South Korean lens module manufacturer Mcnex has successfully entered the supply chain for the folded zoom lens for Samsung's flagship phones. According to industry sources, Mcnex has been selected as the new supplier of the folded zoom lens for the S26 Ultra, which will be released in the first quarter of next year.
Previously, the 50-megapixel, 5x zoom folded zoom lens featured in the Samsung S24 Ultra, starting with Samsung Electro-Mechanics and China's Sunny Optical, was supplied. Starting with the S26 Ultra, Mcnex will join the supply chain and take over some orders previously handled by Sunny Optical, creating a three-way supplier structure for this component. Multiple industry sources revealed that Samsung's involvement with Mcnex is intended to ensure a stable supply of lens modules. Mcnex stated, "We are unable to confirm specific customer-related information."
Folded zoom lenses use a periscope-like mechanism to refract light to increase focal length, thereby achieving optical zoom. They are high-value-added lens modules used in mobile phones to reduce camera bumps and enable telephoto capabilities. Their more complex optical structure makes them more difficult to manufacture and more expensive than conventional lens modules. Mcnex is expected to drive business expansion through such high-value-added orders.
In addition to the folding zoom lens, the Samsung S26 Ultra will reportedly feature a 10-megapixel 3x zoom lens. This module will be supplied by PowerLogics, another Samsung partner. Notably, Mcnex and Patron originally supplied this 3x zoom lens for the S24 and S25 Ultra. As Mcnex shifted to supplying more complex folding zoom lenses, its share was taken over by PowerLogics and Patron. Furthermore, the S26 Ultra's 200-megapixel main camera will be supplied by Samsung Electro-Mechanics and Samsung Electronics' internal team (System LSI); the 50-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera will be supplied by Sunny Optical and Patron; and the 12-megapixel front-facing camera will be provided by Namuga and Mcnex.
The report also details the lens configurations of other models in the series: the base S26 Pro features a 50-megapixel main camera, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, a 10-megapixel 3x telephoto lens, and a 12-megapixel front camera, consistent with the previous generation. The slimmer S26 Edge features a 200-megapixel wide-angle lens, a 50-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 12-megapixel front camera. Suppliers include Samsung Electro-Mechanics, PowerLogics, CamSys, Namuga, Sunny Optical, and Coasia, with a relatively even distribution.
Production of lens modules for the S26 series is expected to begin in November. Samsung Electronics could begin mass production of the first phones as early as the end of the year. The S series typically produces around 35 million units, with the Ultra model accounting for approximately 50%.
