higher resolution cropping. |
The Master List: Sony IMX Sensors for Mobile
Here is a categorized list of the most notable Sony IMX sensors found in smartphones.
Sony IMX888 (52MP)
- Type: Exmor RS
- Pixel Size: 1.12µm (2.24µm after binning)
- Common in: Sony Xperia 1 V (main camera).
- Note: Features Sony’s new "Exmor T for mobile" stacked CMOS with 2-layer transistor pixels, improving low-light sensitivity dramatically.