If there is one thing Apple has not bothered to tweak on its iPhone offerings, it is the megapixel count of its handsets' cameras. The iPhone 4S was the first to don the 8-megapixel rear-facing shooter.
The Cupertino-based tech firm has used the same with the current iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus models, but with upgrades on other aspects of the camera. But it looks like things are going to change soon with the rumored iPhone 6S and the iPhone 6S Plus.
According to IHS China Technology Research Director Kevin Wang, who has an impressive track record on predicting Apple's plans and tricks, the upcoming devices will be home to a new snapper, marking the end of the 8-megapixel epoch.
Wang said in a Weibo post that the iPhone 6S and the iPhone 6S Plus will get a 12-megapixel shooter on the back. The analyst shares the same forecast with Ming-Chi Kuo from KGI Securities, who has an imposing track record on this as well.
Wang further said that the camera, although upped in the megapixel department, will have smaller individual pixels. GSM Arena surmises that this option will require little to no alterations on the device, consequently allowing Apple to keep the sensor size and the optics intact. However, bigger pixels prove more powerful during low-light conditions. With smaller ones on the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus cameras, Apple's way of compensating would be by making some changes on other aspects.
GSM Arena also notes that Apple can no longer afford forgoing an upgrade on the resolution side of the shooter. A higher resolution will allow 2160p video recording, which is already being utilized by almost all flagships in the field.
Wang did not provide any information about the other specs or the front-facing shooter of the future Apple handsets. For now, there is not much to take away on the would-be performance of the camera, which is only predicted to have a megapixel count upgrade.
