Samsung is moving closer to manufacturing camera sensors for Apple’s iPhone lineup in the United States, with new hiring activity and equipment preparations now underway at its semiconductor plant in Taylor, Texas.
According to supply chain sources cited by The Elec, Samsung has begun recruiting technical and electrical project managers to support the installation of production infrastructure at the site. These roles focus on setting up critical utilities such as gas, water, and power connections, a key step before semiconductor equipment can be brought online.
In parallel, the company is expanding its workforce with engineers and technicians specialising in wafer cleaning systems. Cleaning is one of the most intensive stages of chip manufacturing, accounting for approximately 40% of the overall process, as it removes oxide layers and microscopic defects from silicon wafers to ensure that production yields meet strict quality standards.
Samsung has also notified the city of Austin of plans to invest approximately $19 billion into the Taylor facility. This funding will cover maintenance, repairs, and the purchase of upgraded manufacturing tools. The factory is expected to begin producing CMOS image sensors (CIS) as early as March, though initial output volumes are likely to be limited.
While earlier industry reports suggested the Texas-made sensors could debut in Apple’s iPhone 18 series, large-scale production timelines remain uncertain. Even if pilot manufacturing begins in early 2026, Samsung would still need to supplement U.S. output with sensors from its overseas fabs to meet Apple’s global demand.
The development aligns with Apple’s broader effort to localise more of its supply chain. In August, Apple announced plans to invest $100 billion in U.S. manufacturing over the coming years, around the same time reports emerged that Samsung would become a key supplier of domestically produced camera sensors for future iPhones.
If successful, Samsung’s Taylor operation would mark a significant shift in Apple’s component sourcing strategy and strengthen the U.S. role in advanced semiconductor manufacturing.
