Sunny to Supply Camera Components for MacBook Neo and iPhone 18 Pro [Kuo]

Apple supplier Sunny Optical is seeing a wave of new business from Apple, driven by better-than-expected MacBook Neo shipments and a major role in the iPhone 18 Pro's upcoming variable aperture camera system.



Industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo shared recent supply chain checks today detailing several positive developments for the company. The manufacturer has reportedly become a new Apple camera module (CCM) supplier, producing the MacBook Neo camera module. Shipments of the notebook have exceeded expectations, prompting an increase in its 2026 forecast from 5 million to 10 million units. The revised outlook aligns with previous reports that Apple is working to expand production capacity for the $599 laptop.


The company has also secured a 40 to 50 percent share of orders for a new variable aperture lens planned for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max in the second half of 2026. The component carries a 50 percent higher average selling price than current high-end 7P lenses. The update adds weight to earlier indications that Apple is moving a variable aperture camera system into its 2026 flagship smartphones.

Further ahead, Sunny is well-positioned to participate in Apple's upgraded ultra-wide camera module program expected for the 2028 iPhone lineup as the company moves away from flip-chip packaging in favor of an improved chip-on-board design.

Outside of Apple, the manufacturer is also expanding into artificial intelligence hardware. It has secured NPI projects for optical components used in OpenAI's smartphone and another pocket-sized mobile device. The company is also preparing sample shipments of silicon photonics and co-packaged optics components for AI server infrastructure while pursuing growth in the sector through strategic investments and acquisitions.