Apple delays 200MP camera upgrade until the iPhone 21

Apple fans will have to wait for the release of the iPhone 21 to get the powerful new camera, researchers at investment bank Morgan Stanley have claimed.

Apple is no longer expected to introduce a 200-megapixel camera to the iPhone until 2028.

Previous reports have fueled hopes that the newest camera could be the one on the iPhone 18 series. However, due to changes in Apple's supply chain organization, the long-awaited camera is likely to arrive later.

Japan’s Sony, which has long been a key supplier of iPhone camera sensors, will continue to provide some components, including LiDAR sensors. They’re the components that help iPhones focus faster, create 3D maps, improve AR or photo effects, and perform other functions.

They’ve been historically sourced from Japan to the US.

However, Apple is now diversifying its supply chain, and this is where Samsung comes in. South Korea’s tech giant has already been using the tech needed to produce the 200MP on its own Galaxy flagship phones. The company is now expected to produce some of the new 200MP sensors at its facility in Austin, Texas.

According to reports, the company has already listed job openings for mechanical and electrical technicians, engineers, and managers. This marks a shift from the previously traditional reliance on components made overseas to those made in the US.

Production at the Austin facility is planned for the future, though no official start date has been confirmed.

Knowing this, Morgan Stanley has shared a note with its investors, in which the bank states that the 200-megapixel camera will only be present on the iPhone 21.

AppleInsider, which has seen the notes, reports that Apple is in talks with STMicro, a semiconductor company with its major operations based in France and Italy.

It’s also reported that under-display Face ID technology – one that allows the phone to scan a face through the screen itself, rather than through a visible tiny notch – could arrive in 2027. That’s exactly 20 years after the first iPhone was released.

Moreover, Morgan Stanley researchers predict that Apple will absorb rising component costs rather than passing them on to consumers in the form of price increases.

The introduction of 200MP cameras is expected to significantly improve iPhone image quality. As the sensors from this camera capture more pixels, picture quality should stay consistent when zooming in and cropping. Users will also be able to print large images and maintain quality. It will also ensure better camera performance when taking photos in low-light conditions.

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