The iPhone 18's camera sensors will be manufactured by Samsung, not Sony, in a US factory.
While the iPhone's camera uses a Sony image sensor, it's speculated that the iPhone 18, scheduled for release in 2026, will be equipped with a Samsung image sensor. South Korean media outlet THE ELEC has now reported that Samsung is planning to set up facilities to manufacture iPhone image sensors in a US factory.
Samsung expected to place kits soon at Austin for iPhone CIS - THE ELEC, Korea Electronics Industry Media
iPhone 18 Pro camera sensors look set to be made in the USA - 9to5Mac
https://9to5mac.com/2025/12/24/iphone-18-pro-camera-sensors-look-set-to-be-made-in-the-usa/
U.S. President Donald Trump has called on major companies like Apple to manufacture their products in the U.S. In August 2025, Apple announced plans to invest $600 billion (approximately 93.6 trillion yen) in the U.S. over the next four years, and also pledged to switch to 100% American-made glass for iPhones and Apple Watches.
Apple announces investment of over 88 trillion yen in the US, iPhone tempered glass will be 100% made in the US, and President Trump will receive a glass and gold commemorative gift - GIGAZINE
Apple's plans also extend to image sensors. Until now, iPhone cameras have used Sony image sensors, but it has also been reported that there are plans to switch to Samsung image sensors.
Samsung to manufacture image sensors for iPhone 18 cameras, as Sony does not have a US factory - GIGAZINE
Below is a screenshot of the overseas bases page for Sony Semiconductor Solutions, a manufacturer of image sensors. While they have design, development, and production bases in Belgium, Israel, and France, they do not have a manufacturing base in the United States.
Meanwhile, Samsung is setting up semiconductor manufacturing plants for smart mobile platforms in Austin and Taylor County, Texas.
According to a December 24, 2025 report from The Elec, Samsung is building a CMOS image sensor production line for iPhones at its Austin factory, which is scheduled to begin operation in March 2026.
The Elec also states that Samsung's image sensor will 'use a structure consisting of three stacked silicon wafers, with each wafer integrating a photodiode, transistor, and analog-to-digital converter. This structure will enable smaller pixels and lower noise.'
While the iPhone series has been released every fall, the iPhone 18 series is expected to follow a schedule where the Pro model will be released in the fall of 2026 and the standard model in the spring of 2027.
iPhone release strategy shifts from 'every fall' to 'every fall/spring,' with iPhone 18 Pro and foldable iPhones coming in fall 2026 and iPhone 18 in spring 2027 - GIGAZINE
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in Hardware, Smartphone, Posted by log1o_hf