The M5 MacBook Pro, set to launch in 2025, is already generating buzz about its potential new features. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicts a significant change – a new camera supplier. Sunny Optical, a Chinese manufacturer, is poised to replace LG Innotek and Sharp, the current suppliers for MacBook Pro webcams. While this might seem like a minor adjustment, Kuo highlights Sunny Optical’s expertise as a “first-tier” compact camera module supplier, albeit one primarily focused on Asian brands. This move is likely driven by cost optimization, allowing Apple to consolidate camera module and lens sourcing. However, it also raises intriguing possibilities for quality enhancement. The current MacBook Pro features a 1080p FaceTime camera, and a resolution bump is highly anticipated. Laptops like the HP OmniBook X boast a 5-megapixel camera, while others have transitioned to 1440p. While the MacBook Pro’s image processing is commendable, it doesn’t stand out like other aspects of the device. A supplier shift could potentially elevate the quality, especially if new supply chain efficiencies are introduced.
More importantly, this change could finally pave the way for Face ID on the MacBook Pro. This feature has been a long-standing request, subject to rumors and delays. Face ID debuted on iPhones and iPads in 2017, and Windows Hello has been available since Windows 10. Yet, MacBooks remain reliant on Touch ID or passwords for secure login. With Apple recently introducing a Calculator app for the iPad and RSC support for iPhone, anything seems possible these days. If Apple truly aims to improve the camera in next year’s model, Face ID integration would be an ideal addition, potentially launching exclusively on the MacBook Pro initially.
The new camera module might also contribute to a thinner design for the MacBook Pro, mirroring the recent changes in the M4 iPad Pro. While Apple’s efforts in this direction are acknowledged, the launch timeline remains unclear. 2025 seems plausible, especially considering the last chassis update was four years ago. However, the rumored transition to tandem OLED, a feature present in the iPad Pro, is currently projected for 2026. While details are still tentative, these changes are confirmed to be absent in the MacBook Pros scheduled for release later this year, which will focus solely on a chip upgrade to the M4 series.
Beyond the MacBook Pro, Kuo suggests that Sunny Optical’s partnership could extend to iPhones and iPads in the future.
