14 DAY TRIAL // Apple’s iPhone 5 has an 8 megapixel camera, according to most industry sources, and now two lens suppliers have been tapped to complete the camera module component that goes inside the end-devices assembled by Foxconn and Pegatron.
Apple has reportedly tapped lens makers Largan Precision and Genius to supply the lenses “for Apple’s newest iPhone 5 with an 8-megapixel camera,” according to the Taiwan Economic News.
The company headquartered at 1 Infinite Loop, Cupertino, California has also issued orders to Foxconn Technology Group and Pegatron Technology to assemble the upcoming iPhone 5 smartphone, according to industry sources quoted by a Japanese blog earlier this week.
Largan, which commands almost 20% of the entire global market for camera lenses, has a relatively higher production yield than rival Genius, according to the aforementioned Taiwanese report.
Largan will reportedly score a big order from Apple, as it has stronger production capability.
In fact, the report notes, Largan has always led development of higher resolution lenses. Their 8-megapixel models have already been shipped in volume to HTC Corp.
The report also notes that Largan has more capacity than peers in Taiwan’s central city of Taichung where it operates three plants housing over 2,000 workers.
Largan reportedly has a fourth plant in construction with plans to take it online in the third quarter of 2012 when “600 to 1,000 more workers will be recruited.”
Genius, for its part, is said to have recorded surging profits in 2004 by heavily supplying VGA camera lenses to Motorola.
A switch defect three years ago then plunged the company’s revenue into losses. Later, it had a comeback driven by none other than Apple Inc. whose orders have put Genius back on track last year.
Unlike Largan, Genius mostly produces VGA lenses for iPhones and iPads - the front-facing cameras.
The two companies are expected to post huge profits thanks to the orders they’ve landed for iPhone 5 and possibly iPad 3 supply.