Sunny Optical Reportedly Begins Production for iPhone 18 Pro Camera

China's Sunny Optical has reportedly started manufacturing a critical component for the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models. According to a report from ET News, the company is producing actuators required for a variable-aperture camera lens system.

These actuators are a key component needed to control the iris in variable-aperture camera lenses.

How Variable-Aperture Lenses Work

Variable-aperture technology allows photographers to control a camera's depth of field. This enables a range of creative effects, from a sharp subject with a blurred background (shallow focus) to having everything in the frame in clear focus (deep focus). The potential inclusion of such a lens in an iPhone has been a subject of industry speculation for several years.

The Supply Chain Timeline

The report states that production of components must begin early in the supply chain to meet assembly timelines for new iPhone models. Following Sunny Optical's production of the core actuators, ET News indicates that LG Innotek is expected to begin manufacturing the complete camera modules using these components around June or July of this year.

This early-stage component production aligns with the typical manufacturing cycle for new iPhone devices, which are generally announced in the fall.