Apple is expected to announce its M4 MacBook Pro lineup in the fourth quarter of this year, but apart from a chipset upgrade, it is unlikely that the company will introduce a design change with the upcoming portable Macs. Fortunately, one analyst predicts that we will not have to wait too long for this, as the technology giant will shift to a Compact Camera Module, or CCM, in 2025 when it introduces the M5 versions.
Apple will reportedly add a new supplier to its list, which will provide the CCM hardware for the M5 MacBook Pro models next year
As suggested by TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo in his latest Medium blog post, Sunny Optical could be Apple’s next supplier for the Compact Camera Modules that will be found in the next-generation M5 MacBook Pro models. Mass production of this component will reportedly commence in Vietnam and, according to MacRumors, will provide a complete imaging system that is integrated into the compact form factor of portable Macs. Currently, LG Innotek and Sharp fulfill Apple’s shipments of camera modules.
However, Sunny Optical has a competitive edge over those two, as it can supply both the CCM and lens in a single package, making integration seamless. Kuo believes that if Apple can maintain a healthy shipment volume of the M5 MacBook Pro models, Sunny Optical may become the Cupertino firm’s primary supplier of Compact Camera Modules for future iPhone and iPad models. The analyst does not mention if the addition of CCM will give Apple flexibility to add Face ID components to the new MacBook Pro models, so we will have to wait for a future update.
Previously, Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman revealed Apple’s grand plans to make its devices thinner. It started with the 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Pro models, with the iPhone 17 said to be the next device in line to feature a ‘skinnier’ chassis. Eventually, Apple will bring this design to future MacBook Pro models, so it is possible that bringing Sunny Optical into the fold could be to acquire optical components that can easily fit into the thin frame of these notebooks. Unfortunately, this information is unconfirmed at the time of writing, so we will relay new data to our readers when it becomes available.
News Source: Ming-Chi Kuo