SEOUL (ANN/THE KOREA HERALD) – Samsung Electronics might soon provide its cutting-edge camera sensors to Apple, potentially ending Sony’s long-standing exclusivity as the sole supplier to the tech giant, according to supply chain expert Ming-Chi Kuo.
Kuo, an analyst at TF International Securities, anticipates that Samsung could start shipping its 1/2.6-inch 48MP ultra-wide CMOS image sensors (CIS) as early as 2026. He noted on social media platform X that Samsung has assembled a specialised team to cater to Apple’s needs.
Image sensors are crucial components that enhance smartphone camera quality and performance, functioning similarly to the human retina.
Currently, Japan’s Sony dominates the high-value image sensor market, commanding a 55 per cent share in 2023. Samsung holds the second position with a 20 per cent share, with Apple’s orders comprising a significant portion of the market.
Samsung has yet to confirm these reports, citing confidentiality regarding client information.
In a rare disclosure in 2022, Apple CEO Tim Cook revealed that Sony had been supplying iPhone camera sensors for over a decade. Previous reports indicate that Sony provided sensors for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 8.
Speculation suggests that Apple has been seeking a new supplier after experiencing delays with Sony’s components for the iPhone 15, which launched last year.
Should Samsung’s 48-megapixel camera sensor be adopted, it would represent an upgrade from the iPhone 15 Pro’s 12 MP ultra-wide camera.
Samsung, which introduced the industry’s first 200 MP image sensor in 2021, has been expanding its footprint in the advanced tech sector. In June, the company unveiled three new mobile image sensors for smartphones’ main and secondary cameras, including the Isocell HP9—the first 200-MP telephoto sensor—which significantly improves light-gathering capabilities for more vibrant colour reproduction.
Market research firm TSR has projected a 66.3 per cent annual growth rate in volume for the 1/1.4-inch optical format image sensor market from 2020 to 2027, with a forecasted annual revenue growth rate of 54.4 per cent.
