Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has a new take on Apple’s future iPhone camera plans, including changes to the internal ultrawide module and a surprisingly large cost increase. Here are the details:
The price of the iPhone 18 Pro’s variable aperture lens is rising
It’s widely reported that one of the biggest changes to the iPhone 18 Pro’s camera system later this year will be the debut of a variable aperture main camera, as opposed to the current fixed aperture design.
However, it can come at a huge cost. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the average selling price of the new variable aperture lens will be 50% higher than Apple’s current high-end 7P lens system.
He said Apple will source 40% to 50% of these parts from Sunny Optical, which also supplies the MacBook Neo’s compact camera module (CCM), and Largan will continue to be the company’s primary supplier.
This alone doesn’t mean Apple will raise the prices of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, but the increase in component costs couldn’t come at a worse time, as Apple is already dealing with rising memory costs that are hurting profits.
New ultrawide module for 2028 iPhone
Besides the iPhone 18 Pro, Kuo also shared some interesting information about the camera module expected in the 2028 iPhone.
According to the analyst, “we expect the 2028 iPhone ultra-wide CCM to eliminate the flip chip in favor of an improved COB version.”
In other words, Apple plans to move away from the current flip-chip packaging method, where the image sensor is mounted face-down and connected to the module board via small solder bumps, and instead adopt an improved chip-on-board design for its ultra-wide-angle camera module.
Kuo did not explain what improvements in chip-on-board design prompted Apple’s decision to move away from flip-chip packaging, only that Sunny Optical was also “well positioned to become a supplier.”
You can read Kuo’s full post here. It also includes details of Sunny Optical’s work on optical components for the rumored OpenAI “smartphone and another pocket/mobile device.”
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