May 28, 2025, 12:02 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
Apple is reportedly planning a significant technological leap in the camera of its iPhones. According to current reports, the company is testing an extremely powerful camera sensor.
The current iPhone 16 Pro is equipped with a 48-megapixel main camera, an ultra-wide-angle camera with the same resolution, and a 12-megapixel periscope telephoto camera. For the next iPhone generation, Apple is reportedly planning, according to a leaker, to introduce a third 48-megapixel camera for the first time, which would mean uniformly high resolutions for the entire camera system. In parallel, the company is also testing a 200-megapixel camera sensor.
Apple reportedly testing 200-megapixel camera for new iPhone
In the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro, Apple could for the first time install three cameras, each with 48 megapixels. The plan is to use a new periscope telephoto camera with this resolution. This would enable the camera setup to provide consistent image quality across all focal lengths. This technical decision could significantly improve the quality and consistency of zoom and wide-angle shots. The information comes from the reliable leaker “Digital Chat Station.”
A 200-megapixel sensor would allow the iPhone to take photos with significantly higher detail. This would enable users to crop images more extensively or print them in large formats without compromising image quality. Users would thus benefit from greater flexibility in image editing. The development shows that Apple aims to elevate its camera technology to a new level in the future.
Read also: Leaked images show how large the camera bar in the iPhone 17 Pro is expected to be
Comparable cameras have been used by Samsung since the Galaxy S23 Ultra, which was released in 2023. The subsequent generations, Galaxy S24 Ultra and S25 Ultra, are also equipped with such a sensor. At Apple, however, the switch to such a high-resolution camera is not expected in the short term.
No immediate implementation likely
Despite ongoing tests, current rumors suggest it is unlikely that the iPhone 17 Pro models will be equipped with such a sensor. Instead, they are expected to continue featuring only 48-megapixel cameras. There are currently no indications of a 200-megapixel camera for the subsequent iPhone 18 Pro series. This makes it clear: The actual integration of this technology into a production model could still be a long way off.
Apple is apparently pursuing a long-term plan to further develop its smartphone cameras. While other manufacturers are already focusing on high megapixel counts, Apple has so far concentrated on optimizing existing technologies. However, the introduction of a 200-megapixel sensor could eventually set new standards in detail accuracy, dynamic range, and image processing. Until then, it remains uncertain when the new technology will actually be incorporated into the iPhone.