Apple Shifts to Samsung for US iPhone Image Sensors

Apple and Samsung have entered a partnership to produce advanced three-layer stacked image sensor chips for future iPhones at Samsung's Austin, Texas facility, signaling a move away from Apple's exclusive reliance on Sony for these components. The new sensors are designed to enhance camera performance, enabling faster shooting and high-frame-rate 8K video with reduced distortion. This collaboration is influenced by new US tariffs on foreign-made chips, which Samsung can avoid thanks to its American manufacturing presence, unlike Sony. The partnership is part of Apple's expanded American Manufacturing Program, increasing its US investment commitment to $600 billion over four years. Industry analysts predict the deal will help Samsung close its market share gap with Sony in image sensors and reinvigorate its logic chip division. Apple’s decision also aims to diversify its supply chain and strengthen US-based advanced manufacturing.