Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation (Sony) has announced the upcoming release of the LYTIA 720, an approximately 50-effective-megapixel stacked CMOS image sensor designed for mobile devices.
The sensor features a 1/1.56-type optical format (10.24 mm diagonal) with 1.0 μm pixel pitch, a physical footprint widely integrated across modern smartphones.
According to Sony, the LYTIA 720 integrates design architectures and technologies derived from its higher-tier LYTIA series to enhance low-light performance, autofocus capabilities, and dynamic range.
Low-Noise UHCG Circuit Architecture
The LYTIA 720 incorporates Sony’s proprietary Ultra High Conversion Gain (UHCG) circuit technology, designed to provide high charge-to-voltage conversion efficiency. Sony states that this architecture reduces random noise in dim environments by approximately 50% compared to conventional predecessors, limiting grain and improving signal clarity under low-light conditions.
4K 60 fps HDR Video and Autofocus Capabilities
By redesigning and optimizing its analog-to-digital (AD) conversion circuits, the LYTIA 720 achieves lower conversion latency and reduced power consumption. This makes it Sony’s first 1/1.56-type sensor with a 1.0 μm pixel size to support 4K video recording at 60 fps with high dynamic range (HDR) and all-pixel autofocus simultaneously active.
To mitigate motion artifacts common in multi-frame video compositing, the sensor employs single-frame HDR capture at 4K 60 fps, allowing adequate exposure times while maintaining a fast autofocus response.
Dynamic Range via Hybrid Frame-HDR
The sensor implements Hybrid Frame-HDR (HF-HDR) to achieve a reported dynamic range of up to 100 dB. The technique operates by:
- Using Dual Conversion Gain-HDR (DCG-HDR) within a single exposure to cover low-to-medium luminance levels.
- Capturing separate short-exposure frame data for high-luminance areas.
- Merging the data streams in post-processing.
This process reduces shadow clipping and highlight blowout, producing output designed to more closely match the range perceived by the human eye in high-contrast environments.
Sony LYTIA 720 Key Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Model | LYTIA 720 |
| Sensor Type | Stacked CMOS image sensor |
| Optical Format | 1/1.56-type (10.24 mm diagonal) |
| Effective Pixels | Approx. 50 megapixels |
| Pixel Size | 1.0 μm (H) × 1.0 μm (V) |
| Color Filter Array | Quad Bayer Coding |
| Max Frame Rates (All-Pixel AF) |
• 50 MP (4:3): 30 fps • 12.5 MP (4:3): 90 fps (30 fps DCG-HDR) • 4K2K (16:9): 120 fps (60 fps DCG-HDR) |
| Dynamic Range | Up to 100 dB (Hybrid Frame-HDR) |
| Power Supply |
Analog: 2.8 V / 1.8 V Digital: 1.1 V Interface: 1.8 V or 1.2 V |
| Output Interface |
• MIPI C-PHY 2/3 trio (up to 4.5 Gsps/trio) • MIPI D-PHY 2/4 lane (up to 2.5 Gbps/lane) |
| Shipping Date | Early November 2026 (Planned) |
Availability
Targeted primarily at primary smartphone cameras, mass-production shipments are scheduled to begin in early November 2026