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iPhone 6S camera: 12 megapixel photos, 4K video recording, flash for selfies

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One of the marquee upgrades to the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus will be a major revamp to the camera system. For the first time since the iPhone 4S launch in 2011, the iPhone camera’s megapixel count will be upgraded: Apple will be moving from the 8-megapixel sensor on the iPhone 6 to a custom imager billed as 12-megapixels in both of the new iPhones, according to sources. The 12-megapixel camera will mean that the new iPhones will be able to take larger, higher-resolution photos than before. Because of an upgraded image signal processor that comes as part of the new A9 system-on-a-chip, the new sensor will not wash out or otherwise decrease the quality of photos, according to sources.

In addition to a much-upgraded rear still camera, Apple has decided to make a significant addition to the iPhone’s video recording capabilities: 4K video recording support, stepping up from 1080p in the iPhone 6. The iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus will be the first iPhones capable of recording video in full 4K resolution and among the first phones on the market with such capabilities, though Samsung’s Galaxy S5 launched with 4K video recording support in early 2014. The benefits of 4K video recording include compatibility with the latest consumer television sets, improved stability and clarity, as well as benefits during post-production editing. Apple is likely to highlight 4K as one of the new iPhone’s premier additions for marketing purposes.

4K Video Recording Sample from the Galaxy S5

Besides new camera hardware on the rear of the new iPhone, we are told that the front FaceTime camera will also see significant improvements. In addition to an upgraded sensor for higher quality video calls and selfies, Apple will indeed add front flash support. While some industry watchers have speculated that code in iOS 9 betas indicates that Apple will add a front-facing LED flash to the new iPhones, sources say that is not the case. Instead, the new iPhone’s display will take cues from Snapchat and Photo Booth, lighting up with a quick white screen when the shutter button for the front camera is pressed. Front-facing panorama shots and slow motion video in 720P are also likely to make it to the front camera this fall.

We reported earlier this year that Apple had been testing 4K video recording support for this year’s iPhone upgrade, while earlier reports out of the supply chain also indicated that the new iPhone could receive a 12-megapixel camera sensor. It’s unclear whether the sensor is actually 12-megapixel native, or a 13-megapixel sensor cropped for digital image stabilization purposes. Besides an overhauled camera system on the front and back, the new iPhone will include a Force Touch display focused on shortcutting features around iOS 9, new Apple Watch-like animated wallpapers for an enhanced user interface, a faster A9 processor with improved graphics for gaming and displaying video content, and more efficient Qualcomm-built cellular chips. Apple will announce the new iPhones alongside the next-generation Apple TV at an event in San Francisco on September 9th.

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Comments

  1. PhilBoogie - 9 years ago

    Will this mean a HW H.265 chip is embedded?

    • LucaTNT - 9 years ago

      AFAIK it’s already there in iPhone 6/6 Plus and in the iPad Air 2, but it’s currently only used for FaceTime.

      • D0ug (@D0ug) - 9 years ago

        Nah, you’ll just need to spend an extra $400 bucks on 256MB of extra storage that Apple will be happy to sell ya ;(

  2. mariobros27772 - 9 years ago

    So, will it be safe to assume the new AppleTV will support 4K output?

    • TechSHIZZLE.com - 9 years ago

      This is exactly what I was thinking.

      Good thing I just bought a new 4K tv last week!

    • taoprophet420 - 9 years ago

      Apple TV won’t support 4K this year or next.

      • Rich Davis (@RichDavis9) - 9 years ago

        I read that it has to do with Sony, as they are trying to lock everyone into buying only Sony TV’s, etc. in order to what a Sony owned movie, and they own a LOT of content.

    • Robert Thomson - 9 years ago

      My first though exactly. I am in the market for a new TV soon and would like to be future proofed. Despite all the 4K rhetoric I think it will pick up in the next few year.

  3. Bill Haenlin (@BHaenlin) - 9 years ago

    anyone else find it odd that the phones will record 4K but supposedly the new AppleTV devices will not yet support 4k – doesn’t make sense to me

  4. ummario - 9 years ago

    I think 4K vídeo will be killer feature that can really boost the sales of the new 6s…. Would be nice to haver it as well on new Apple tv

  5. RP - 9 years ago

    Yeah I’m ok being on the s cycle. Thanks so much to all you magnanimous beta tester for bearing with the 6 for me.

    • RP - 9 years ago

      ….the bendy non-touch force 8 megapixel slightly better than the 5s first gen 6 and 6 plus betas ;-)

      • RP - 9 years ago

        ..and double the RAM for 1 to 2!. Now if only the camera was flush and the bands were gone. But that’s for the iPhone 7, for 6 owners to beta test for me next year,

    • ag80911 - 9 years ago

      The question is who is a getting 16G phone now (assuming the same mix again) to record 4K videos. Its being said before Apple should go 32/64/128 but this will hurt their precious margins.

      • RP - 9 years ago

        Yeah and not just on your iPhone, where do you safe keep all of these humongous files? iCloud sounds like an expensive option. On a home server? Maybe idk

      • x0epyon0x - 9 years ago

        @RP I heard a rumor that the 2GB memory upgrade was only for the 6S Plus. I hope that’s not correct, as that would keep me from upgrading from an LG Nexus 5 to a 6S.

      • gregoryyoung2 - 9 years ago

        >Hurt their precious margins

        32GB vs 16GB of storage is literally no difference in part costs. It’s to get people to fork out an extra $100 for the 64GB.

      • taoprophet420 - 9 years ago

        When you can sell a phone that costs nearly the same to make for an extra $100 it most definitely effects profit margins.

  6. rtd5943 - 9 years ago

    Are we still assuming the Apple TV will not support 4K? Would be strange to feature it on the phone and then notably omit it on the Apple TV.

    • TechSHIZZLE.com - 9 years ago

      Rumor had it that it wouldn’t support 4k, but I can’t see how it can’t if the iPhone gets 4k recording.

    • RP - 9 years ago

      Perhaps an always on Apple TV can act like a home server to safe keep all our large media files besides homekit and streaming. Offload all of your video, especially whatever 4k content on it instead of having it waste valuable iPhone space.

  7. bunim1 - 9 years ago

    Two gigabytes of RAM is the ONLY selling point for a current iPhone 6 Plus user. I will not be upgrading!

    • taoprophet420 - 9 years ago

      Upgraded camera would be more a selling point to me. I haven’t had any ram problems with my 6 plus. Phones like the upcoming Lumina’s will have 3 GB of ram. Apple has never been known for including much ram in its devices.

    • Max Mars (@devianter) - 9 years ago

      taoprophet420 you haven’t had any problem because you’re probably not even using it as a smartphone. i can’t keep 2 tabs open and reply to a message or check notes before they reload. on the iPad air 2 however, i can have 10 tabs open and they don’t reload. i can even switch to another app, switch back and it’s not reloading , either. you’re just bull*** yourself that it doesn’t have ram problems. i bought the 6 plus and it’s terrible in ram department. no multitasking WHATSOEVER.

  8. Grayson Mixon - 9 years ago

    To me the advantage of higher resolution photos and videos is NOT recording video at the full resolution. For all the beautiful photos and videos people take with phones, most pictures and videos are not nearly as artistic, and most people still don’t have 4K TVs or monitors to view these things on in the full resolution. The point of higher resolution is to be able to zoom in farther without the image becoming pixelated.

    • I know you mean cropping, not zooming – you should probably write it as “cropping”

      • ag80911 - 9 years ago

        An easy upgrade if you are in one of the US early plans (Next, Jump,etc) – just the camera makes this a fabulous upgrade.

        A9
        12MP iSight Camera
        1080p Facetime camera wiht flash
        New LTE chip (up 300 Mbps)
        2G RAM
        7000 aluminium frame
        Force Touch

    • RP - 9 years ago

      As someone who has used digital cameras from the beginning and seeing how bad older photos and videos look on modern technology, I say it is always best to record at the highest resolution. Tomorrow is always here faster than we thought, and today is here for a blink of an eye. I want my kid’s baby pictures and videos to look as good as possible when viewing 5 to 10 years from now on my 4 or 8k television.

  9. scumbolt2014 - 9 years ago

    So 4k video recording and 12 megapixel camera on a device with 128gb max storage. Where’s the toolbox that said 256gb capacity isn’t necessary and sad for an iPhone now…

  10. Graham J - 9 years ago

    There’s no reason the 6 and 6 Plus couldn’t record 4k already, that’s what annoys me.

    • ag80911 - 9 years ago

      Well, Apple is running a business. While we want Android type specs, Apple will continue to leave something out for the next upgrade.

    • Rich Davis (@RichDavis9) - 9 years ago

      The camera isn’t good enough, that’s why they are doing the 12MP for the newer model. Plus with 4K, it eats up the battery. I personally couldn’t care if a smartphone does 4K video, that’s of no interest to me. If I want to do 4K video, I’ll get a real video camera like a BlackMagic or RED or a high end Sony or Canon. :-)

    • gmoeller18 - 9 years ago

      You need like 8.3 megapixels to record in 4K…

  11. Michael Schmitt - 9 years ago

    There will need to be higher storage capacity for every phone. Recording a 4K video with 12 – megapixel camera sensor will not be able to hold alot on a 16gb drive. You will need at least 32gb or significantly more.

  12. Jake Becker - 9 years ago

    I hope it has 0 gb of RAM for the lulz.

  13. Koatsey - 9 years ago

    Great news, I’m sure the next generation Apple TV will have 4K hence the move to 4K on the iPhone. Some comments say why 4K, I think it because we are past the cutting edge now, look at the abundance of 4K TV’s, GoPro’s, Sony Z3, Samsung Galaxy phones to name but a few. It’s already here but not for those that are not interested. I hope they keep the Optical Stabilisation as on the iPhone 6 Plus as it’s miles better than the 6 which only has Software stabilisation. Having used both version now for sometime I regret giving my son my 6 Plus… Furthermore the battery life is not just mildly better but substantially.

  14. dksmidtx - 9 years ago

    So how is it no one has any answer as to whether the 6s will get optical image stabilization?

  15. pmz2999 - 9 years ago

    Wow, 3 years later they catch up to android phones, Apple is simply amazing

  16. Rich Davis (@RichDavis9) - 9 years ago

    When they have moving vehicles, it kind of moves a little jerky. It’s not very fluid. I hope Apple’s implementation is more fluid.

  17. Rich Davis (@RichDavis9) - 9 years ago

    Is Apple going to have a higher resolution screen to handle watching 4K video in full resolution?

    • gmoeller18 - 9 years ago

      Definitely not. They’ll stick to the current resolutions and probably release a 4k and 5k monitor this year.

  18. Paul Van Obberghen - 9 years ago

    IF the iPhone 6S is to be able to record video in 4K then the Apple TV MUST be able to display what has been recorded (and possibly edited) on the iPhone in 4K. Otherwise, what’s the point?

  19. Toro Volt (@torovolt) - 9 years ago

    Too bad Apple is compromising the Image Quality for the marketing spec buzz.
    Larger pixels is the way to go on a Phone. 6MP is more than enough to print 13×19″ resolution for most purposes. Unless people will be mounting the new iPhones on a tripod they won’t be able to capture 12MP worth of sharpness. lol
    Also 2K video is more than enough or 1080P properly encoded at 4:2:2 is what I would expect for a company trying to do the right thing rather thanthe dumb thing.
    4K on a Phone with no expandable memory it is a ridiculous joke and totally overkill.
    Apple was the my last hope on restraint, balance and reason. i guess is not longer the case

    • Paul Van Obberghen - 9 years ago

      “2K video is more than enough” So was said with SD (DVD), and VHS before that, and color before that, etc… I clearly remember, when I bought my SE30 with an external 4 level of gray external monitor, saying to the seller who wanted to sell me a 256 color display “Color? Why would I need color for?”…

    • Mark Robinson - 9 years ago

      I’m sure that the photos/videos will increase in terms of overall quality. Why would apple’s selling point be “Take lesser quality stills and videos with the iPhone 6s”?

  20. Max Mars (@devianter) - 9 years ago

    the biggie here is the front flash. it finally can be used as notification led without putting your phone screen-down.

  21. studiovisit1 - 9 years ago

    Didn’t Sony invent 4k?

    • Josiah O'neill - 9 years ago

      What? no of course not. Companies like Sony, apple, Samsung, Microsoft, don’t usually invent things like 4k, HDMI, USB C and things like that. These things are standards to help technology to be compatible.
      usually big companies like Sony help make the standards working with other organisations like NHK Science & Technology Research Laboratories and the International Telecommunication Union. They are the two. what’s the word companies Science peoples organisations who helped to make 4K.

  22. k (@krazyfrog) - 9 years ago

    The Galaxy Note 3 launched in 2013 was the first phone to have 4K video recording.

  23. robinlmp - 9 years ago

    Just noticed my comment was deleted. This seems to happen whenever I point out mistakes in articles. Should I not be thanked rather than silenced?

  24. I’ve been able to record at 4K using my Nexus 6 since I bought mine day 1. Apple is still playing catch up … lame