Render of a possible future — and slimmer — iPhone
A new report backs up claims that Samsung is developing a rival to Sony’s iPhone camera sensor, and adds more details about how exactly this could benefit buyers of the iPhone 18 in 2026.
Sony makes the camera sensors in the iPhone and that’s one of the very few times that a component is made by a sole supplier. It’s been rumored before that Samsung wants to break that exclusivity, but now a new leak claims to have details of how Samsung hopes to beat Sony by producing a better sensor.
Exclusive: Samsung is currently developing a “3-layer stacked” image sensor in a PD-TR-Logic configuration for Apple.
This sensor is more advanced than Sony’s existing Exmor RS, and I believe it cannot be ruled out as a potential candidate for the main sensor.
Samsung is
— Jukanlosreve (@Jukanlosreve) January 1, 2025
In this context, and simplified, a stack means that the sensor comes with a processor directly mounted to it. That direct mounting reduces the time taken to get the image data to the processor, ultimately improving the camera’s responsiveness.
Samsung is reportedly planning to have three layers in its processor stacked up against the sensor. The reference to a PD-TR-Logic configuration, means that the three layers would be:
- PD: Photodiode layer
- TR: Transfer layer
- Logic: Logic layer
First, the Photodiode layer captures light, then the Transfer layer works to reduce noise. This is the element that is allegedly new to the Samsung sensor.
Lastly, the Logic layer is where the iPhone’s computational photography takes place.
Overall, if this claim is correct, then what it would bring to the iPhone would be faster processing and better noise reduction. Plus it would do so in a very small package, suitable for fitting in an iPhone — if not quite, perhaps, an iPhone 17 Slim.
The full tweet from leaker Jukanlosreve goes on to add that Samsung is also developing a 500MP sensor. However, that is said to be for Samsung’s own Galaxy phones.
Jukanlosreve isn’t a new leaker. He or she formerly used the Twitter handles “Revegnus” and “Tech_reve.” They have a decent record overall, and this isn’t the first time that this has been reported.
Between these three handles, the leaker’s most recent claim has been that Apple has not abandoned micro LED, as sometimes reported. That can’t be verified, and nor can other claims concerning a 2026 launch of a half-price Apple Vision Pro, but both remain possible.
