Production of advanced camera sensors for the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro is set to commence at a Samsung facility located in Austin, Texas, around March. This marks a significant development, as the plant has not previously produced camera sensors for Apple. The new sensors will utilize CMOS technology, with the report detailing a method involving "wafer-to-wafer hybrid bonding" for stacking three wafers.
Samsung is reportedly preparing to install necessary production equipment at the Austin site and has recently advertised positions for mechanical and electrical project managers to oversee this setup. The enhanced sensor technology is expected to improve camera responsiveness and image quality, aligning with Apple's strategy to incorporate more sophisticated features in its Pro models.
While the base model iPhone 18 is projected to launch in the spring, the advanced sensors are likely to debut exclusively in the Pro versions, which will be released later. Samsung's entry into this market comes after Apple has predominantly sourced its camera sensors from Sony.