Kuo: 2026 iPhone to Use New Advanced Camera Sensor From Samsung

[MacRumors]

Apple's iPhone will adopt a new 1/2.6-inch 48MP Ultra Wide CMOS image sensor (CIS) made by Samsung as early as 2026, breaking Sony's years-long monopoly as Apple's CIS supplier, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

Writing in a brief report published on X (formerly Twitter), Kuo said Samsung has already established a dedicated team within its ranks to work on the camera components with a view to specifically supplying Apple.

For years now, Apple has exclusively sourced CIS for its iPhones from Sony. However, recent developments suggest a strategic shift away from the Japanese supplier due to concerns about reliability and Apple's need to integrate new technologies into its camera system.

If the 2026 production roadmap goes to plan, Apple could be using Samsung-made image sensors in the camera system that features on its iPhone 18 series.

Article Link: Kuo: 2026 iPhone to Use New Advanced Camera Sensor From Samsung

 

[MrRom92]

Ultra wide sensor??

 

[MayaUser]

Kuo, what about 2027 iphone?​

we know you need the clicks for your BS rumours

 

[Justin Cymbal]

I definitely appreciate how much focus Apple puts into maintaining annual upgrades to the camera system on the pro model phones each year

I hope that Apple eventually includes the new camera features on both screen size pro model iPhones (like they did with the iPhone 14 Pro and the iPhone 14 Pro Max)

With the 15 Pro and the 15 Pro Max, users had to decide between whether they wanted the new camera features or not (if they didn’t want the bigger max size iPhone)

I much prefer the smaller pro model iPhone so if Apple were to go back to the way the iPhone 14 Pro model phones were (that didn’t differentiate camera features) that would be awesome

 

[DoctorMesmer]

Here’s hoping it doesn’t change the colour profile.

 

[Gengar]

And we're gonna love it

 

[Stefan51278]

Here’s hoping it doesn’t change the colour profile.

Apple did use Samsung-Sensors in the past and always did a lot of finetuning to achieve their goals in color accuracy.

 

[nfl46]

Give it a few months then he will say it’s delayed until the 2027 iPhone.

 

[Artsketch]

I recently switched back from the 15 Pro to the 14 Pro because the 14 Pro takes more detailed pictures when shooting indoors in 48 MP ProRAW, and viewed zoomed in on a 32” display.

 

[Marty80]

The iPhone is slowly becoming a idroid with the anti reflective display being sourced from Samsung, Google being the default search engine, and now the camera components being sourced from Samsung. What’s next!

 

[klasma]

The iPhone is slowly becoming a idroid with the anti reflective display being sourced from Samsung, Google being the default search engine, and now the camera components being sourced from Samsung. What’s next!

This is nothing new, Sony makes Android phones as well.

 

[tomchr9]

Okay, so it is predicted that the current Sony "ultra wide" 12 MP CIS is to be upgraded to a Samsung 48MP CIS.
If this is the case, I would think that the other CMOS Image Sensors are bound to be upgraded as well.

It is quite a safe bet. It is like saying, that the iPhone 18 will have 16GB as base memory....or iPhone 22 will have 32GB as base memory.

 

[bradman83]

The iPhone is slowly becoming a idroid with the anti reflective display being sourced from Samsung, Google being the default search engine, and now the camera components being sourced from Samsung. What’s next!

Samsung's anti-reflective display glass is made by Corning, which also makes Apple's Ceramic Shield glass. Apple gets some of the display panels that get bonded to the glass from Samsung but also sources from LG, Sharp, and BOE.

 

[Premium1]

Kuo, what about 2027 iphone?​

we know you need the clicks for your BS rumours

I'm amazed everyone continues to give him the air time. He literally throws **** at the wall and see what sticks. Next from Kuo he will say this got delayed to 2028 (he loves to flip flop so he covers all his bases and can say he was correct).

 

[timber]

Sony has been at the top of the pack for who knows how many years.

I wonder if this isn't just disguised cost cutting.

 

[Hopefully Smarter]

thank you for once again doing this fellows job, even though it is just a speculative statement to pimp the stocks he represents.

 

[Populus]

I’m not against Samsung being the provider of the sensors, competition is good and, if it happens to be that Samsung sensor is superior, I’m all for it.

However, what I’m not a fan of, is having several suppliers for different parts. We’ve seen how the screen lottery makes some screens yellower or bluer, some are a bit brighter than others, etc. And we even experienced the performance difference between the A10 Fusion chip made by Samsung and made by TSMC. Honestly, I don’t want to play more lottery with the main camera as well, because the amount of times you can return an item which quality doesn’t cater to your personal criteria.

Unpopular opinion, I know.

 

[rymc02]

If only the ultrawide is from Samsung it will be interesting to see how spatial video looks when you have an ultrawide from Samsung and a wide from Sony. Looking forward to see the new Sony stacked IMX903 on the main sensor on iPhone 16 Pro.

 

[cocky jeremy]

I don't care who makes the sensors. Just give us the best possible hardware for cameras.

 

[Octavius8]

What does Apple actually engineer besides CPUs?.
Displays: no, cameras:no. Lenses:no.

 

[arkitect]

What does Apple actually engineer besides CPUs?.
Displays: no, cameras:no. Lenses:no.

I think (though I could be wrong) the packaging design is in-house. 🤣

 

[freezelighter]

I wish we could have 1" inch sensor in the iPhone.

 

[cdsapplefan]

I wish we could have 1" inch sensor in the iPhone.

They would but a 1” sensor may cost too much for a small device like a iPhone or the technology is not there yet for 1” small sensor in a iPhone

 

[cdsapplefan]

Sony has been at the top of the pack for who knows how many years.

I wonder if this isn't just disguised cost cutting.

Yes likely cost cutting move by Apple as they still can’t get away from Qualcomm with all there modem patents. So Apple has to cut costs in other components like a image sensor. Sony won’t be mad as they also have the Android market

 

[Ramchi]

Concerns about reliability or concerns about cost savings options? Sony Imaging sensors are used in almost all flagship mobile phone cameras. Sony itself making flagship cameras unlike Samsung.