Report: Apple to Switch to Advanced US-Made iPhone Camera Sensors

[turbineseaplane]

Our company has deployed several iPhone 16e devices and we have had zero complaints about the Apple-designed cellular modem.

Cellular modems and camera tech have nothing to do with each other.

 

[turbineseaplane]

There are companies that make stuff in the USA that’s amazing quality. I buy backpacks from GoRuck which they sell for about 10% to 20% more for USA-made versions versus Vietnam made. Most people who buy them are proud to have the American made versions. Though most reviews state the Vietnam versions seem identical in quality. People are willing to buy boots US made from many NW Companies that cost about 30% more than foreign made similar boots. People pay about triple for Filson clothing that’s made in the USA versus offshore. The point here is some people, myself included, will pay more to ensure US workers have jobs with living wages.

Please tell me you understand how incredibly different and less complicated that type of manufacturing is.

 

[mudflap]

So the iPhone 17 series will be the last one to have good cameras. You heard it here first.

Curious what evidence you have to support this "we're doomed" take?

 

[mudflap]

So it begins.... Those tariffs that some people are so worried about will pay off in the long term

My eyes rolled so hard I think I sprained my neck.

 

[mudflap]

Many iphones use Samsung displays, now they will start to use Samsung cameras. Eventually it seems like the only difference between buying a Samsung or Apple phone will be the OS.

Samsung manufacturers those displays to Apple's unique specs; they're not off the shelves. They cannot use those displays in any other product, either.

 

[citysnaps]

I'd take it, but let's be realistic. That'd likely go into a A1 III first and that won't arrive for a couple of years.
And I'm pretty sure a sensor like that won't be in any type of phone for another decade or two.

Time will tell how this turns out. But I know I'll take a Sony sensor over Samsung any day. Would be much more interesting if they'd team up with Canon.

How about an Apple designed image sensor with 20 stops of dynamic range and having greatly reduced noise? And fabricated in one of Samsung’s fabs?

Do you really believe Apple wouldn’t use that in an iPhone for a decade or two?

 

[racerhomie]

So the iPhone 17 series will be the last one to have good cameras. You heard it here first.

Samsung will be assembling the design. It's like saying A17 chip is TSMC made. They just put the things together in their High tech facilities. The core design will be Apple

 

[racerhomie]

With money 600$bn why not making own camera sensor also make semiconductor foundry for himself

That crap is so expensive to invest in and it needs many companies sending in orders. Apple won't do that

 

[racerhomie]

And so many people hate on non Apple products. You realize most of these companies are in cahoots and heavily reply upon each other! lol.

That's the entire world. US and China. Samsung and Apple.
The entire world is interconnected through trade. Hate is better than wars from a century back

 

[beant0wn]

USA! This is the way. Tim is making some great decisions!

Congratulating the wrong person, but yes. America first is great policy.

 

[unobtainium]

I hope it’s just as high quality as US-made vehicles 🤡

 

[Falco McGregor]

Cellular modems and camera tech have nothing to do with each other.

In this case they do. Both are going to be designed and manufactured by Apple. You would've found the same people skeptical of Apple doing something independent of Sony on a thread talking about Apple building cellular tech independent of Qualcomm. The Apple cellular modems have worked out. I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt on the sensor tech.

 

[unobtainium]

And cheaper got us less jobs, leaving more people even unable to afford the cheap one....

Unemployment is basically as low as it gets and has been since Biden post-pandemic years.

 

[coreyweberling]

That why they're making the camera bump different?

Hopefuly we'll see some actual upgrades to the camera here soon.

 

[macford]

Samsung and Apple should join forces and do a hybrid iOS/Android phone that can switch OS's on the fly...
Like back in the day with the Windows emulators for the Mac.
I always thought it was crazy that you can have a fully operational Windows in your Mac but PC's could never run Mac OS...

Windows PCs were never allowed to run Mac OS because Apple locked it down to only Apple hardware. There were FrankenMacs out there but the license for Mac OS specifically stated it could only be used on Apple computers.

 

[falainber]

Samsung will partner with Apple, but advertise their line of "superior" smartphones with Sony sensors made in Japan.

Samsung flagship phones use it's own ISOCELL image sensors for main cameras.

 

[turbineseaplane]

I hope it’s just as high quality as US-made vehicles 🤡

Yep...
Overpriced, half cooked and meh quality ...

 

[falainber]

Samsung manufacturers those displays to Apple's unique specs; they're not off the shelves. They cannot use those displays in any other product, either.

Those displays are still Samsung displays based on Samsung tech. Apple odering the panels with Apple specific resolutions and other minor tweaks does not meaningfully differentiate them from other Samsung displays.

 

[falainber]

Samsung will be assembling the design. It's like saying A17 chip is TSMC made. They just put the things together in their High tech facilities. The core design will be Apple

Those A17 chips use 100% TSMC tech process.

 

[ab2c4]

Windows PCs were never allowed to run Mac OS because Apple locked it down to only Apple hardware. There were FrankenMacs out there but the license for Mac OS specifically stated it could only be used on Apple computers.

Edit: I originally misread/misunderstood.

 

[citysnaps]

In this case they do. Both are going to be designed and manufactured by Apple. You would've found the same people skeptical of Apple doing something independent of Sony on a thread talking about Apple building cellular tech independent of Qualcomm. The Apple cellular modems have worked out. I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt on the sensor tech.

Designed by Apple, yes. Manufactured/fabbed by Apple, no. That will likely be Samsung or TSMC.

 

[dcingie]

Excited to read how we’re going to spin this as a bad thing

 

[nadozza]

Once again Mac Rumors contributors show up to post their hate for America, or like a comment that does.

Disgusting.

*edit: I don't mean the people that write the articles. I mean those that comment and like comments.

Jee, I wonder if anything has happened lately to justify that negative sentiment 🤔

 

[Cuesca]

Excited to read how we’re going to spin this as a bad thing

I'm excited to see how the US/Apple made iPhone will fare against the Foxconn made iPhone as well. If the quality is at least equal, and the prices doesn't skyrocket I think we will have a win. And by that time most people would opt for the US made iPhone over a Foxconn made one.

What do you think would sound better: iPhone 18 Pro Max - made in the USA by Apple. Or iPhone 18 Pro Max - designed in California made in China or India?

 

[dcingie]

I'm excited to see how the US/Apple made iPhone will fare against the Foxconn made iPhone as well. If the quality is at least equal, and the prices doesn't skyrocket I think we will have a win. And by that time most people would opt for the US made iPhone over a Foxconn made one.

What do you think would sound better: iPhone 18 Pro Max - made in the USA by Apple. Or iPhone 18 Pro Max - designed in California made in China or India?

Couldn’t agree more. I too am nervous about the production costs. If the US Made quality is on par with China, then I think most would prefer a domestic product. May take them some time to iron out kinks as with any manufacturing plant. But hopefully not too long.