Sony Can't Keep Up With Apple's Multi-Camera Demand

Looking for a new smartphone? The ability to take photos and record videos might among the most important features. After all, that's why hardware manufacturers are including more than one camera on their products. Sony, however, can't keep up with the demand for these sensors, the Japanese company tells Bloomberg.

Smartphones are including more cameras than ever before, and Sony doesn't have enough hours in a day to keep up with demand. Productions lines are running 24/7 and still fall short.

Just as it did last year, Sony has elected to operate its semiconductor factories nonstop through the holidays. Bloomberg reports capital spending on the business reached $2.6 billion in 2019, and an additional factory will open in Nagasaki next year. However, Sony's role as a supplier hasn't met the needs of its buyers. Flagships like the iPhone 11 and the iPhone 11 Pro are sporting multi-camera setups, which requires Sony to produce the necessary sensors quickly and in volume.

Of course, Apple is not the only company rolling out flagships with multi-camera setups. Google, Samsung, OnePlus, and a plethora of other players in the mobile industry are doing the same. In fact, multi-camera setups extend beyond flagships. Both mid-range and entry-level devices are shipping with several rear cameras. With only a handful of suppliers like Sony, these companies are pressuring the supply chain significantly.

"Judging by the way things are going, even after all that investment in expanding capacity, it might still not be enough," Sony's Terushi Shimizu said in an interview with Bloomberg. "We are having to apologize to customers because we just can't make enough."

Sony doesn't mind the extra business, though. Semiconductors now generate the second-most revenue across all of its businesses. PlayStation still remains the biggest money-maker.

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Ultimately, Sony should catch up with demand and supply sensors shortly after they're ordered. The additional factory in Nagasaki will reduce stress on existing factories, and over time efficiency should improve. In total, Sony projects to inject around $6.4 billion in the semiconductor business by March 2021. With five-camera setups on the horizon, Sony's long-term plan might pay off and perfectly alleviate its difficulties in keeping up with demand.

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