Previously, we’ve covered reports suggesting that Apple’s first LOFIC-equipped sensor would debut in the 2027 “anniversary iPhone,” now known to be the iPhone 20 series. Given the iPhone 20’s symbolic importance as Apple’s 20th-anniversary model and its expected design overhaul, it would have been a fitting platform for introducing the company’s first in-house image sensor. However, the latest leak indicates that this milestone camera upgrade may instead arrive a year later, shifting the LOFIC debut to the 2028 iPhone lineup.
For the uninitiated, LOFIC enables a sensor to store excess charge from bright regions in lateral capacitors, preventing highlight clipping and improving tonal range. In practice, this design enhances both low-light performance and dynamic range, resulting in more natural highlight and shadow detail.
If accurate, this roadmap indicates that Sony and Samsung may commercialise LOFIC sensors before 2027, while Apple will integrate the technology later via its in-house CIS. It also reinforces the ongoing shift from resolution competition toward dynamic-range and architecture innovation in mobile photography.
As of now, none of the three companies has officially confirmed the details.