Samsung is being stubborn again and the Galaxy S27 Ultra might suffer for it. A new leak suggests the S27 Ultra could reuse the same 200 MP camera hardware found in the last three generations.
What makes this decision stand out even more is the fact that Sony is rolling out one of the most advanced mobile sensors ever made, while there are no signs that Samsung is making any real progress.
Sony’s new 200 MP LYT-901 sensor can change phone cameras
Sony's latest flagship mobile image sensor. | Image credit — Sony
Sony officially unveiled its first high-end 200 MP mobile image sensor, the LYT-901, previously known as the IMX09E. In Sony’s new LYTIA lineup, this marks a major move into the ultra-high-resolution arena that Samsung has dominated for years with ISOCELL.
And the specs of the LYT-901 image sensor are quite impressive to say the least:
200 MP stacked CMOS
1/1.12-inch format (massive for phones)
0.7μm pixels
AI-powered remosaicing
Quad-Quad Bayer (QQBC) 16-in-1 pixel grouping
Over 100 dB HDR, advanced multi-frame capture
10 fps RAW at 200 MP, 30 fps shooting at 50 MP
4x lossless-quality crop zoom thanks to AI reconstruction
Sony claims the LYT-901 offers both “high resolution” and “high sensitivity,” which in more simple terms means we can expect higher detail and improved low-light performance — two things that usually don't go hand in hand with high-resolution image sensors.
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Real-world samples released by Sony show excellent dynamic range, high levels of detail, and fine texture rendering. Early adoption is expected from brands like Vivo, Oppo, and Xiaomi, with first commercial phones likely arriving in March 2026.
This immediately puts pressure on Samsung’s long-standing camera strategy.
Samsung may stay with the older 1/1.3-inch ISOCELL sensor for years
According to new information from the reputable insider @UniverseIce, Samsung had originally explored upgrading the Galaxy S27 Ultra to Sony’s upcoming 1/1.1-inch flagship 200 MP sensor. Unfortunately, it seems that plan fell through. The reason, supposedly, is high component cost and concerns about profit margins.
Good News: Sony has officially launched its new 200MP sensor LYTIA 901 featuring a 1/1.12" large format, 0.7 µm pixels, the Quad-Quad Bayer Coding (QQBC) array, and flagship-grade technologies such as DCG-HDR, Fine 12-bit ADC, and HF-HDR. At the same time, OmniVision has… pic.twitter.com/zD41tTqy9R
Samsung may skip Sony’s new 200MP sensor again. Would that be a mistake?
Yes – Samsung is falling behind in camera tech
60%
No – software matters more than sensor size
20%
Only if rivals show major image quality gains
20%
I’ll wait for real-world camera tests first
0%
What does this mean for Samsung?
The Galaxy Ultra phones have topped the charts in our Camera Score for a while now, despite the fact that Samsung has not introduced any major changes to the camera hardware. That said, if the company continues to be conservative in this area, new sensors such as the LYT-901 from Sony might result in much better performance from the competition in 2026.
If more Chinese OEMs adopt Sony’s LYT-901 or OmniVision’s new 1/1.1-inch OVB0D sensor, Samsung could find itself relying heavily on computational photography to keep up.
And while Samsung’s software processing is strong, it is still the hardware that enables great results via software. A larger sensor gives rivals a head start as far as pure image quality is concerned, and a better base to build on.
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Aleksandar is a tech enthusiast with a broad range of interests, from smartphones to space exploration. His curiosity extends to hands-on DIY experiments with his gadgets, and he enjoys switching between different brands to experience the latest innovations. Prior to joining PhoneArena, Aleksandar worked on the Google Art Project, digitizing valuable artworks and gaining diverse perspectives on technology. When he's not immersed in tech, Aleksandar is an outdoorsman who enjoys mountain hikes, wildlife photography, and nature conservation. His interests also extend to martial arts, running, and snowboarding, reflecting his dynamic approach to life and technology.
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