Sony Imx Sensor List For Mobile

The Ultimate Guide to Sony IMX Mobile Sensors: A Complete List

When discussing smartphone photography, one name dominates the conversation more than any other: Sony Semiconductor. The vast majority of flagship and mid-range Android smartphones rely on Sony’s IMX (Image Matrix) series of sensors. From the iconic Google Pixel’s computational prowess to Xiaomi’s 1-inch flagship cameras, Sony IMX sensors are the gold standard.

This article provides a detailed breakdown of the most significant Sony IMX sensors used in mobile devices, categorized by their resolution, technology, and typical use cases.

How to Use This List When Buying a Phone

1. Don’t just look at megapixels. An IMX989 (1-inch) will always beat an IMX586 (1/2”) despite both being 48–50MP.
2. Newer is not always better – The IMX363 (2018) in a Google Pixel with computational photography still outshoots many 64MP sensors from 2021.
3. Check for binning – A 50MP sensor with 2.0µm binned pixels (IMX890) will outperform a 108MP sensor with tiny 0.7µm pixels in low light.
4. Secondary sensors matter – A phone with an IMX858 ultrawide is more consistent than one with an unknown 8MP sensor.

The Naming Convention: Decoding IMX

Sony’s naming scheme can seem cryptic, but a few patterns help:

• IMX + 3 digits (e.g., IMX363): Older or mid-range sensors.
• IMX + 4 digits (e.g., IMX586): Mainstream high-resolution sensors (2018–2021).
• IMX + 5 digits (e.g., IMX989): Modern flagship and ultra-premium sensors.
• Letter suffixes:
  • C: Stacked CMOS (Exmor RS).
  • Q: Quad Bayer (4-cell) color filter array for high-resolution sensors.
  • T: Two-layer transistor pixel (stacked with DRAM).

Chapter 3: The Titans

He reached the heart of the facility: the Legacy Vault. The air was cold here, filtered by ancient scrubbers. On a pedestal, encased in shatterproof glass, rested a prototype phone that had never seen a store shelf. sony imx sensor list for mobile

Kael broke the glass. The alarm was silent—there was no one left to hear it. He pulled the device apart. The sensor array was massive, dominating the internals. It required a complex periscope housing to function.

He hooked it up. The screen didn't just glow; it blazed a blinding white.

ID: IMX 989

Kael stepped back, his breath hitching. "The One-Inch."

It was a myth, a boogeyman story told by engineers. The IMX989 wasn't just a mobile sensor; it was a declaration of war against standalone cameras. Four times the resolution. Pixels so large (1.6µm) they could count the stars through the cloud cover. A dynamic range so wide it could see the explosion and the shadow it cast simultaneously.

It was the heart of the Xiaomi 12S Ultra, the vivo X90 Pro. It was the sensor that said: We don't need lenses anymore; we need portals. The Ultimate Guide to Sony IMX Mobile Sensors:

With this, Kael could spot a sniper three kilometers out in moonlight. He could read the inscription on a coin at the bottom of a well.

Sony IMX686 (64MP)

• Type: Exmor RS
• Pixel Size: 0.8µm (1.6µm after binning)
• Features: 4K60 video, 8MP at 30fps, PDAF.
• Common in: Realme X50 Pro, Xiaomi Mi 10T, Lenovo Legion Phone.
• Standing: Direct competitor to Samsung’s GW1. Excellent for mid-high range phones.

Sony IMX766 (50MP)

• Type: Exmor RS
• Pixel Size: 1.0µm (2.0µm after binning)
• Features: All-pixel omnidirectional PDAF, 4K60 HDR, 960fps slow-mo.
• Common in: OnePlus 9/10 Pro, Oppo Find X5, Nothing Phone (1), Realme GT 2 Pro.
• Why dominant: The most ubiquitous mid-to-flagship sensor from 2021–2024. Balances resolution, speed, and size perfectly. Often used for both main and ultrawide cameras.

Tier 2: High-Resolution Workhorses (48MP & 64MP)

These sensors dominated Android flagships from 2019 to 2023, balancing resolution and light capture.

| Sensor | Resolution | Size | Pixel Size | Key Devices | Notes | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | IMX586 | 48MP | 1/2.0-inch | 0.8µm (1.6µm binned) | OnePlus 7 Pro, Xiaomi Mi 9, Honor 20 Pro | The legendary 48MP that enabled lossless zoom via cropping. | | IMX689 | 48MP | 1/1.43-inch | 1.12µm (2.24µm binned) | OnePlus 8 Pro, OPPO Find X2 Pro | Larger pixels than IMX586 for better low-light. | | IMX686 | 64MP | 1/1.72-inch | 0.8µm (1.6µm binned) | Xiaomi Mi 10, ROG Phone 3 | Successor to IMX586, offering higher resolution cropping. | Don’t just look at megapixels