Samsung will manufacture iPhone cameras for Apple in the US.

According to The Elec (South Korea), Samsung is planning to manufacture CMOS image sensors (CIS) for the iPhone 18 camera in the United States.

The sensors are expected to be manufactured at Samsung's existing factory in Austin, Texas. The company plans to install additional machinery in the near future and is also posting job openings for mechanical/electrical technicians, engineers, and wiring managers.

Samsung is replacing Sony as the manufacturer of sensors for the iPhone 18.

The connection phase includes the installation and design of gas and water pipelines within the plant. Managers will gather input from designers, suppliers, and engineers to make appropriate decisions.

The recruitment for these positions also indicates that the foundation work for the cleanroom is nearing completion. Machinery will be installed after the connection and piping systems are finalized.

According to The Elec , Samsung is also hiring technicians and equipment engineers for cleaning, a process used to sanitize the surfaces of silicon wafers. This process accounts for up to 40% of the chip manufacturing steps because impurities such as oxides and faulty metals can affect the circuitry.

Samsung plans to manufacture iPhone camera sensors with a three-layer stacked design. Each layer will house a photodiode, a transistor, and an analog/digital converter.

Samsung's factory is being built in Austin, Texas.

According to MacRumors , this design allows for a reduction in pixel size to increase density, improving quality in low-light conditions and reducing noise.

Stacked sensor architecture also offers faster signal reading speeds, reduced power consumption, and a wider dynamic range. This manufacturing process has never been implemented on a commercial scale.

In early December, Samsung informed the Austin council of its plan to invest $19 billion in its factory in the city. The new image sensor production line is expected to be operational as early as March 2026.

Based on rumors, the new sensor could be featured in the standard iPhone 18, expected to launch in early 2027. Apple is said to have reached an agreement with Samsung in August to supply the component.

If the information is accurate, this would be the first time Samsung has supplied image sensors for the iPhone, and also the first time this component has been manufactured in the US. Currently, Sony is the supplier of image sensors for the iPhone, manufactured in Japan and distributed through TSMC.