The iPhone 17 Pro features three 48MP cameras. | Image by PhoneArena
Apple was never the one to rush to the cutting edge camera tech for the iPhone, and that appears unlikely to change anytime soon. The company may add variable aperture to the iPhone 18 Pro, but a fresh rumor claims that a more significant camera upgrade may be years away.
200MP cameras may come to the iPhone in 2028
Apple has started testing a 200MP camera sensor, according to information shared (source in Chinese) by prolific leaker Digital Chat Station on Weibo. However, those are very early evaluations, and a final product is unlikely to appear before 2028.
Recommended For You
That information is backed by earlier rumors that suggested a similar timeframe for an iPhone with a 200MP camera. In January, Morgan Stanley said in an investor note that the feature may be part of what could be the iPhone 21.
What camera upgrade would appreciate the most for your next phone?
Undecided on the supplier
Some of the details shared by the leaker include the claim that Apple hasn’t decided who would provide the 200MP sensor. Apparently, Sony and Samsung are in the mix, but a final decision could be years away.
Sony Lytia 901 could be the sensor Apple uses. | Image by Sony
The sensor itself may be significantly larger than anything we’ve seen on an iPhone before. That could be a 1/1.12”-type sensor, which would be used on a telephoto lens with a variable aperture.
Joining a crowded party
Even if Apple were to add a 200MP sensor on the iPhone 18, the company would join a long list of phones offering the same tech. Samsung has been using 200MP sensors since the Galaxy S23 Ultra, and multiple devices from Xiaomi, Vivo, Honor, and other brands also feature high-resolution cameras.
The trend has now moved even further with Oppo’s brand-new Find X9 Ultra, which offers two cameras with 200MP sensors. It’s main camera sensor is the Sony Lytia-901, which is also present on the Vivo X300 Ultra and could be what Apple is currently evaluating, as it is a 1/1.12”-type sensor.
More than numbers
Providing high-quality photos requires more than just a large sensor and extreme resolution. Apple never played the numbers game, but its cameras are consistently among the best performing on the market.
What sounds the most intriguing in this rumor is not the resolution but the size of the sensor. I’ve said before that one of the few things that could improve any camera is getting a larger sensor that can take more light. If Apple does that, we may see a leap in its photo quality.
Get Visible as low as $20/mo for 1 year. Limited time offer with code: FRESHSTART
$20
/mo
$25
$5 off (20%)
Offer Ends 6.1.2026 at 11.59pm ET. New members get $5/mo off the $25/mg Visible plan, $35/mo Visible+ plan, or $45/mo Visible+ Pro plan for the first 12 months. Promo code FRESHSTART required at checkout.
Ilia, a tech journalist at PhoneArena, has been covering the mobile industry since 2011, with experience at outlets like Forbes Bulgaria. Passionate about smartphones, tablets, and consumer tech, he blends deep industry knowledge with a personal fascination that began with his first Nokia and Sony Ericsson devices. Originally from Bulgaria and now based in Lima, Peru, Ilia balances his tech obsessions with walking his dog, training at the gym, and slowly mastering Spanish.
A discussion is a place, where people can voice their opinion, no matter if it
is positive, neutral or negative. However, when posting, one must stay true to the topic, and not just share some
random thoughts, which are not directly related to the matter.
Things that are NOT allowed:
Off-topic talk - you must stick to the subject of discussion
Offensive, hate speech - if you want to say something, say it politely
Spam/Advertisements - these posts are deleted
Multiple accounts - one person can have only one account
Impersonations and offensive nicknames - these accounts get banned
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts:
New accounts created within the last 24 hours may experience restrictions on how frequently they can
post or comment.
These limits are in place as a precaution and will automatically lift.
Moderation is done by humans. We try to be as objective as possible and moderate with zero bias. If you think a
post should be moderated - please, report it.
Have a question about the rules or why you have been moderated/limited/banned? Please,
contact us.
Things that are NOT allowed:
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts: