A new report from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says Apple expects a nearly 50% rise in component costs for the iPhone 18 Pro’s camera system. Will supply chain restrictions push iPhone 18 Pro prices higher?
In addition to the X.com post we reported earlier, Kuo added that the new iPhone 18 Pro CCM being produced by Sunny Optical carries a “50% higher ASP (vs. the high-end 7P lens), with Sunny’s supply share reaching 40–50%.” This means that the new average selling price of the iPhone 18 Pro’s CCM will be 50% higher than that of the current seven-element plastic lens design.
According to ET News, the variable aperture lens design in the future iPhone is a component that “regulates the amount of light reaching the camera sensor, allowing it to reduce light exposure during the day and capture more light at night. It has the advantage of allowing users to take sharper and clearer photos regardless of the shooting environment.”
Looking ahead, Kuo adds that the 2028 iPhone’s ultra-wide cameras will drop the current flip-chip design in favor of an improved chip-on-board (COB) design. This means a smaller package will allow for more room for additional components or a bigger battery. Supplier Sunny Optical, which we reported on earlier, is set to produce 50% of Apple’s components.
The iPhone 18 and iPhone 18 Pro Max are expected sometime in September. Apple is also expected to unveil its first-ever foldable iPhone, which will usher in a new era of Apple with Tim Cook no longer at the helm.
