Apple Faces 50% Higher iPhone 18 Pro Lens Costs as Variable Aperture Enters Production
Updated
Updated · MacRumors · May 29
Apple Faces 50% Higher iPhone 18 Pro Lens Costs as Variable Aperture Enters Production
6 articles · Updated · MacRumors · May 29
A new variable-aperture lens for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will cost Apple about 50% more than the main camera unit used in current Pro models, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
The upgrade replaces the fixed f/1.78 aperture used from the iPhone 14 Pro through the 17 Pro, letting the lens physically adjust light intake for better exposure control and more flexible depth-of-field effects.
Sunny Optical is expected to supply 40% to 50% of those lens orders, expanding its Apple role after becoming a new compact camera module supplier through the MacBook Neo.
Kuo said the feature was first flagged in late 2024 and has apparently entered production this year ahead of the iPhone 18 Pro lineup's expected fall launch alongside Apple's first foldable iPhone.
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