According to a recent leak, the most plausible timeline for this enhancement has now been pushed back to 2028.

Apple has long considered photography capabilities a key factor in maintaining the iPhone’s appeal. However, rather than chasing specifications like many Android competitors, the company has remained committed to 48MP sensors over recent generations and has taken a cautious approach toward adopting triple-digit resolutions.

Even so, broader industry trends suggest that Apple will eventually join the high-resolution race.

Is Apple testing a 200MP periscope camera?

In a recent post, well-known Weibo leaker Digital Chat Station claimed that Apple is indeed researching this technology.

Citing supply chain sources, the leaker said the company is currently evaluating a periscope-style telephoto lens equipped with a 200MP sensor.

That said, the initial post was relatively sparse and lacked detail, making the information appear somewhat speculative.

Given Apple’s scale and position in the market, continuous research into upgrades for its flagship products is hardly surprising.

More notable insights emerged in the comment section. When one user suggested the technology could debut in 2027, Digital Chat Station responded that 2028 would be a more realistic timeframe.

It is also worth noting that leaks from Weibo often carry mixed accuracy when it comes to Apple, partly because sources must continuously generate new information to maintain attention.

While Digital Chat Station is a prominent leaker, their track record remains inconsistent.

In fact, this is not the first time rumors of a 200MP iPhone camera have surfaced. The same leaker previously mentioned Apple testing such sensors as early as May 2025.

Additionally, in January, a Morgan Stanley analyst predicted that the iPhone 21, expected in 2028, would feature a 200MP camera.

However, just a day after that claim, Digital Chat Station suggested Apple was still only experimenting with material changes and had not yet begun prototyping.

By March, the leaker revised the timeline again, indicating that testing might support an iPhone 19 Pro in 2027. Now, the latest update appears to push the plan further back to the following generation.

These shifting timelines reflect the complexity of developing entirely new camera technologies.

For Apple in particular, each upgrade must not only improve specifications but also ensure seamless integration across hardware, software, and user experience.

Apple remains the market’s biggest unknown

One reason rumors surrounding Apple are difficult to verify is the company’s highly secure supply chain.

Even sources considered internal often lack full visibility into the product roadmap.

Nevertheless, analysts and the tech community continue to make predictions based on broader industry trends.

A 200MP camera would undoubtedly represent a significant step forward, especially as competitors have already implemented similar technology.

However, if history is any guide, Apple is likely to introduce such advancements only when they are fully refined, rather than rushing to keep up with the specifications race.

Hai Phong