Apple reportedly testing 200MP periscope camera for future iPhones

Apple may be exploring a major jump in camera hardware, though it doesn’t look like it’s coming anytime soon.

A new post from the Weibo-based leaker Digital Chat Station suggests Apple is currently evaluating a 200-megapixel periscope telephoto camera. The detail comes from supply chain chatter, though specifics remain limited.

Apple’s 200MP camera plans are still long-term

There’s no clear timeline attached to this yet, but the same source hints that 2028 is a more realistic window for something like this to show up. That aligns with earlier speculation from analysts, who have also pointed to a similar timeframe.

At this stage, the development is still being described as evaluation rather than something closer to production. Apple is known to test multiple hardware directions internally before committing to one, so this does not guarantee that a 200MP sensor will make it to a final product.

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There have also been earlier reports of similar testing. Reports from 2025 suggested Apple was experimenting with high-resolution sensors, though those claims also placed the technology in a much earlier phase.

Apple has stuck with 48MP sensors in recent iPhones, focusing more on image processing than simply increasing resolution. Moving to a 200MP sensor would mark a noticeable shift in approach, although it is not surprising that the company is at least exploring it.

At the same time, sources like Digital Chat Station have a mixed track record with Apple-related leaks. That makes it difficult to treat this as anything more than an early signal of what Apple could be considering.

For now, this appears to be internal testing rather than a confirmed direction. If anything comes out of it, it is likely still a few years away.

Should Apple move to higher-megapixel cameras, or stick with its current approach? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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