In a recent revelation, the reliable and well-respected analyst Ming-Chi Kuo revealed in his article that Apple plans to release a variable aperture camera to the iPhone 18 Pro models. While this is not a ground breaking innovation in the broader mobile camera industry many companies like Samsung, Xiaomi Ultra, and Oppo have made it dabbled with this tech.
A Look At The Competition
Samsung’s Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus brought variable aperture into the limelight in 2018, and ever since then, Xiaomi’s 14 Pro and Ultra and Oppo’s R17 Pro have kept the trend alive. These devices have already demonstrated the grand potential of variable aperture cameras to improve low-light photography and provide greater control over depth of field. Apple’s slow integration of variable aperture might be surmounted by its measured approach to ensure the technology has time to mature before embracing it within its device’s ecosystem.
A Growing Partnership
With an opportunity to upgrade, Apple’s partnerships with suppliers are crucial. According to Kuo’s analysis, Sunny Opticals is set to see significant benefits. Their market share in lens supply is expected to increase from around 5% in 2024 to 15-20% in 2025. This is a massive growth in just one year and is driven by the launch of the ultra-slim iPhone 17 and the advancement of Apple Intelligence, which is likely to make good use of advanced AI-driven photography features.
An Upcoming Opportunity
The expected 5% growth in iPhone shipments in 2025 would be a big lift for suppliers like Sunny Optical who benefit from having more phones in the market as these phones would require more lenses and camera modules, translating to a big revenue bump for them. With the upgrade of a variable aperture wide camera lens, Sunny Optical would be the primary shutter and secondary lens suppliers, and their experience with Android’s variable aperture cameras and strong position in shutter orders support this growth. Apple requires a reliable manufacturer, which they find in Sunny Optical, a company with a proven track record of integrating reliable technology more quickly.
