Samsung is developing new camera sensors for Apple

 Samsung working on new image sensors for iPhone which is more advanced than Sony’s current Exmor RS Range found in iPhones      

Sony has had a stranglehold on supplying image sensors to Apple for the iPhone over the last few years. But Apple could end up turning to Samsung for image sensors starting with the iPhone 18 series expected to be released in 2026. This was forecast during the summer by TF International's reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Samsung is reportedly working on a 3-layer stacked sensor for Apple; a stacked image sensor separates the the photodiode layer (which converts light into electrical signals) from the processing layer where the signals are processed. Apple may never appreciate the idea of relying on just one supplier, but for camera sensors, it really had no other option but to continue sourcing from Sony, with its latest iPhone 16 lineup also featuring parts from the Japanese manufacturer. However, this exclusive partnership could be coming to an end as Samsung, which provides Apple with OLED panels for various products, could enter the Cupertino firm’s supply chain for cameras. Reports available reveal that the manufacturer is working on a 3-layer stacked sensor that is said to be more superior than Sony’s Exmor RS range.

Samsung is developing new camera sensors for Apple in the ‘PD-TR-Logic configuration’. The advantage of using this configuration for the image sensor is that it can capture images faster than sensors using traditional technology while also delivering higher-quality photos snapped in low-light conditions. The stacked sensors also produce higher-quality photographs with improved dynamic range and enhanced colour accuracy. The three layers indicate that the chips used will be sandwiched one on top of the other. Samsung's 3-layer stacked sensor is more advanced that the Sony Exmor RS image sensors currently used on the iPhone. Notable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo previously mentioned that Samsung would start supplying Apple with 48MP sensors for the iPhone 18, which will likely launch two years from now. 

Tweet from leaker says that Apple will turn to new Samsung image sensor technology with the iPhone 18. With the first claim talking about Sony’s monopoly coming to a halt, published in July 2024, the second rumour comes from tipster @Jukanlosreve, who states on X that Samsung is developing a 3-layer stacked sensor for Apple in the PD-TR-Logic configuration. A stacked camera sensor has processing chips present at the back, with the ‘3-layer’ term indicating that there will be a total of three chips on top of one another in a sandwich form. The new Samsung 3-layer stacked sensor will reportedly be used on the 48MP Wide cameras earmarked for the iPhone 18 series. According to leaker, you don't have to worry about Samsung giving away its most advanced camera sensors. The tweet notes that while it is developing the 3-layer stacked sensor for Apple, the company is developing a 500MP sensor for its own Galaxy devices.

The advantage of adding a stacked camera sensor to an iPhone is that the distance at which the pixel values have to travel shrinks substantially, reducing the processing speeds. For smartphones, a stacked sensor is an ideal upgrade because most users will not wait around in a stationary position for several seconds to capture a memorable moment, and they would rather whip out the device and immediately take a snap. Assuming this technology debuts for the iPhone 18 series, the tipster mentions that Samsung’s unnamed 3-layer stacked sensor is more advanced than Sony’s Exmor RS lineup. The first iPhone to use image sensors sourced from Sony was 2011's iPhone 4s. That model featured an 8MP rear camera. Omnivision Technologies produced the image sensors for the iPhone 4. Omnivision was also responsible for the image sensors backing the rear camera on the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3Gs. The 2MP camera on the first-generation iPhone was supplied by Micron and didn't include basic features such as autofocus or video recording support.

The Korean giant’s sensors are being developed in the ‘PD-TR-Logic configuration,’ which could be some advanced packaging, but details are still awaited. As Samsung is said to be developing sensors for Apple, it is also in the process of mass producing a 500MP camera for its future Galaxy flagship lineup, which is also said to be a 3-layer stacked version. While the latest report hints that Sony will not be the only supplier for Apple in the coming years, it leaves us with more questions than answers, starting with which iPhone model Samsung’s sensors will debut in. The iPhone 18 series is also expected to be the first of Apple's smartphones to use an application processor (AP) manufactured by TSMC using its 2nm process node. The chips would be the A20 and A20 Plus. The iPhone 18 should be introduced in September 2026 and released later.