This development, the result of a collaboration between Samsung and Apple, comes after the well-known analyst Ming-Chi Kuo announced last year that this could happen in the iPhone 18 which will be released in 2026.
Now, a new report supports this information, providing details about the technology that Samsung would be developing specifically for Apple.
Apple and Samsung collaborate to take the throne
The sensor in question would be a “stacked three-layer” model in a PD-TR-Logic configuration, which would allow for faster signal processing and reduce noise in the images, improving both the quality and responsiveness of the image. camera. In comparison, Sony, which currently dominates the market with its Exmor RS technology, could face a serious competition if this Samsung sensor proves to be more advanced.
The concept of a stacked sensor is not new, but Samsung wants to go a step further by integrating more circuitry directly into the sensor. This would optimize low-light performance and improve detail capture in photos and videos. Although the report suggests that this sensor could be used for the main camera, Apple will likely initially test it in a secondary module to evaluate its performance.
The relationship between Apple and Sony has been strong for over ten years. In fact, Tim Cook himself, CEO of Apple, visited the Sony facilities in Kumamoto in 2022, publicly highlighting the collaboration between both companies. However, Apple has a habit of diversifying its key suppliers to minimize risks and negotiate better conditions.
Samsung, for its part, has been investing significantly in its image sensors to compete directly with Sony. The creation of an exclusive team to work with Apple is a clear indicator that the South Korean giant is determined to capture a portion of the market that has until now been out of reach.
The importance of this collaboration
If Samsung integrates its three-layer sensor into future iPhone models, we will see iPhones with faster cameras, sharper images and better performance in complicated situations, such as low-light or high-contrast scenes.
Meanwhile, Samsung would also be developing a 500 megapixel sensor for their own devices, seeking to impress with numbers, although the real impact of this technology on image quality remains to be seen.
If the iPhone 18 integrates Samsung technology, it will not only change the dynamics of Apple’s supply chain, but could set new standards in mobile photography.
For now, users will need to wait until 2026 to discover if this collaboration comes to fruition, but everything indicates that Apple is willing to explore new possibilities to stay at the forefront of photographic technology.
