Apple is reportedly planning to introduce a 200-megapixel camera to the iPhone in 2028 as part of a long-term strategy to diversify suppliers, strengthen U.S. manufacturing, and deliver major imaging upgrades without raising prices.
Apple is reportedly planning to add a 200-megapixel camera to iPhone in 2028.
According to analysts at Morgan Stanley, the Cupertino company’s first 200MP sensor won’t appear until the iPhone 21, rather than in the nearer-term iPhone 18 lineup as some earlier predictions suggested.
The delay is said to reflect Apple’s caution around supply chain resilience, with the company keen to avoid relying too heavily on a single imaging supplier.
Apple is reportedly planning to adopt Samsung’s 200MP camera technology, marking a notable shift in strategy.
While Sony has long been Apple’s primary image sensor partner, industry reports indicate it has yet to match Samsung’s high-resolution CMOS sensor capabilities at scale.
As a result, Samsung is expected to play a central role, potentially producing some sensors at its Austin, Texas facility as Apple increases U.S.-based component manufacturing.
Camera changes may not stop there, as Morgan Stanley has claimed Apple is also exploring additional suppliers for LiDAR components – with discussions reportedly under way with STMicroelectronics alongside existing partner Sony.
Face ID, however, is expected to remain tied to a single supplier, with no immediate changes forecast.
Looking further ahead, analysts believe Apple could introduce under-display Face ID in 2027, aligning with the 20th anniversary of the original iPhone.
Together, these moves suggest Apple is laying long-term groundwork rather than chasing headline specs year to year.
Crucially, Morgan Stanley has said it expects Apple to continue absorbing rising component costs instead of passing them directly to consumers.
That approach was evident with the iPhone 17 lineup, where Apple increased base storage rather than hiking prices outright.
If accurate, the shift to a 200MP camera in 2028 would represent one of the biggest imaging upgrades in iPhone history.
Apple ‘planning to bring 200MP camera to iPhone in 2028’
