April 24, 2026, 3:29 pm | Read time: 2 minutes
For months, there have been speculations about a major camera upgrade for the iPhone. There’s been talk of a jump to 200 megapixels. However, current information significantly tempers expectations. Apple seems to be taking more time than initially thought.
The cameras on the iPhone Pro models are among the best in the smartphone sector. Even feature films have been shot with them. Nevertheless, Apple remains conservative with resolution. While Samsung has been using 200-megapixel sensors in its Galaxy S Ultra devices for years, Apple has only recently moved to 48 megapixels for all lenses on the iPhone 17 Pro. Although there have been indications for some time that Apple is working on a significantly higher resolution, a quick transition does not seem to be planned.
Launch No Earlier Than iPhone 20 Pro
The well-known Chinese leaker “Digital Chat Station” contradicts earlier expectations. In a post on the social network Weibo, he explains that while Apple is already testing 200-megapixel sensors in prototypes, they are not yet ready for mass production. A specific timeline is missing, but the insider makes it clear that no such upgrade is expected before 2028. This means neither the iPhone 18 Pro nor the subsequent model will be equipped with this technology.
Whether the new camera will debut in the iPhone 20 Pro remains uncertain. According to the insider, there are currently no reliable indications for this. As recently as March 2026, he himself had suggested a possible launch for 2027, but this assessment is now considered outdated. The investment firm Morgan Stanley had already predicted in January 2026 that such an upgrade could occur no earlier than 2028.
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Aperture and Camera Software in Focus
Instead of focusing on ever-higher megapixel counts, Apple appears to be looking at other areas. According to Digital Chat Station, the focus is primarily on better results in low-light conditions and more optical flexibility. This aligns with recent rumors about the iPhone 18 Pro: It is said to feature a main camera with a variable aperture for the first time. The resolution, however, is expected to remain at 48 megapixels.