Among the things iPhones do well than most other phones in the market, is the way the phones use premium materials and powerful processors.
These things however, are mostly taken for granted.
What many users expect the most from Apple's expensive gadget, is powerful cameras. And indeed Apple delivers.
While Apple doesn't frequently introduce radical new changes in every generation of its iPhones, each year, Apple does improve the phones' cameras.
For example, the looks of the iPhone 14 series don't differ much if compared to the iPhone 11 series, which were introduced back in 2019. But the hardware of the cameras have improved dramatically.
While Apple partners with third-parties to create many of its iPhone components, rarely do Apple disclose who are its partners.
We’ve been partnering with Sony for over a decade to create the world’s leading camera sensors for iPhone. Thanks to Ken and everyone on the team for showing me around the cutting-edge facility in Kumamoto today. pic.twitter.com/462SEkUbhi
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) December 13, 2022
In this case, it’s not exactly a secret that Apple’s camera sensors are made by Sony.
This fact can be seen on the components, which clearly have Sony model numbers. Apple doesn't hide that fact, but the company never announce that fact publicly.
But this time, for the first time, Tim Cook as Apple's CEO openly mentioned this.
Among the series of tweets from Cook, and how praised the developers who work with Apple, celebrating the use of Apple's technology in education, and so on, one particular tweet shared a photo of his business travel to Japan.
"Great to be back in Japan!" tweeted Cook.
During the occasion, he is shown visiting Sony’s secretive camera sensor facility in Kumamoto, a city on the Japanese island of Kyushu.
The photo shows how Cook carefully studied two iPhone 14 models, laid out on a table by Sony.
It has been known for decades, that Sony makes one of the most advanced camera sensors in the world.
In fact, the Japanese company controls more than 50% market share in the image sensor market, considered the largest manufacturer of image sensors, and known as the world's second largest camera manufacturer.
And this Kumamoto plant Sony owns, is one of the most secretive place the company has, that visiting journalists are not allowed to take photos even in innocuous areas like meeting rooms and corridors, just in case something sensitive happens to be there.
Tim Cook visited the place during his visit to Japan, and the photo shows a rare insight into the facility.
Cameras have been a key selling feature of iPhones for many years, and this is a result of a fruitful partnership between Apple and Sony.
And Cook's visit clearly signals that the partnership with Sony is expected to continue for the foreseeable future.
It's worth noting that Apple has spent more than $100 billion in its supply chains in Japan over the past five years. The U.S. technology giant said it has nearly 1,000 suppliers in Japan, and that it supports over one million jobs there.
