Samsung is reportedly working on a new 3-layer stacked camera sensor for future iPhones, marking a significant shift in Apple’s camera sensor supplier lineup.
Sony has long held the exclusive contract to provide iPhone camera sensors, but Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggested last year that this would change with the iPhone 18. This claim is now supported by a new report, which provides more details on Samsung’s involvement.
The 3-layer stacked sensor, currently under development by Samsung, is expected to improve camera performance in future iPhone models. The sensor is said to use a PD-TR-Logic configuration, which is more advanced than Sony’s current Exmor RS sensors.
Stacked sensors allow for processing electronics to be mounted directly on the sensor, and a 3-layer design would increase signal processing speeds, improving camera responsiveness. Additionally, stacked sensors can reduce noise, resulting in clearer and higher-quality images.
Samsung’s entry into the iPhone camera sensor market is expected to begin in 2026 with the shipment of 48MP ultra-wide CMOS image sensors. This would break Sony’s long-standing monopoly on supplying image sensors for iPhones.
Samsung is also reportedly working on a 500MP sensor for its own smartphones, though this is seen as part of the company’s pursuit of high megapixel numbers, which may not necessarily result in better image quality.
Follow on Google News
Leave a comment