May 28, 2025, 12:02 pm | Read time: 2 minutes
Apple is apparently planning a major technological advancement for the camera in its iPhones. According to recent 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. According to a leaker, Apple is apparently planning to introduce a third 48-megapixel camera for the next iPhone generation, 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
The upcoming iPhone 17 Pro could feature three 48-megapixel cameras for the first time. The plan includes a new periscope telephoto camera with this resolution. This setup would enable 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 capture photos with significantly higher detail. This would enable more extensive cropping or printing in large formats without compromising image quality. Users would benefit from greater flexibility in photo editing. This development indicates that Apple aims to elevate its camera technology to a new level in the future.
Comparable cameras have been used by Samsung since the Galaxy S23 Ultra, which was released in 2023. The subsequent Galaxy S24 Ultra and S25 Ultra generations are also equipped with such a sensor. However, for Apple, a switch to such a high-resolution camera is not expected in the short term.
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No Immediate Implementation Likely
Despite ongoing tests, current rumors suggest it is unlikely that the iPhone 17 Pro models will feature such a sensor. Instead, they are expected to continue with only 48-megapixel cameras. There are also 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 take longer.
Apple appears to be 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.