Samsung removes camera supplier from Flip 5 supply chain

Samsung has removed Partron as a camera module supplier from the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Galaxy Z Fold 5 phones launching next year, TheElec has learned.

Partron had been a major supplier of camera modules for the Galaxy Z Fold 4 that launched earlier this year in August.

It was a secondary supplier of cameras for the back of the smartphone, while Samsung Electro-Mechanics was the primary supplier.

For the Galaxy Z Flip 5 next year, Samsung will be using Mcnex, Samsung Electro-Mechanics, and Cammsys as suppliers for the front camera.

For the Galaxy Z Fold 5, it will be also using the three companies as primary suppliers while Sunny Optical will be the secondary supplier.

Sources said Partron is already a minor supplier of camera modules for the Galaxy S23 series that will be launching in a couple of months.

Samsung Electro-Mechanics, Powerlogics, Mcnex, Namuga, and Sunny Optical are primary suppliers, while Partron is either the secondary or tertiary supplier, depending on the module, they said.

Partron’s exclusion comes from Samsung manufacturing more and more of its camera modules.

At the same time, Partron is also attempting to diversify its portfolio and reduce its reliance on smartphone cameras and is aiming to expand into the automobile sector.

The South Korean parts maker is also still a major supplier of Galaxy A series and Galaxy M series of smartphones, which ship far more units than foldable smartphones, which only account for 5% of Samsung’s total smartphone shipment.