Core Viewpoint - Samsung's CMOS image sensor (CIS) will return to Apple's supply chain, marking the first time in a decade that Samsung has been involved in this capacity, with potential demand estimated at around 200 million units [3][4]. Group 1: Product Details - The flagship iPhone will feature one front CIS and three rear CIS, with one of the rear lenses supplied by Samsung [3]. - Current orders from Apple to Samsung only account for about 20% of the maximum demand, based on an 80% yield from 12-inch wafers [3]. Group 2: Production Timeline - Samsung originally planned to start mass production in March 2026, but this has been pushed back to late 2026 or early 2027 [3]. - Due to the delay, the impact on Samsung's revenue from the iPhone 18 series will not be immediate, with the iPhone 18 models expected to launch in the second half of 2026 [3]. Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Samsung is developing a 50 million pixel CIS for Apple, focusing on stability over the introduction of new technology [4]. - Although Samsung is perceived to lag behind Sony in low-light performance, it has a competitive edge in pixel technology, having achieved 200 million pixel resolution through its ISOCELL brand in 2021 [4]. - There is optimism that Samsung could secure a unique supply role for high-pixel CIS for iPhones and potentially become a second supplier for the 50 million pixel CIS product line traditionally dominated by Sony [4].