Sony’s 16-Stop Dynamic Range Mobile Sensor Enters Production

Sony has begun sample shipments of the IMX908, a 1/2.8 inch mobile class image sensor that delivers up to 96 dB HDR, which corresponds to roughly 16 stops of dynamic range. With samples shipping from March 2026, the sensor moves from announcement into the production pipeline, making it available for evaluation and integration by manufacturers.

The IMX908 features Sony’s LOFIC (Local Optimized Floating-point Image Capture) structure, which includes an additional charge storage element in each pixel to capture excess signal instead of clipping highlights. This enables the sensor to retain more information within a single exposure, reducing motion artifacts and improving suitability for video capture compared to multi-frame HDR methods.

Dynamic range describes how much detail a sensor can capture between the darkest and brightest parts of a scene. A higher value allows the camera to preserve highlight detail without losing shadow information. While a 16-stop figure is typically associated with high-end imaging systems, the effective usable range in real conditions is lower due to noise and processing limits.

In mobile imaging, most systems rely on combining multiple exposures to create an HDR image, a method that can improve dynamic range but often introduces motion artifacts and inconsistencies between frames. The IMX908’s single-exposure approach via LOFIC aims to provide more stable image quality in motion and better performance in video capture scenarios.

The sensor’s capabilities are particularly beneficial in scenes with strong contrast, such as backlit subjects or night environments with bright light sources, where greater flexibility in exposure, grading, and HDR rendering is advantageous.

Sony previously announced the LYTIA 901 sensor in December 2025, which offers 8K video recording and over 100 dB of dynamic range (approximately 17 stops) using a 1 over 1.12-inch stacked architecture, 200-effective megapixels, Dual Conversion Gain HDR, and a 12-bit ADC pipeline. The LYTIA 901 employs a Quad-Quad Bayer Coding (QQBC) array that allows small pixels to operate independently for high-resolution capture or combine into larger clusters for higher sensitivity depending on lighting conditions.

The LYTIA 901 supports multi-mode output, ranging from 12.5MP (16-in-1 pixel binning) to 200MP, and includes AI-powered remosaicing built directly into the sensor. It also offers up to 4x in-sensor zoom and support for high-frame-rate video capture. Mass production of the LYTIA 901 began in November 2025, with rumors indicating potential use by Oppo and Vivo in upcoming flagships such as the Find X9 Ultra and X300 Ultra, though these devices have not been launched in the United States historically.

Compared to the Samsung ISOCELL HP2 1/1.3-inch sensor in the Galaxy S25 Ultra, the LYTIA 901 has a larger 1/1.12-inch footprint and a pixel size of 0.6 µm versus 0.7 µm, suggesting a slight advantage in per-pixel light gathering capability. Sony’s sensor also features advanced HDR capabilities, including a 12-bit pipeline and Dual Conversion Gain HDR, for improved color and dynamic range performance.

These developments reflect Sony’s ongoing effort to bring high-end imaging technologies, such as those seen in its large format and cinema sensors, to the mobile market. The company has explored advanced pixel structures for large format imaging, and similar engineering principles are now being applied to its mobile sensor lineup to improve real-world photography and videography capabilities.