Sony LYTIA 720: 50MP 1/1.56-inch sensor with 100dB HDR, ships early November
Sony Semiconductor Solutions has announced the LYTIA 720, a 1/1.56-type stacked CMOS image sensor with roughly 50 effective megapixels and 1.0 um pixels. A new Ultra High Conversion Gain circuit cuts random noise in dark scenes by about 50% versus the LYTIA 700 it succeeds, and pairing it with Hybrid Frame-HDR gives a 100 dB dynamic range plus 4K/60 fps HDR video alongside all-pixel autofocus. Mass-production shipments are planned for early November 2026, and no phone maker has been named yet.
The details
- Sony Semiconductor Solutions announced the LYTIA 720 on 28 October 2026, a stacked CMOS image sensor for smartphone main cameras with approximately 50 effective megapixels.
- The LYTIA 720 is a 1/1.56-type sensor with a 10.24 mm diagonal, unit cells measuring 1.0 um (H) x 1.0 um (V), and a Quad Bayer Coding colour filter.
- Sony's new Ultra High Conversion Gain (UHCG) circuit improves charge-to-voltage conversion efficiency and cuts random image noise in dark conditions by about 50% compared with the LYTIA 700, the 1/1.56-type 50MP sensor the 720 succeeds.
- Combining UHCG with Hybrid Frame-HDR (HF-HDR), which merges Dual Conversion Gain HDR data with short-exposure frames, gives the sensor a dynamic range of 100 dB.
- With all-pixel autofocus enabled, Sony lists readout of 50MP (4:3) at 30 fps, 12.5MP (4:3) at 90 fps or 30 fps with DCG-HDR, and 4K2K (16:9) at 120 fps or 60 fps with DCG-HDR, which is the basis for the company's 4K/60 fps HDR video claim.
- Output runs over MIPI C-PHY (2 or 3 trio, up to 4.5 Gsps per trio) or MIPI D-PHY (2 or 4 lane, up to 2.5 Gbps per lane), with 2.8 V/1.8 V analog, 1.1 V digital and 1.8 V or 1.2 V interface supply rails.
- Sony says shipment and mass production of the LYTIA 720 are planned for early November 2026.
- Sony's mobile sensor lineup page lists the LYTIA 720 in the 7xx group alongside the LYTIA 700 and LYTIA 710/700C, all 1/1.56-type 50MP parts, positioned below the 1/1.28-type 50MP LYTIA 828 and 818 and the 1/1.12-type 200MP LYTIA 901.
- GSMArena reported the announcement on 28 October 2026, highlighting the 4K/60 fps HDR recording and the up-to-50% reduction in random noise relative to the LYTIA 700.
- Android Headlines noted on 28 October 2026 that the LYTIA 720 is the successor to the LYTIA 700, which is commonly found in mid-range and entry-level devices such as the OnePlus Nord series and base Motorola Edge models, and that the LYTIA 720 pairs 4K/60 capture with continuous phase-detection autofocus, but no handset maker has been confirmed as a customer.