Samsung may be the reason behind iPhone 18’s launch delay

Apple didn’t launch the base iPhone 18 at its September event, and it came as no surprise. The information had been making the rounds online for months. While the delay was initially believed to be driven by rising memory prices and supply chain bottlenecks—a logical assumption given market conditions—it turns out Samsung may be the primary reason behind the shift.

According to a report from the Japanese publication Semiconportal, Apple pushed the launch of the iPhone 18 to give Samsung sufficient time to manufacture enough camera sensors for the device.

Sony has long served as the primary supplier of camera sensors for iPhones, but its exclusive deal is coming to an end this year. So, Apple struck a deal with Samsung last year to source camera sensor chips for future iPhones.

Samsung reportedly began prototyping new high-performance camera sensors for the iPhone in the spring, which pushed the mass production to fall. To make sure the company has enough supply for the iPhone 18, Apple reportedly made the decision to stagger the release and push the launch to early next year.

Although Sony’s decade-long near-monopoly on supplying CMOS image sensors for iPhones has officially ended, the company is not leaving Apple’s supply chain entirely. Instead, Apple is transitioning to a dual-supplier strategy, which serves two major objectives.

This strategy serves two goals

First, the strategy aligns with Apple’s American Manufacturing Program (AMP), as the new camera sensor chips will be produced at Samsung’s facility in Texas. This initiative forms part of Apple’s pledge, announced last year, to invest $100 billion in US manufacturing.

Second, it creates price competition. Adopting a dual-supplier model should help Apple lower component costs for future iPhones, though it is unlikely to reduce the retail price of the iPhone 18 due to rising memory costs and chip fabrication expenses.

Holding back the launch of the base iPhone 18 does not appear to have hurt Apple’s bottom line, as the company still achieved its highest September quarter revenue to date.

If you’re considering waiting for the iPhone 18, check out this article to determine whether the upcoming upgrades and price hikes justify the delay.