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Apple Shares iPhone 12 Camera Module Orders Between Three Suppliers
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Sony is a notable absence, considering they are the leading sensor manufacturer of not just the smartphone industry, but the camera industry. Almost every camera company other than Canon has either purchased Sony designed sensors, or used Sony as a manufacturer for at least some of their sensors. That said, its been a few years since there were major leaps in dynamic range and color performance, so a little competition is overdue.
Let’s follow Apple’s logic for a sec.
Problem: Despite the iPhone XR becoming the best selling iPhone, the entire line had a decline in sales. Some users considered the iPhone XR single lens system too compromised and the price too high. Also, there were some negativity surrounding the resolution of the screen on the internet.
Solution: They developed the iPhone 11 line Where the only thing setting the entry model apart from the high end models was the zoom lens and the LCD screen. Same SoC, same RAM, same everything. Also, they lowered the price on $50 for the entry model.
Result: Success, the sales increased, the negativity surrounding the LCD was gone and the volume of sales increased.
What follows next:
The display on entry model gets a downsize, they cut 1GB of RAM Of the two entry models and they increase the price again on the 6.1” model. The camera module now not only lacks a zoom lens but also lacks a LiDAR sensor.
I thought they figured some things out with the iPhone 11, but I was wrong.
Problem: Despite the iPhone XR becoming the best selling iPhone, the entire line had a decline in sales. Some users considered the iPhone XR single lens system too compromised and the price too high. Also, there were some negativity surrounding the resolution of the screen on the internet.
Solution: They developed the iPhone 11 line Where the only thing setting the entry model apart from the high end models was the zoom lens and the LCD screen. Same SoC, same RAM, same everything. Also, they lowered the price on $50 for the entry model.
Result: Success, the sales increased, the negativity surrounding the LCD was gone and the volume of sales increased.
What follows next:
The display on entry model gets a downsize, they cut 1GB of RAM Of the two entry models and they increase the price again on the 6.1” model. The camera module now not only lacks a zoom lens but also lacks a LiDAR sensor.
I thought they figured some things out with the iPhone 11, but I was wrong.
I hope they will not put the iphone 8 camera to the non Pro models. If the Pro models camera will be better than the non Pro's i will change apple to samsung.
If it’s just about the camera, no you won’t. Don’t obsess about the specs and components until the phones are actually in the hands of reviewers.
I have the latest and greatest Samsung, the S20. I love it overall, (call quality beats any iPhone I’ve ever had into the dust) but I still grab my 11 Pro for photos when there’s a choice to be made.
The Samsung cameras take beautiful photos with low noise in low light, but the dynamic range is not as good. Highlights look too harsh, almost glowing sometimes. There’s an odd smoothness and lack of detail even in good light on close-up photos of my pets. The fur looks smoothed, basically. And that’s on the flagship. The Android Central review of their mid range phone’s camera was not very positive.
So Samsung is not remotely interested in providing performance parity in cameras between their flagships and their mid tier range.
I recently got to try an SE we just got for a family member. It’s amazing how good the photos are with the old iPhone 8 camera and the updated software. Indoor lowlight photos are much better than I expected. No, there is no night mode. But at least it’s not a noisy blurry mess. Basically, what I saw with my eyes is what the camera produced. It was not the grainy mess of my iPhone 7 or iPhone 8 days. It was just dark, as in real life, but not ugly.
I do still end up with more blurry shots of living subjects indoors on my Samsung than I do with my 11 Pro or the new SE in full auto mode. Computational photography is not Samsung’s strong suit yet. They’re getting there, but their software is still in need of work.
Now there is a wonderful manual mode and ability to shoot RAW on S20 Samsungs that iPhones lack without an app. That IS cool to play around with. But for point and shoot, Apple is better in my opinion.
I’m always a little wary when Apple goes to an all new design. I love my 11 Pro and we also are on reduced income due to the pandemic economy, so I will definitely sit this particular upgrade out.
But I don’t think it’s going to bring consumers of the non-Pro models a low quality experience. I could be wrong. I’ll definitely bring my popcorn to read the forums.
However, I’m not expecting a mass failure here. Not with the SE usually equaling the quality of output of my 11 Pro’s main camera in most lighting situations we’ve tried so far.
It looks like LG was the main camera module supplier for last year's iPhones. Also, many are confusing the camera module and the sensor. In the past LG supplied the camera module that included Sony sensors. The reason the PRO models are sticking with LG for the module is due to their leadership with TOF camera modules including with the iPad Pro
LG Innotek to supply ToF modules for iPad, iPhones in 2020 - THE ELEC, Korea Electronics Industry Media
LG Innotek will be supplying 3D Time of Flight (ToF) modules for Apple’s next generation iPads and iPhones in 2020, according to industry sources on Sept. 16.ToF is a camera technology that allows...
en.thelec.kr
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This video helped me to decide to keep my 7 and wait for the 12. Of course the SE is better but the price of the 256gb model is very high.
