We barely get one rumor-filled event out of the way and another rumor surfaces to take its place. The new murmurings surround Apple’s as yet unannounced iPhone 5 which, according to DigiTimes, will sport an 8 Megapixel camera.
Citing the infamous ‘anonymous sources’, DigiTimes claims that Apple’s next iPhone will use OmniVision-made camera sensors after the company was awarded the contract by the boys from Cupertino.
About 90% of the CIS (CMOS image censor) orders for Apple’s new iPhone will be supplied by OmniVision, while Sony takes up the remainder, the sources said. The upcoming device will feature a built-in 8-megapixel camera, the sources added.
Thanks to the Apple orders, OmniVision is expected to grow its total wafer starts at foundry partner Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) to almost 260,000 8-inch equivalent units in the third quarter, up more than 40% sequentially, the sources indicated.
Apple has been rumored to be using an improved shooter in its upcoming iPhone on and off for the last few months, with DigiTimes usually the source. While not exactly known for the accuracy, the tech blog has had a couple of hits over the years so we wouldn’t discount the possibility of this being true just yet.
It’s most certainly not beyond the realms of possibility Apple would look to improve the camera hardware used in its top of the range handsets with the iPhone 5 currently sporting a 5 Megapixel affair. Apple made a point in its WWDC keynote on Monday to point out just how popular its iPhone 4 had become as a camera, with it becoming one of the most popular sources of photos on Flickr. Nearly 12 months after its release, the iPhone 4 is still regarded as one of the best cameras (in a phone) on the market.
Still, as with so many rumors these days, we’d recommend taking this with a healthy (or unhealthy, depending on how you look at it!) pinch of salt.
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