Some of the camera sensors used in Apple’s upcoming iPhone 18 Pro models are expected to be manufactured in the United States, according to a new report.
The sensors would reportedly be produced at a Samsung semiconductor facility in Austin, Texas, marking a notable shift in Apple’s camera supply chain.
Samsung’s Austin Plant Prepares for Image Sensor Production
Samsung’s Austin fab is already an established semiconductor manufacturing site, but it has not previously been used for camera sensor production. That appears to be changing.
A report from The Elec states that Samsung is preparing to install new production equipment at the Austin facility specifically for CMOS image sensors destined for Apple’s iPhones. The company has also reportedly posted job listings for mechanical and electrical project managers to support equipment installation at the site, suggesting preparations are already underway.
Production of these sensors is expected to begin around March.
Advanced Stacked Sensor Technology
The report references a manufacturing technique known as wafer-to-wafer hybrid bonding, where three wafers are stacked together. This aligns with earlier reports that Apple plans to use a three-layer stacked camera sensor in future iPhones.
In a stacked sensor design, processing electronics are attached directly behind the image sensor. A three-layer configuration allows more circuitry to be integrated into the sensor itself, which can increase signal processing speed and improve overall camera responsiveness. This approach can also reduce certain sources of image noise, potentially leading to cleaner photos.
Samsung is believed to be using this advanced sensor technology to secure part of Apple’s camera sensor supply. Historically, Apple has relied almost exclusively on Sony for iPhone camera sensors.
Likely Limited to iPhone 18 Pro Models
Based on the reported production timeline and the complexity of the sensor, the new Samsung-made camera sensors are expected to debut in the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.
The base iPhone 18 is widely expected to launch in spring 2027 following the release of iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Fold in fall 2026, which would place it well inside the production window for these sensors. However, Apple typically reserves its most advanced camera hardware for Pro models before expanding it to other devices in later generations, so we’ll have to wait and see if the iPhone 18, 18e, and Air 2 benefit from this.
If accurate, this would make the iPhone 18 Pro models the first iPhones to use camera sensors manufactured in the United States, at least in part, through Samsung’s Texas-based facility.
