Writing for the Bloomberg business website, Mark Gurman has suggested that future iPhones might have Apple-designed sensors.
What was reported?
Gurman’s article discussed Apple’s desire to have an in-house design for all of the major components inside future iPhones. The latest iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max already use the new Apple A17 Pro chip processor. This chip is also made using a 3-nanometer process, which delivers better performance and efficiency than the previous 5-nanometer A16 Bionic chips. In addition, Apple is working to develop 2-nanometer chips which will improve performance even further.
What camera sensors does Apple use now?
At the end of last year, we reported that Apple CEO Tim Cook had confirmed that iPhones used camera sensors manufactured by Sony. Cook also stated this had been the case for more than 10 years. Although this was already widely known in the industry, it was the first time Apple had publicly admitted to using Sony sensors. However, now Gurman has claimed that Apple is “eyeing an in-house strategy for camera sensors.”
What next?
The cameras on the iPhone are one of the device’s biggest selling points. As such, it’s no surprise that Apple wants to take control of their design. However, the company already has a number of ongoing programs to develop components in-house. In addition, the research program at Apple to develop its own modem chip is behind schedule and isn’t likely to appear at the start of 2025 as planned. As such, a new Apple-designed camera sensor might not be as close as the company hopes.
What we think
Its in-house component development has already delivered great results for Apple. The company’s computers based around the Apple Silicon M1 and M2 chip families have delivered astounding results, especially for video editing. The iPhone range already has great cameras, so it would be exciting to see what extra features an Apple-designed sensor will bring. Hopefully, Apple will continue working on this project and we get more news soon.
