Samsung Creating 3-Layer Stacked Image Sensor For Apple, 500MP Galaxy Camera

Samsung is reportedly working to create a 500MP camera sensor for its Galaxy smartphones and a three-layer stacked image sensor for Apple.

The company had previously stated that it plans to produce smartphones with up to a 500MP camera sensor. If reports are to be believed, the day won't be far.

According to tipster Jukanlosreve on X (formerly Twitter), Samsung is developing a high-resolution camera sensor that may serve as its phone's main camera in the future.

“Samsung is working on a 3-layer stacked image sensor for Apple while simultaneously developing a 500MP sensor for its own Galaxy devices,” reads the X post.

While Sony leads the premium smartphone camera market with its 50MP sensors found in many devices, high-resolution sensors from Samsung are also found in a range of smartphones. For the Galaxy S Ultra model, Samsung has its exclusive 200MP camera technology.

However, the forthcoming Galaxy S25 series will not use the rumoured 500MP sensor. Samsung is likely to continue to use a 200MP primary sensor on the Galaxy S25 Ultra, according to reports, while the 500MP sensor may be considered for future iterations.

Additionally, Samsung is reportedly developing a three-layer stacked camera sensor for Apple, which has the potential to improve the performance of upcoming iPhones. For over a decade, Sony has been manufacturing iPhone camera sensors, but last year, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo hinted that this may change. According to Kuo, Apple could replace Sony's sensor with Samsung's in the iPhone 18 series.

“Samsung is expected to begin shipping 1/2.6-inch 48MP ultra-wide CMOS image sensors (CIS) to Apple for iPhones as early as 2026, breaking Sony's years-long monopoly on supplying CIS to Apple. To this end, Samsung has established a dedicated team to serve Apple,” Kuo had noted.

Now, according to Jukanlosreve's recent X post, “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,” Jukanlosreve added.

In a stacked sensor, the processing electronics are situated on the back of the sensor, and with a three-layer version, more circuitry would be affixed to the sensor, which should lead to faster signal processing speeds. Stacked sensors can potentially enhance the camera's responsiveness and improve the quality of images by reducing noise.