Samsung Rumored To Be Developing A New ‘3-Layer Stacked’ Sensor For Apple that Is Supposedly More Advanced Than Sony’s Current Exmor RS Range Found In iPhones

Apple may never appreciate the idea of relying on just one supplier, but for camera sensors, it really had no other option but to continue sourcing from Sony, with its latest iPhone 16 lineup also featuring parts from the Japanese manufacturer. However, this exclusive partnership could be coming to an end as Samsung, which provides Apple with OLED panels for various products, could enter the Cupertino firm’s supply chain for cameras. A tipster reveals that the manufacturer is working on a 3-layer stacked sensor that is said to be more superior than Sony’s Exmor RS range.

New rumor claims that Samsung is developing new camera sensors for Apple in the ‘PD-TR-Logic configuration’

Notable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo previously mentioned that Samsung would start supplying Apple with 48MP sensors for the iPhone 18, which will likely launch two years from now. With the first claim talking about Sony’s monopoly coming to a halt, published in July 2024, the second rumor comes from tipster @Jukanlosreve, who states on X that Samsung is developing a 3-layer stacked sensor for Apple in the PD-TR-Logic configuration. A stacked camera sensor has processing chips present at the back, with the ‘3-layer’ term indicating that there will be a total of three chips on top of one another in a sandwich form.

The advantage of adding a stacked camera sensor to an iPhone is that the distance at which the pixel values have to travel shrinks substantially, reducing the processing speeds. For smartphones, a stacked sensor is an ideal upgrade because most users will not wait around in a stationary position for several seconds to capture a memorable moment, and they would rather whip out the device and immediately take a snap. Assuming this technology debuts for the iPhone 18 series, the tipster mentions that Samsung’s unnamed 3-layer stacked sensor is more advanced than Sony’s Exmor RS lineup.

As mentioned before, the Korean giant’s sensors are being developed in the ‘PD-TR-Logic configuration,’ which could be some advanced packaging, but the rumor did not shed any details. As Samsung is said to be developing sensors for Apple, it is also in the process of mass producing a 500MP camera for its future Galaxy flagship lineup, which is also said to be a 3-layer stacked version. While the latest rumor hints that Sony will not be the only supplier for Apple in the coming years, it leaves us with more questions than answers, starting with which iPhone model Samsung’s sensors will debut in. We are confident that you also have some queries, so share them in the comments below.

News Source: @Jukanlosreve