Apple iPhone 18 Pro costs rise over variable aperture camera

Apple is facing significantly higher production costs for its upcoming iPhone 18 Pro models, driven primarily by a new variable aperture camera system, according to supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The flagship phones, expected to launch later this year, will reportedly feature a main camera lens that can physically adjust its aperture opening, a first for the iPhone Pro lineup.

The new lens system carries an average selling price approximately 50 percent higher than the seven-element plastic lens used in the current iPhone 17 Pro models, Kuo stated. This substantial cost increase is attributed to the greater manufacturing complexity of a variable aperture mechanism compared to a fixed design. Chinese supplier Sunny Optical is positioned to provide between 40 and 50 percent of these components, building on its existing relationship with Apple as a supplier for other devices.

This camera upgrade arrives as Apple contends with broader component cost pressures, including rising memory prices. The situation is further complicated by the anticipated inclusion of Apple's first 2-nanometer chipset, the A20 Pro, which is also cited as a high-cost component. Analysts suggest the...