Advanced iPhone 18 Camera Sensor to Be Made in Texas

[MacRumors]

Samsung is preparing to supply Apple with advanced image sensors for the iPhone in Austin, Texas, according to The Elec.

The sensors will reportedly be made by Samsung at its existing facility in Austin. The company is expected to install production equipment for the project in the near future and has posted job listings for mechanical and electrical technicians, engineers, and managers to work on set up.

Samsung is expected to make the iPhone's image sensor with a three-stack design, which enables higher pixel density and improved low-light performance by vertically stacking multiple sensor layers. Stacked sensor architecture also allows for faster readout speeds, reduced power consumption, and higher dynamic range. This manufacturing process has not previously been deployed at a commercial scale.

Earlier this month, Samsung notified the city of council of Austin of its intention to spend $19 billion on its Austin facility. The new image sensor production line is expected to begin operation in March at the earliest.

The new sensor is believed to be destined for the iPhone 18, which is expected to launch in the first half of 2027. Apple reportedly reached a deal with Samsung in August for supply of the component.

This will be the first time Apple will move away from Sony as the sole supplier for ‌iPhone‌ image sensors and make the component in the United States. Today, Sony is the sole supplier of ‌iPhone‌ image sensors; they are produced in Japan and delivered via TSMC.

Article Link: Advanced iPhone 18 Camera Sensor to Be Made in Texas

 

[N0ughtsAndCr0sses]

American made!
🤘🏻👏🏻

 

[MayaUser]

No, it wont
Im a more believable leaker

 

[DocMultimedia]

Expected to be finished in March? That sounds like trouble leading to limited supply in September due to a delay getting the production up to snuff.

 

[Octavius8]

The year in the article surely meant to be 2026, not 2027. Or perhaps it is for iPhone 19?

 

[bodonnell202]

Expected to be finished in March? That sounds like trouble leading to limited supply in September due to a delay getting the production up to snuff.

Sounds like this sensor is destined for the base iPhone 18, which isn’t expected to be released until Spring 2027.

 

[bodonnell202]

The year in the article surely meant to be 2026, not 2027. Or perhaps it is for iPhone 19?

Rumors suggest that Apple is not going to release the base iPhone 18 until spring 2027. Expect the iPhone 18 Pros to stick with Sony image sensors for 2026.

 

[AppliedMicro]

American made!

What manufacturing expertise does America have over Japan & Taiwan for high-tech photoelectric components?

 

[TechRunner]

Glad to see component manufacturing stateside. I hope they can find the skilled help they'll need to pull it off.

 

[N0ughtsAndCr0sses]

What manufacturing expertise does America have over Japan & Taiwan for high-tech photoelectric components?

Clearly one you are clueless about 🤣🤌🏻

 

[SouthernApple]

We’re 💯 going to see our first $2,000+ iPhone before the decade ends.

 

[GianL]

American made!
🤘🏻👏🏻

What manufacturing expertise does America have over Japan & Taiwan for high-tech photoelectric components?

We know which are the only 2 things coming from Texas, Private Cowboy 🤣

 

[Roller]

Rumors suggest that Apple is not going to release the base iPhone 18 until spring 2027. Expect the iPhone 18 Pros to stick with Sony image sensors for 2026.

If that timeline is correct, won’t the iPhone 18 have a more advanced sensor than the Pro? Has that ever happened? I’ve bought the Pro versions the last two times, but I’d hold off if I knew a more capable camera was coming in spring 2027.

 

[Nyx1]

Only iPhone 18 vanilla with Samsung or version pro still with Sony

 

[happy2000hk]

When it comes to tech I prefer non American made. Not happy about this.

 

[StralyanPithecus]

When it comes to tech I prefer non American made. Not happy about this.

You know most products and software that you use have some connection to the US? Apple as far as I know is an American company, based in California, not Taiwan, no Japan.

 

[spritle]

Looking forward to this:

 

[StralyanPithecus]

Know a little more about Texas:
Texas number 1 in renewable energy

 

[bodonnell202]

If that timeline is correct, won’t the iPhone 18 have a more advanced sensor than the Pro? Has that ever happened? I’ve bought the Pro versions the last two times, but I’d hold off if I knew a more capable camera was coming in spring 2027.

The Pros currently have larger image sensors than the base iPhones. It sounds like this is more about making a more compact sensor than it is about image quality, so don’t expect this sensor to take better pictures than the sensors they put in the Pro line.

 

[bodonnell202]

Only iPhone 18 vanilla with Samsung or version pro still with Sony

Based on this rumor it sounds like 18 Pros will still have Sony image sensors in fall 2026 and base iPhone 18 would come with a Samsung image sensor in spring 2027.

 

[sw1tcher]

This will be the first time Apple will move away from Sony as the sole supplier for ‌iPhone‌ image sensors and make the component in the United States. Today, Sony is the sole supplier of ‌iPhone‌ image sensors; they are produced in Japan and delivered via TSMC.

Cost cut move or does Apple believe Samsung can produce just as good image sensors as Sony? Then again, these are being made for the base iPhones and not the Pro or Pro Max which will get the (better?) Sony sensors.

Hmmm.... I think I just answered my own question.

 

[cdsapplefan]

The Pros currently have larger image sensors than the base iPhones. It sounds like this is more about making a more compact sensor than it is about image quality, so don’t expect this sensor to take better pictures than the sensors they put in the Pro line.

All the rumors have said the new Samsung stacked sensor design will improve image quality in low light, reduce image noise, handle blurry pictures better and faster camera focus response times. Apple 🍎 updates the main iPhone sensor every 3 years.

 

[cdsapplefan]

If that timeline is correct, won’t the iPhone 18 have a more advanced sensor than the Pro? Has that ever happened? I’ve bought the Pro versions the last two times, but I’d hold off if I knew a more capable camera was coming in spring 2027.

I believe the iPhone 14 or 15 base models had stacked camera technology before they were introduced in the Pro models the following year.

 

[DocMultimedia]

What manufacturing expertise does America have over Japan & Taiwan for high-tech photoelectric components?

They have a Samsung plant work lots of robots. 😀

 

[Nyx1]

Based on this rumor it sounds like 18 Pros will still have Sony image sensors in fall 2026 and base iPhone 18 would come with a Samsung image sensor in spring 2027.

Thanks God