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Next-Generation iPhone Again Rumored to Have 12-Megapixel Camera

iPhone 6 CameraKevin King, IHS Technology Research Director for China, claimed on Chinese microblogging service Weibo that Apple's next-generation iPhone will feature a 12-megapixel rear-facing camera with smaller pixels (via G4Games), corroborating the same prediction made by well-informed KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo earlier this week.

Apple has used an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera sensor since the iPhone 4s was released in late 2011, so the megapixel bump will be the first in nearly four years if the pair of analysts are correct. Prior to that, the iPhone 4 had a 5-megapixel camera and the iPhone 3GS had a 3-megapixel shooter. Given that megapixels don't always matter, however, software improvements are often more important for image quality.

Last November, well-known Apple pundit John Gruber of Daring Fireball said the next iPhone could have "the biggest camera jump ever" with a dual-lens system that delivers DSLR-quality imagery, but a later report dismissed the rumor since Apple would need to redesign the current chassis of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, which is unlikely for this year's refresh based on the history of "S" models.

Apple's next-generation iPhones are rumored to retain 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch screen sizes, powered by an A9 processor with 2GB of LPDDR4 RAM and featuring Force Touch, improved Touch ID recognition, gesture control support, an additional microphone near the speakers for improved voice quality, a new rose gold color option, internal mechanical design changes and more.

Tags: cameras, IHS

Top Rated Comments

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55 months ago

Where's the people who said 4k video was pointless when other phone manufacturers bumped their megapixels?

It's largely still pointless.
Rating: 28 Votes
55 months ago
Guess I'll be doing this now,but with 12mp :D

Rating: 22 Votes
55 months ago
Is Ming paying Macrumors? He's always described as "well-informed Ming" or in some other way like that. Why does he get a fancy introduction every time? Almost like they're trying to convince us he's accurate.
Rating: 20 Votes
55 months ago

Last November, well-known Apple pundit John Gruber

When a reporter feels compelled to put "well-known" before the person's name, that person isn't really well-known at all.

Otherwise, you'd see reporters making reference to "well-known movie actor George Clooney," "well-known fiction writer Stephen King," "well-known singer Taylor Swift," etc.
Rating: 19 Votes
55 months ago
Fine - if they make 32GB the lowest capacity in order to compensate for the larger file sizes, although I bet they wont...
Rating: 16 Votes
55 months ago
I would actually rather they make the camera flush with the body again, rather than increasing pixels.
Rating: 12 Votes
55 months ago
Dang. Is Macrumors struggling??? I think this "Rumor" was already posted like last month?? Every time I come to this site, its either an old rumor or about the Apple Watch.. Sheesh :confused:
Rating: 9 Votes
55 months ago
As long as it's gonna have 2GB RAM, which it does according to the report, I am gonna buy the next iPhone. Otherwise Force Touch, 12 MP camera, doesn't interest me much.
Rating: 8 Votes
55 months ago


4k video capture will only get a 'wow' factor if the image sensor is large enough to make those megapixels worth it. so shooting 4k vid on a smartphone won't matter much (at this point) no matter which phone you use.

4k is meant for professional video capture, not casual smartphone libraries.

having said that, if they improve both sensor and up the MP by another +4, it could very well be leaps and bounds a better improvement than usual.
Rating: 8 Votes
55 months ago
Ahh... better looking Cat videos and 10MP more than you need to make a good photo.
Rating: 7 Votes

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