Will iPhone 18 be a turning point in mobile photography thanks to the image sensor "showdown" between Samsung and Sony?
According to insiders, Apple may "break up" with Sony to join hands with Samsung in providing image sensors for the iPhone 18 series launched in 2026. Specifically, Samsung is said to be developing a 3-layer stacked sensor that is superior to the current Sony Exmor RS, promising faster shooting speed, better image quality in low light conditions, wider dynamic range and more accurate colors.
Samsung is making "monster" sensors for Apple.
This information is further confirmed when analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of TF International, who is famous for his accurate predictions about Apple, also made a similar statement.
However, Samsung seems to not want to "give up" all its cutting-edge technology to its competitors. Leaker @Jukanlosreve on the social network X revealed that, in parallel with developing sensors for Apple, Samsung is also researching a "huge" 500MP sensor exclusively for the Galaxy line.
If this information is true, the image sensor war between Samsung and Sony will become even more intense. Sony is a "hegemon" in this field, having provided sensors for many generations of iPhone, starting with the iPhone 4s in 2011. Can Samsung create a spectacular overthrow? The iPhone 18 may be the answer.
In addition, the iPhone 18 is also expected to be the first iPhone line to use the A20 and A20 Plus processors manufactured on TSMC's 2nm process. With significant upgrades in both hardware and software, the iPhone 18 promises to be a highly anticipated technological masterpiece.
