Sony is reportedly readying a 200-megapixel smartphone sensor that could soon be incorporated in Samsung’s Galaxy S26 Ultra and Oppo’s Find X9 Ultra, which are expected to be released in late 2025 or early 2026.

As Channel News reported yesterday, it’s now looking likely that Oppo will use Sony’s 200MP sensor.

Reports have subsequently emerged suggesting that Samsung is increasingly likely to follow Oppo’s lead, despite manufacturing its own smartphone sensors.

According to leaks in Korean and Chinese media, Samsung’s Ultra may debut a 1/1.1-inch, f/1.4 main camera.

Likewise, Oppo’s upcoming flagship phone is rumoured to feature a 200MP primary sensor alongside three 50MP lenses, packaged with Hasselblad tuning.

For Samsung, a Sony-made sensor in its top-tier Ultra would be significant, given its current reliance on in-house ISOCELL sensors for most recent Galaxy flagships.

Are phonemakers now taking a ‘If you can’t beat them, join them’ approach to Sony?

A shift from doing things in-house to buying from Sony would suggest Samsung sees strategic value in joining forces with the market leader in smartphone image sensors.

Even if it means sidelining its own technology.

The average premium smartphone sensor is in the 48-64MP range, so 200MP should be a significant leap forward in image quality.

At a 1/1.1-inch size, such a sensor could capture more light and detail than today’s 1/1.3-class parts, delivering sharper images in daylight and cleaner pixel-binned shots in low light.

Coupled with wider apertures, it promises better night photography, richer textures, and more scope for AI-driven image processing.

It should be noted that the leaks remain speculative.

Sony has yet to even officially announce its 200MP sensor.

Back in July, many tech publications were reporting that the Galaxy S26 would have a “new and improved ISOCELL HP2+ camera”.

Many media outlets continue to insist that it is still the most likely outcome.