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Sony, the leading supplier of smartphone camera sensors for iPhone, is facing a major production issue at its Nagasaki Technology Center (TEC) in Japan. According to NewDaily, the disruption could significantly reduce Sony’s camera sensor output, creating supply risk for Apple’s upcoming iPhone models.
The Nagasaki center accounts for up to 80% of Sony’s smartphone sensor business. As a result, any sustained disruption could have serious implications for the market and for the availability of camera sensors used in iPhones.
In this scenario, the report says the disruption could be an opportunity for Samsung to deepen its role in Apple’s supply chain. Samsung could leverage the situation to become a supplier of iPhone camera sensors, aligning with Apple’s long-standing goal of diversifying its supplier base.
Apple and Samsung have previously announced plans to cooperate on building the first image sensor manufacturing plant in the United States, aimed at mitigating tariff pressures. The plant is expected to serve the iPhone 18 line.
Sony currently holds 51.6% of the global smartphone camera sensor market, while Samsung ranks second with 15.4%. The size of the gap is a key driver for Samsung to close the distance, particularly when opportunities for collaboration with Apple arise.
Samsung is working on high-resolution 200MP sensors and researching multi-layer wafer-stacking technology intended to reduce cross-talk between pixels. The report also references earlier rumors that Samsung was developing a 3-layer stacked sensor for Apple, with expectations that performance could surpass Sony’s Exmor RS, though it notes there has been no update on progress.
The report also states that Apple could begin using Samsung’s image sensors on iPhones in the future. It further notes that Samsung’s share of non-memory foundry usage is rising, projected to reach 60%, which the report links to efforts to reduce a deficit of $680 million (about 17,788 billion VND).
While Samsung may be able to expand its role, the report emphasizes that replacing Sony completely as the supplier of iPhone camera sensors would take years. If Sony’s Nagasaki issues persist, Apple may accelerate signing long-term contracts with Samsung to help ensure stable supply for future iPhone models.
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