Apple's adoption of a 200MP camera for a future iPhone is still a ways off, according to a prominent supply chain leaker, who reports that such a sensor is not part of Apple's active prototype testing.
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In a post on Weibo, Chinese leaker Digital Chat Station reported that 200-megapixel camera sensors are being discussed in the supply chain, but have not appeared in iPhone engineering prototypes undergoing real-world imaging tests. Instead, Apple's current camera development work is said to remain focused on improving 48-megapixel systems, according to previous reports.
The leaker's comments follow a research note from Morgan Stanley this week that suggested Apple is working to bring a 200-megapixel camera to the iPhone as soon as 2028. Digital Chat Station's remarks don't rule out such a move — indeed, the leaker had said last May that Apple was considering future adoption — but they do indicate that engineering-stage development for the sensor has yet to begin.
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Samsung introduced a 200-megapixel rear camera on the Galaxy S23 Ultra in 2023, and subsequent models will also feature one. With a 200-megapixel camera, an iPhone would be able to capture photos with greater detail. The increased megapixel count would also result in higher-resolution photos, which can be further cropped and printed at larger sizes without losing image quality.
However, Digital Chat Station reports that current prototypes of the Pro series continue to test a 48-megapixel main camera with a variable aperture, along with a 48-megapixel camera that features a longer focal length and a larger aperture. The leaker says that these changes will be introduced later this year in the iPhone 18 Pro models, indicating that Apple continues to emphasize optical flexibility and low-light performance, rather than a jump in raw resolution.
The leaker adds that the 200-megapixel sensors – reportedly sourced from Samsung – are currently only in the materials or component evaluation stage. This typically refers to early feasibility checks within the supply chain, rather than integration into full iPhone prototypes.
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Digital Chat Station also notes that Apple has shown interest in “multispectral imaging technology,” although testing has reportedly not yet begun. Multispectral imaging could theoretically enable improved material/object detection and image processing, but there’s no indication that such features are close to release.
