Samsung Image Sensor First for Apple
Samsung to supply Apple with image sensors for the first time, challenging Sony's dominance. Mass production begins in Texas.
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Samsung Electronics plans to mass-produce Apple’s next-generation image sensors at its Austin, Texas, foundry. This marks Samsung’s first time supplying image sensors to Apple, a significant milestone that disrupts the supply chain previously dominated by Japan’s Sony.
On August 6, Apple announced in an official press release, “We are collaborating with Samsung Electronics’ foundry in Austin, Texas, to produce semiconductors based on new technologies, which will be applied globally for the first time.”
The announcement aligns with Apple’s $100 billion investment plan in the U.S. Apple stated, “By introducing this technology in the U.S. first, we will provide semiconductors with optimized power consumption and performance for Apple products sold globally, including the iPhone.”
The semiconductors mentioned by Apple are believed to be CIS (CMOS Image Sensors). CIS is a system semiconductor that converts light entering through a lens into electrical image signals, a critical component in smartphones.
Previously, Apple’s CIS supply came entirely from Sony. However, starting with the next-generation iPhone, expected to enter mass production next year or the year after, the CIS supply chain is anticipated to be shared between Sony and Samsung Electronics.