CEO John Ternus' first iPhone could get 200MP zoom camera like Oppo Find X9 Ultra, says leak

Apple has never been one to join the megapixel arms race just for the sake of the spec sheet. However, new reports from China suggest that Cupertino is seriously considering a massive new 200MP sensor for its future iPhone Pro series.

While the "shock and awe" of such a high resolution is usually reserved for Android flagships like the Oppo Find X9 Ultra, Apple’s version isn't expected to hit the shelves until 2028. This timeline aligns with recent insider investor notes, placing the upgrade in the iPhone 21 timeframe.

It would be uncharacteristic, yet not impossible, for Apple to adopt the same 200MP sensor used by Oppo. That said, Cupertino typically prefers "slow and steady" refinement, waiting for a technology to mature before “stealing” it for the iPhone.

Could John Ternus' first iPhone bring a 200MP camera and a new vision for future Apple flagships?

All that “iPhone 21” and “2028” talk aside, just as Apple famously skipped the iPhone 9 to launch the iPhone X for its 10th anniversary, the MacBook-maker might jump directly to the iPhone 20 or iPhone XX to mark its 20th year.

The iPhone’s second rebranding would serve as the perfect timing for the 200MP telephoto sensor, framing the move not as "catching up to Android," but as a generational leap. Not to mention, the first 200MP-camera iPhone might very well be the first Apple flagship fully developed under the supervision of new CEO John Ternus.

iPhone 18 Pro is expected to launch in September, largely retaining the same triple 48MP camera system as iPhone 17 Pro - but with a variable aperture for the primary 48MP snapper.