<div id="readability-page-1">The iPhone 18 Pro and ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max's all new variable aperture lens will cost Apple 50% more than the camera unit used in current models, according to supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today said in a new post on X.<img src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://images.macrumors.com/article-new/2026/04/iphone-17-pro-black-feature.jpg?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" width="2500" height="1406" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://images.macrumors.com/article-new/2026/04/iphone-17-pro-black-feature.jpg"/> Variable aperture has been one of the most persistent iPhone camera rumors of the past few years. Kuo first flagged the feature in late 2024, and it has since been corroborated by multiple reports and apparently entered production earlier this year.Unlike the fixed f/1.78 aperture found on every iPhone Pro from the 14 Pro through to the 17 Pro, a variable aperture will physically adjust the size of the lens opening to control how much light reaches the sensor, offering better exposure control and greater flexibility over depth of field.Kuo said that the component has an average selling price roughly 50% higher than the seven-element plastic lens Apple currently uses in the iPhone 17 Pro's main camera. Sunny Optical set to supply Apple between 40 and 50% of ordersSunny Optical has also become a new compact camera module (CCM) supplier for Apple, initially producing the camera for the MacBook Neo. ‌MacBook Neo‌ shipments have come in significantly better than expected, with Kuo doubling his 2026 forecast from 5 million to 10 million units, a notable upward revision as the entry-level Mac has materially exceeded early expectations.Looking further ahead, the 2028 iPhone's ultra wide camera module is expected to move away from flip-chip packaging in favor of an improved COB (chip-on-board) design, with Sunny Optical well positioned to become a supplier at that point. A COB ultra-wide module could be thinner or smaller, leaving more room for other components, or simply deliver better image quality from the same physical footprint.Beyond Apple, Kuo says Sunny Optical has secured component orders for two OpenAI devices, including a smartphone and a pocket or mobile device.The ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ and ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max are expected to launch in the fall alongside the first foldable iPhone. Related Roundup: iPhone 18 ProTags: 20th-Anniversary iPhone, Ming-Chi Kuo This article, &#34;iPhone 18 Pro's Camera Upgrade Will Cost Apple 50% More&#34; first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums</div>

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The iPhone 18 Pro's new variable aperture lens will cost Apple 50% more than the current camera unit, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. This upgrade aims to enhance exposure control and depth of field. Sunny Optical will supply a significant portion of the orders and has also secured contracts for OpenAI devices. The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are expected to launch in the fall, alongside a foldable iPhone.

- The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will feature a new variable aperture lens, which will cost Apple 50% more than the current camera unit.  
- Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo notes that this lens, which allows for better light control and depth of field adjustments, has been in production since earlier this year.  
- Sunny Optical is set to supply a significant portion of these components while also expanding its role as a camera module supplier for Apple's MacBook Neo.