Sensor Overall Score AND resolution are two independent metrics of sensor performance. This means that just because camera A has more pixels than camera B (and thus sees more details) does not mean that camera A’s Sensor Overall Score will be better. Rather, Sensor Overall Score measures the quality of the captured signal, either at a pixel level or at the full sensor level. So before comparing cameras with Sensor Overall Score, it is important to first determine the resolution you are looking for (which largely depends on the size of the screen or the print you intend to use or produce). Once you choose an appropriate resolution, the Sensor Overall Score becomes a fair and powerful tool with which to make comparisons. In a camera, resolution is dependent on both sensor and lens performances. So to compare and rank digital cameras while taking resolution into account, you should look at the DxOMark Score for lenses (with camera), which weighs a number of image quality parameters, including resolution.
Sensor Overall Score is normalized for a defined printing scenario—8Mpix printed on 8"x12" (20cmx30cm) at 300dpi resolution. Any other normalization, even at a higher resolution, would lead to the same ranking, given that any camera that could not deliver the chosen resolution would be eliminated from the comparison.
To better use Sensor Scores: 1. Identify your preferred use case: General purpose, Portrait, Landscape, and/or Sports. 2. Choose the resolution that you need for the kind of photography you do. 3. If you shoot in RAW, Sensor Scores will help you rank the best cameras according to the resolution and use case(s) that you have chosen.