This is when Apple’s first iPhone with 200MP camera may launch

Apple is testing a 200-megapixel periscope telephoto camera for a future iPhone—but don't hold your breath. Weibo leaker Digital Chat Station says 2028 is the most realistic arrival date, pushing the upgrade further out than some earlier rumors had suggested.Morgan Stanley arrived at the same conclusion independently, flagging 2028 in an investor note earlier this year. That device is expected to be called the iPhone 21, since Apple is reportedly saving the iPhone 20 name for 2027—the smartphone's 20th anniversary.

Apple's megapixel jump is bigger than it sounds

This would be a significant leap. Every iPhone since the 15 Pro has topped out at 48MP, and Apple has largely avoided the megapixel race that Android makers have been running for years.

Samsung put a 200MP sensor in the Galaxy S23 Ultra back in 2023. Apple is only now quietly testing similar territory.According to Digital Chat Station, the 200MP module being evaluated is a periscope telephoto—not the main camera, which earlier rumors had targeted. Apple is reportedly looking at a 1/1.12-inch sensor, a notably large unit that would help manage the noise issues that typically plague high-density sensors in low light.

Keeping it confined to telephoto use also helps, since those shots usually happen outdoors where light isn't a problem.In the meantime, the iPhone 18 Pro—due later this year—is expected to stay at 48MP but pick up a variable aperture on the main camera. For most users, that's probably the more meaningful upgrade anyway.Digital Chat Station has a mixed but notable track record on Apple leaks, so treat the 2028 window as an informed estimate rather than a confirmed date.