Samsung is set to manufacture next-generation, high-performance imaging sensors for Apple at its Austin, Texas (USA) plant. This move represents a major shift in Apple's sourcing of crucial camera components. As per a report from South Korean media outlet The Elec, Samsung will produce these sensors at its current Austin facility, with equipment installation for the relevant project slated to begin shortly. Samsung has already initiated the recruitment of mechanical and electrical technicians, along with engineers and management staff, to be involved in setting up the production line. Earlier, Samsung informed the Austin City Council of its intention to invest $19 billion in the plant for acquiring, repairing, and maintaining advanced semiconductor equipment. Insider sources indicate that this extra investment is tied to the new contract Samsung clinched in August to supply Apple with CMOS image sensors (CIS). Samsung intends to utilize wafer-to-wafer hybrid bonding technology to stack three wafers for creating the next-gen CIS chips. The new CIS production line is anticipated to start operations as early as March 2026.