A recent statement from Apple reveals that the iPhone does in fact use Sony tech for its built-in cameras, confirming the partnership between the two tech juggernauts. With the flagship Apple phone standing as one of the most popular mobile devices in the world, the company has largely been secretive about the tech used within the device. The iPhone has become so ubiquitous as a cell phone that a recent survey even suggests Americans would go into debt for a new iPhone. Now, Apple has revealed another tech juggernaut has its hands in the iPhone's success.
The iPhone has seen multiple iterations since the first version of the device debuted in 2007. New versions of the iPhone have seen a variety of major changes to the device's functionality with improvements to the iPhone's software, hardware, and external functions like the camera. The most recent iPhone 14 features a high-tech 48 megapixel camera capable of recording 4K video and featuring Apple's special ProRAW and Action Mode settings. Apple's cameras have long been a drawing point of the iPhone, with the developer recently confirming its longstanding partnership with Sony.
A recent statement from Apple CEO Tim Cook via his official Twitter account revealed Apple's collaboration with Sony to develop the iPhone's camera. Cook shared a photo of himself with a team from Sony working on the device during a trip to Sony's facilities in the city of Kumamoto, Japan. Cook would go on to reveal the partnership between Apple and Sony has existed for "over a decade," with rumors previously suggesting that Apple was using Sony hardware for the iPhone.
The reveal about the iPhone's camera comes after Apple has released a variety of new devices throughout the past few months. Apple would reveal multiple versions of the iPhone 14 with the base 14 joined by the Plus, Pro, and Pro Max models. Apple's side platforms would see a variety of new announcements during the event, including the Apple Watch Ultra and a re-engineered version of the company's signature earbuds, the AirPods Pro. Apple would also later announce and release the 10th generation iPad in October.
Apple's newest reveal comes as the iPhone's proprietary marketplace, the App Store, has been the subject of criticism in recent years. Apple's high-profile legal dispute with Epic Games saw Fortnite removed from the App Store, only available on the device through cloud gaming. A recent ruling from the European Union also required Apple to allow third-party app stores on the iPhone, following multiple controversies surrounding Apple's management of its devices. Despite the App Store's controversies, Apple's iPhone remains one of the world's most popular mobile devices.