Set to launch in 2027, the iPhone 20 represents a major milestone for Apple. As tech fans anticipate big celebrations, reviews, and fierce debates, early leaks about the iPhone 20 Pro Max are already stirring controversy - particularly over the camera.

Apple’s surprising strategy: Old sensor, new results

One of the biggest surprises is Apple’s reported plan to equip its 2027 flagship with camera sensor technology introduced in 2024. It may sound counterintuitive, but Apple appears to be prioritizing consistency and performance over chasing the latest specs.

Apple has long been criticized for being “late” in many areas: it doesn’t boast the biggest camera sensors, it still hasn’t released a foldable phone, battery capacity remains modest, display brightness often trails Android rivals, and glare resistance still lags behind.

Recently, the company has also been seen as trailing in the AI race, with rivals rolling out new features more aggressively.

But what matters most is the final user experience. Even standard models like the iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 continue to impress users with balanced color profiles, excellent video stability, intelligent light handling, and realistic portrait effects. Apple’s philosophy has always been to deploy technology when it’s mature, not just when it’s new.

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Rear camera system on the iPhone 17 Pro Max and 17 Pro. Photo: PhoneArena

A streamlined but limited camera ecosystem

Despite its strong photography results, Apple’s iPhone lineup offers limited camera hardware choices. The standard models typically feature a main lens and an ultra-wide lens; Pro models add a telephoto lens, while SE and other budget lines offer even fewer options.

In contrast, Android phone makers have transformed cameras into playgrounds for creative users. Some boast 1-inch sensors, 10x optical zoom, 200MP resolution, variable aperture lenses, and even fixed 35mm focal length setups akin to professional cameras.

Android’s bold experimentation - larger pixels, multi-layer sensors, specialized telephoto lenses - has widened the creative potential for users, especially photography enthusiasts.

LOFIC sensor from 2024 could power iPhone 20 Pro Max

Insider sources say Apple is testing a sensor based on LOFIC (Lateral Overflow Integration Capacitor) technology. This isn’t exactly new - prototypes date back to 2019, and in 2024, OmniVision debuted the OV50K40 sensor, which combined its proprietary TheiaCel HDR tech with LOFIC.

The goal? Solve one of smartphone photography’s toughest challenges: capturing detail in scenes with extreme contrast, such as bright daylight or strong backlight.

Beyond the OV50K40, OmniVision has also introduced high-end sensors like the OV50R and OV50X - the latter boasting a near 1-inch sensor size. Such advancements are crucial for smartphones, which have long been held back by their small sensors compared to DSLRs.

Apple’s consideration of LOFIC-based sensors suggests a clear focus on real-world image quality, rather than marketing numbers.

A symbolic leap, not just a spec upgrade

Apple isn’t aiming to be first - it wants to be best. From this perspective, LOFIC may be the perfect fit: well-tested, reliable, and able to deliver a visible improvement in photo and video quality.

LOFIC helps the sensor capture more light without blowing out highlights or losing details in shadows. This is especially beneficial for iPhone users, many of whom shoot video or photos in complex lighting conditions.

If Apple does equip the iPhone 20 Pro Max with this technology, the result could be a phone with significantly better light control and dynamic range than previous models - even if the sensor itself isn’t the latest.

Using 2024 camera tech in a 2027 iPhone may raise eyebrows. But from Apple’s perspective, it’s a logical step. The company avoids adopting unproven tech, instead refining mature solutions to deliver the best user experience.

The iPhone 20 Pro Max might not dazzle with numbers, but it could become the most reliable iPhone camera system yet - and to Apple, that’s what really counts.

Hai Phong