The all-new variable aperture lens in the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max will cost Apple 50% more than the camera used in current models, according to supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
Variable aperture is one of the most persistent rumors about iPhone cameras in recent years. Kuo first reported this feature in late 2024, and it has since been corroborated by several reports and apparently entered production earlier this year.
Unlike the fixed f/1.78 aperture found on every iPhone Pro, from the 14 Pro to the 17 Pro, a variable aperture will physically adjust the size of the lens aperture to control the amount of light reaching the sensor, providing better control over exposure and greater flexibility over depth of field.
Kuo said the component’s average selling price is about 50% higher than the seven-element plastic lens Apple currently uses in the iPhone 17 Pro’s main camera. Sunny Optical prepares to supply Apple with between 40 and 50% of orders
Sunny Optical also became a new compact camera module (CCM) supplier for Apple, initially producing the camera for the MacBook Neo. ‌MacBook Neo‌ shipments were much better than expected, with Kuo doubling its 2026 forecast from 5 million to 10 million units, a notable upward revision as the entry-level Mac far exceeded early expectations.
Longer term, the 2028 iPhone’s ultra-wide camera module is expected to move away from the flip-chip package in favor of an improved COB (on-board chip) design, with Sunny Optical well positioned to become a supplier at this stage. An ultra-wide COB module could be thinner or smaller, leaving more room for other components, or simply offer better image quality with the same physical footprint.
Beyond Apple, Kuo says Sunny Optical has secured component orders for two OpenAI devices, including a smartphone and a handheld or mobile device.
The ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ and ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max are expected to launch in the fall alongside the first foldable iPhone.
