Samsung has taken the next step before it makes iPhone image sensors in the U.S., with new hiring and equipment installation underway at its Taylor, Texas, factory.
Samsung is gearing up to install production equipment at its Taylor, Texas, factory. The manufacturer is gearing up to produce the CMOS image sensors (CIS) used in Apple's iPhone.
According to The Elec, the company listed job postings for technical and electrical project managers in mid-December. New hires will help install necessary hookups, such as gas and water.
Samsung is also hiring engineers and technicians for cleaning equipment, which is necessary for cleaning the surface of silicon wafers. Cleaning, which removes oxide layers and defective metal, takes upwards of 40% of the production process.
The Elec also notes that Samsung notified the city of Austin that it would spend $19 billion at the facility. The money would be used for repair and maintenance, as well as purchasing upgraded equipment. The new CIS production is slated to begin in March at the earliest.
Delivery timelines aren't clear. Previous rumors suggested that the sensors were destined for the iPhone 18. But, if limited production begins in March, and even if it goes off without a hitch, there will still need to be sensors provided elsewhere also to meet Apple's volume requirements.
In August, Apple announced that it would spend $100 billion in manufacturing facilities in the United States. It was around the same time that reports surfaced, claiming Apple would use Samsung CIS components in the iPhone 18.
