Apple iPhone 18 with new main camera in spring 2027
According to The Elec Samsung is preparing to ship advanced image sensors for the Apple iPhone 18 in Austin, Texas. According to a second source, test production is expected to begin in February 2027.
Apple iPhone 18: camera sensor production in Texas
The new camera sensors are reportedly from Samsung and will be manufactured at its existing plant in Austin. The company expects to install the production equipment for the project shortly and has posted job openings for mechanics, electrical technicians, engineers, and managers to support the facility.
Samsung is expected to manufacture the image sensor for the Apple iPhone 18 using a three-layer design. This design enables higher pixel density and improved low-light performance through the vertical arrangement of multiple sensor layers. The stacked sensor architecture also provides faster readout speeds, lower power consumption, and a higher dynamic range. This manufacturing process has not yet been used on a large scale.
Earlier this month, Samsung informed the Austin City Council of its intention to invest $19 billion in its Austin factory. The new production line for image sensors is expected to begin operations no earlier than March. The new sensor is slated for use in the standard Apple iPhone 18, which is expected to launch in the first half of 2027. Apple reportedly reached an agreement with Samsung in August for the supply of the component.
This is the first time Apple has deviated from Sony as its sole supplier of iPhone image sensors and is having the component manufactured in the US. Currently, Sony is the sole supplier of iPhone image sensors, which are produced in Japan and supplied by TSMC.
Apple iPhone 18 test production is scheduled to start in February 2027
According to the well-known Weibo leaker Fixed Focus Digital Apple is reportedly preparing to begin test production of the iPhone 18 after the Chinese New Year. This suggests that production will resume on a small scale once factories return to normal operations after the Chinese New Year shutdown, which typically ends in late February.
According to a second tip, the production lines for the Apple iPhone 18 Pro models are already set up, suggesting that the hardware design of the Pro version is already finalized. The external design changes are said to be less significant than some expected, which aligns with reports that the iPhone 18 Pro models will share the same overall design as the iPhone 17 Pro models, but the triple-camera system on the back will be located within the new camera plateau.
The report also aligns with Apple’s rumors about a staggered iPhone launch cycle. According to this strategy, the iPhone 18 Pro models are expected to launch in September 2026, along with Apple’s first foldable iPhone, while the standard iPhone 18 is expected to follow later, along with the iPhone 18e, in spring 2027 – just as described in the first part of the article.
The Apple iPhone 18 models may feature a simplified camera button without a capacitive sensor to save costs. However, pressure sensitivity for all button functions will remain unchanged. The standard iPhone 18 could also be equipped with 12 GB of RAM and use the A20 chip with TSMC’s 2nm architecture. Further details about the new features are not yet known.
The Apple iPhone 18 Pro models are expected to be equipped with Apple’s A20 Pro chip and may feature Face ID under the display, a variable aperture and a new, triple-layer image sensor from Samsung. Apple is also expected to use the device for the premiere of its own next-generation C2 modem.
