Apple is set to incorporate a new compact camera module (CCM) supplier for its upcoming MacBook models powered by the next-generation M5 chip in 2025, as revealed by Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
In a recent investor note published on Medium, Kuo disclosed that Apple will collaborate with Sunny Optical for the CCM in its M5 MacBooks. Sunny Optical, a Chinese optical lens manufacturer, will produce the CCMs in Vietnam and provide an integrated imaging system within a compact form factor for the new laptops.
Currently, LG InnoTek and Sharp are the primary suppliers of camera modules for MacBooks. Within Apple’s optical component supply chain, Sunny Optical stands out as the only company capable of supplying both CCMs and lenses in a single package, offering the advantage of vertical integration. Kuo suggests that if the MacBook shipments proceed smoothly, Sunny Optical may also become the new CCM supplier for future iPhone and iPad models.
Apple is planning to update the 14-inch MacBook Pro with an M4 chip as early as late 2024, with a potential refresh anticipated before the year’s end. Additionally, the high-end 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models are expected to receive a late 2024 refresh featuring M4 Pro and M4 Max chips.
According to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, Apple is developing a thinner version of the MacBook Pro. Inspired by the 2024 iPad Pro.
While the release date for the thinner MacBook Pro remains uncertain, with no design changes rumored for the 2024 refresh, it is possible that 2025 could see the debut of redesigned Macs featuring the M5 chip. Apple is also reportedly working on integrating Face ID into the Mac, with the MacBook Pro likely to be among the first models to receive this feature, though specific details on the timeline are yet to be confirmed.