Apple might finally catch up to Samsung and use a 200MP primary camera on future iPhones. A new rumor hints that the company is experimenting with a 200MP main camera sensor.

Current iPhone models ship with a 48MP primary shooter, while the Pro models also use a 48MP ultrawide.

Apple testing a 200MP camera for iPhone

Apple took its time to switch to a high-resolution 48MP sensor on iPhones. It transitioned with the 2022 iPhone 14 Pro, a few years after almost all major Android smartphones had adopted such cameras. But while Apple has stuck to a 48MP primary camera since then, companies like Samsung, Xiaomi, and Vivo have moved on to using 200MP sensors. Only Samsung uses a 200MP primary shooter, while others use the high-resolution sensor for their zoom lens.

Chinese leaker Digital Chat Station says Apple is testing a 200MP camera. While the initial Weibo post did not provide more details, the leaker later indicated in a reply that the 200MP shooter is “most likely the main camera.”

Importantly, the leak makes no claim about Apple adopting a larger sensor. An increase in resolution does not necessarily mean a bigger sensor. Without a larger sensor, any improvement from using a 200MP sensor will only come with pixel binning. So, don’t expect any radical improvements, especially in low light.

High-resolution sensors can help with better zoom

Such high-resolution sensors typically help deliver better zoom performance in good lighting conditions. Apple could leverage this to capture 3x zoom images with optical-quality zoom. Or, like Xiaomi and Vivo, it could use a 200MP periscope lens for impressive long-range zoom.

Before Apple makes the leap to a 200MP camera, it will seemingly upgrade the iPhone 17 Pro with a 48MP telephoto lens this year. The move should improve the image quality and enable the company to offer 8K video recording for the first time.