Sony could soon shake up the high-end smartphone camera game. A new leak claims that several upcoming Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 flagships — including the “Ultra” models from Oppo, Vivo, and Xiaomi — are preparing to launch with a 200 MP Sony sensor, setting the stage for serious competition with Samsung’s Galaxy Ultra series.
According to tipster Digital Chat Station, the sensor in question is the Sony IMX09E. It’s said to measure 1/1.12-inch with 0.7 μm pixels. That makes it slightly smaller than the LYT-900 used in the Find X8 Ultra and Xiaomi 15 Ultra, but likely the largest 200 MP sensor ever fitted in a smartphone. Sony is reportedly betting on new Hybrid-Frame HDR technology, which could push dynamic range past 100 dB, promising better balance between highlights and shadows.
On paper, the IMX09E is designed to rival Samsung’s ISOCELL HP2 (1/1.3″), the 200 MP sensor currently found in the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Paired with the improved ISP in Qualcomm’s upcoming Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, leaks suggest the IMX09E could also support 4x lossless zoom — potentially giving Sony a much stronger foothold in the ultra-high-resolution race.
Oppo is rumored to be going all in, with the Find X9 Ultra tipped to feature not one but two 200 MP cameras in a quad setup. Xiaomi, meanwhile, could pair the IMX09E with a 1-inch main sensor on the Xiaomi 16 Ultra, creating one of the most ambitious camera stacks yet on a phone. Both devices are expected to arrive in early 2026.
If accurate, the IMX09E could mark Sony’s biggest push yet into the premium smartphone market. And with Oppo, Vivo, and Xiaomi all looking to challenge Samsung directly, 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting years for smartphone photography in a long time.
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(Source: DCS on Weibo)
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