iPhone 18 is all set to bring the most significant development in the camer a department. According to a report from Morgan Stanley an investment banking firm the Cupertino based tech giant is working to bring a 200MP sensor camera to the iPhone lineup in 2028. Considering this timeline the first iPhones with a 200MP senorse in the camera will be released in 2028. These iPhones will be called the iPhone 21 series.
What is the timeline of 200MP sensor upgrade?
Apple has been working on including the 200MP camera for quite some time now. Since last year well known tipster Digital Chat Solution claimed that Apple was internally testing the 200MP sensor. However at that point of time there was no clarity in what time will, these internal testings actually be offered in iPhones. However the Morgan Stanley report provides a better timeline as when can users expect it.
Currently Apple is using the 48MP sensor in all of its smartphones across the iPhone 17 series. This means the primary, ultra-wide and telephoto lenses used in the iPhone 17 series are 48MP ones.
Why has ths upgrade delayed?
The primary reason why there was a delay in the 200MP camera sensor upgrade can be attributed to Apple’s supply chain strategy. Morgan Stanley researchers believe that Cupertino based Tech-Giant wants to diversify it’s suppliers. Therofore a delay can be seen in the upgrade process, which was earlier reported to be present in the iPhone 18 series devices however is not the case.
Nonetheless Apple looks to be currently dependent on it’s biggest rival Samsung for these camera sensors. Morgan Stanley says the 200MP sensor for the 2028 iPhones will be supplied by Samsung, despite Apple and Samsung being long-standing rivals in the smartphone market. This partnership is not unusual, as Samsung already supplies several key components for Apple devices.
The report also mentions that Samsung could manufacture these camera sensors at its facility in Austin, Texas, aligning with Apple’s broader efforts to expand component production in the US.
No change in Face ID sensor?
Morgan Stanley does not expect any immediate changes to the supply chain for Face ID sensors, which are currently sourced from a single supplier, LITE. That said, the technology itself could still evolve. The researchers reiterate their expectation that under-display Face ID could debut in 2027, coinciding with the 20th anniversary of the original iPhone.
