Sony’s AS-DT1 is now officially the world’s smallest and lightest LiDAR depth sensor, at 29mm x 29mm x 31mm and 50g. Mobile devices like smartphones, tablets, or even compact drones are all about packing power into tiny, lightweight packages. A LiDAR sensor this small can fit into devices without adding bulk or draining battery life, which is critical for portability and user experience.
The AS-DT1 uses Direct Time of Flight (dToF) tech with a Single Photon Avalanche Diode (SPAD), delivering accurate 3D depth measurements—up to 40m indoors and 20m outdoors with ±5cm accuracy at 10m. This level of precision in a tiny sensor opens up new possibilities for applications where space is limited.
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It can handle low-contrast or low-reflectivity objects, which is tricky for other sensors, and works well indoors or outdoors, even in bright sunlight (100,000 lux). That makes it reliable for real-world mobile use cases.
For phones or AR glasses, a compact LiDAR sensor like this could supercharge augmented reality, enabling more immersive experiences—like real-time 3D mapping of your surroundings or hyper-accurate object placement in games and apps. The catch? It’s not hitting the market until Spring 2026, so we won’t see it in phones or drones just yet.
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