아이폰6S, 1200만 화소 카메라와 2GB 램 그리고 4K 비디오

아이폰6까지 800만 화소 카메라와 1GB램의 고집은 계속 유지됐다. 이런 제약을 뛰어넘는 최적화 능력이 있었기 때문이다. 최근 외신들을 통해 공개되고 있는 내용을 살펴보면 아이폰6S에는 1200만 화소의 카메라와 2GB 램을 장착할 것으로 보인다. 도면과 후면 등의 유출사진들이 올라왔다.

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iPhone 6S and 6C rumors: Leaked Foxconn doc reveals 12-megapixel camera with 4K video

It seems like just yesterday Apple unveiled the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. Now, the industry has shifted focus from the iPhone 6 models to the inevitable sequels. If history is any indication, the following news post will grow exponentially over the next few months, as more news streams in about Apple’s next iPhone.

Updated on 07-02-2015 by Malarie Gokey: Added in leaked document from Foxconn that details the camera’s specs, which include a 12-megapixel sensor, 4K video recording, and more. Also added leaked photos of iPhone 6S casing and new rumors of 2GB of RAM.

A 12-megapixel camera with a RGBW sensor and a two-lens system

It seems that Apple may finally bump up the resolution of its main camera. Chinese publication Sogi claims that it has discovered a leaked document from Foxconn, which details the camera’s specs. The document mentions a 12-megapixel rear camera with 4K video recording support and a new 240FPS slow motion recording mode. A 5-megapixel front-facing camera is also rumored for the iPhone 6S. Of course, Sogi isn’t exactly a well-known publication, so it’s best to take this report with a grain of salt, even if it seems to match some of the earlier reports.

A report from Chinese site Feng agrees with most reports that the iPhone 6S will have a sharper, 12-megapixel camera sensor, which could possibly come from Sony. The camera may also feature a RGBW color sensor for improved photos in low light conditions. The report hints that Apple has been testing the sensor for some time, and originally intended to add it to the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus last year.

Related: Check out the first leaked pictures of the iPhone 6S

Earlier on, the IHS Technology Research Director in China, Kevin Wang, stated in a Weibo post that the iPhone 6S will have a 12-megapixel camera, but that the pixels will be smaller in size. His report is in agreement with other sources who say the iPhone’s camera will get more pixels.

Additionally, in a note to investors obtained by AppleInsider, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo hinted that the iPhone 6S will sport a 12-megapixel camera sensor. Apple has stuck with an 8-megapixel sensor for years, preferring to enhance its camera instead of jack up the pixel count. The note did not say whether the front-facing camera would also get a boost.

Early on, Apple commentator John Gruber said the next iPhone will feature a special “two-lens system where the back camera uses two lenses and somehow takes it up into DSLR quality imagery.” Since then, G4Games published a similar report, claiming the iPhone 6S will sport a dual lens camera and optical zoom. The aperture may also be altered to let in even more light.

HTC already experimented with a similar camera setup on the One M8. The Ultrapixel camera lens lets in more light than your average lens to improve the image quality, and a second sensor is present for additional information like depth of field. The two images are then sewn together and edited to accentuate specific elements.

It’s unclear if Apple’s new technology would work in the same way or employ different techniques to increase the quality of images taken with the iPhone 6S. So far, no smartphone camera has been able to replace the DSLR, but Apple’s iPhone 6 Plus is generally regarded as one of the best smartphone cameras out there. The company also has several patents for camera-related technology.

Related: Read our iPhone 6 Plus review

The most obvious advantage to dividing the lens in two would be slimming down the camera module to fit flush against the back of the incredibly thin phone. Currently, the camera module on the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus sticks out, a problem that many users have noted with annoyance. At this point, there’s no saying whether the two-camera solution described by Gruber will debut on the iPhone 6S, the iPhone 7, or at all.

In fact, Yuanta Securities Investment Consulting Co analyst Jeff Pu told the Taipei Times that the iPhone 6S will have the same, 8-megapixel camera sensor as the iPhone 6. Luckily, even if this report proves true, Apple’s latest iPhones are generally considered to take some of the best shots around.

Leaked casing shows no design changes

The first pictures of what appears to be the aluminum casing for the iPhone 6S leaked on the last day of June. The images show little to no changes in the iPhone 6S’ design.

9to5Mac

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It’s been a few years since Apple added the champagne gold color option to its iPhone lineup, and now KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says it will add a new color this year. The iPhone 6S will come in rose gold, too, Kuo claims, bringing the color options up to four. It’s unknown whether the new option will be real gold like the Apple Watch Edition — with a price tag to match — or simply mimic the color of the precious metal, reports AppleInsider.

Remember the #Bendgate scandal that plagued the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus for months after the phone’s release? So does Apple, and apparently, the company want to ensure that it never happens again. As such, the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus may be made out of the same extra-strength aluminum alloy that Apple used on its Watch, reports Taiwan Daily Economic News.

Related: Everything you need to know about the Apple Watch

The series 7000 alloy includes specific amounts of zinc and magnesium to make the aluminum 60 percent stronger, while also ensuring that the device stays super light. Given how much Apple emphasized the impressive qualities of the new alloy during its Apple Watch event, it seems likely that the new aluminum will end up on more devices in the near future.

Force Touch may work on the iPhone 6S and the Plus

It’s long been rumored that the next iPhone will sport the same Force Touch functionality as the Apple Watch, but in late June, the feature was all-but confirmed by Bloomberg, which is typically a reliable source when it comes to news. Anonymous sources familiar with Apple supply chain partners plans stated that iPhones with pressure-sensitive screens are already in the initial stages of production. Manufacturing for the new iPhones with Force Touch will reportedly get started in earnest next month.

An earlier report from G4Games hinted that the iPhone 6S will have a 3D pressure sensor built in to enable a new Force Touch action. Now, sources have told 9to5Mac that the iPhone 6S will add the new feature and optimize it for the iPhone. ForceTouch is said to come along with iOS 9 on the iPhone 6S, and it will be open to developers for use in their apps. Force Touch will reportedly offer more functions for power users, including a new way to “control space across the system,” and eliminate the need for long press interactions like rearranging app icons across home screens.

Analyst Kuo also believes that both the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus will have the Force Touch feature. However, another report from G4Games indicates Apple may only add Force Touch to the larger iPhone 6S Plus, and the standard, 4.7-inch model won’t have the new tech.

Related: Force Touch patents hint at future uses of the new tech

For those of you who didn’t analyze every word of the Apple Watch presentation, Force Touch is the new Apple Watch feature that distinguishes between short taps and long, harder presses. It’s possible that Apple has come up with a few new ways to interact with the iPhone, using Force Touch. If that’s the case, it would be strange to exclude the very popular 4.7-inch iPhone from the experiment. The most recent reports seem to hint that the feature will work on both models.

Leaked memo calls for September launch

In June, we received our first indication of when the iPhone 6S would arrive in stores and online for purchase. A Vodafone memo obtained by Mobile News states the “new iPhone” will go up for preorder on September 18 and come to stores on September 25. Although a September launch would follow Apple’s precedent of fall iPhone launches, it’s still wise to take this rumor with the customary grain of salt.

Some of the earliest iPhone 6S rumors speculated the updated handset could debut as early as spring 2015. It’s widely agreed that such an early release date is entirely improbable, but a recent report from Economic Daily hints that Apple is ahead of schedule on production for iPhone 6S components. The publication even hints that Apple may have the phone ready earlier than expected for an August launch, instead of the traditional September date.

Related: 9 awesome iPhone 6 camera features

Earlier, the Economic Daily News‘ supply chain sources stated that the iPhone 6S would arrive in the fall at the earliest. Apple typically incrementally updates its most recent iPhones with new processors and occasionally, a few new features, one year on from release. Apple only just gave Samsung the go ahead to start work on the A9 processor, according to a report from Korea’s ET News, and it’s only just caught up with 6 Plus production. Therefore, it’s highly unlikely that the iPhone 6S will arrive so soon after the iPhone 6.

A Full HD resolution for the iPhone 6S and 2K for the 6S Plus

The iPhone 6 currently has a 1,334 × 750 pixel resolution and the iPhone 6 Plus has a Full HD resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels. Now, a report from Asian site Feng says that the iPhone 6S will sport a Full HD resolution, while the iPhone 6S Plus will jump up to a 2K resolution of 2,560 x 1,440 pixels.

It’s not a huge difference, but the bump up in resolution would match the iPhone 6S Plus with competitors like the LG G4 and Samsung Galaxy S6. The iPhone 6S, meanwhile, would be on par with the HTC One M9, in terms of resolution. Of course, the higher resolution screens could drain the battery faster, so Apple will need to compensate in that area.

iOS 9 will spruce up the iPhone 6S

In late may, sources told 9to5Mac that iOS 9 will bring a slew of cool new features to iPhones and iPads, including the upcoming iPhone 6S. Among the new features are Force Touch, a revamped keyboard, iMessage improvements, and Apple Pay for Canadian users. We have a rumor roundup on iOS 9, and we’ll bring you all the news from Apple’s developer conference, which is to occur in June 8-12.

The 6S may have the A9 chip and 2GB RAM

Despite their previous quarrels, Apple and Samsung will reportedly work together on the A9 processor, which will arrive on the iPhone 6S. Samsung reportedly started production on the A9 processor in mid-December, based on reports from Korea’s ET News. The chip will be manufactured using 14nm FinFET technology, which should use 35 percent less energy and offer 20 percent more power. The A9 chip may also be 15 percent smaller than 20nm processors, thanks to the 14nm technology, and that means more space for battery packs and other components.

Additionally, the Taiwanese media hints that Apple may finally boost the RAM on the iPhone 6S. The next-generation iPhone may pack as much as 2GB of LPDDR4 RAM, which doubles the devices’ bandwidth, but consumes very little power. KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo later stoked the fire with a report that the iPhone 6S will be powered by 2GB of RAM. In late June, Chinese site Sogi claimed that the phone will have 2GB of RAM, too.

The return of a 4-inch iPhone?

A few different reports hinted Apple may release a smaller, 4-inch iPhone along with the rebooted iPhone 6S and 6S Plus in 2015. While most agree that such a move seems unlikely, reports continue to spread, lending more weight to the idea.

In July, Jefferies analyst Ange Wu wrote in advice to clients that Foxconn — a major Apple supplier — had won the contract to build at least half of the total number of iPhone 6C bodies for Apple, and that they would be made of metal. The original iPhone 5C came only in plastic, and so far, leaked images supposedly of the iPhone 6C have also shown a device that has a plastic body.

The report also hints at the iPhone 6C’s release in 2016, which fits in with an early June story from Chinese site UDN, which stated  manufacturer AU Optronics had been asked to produce 4-inch iPhone screens for a device that may arrive in the first quarter of 2016. The rumor doesn’t seem to have a lot of weight behind it, though, and rejects the idea that the smaller iPhone will arrive this fall with the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus. However, the Jefferies statement seems to back it up.

Recently, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo also dismissed the idea of the return of the 4-inch iPhone in 2015. He earlier stated in a note to investors obtained by AppleInsider that Apple won’t launch the 4-inch iPhone 6C until 2016. The company’s reasoning seems to be that the iPhone 5S is still enjoying strong sales among customers, and Apple is reluctant to throw in another device to compete with those sales. He also believes that when the 6C does launch, it will support Apple Pay.

Leading on from this, when Apple itself launched a new Lightning dock for the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, it was accompanied by an image of a brightly colored phone docked into it. The iPhone 5C is Apple’s most colorful phone, but this device held a secret. Looking closely at the Home button revealed a chrome surround and an absence of a square icon, giving the impression it’s a Touch ID sensor — a feature not found on the iPhone 5C.

Could this be the iPhone 6C, accidentally leaked by Apple itself? It’s possible, but it could also be a poorly constructed press render, in which we’re seeing something that doesn’t really exist. However, the Touch ID fingerprint sensor is an essential part of Apple Pay, and the mobile payments system isn’t compatible with Apple phones without it. If an iPhone 6C is coming, it’ll almost certainly have Touch ID. The picture has since been removed from Apple’s site.

Before this, the first pictures of what appears to be the colorful plastic housing of the iPhone 6C leaked, and in a very similar color to the model used in Apple’s dock promo photo. The pictures were spotted by Future Supplier, a relatively unknown publication, so take a look at the pictures with a healthy dose of skepticism.

DigiTimes, which occasionally gets Apple supply chain news correct, reported that Apple will launch a 4-inch iPhone 6C along with the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus. The smaller iPhone is said to be powered by the A8 processor, have NFC, and sport the Touch ID fingerprint sensor. Presumably, that means the iPhone 6C could use Apple Pay.

First, analyst Timothy Arcuri of Cowen and Company voiced the rumor. Although he hasn’t always been right with his Apple predictions, Arcuri occasionally hits the nail on the head.

In a note to investors leaked to AppleInsider, Arcuri suggested Apple may launch an “iPhone 6S Mini” with a 4-inch screen. The device would supposedly sport similar specs to the iPhone 5S, but include a few low-cost components. This may make the device more budget friendly, making it sound like a revamped iPhone 5C. Arcuri claims the smaller iPhone will have the same, curved edge design as the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.

Shortly after Arcuri’s note surfaced, MyDrivers picked up a note from U.S. investment firm Zacks Equity Research, which states that Apple hopes to sell 10 million 4-inch iPhone 6S handsets in 2015. According to the firm, Apple feels “forced” to comply with customers’ desires and continue selling 4-inch iPhones. The smallest iPhone 6S is also expected to cost less than the two larger phones, making it more appealing to those who want a mid-range phone.

Related: Read our iPhone 6 review

However, supply chain sources told the Chinese media that they haven’t heard any news of a 4-inch form factor.

Apple will take Touch ID up a notch

Apple Pay has revitalized the Touch ID fingerprint sensor in the iPhone’s home button. Now, high-profile Apple predictions guru Ming-Chi Kuo, who works as a KGI Securities analyst, says the iPhone 6S will sport a far superior fingerprint scanner. He’s repeated the claim multiple times.

Apple’s latest Touch ID module will reportedly “offer a better and safer Apple Pay user experience by reducing reading errors.” Kuo also predicts that the new sensor will head into production in the second quarter of 2015. He warned against unrealistic expectations for Touch ID’s placement on the next iPhone, adding that it will remain embedded in the home button.

“Though Apple has filed patents for the integration of Touch ID and touch panel, this isn’t likely to bear fruit near term as complex algorithms and sapphire cover lens are also required,” Kuo cautioned in a note to investors spotted by Apple Insider. “We therefore don’t see any impact on supply chain momentum.”

Kuo has a pretty solid record of predicting Apple’s moves accurately, so a new and improved Touch ID sensor is a very real possibility.

We’ll keep updating this post with more iPhone 6S news, so stay tuned.

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Previous Updates:

Updated on 07-01-2015 by Andy Boxall: Added in analyst predictions the iPhone 6C will have a metal chassis.

Updated on 06-29-2015 by Malarie Gokey: Added report from Bloomberg that iPhones with the same Force Touch feature found on the Apple Watch are now in production.

Updated on 06-08-2015 by Malarie Gokey: Added news of a possible September 18 preorder date for the iPhone 6S and a September 25 in-store availability date for the device.

Updated on 06-03-2015 by Malarie Gokey: Added news of the iPhone 6S getting a Full HD resolution, the 6S Plus getting a 2K resolution, and the 4-inch iPhone arriving this year.

Updated on 05-26-2015 by Malarie Gokey: Added news of the iPhone 6S possibly getting a RGBW, 12-megapixel camera sensor and more news on Force Touch and iOS 9.

Updated on 05-22-2015 by Andy Boxall: Added leaked image that may show an iPhone 5C with a Touch ID sensor, that could be evidence of an iPhone 6C model. 

Updated on 05-18-2015 by Malarie Gokey: Added news that the iPhone 6S may launch earlier than expected in August.

Updated on 05-15-2015 by Malarie Gokey: Added news that the iPhone 6S may have a 12-megapixel camera.

Updated on 04-22-2015 by Malarie Gokey: Added news that the 4-inch iPhone 6C may not arrive until 2016.

Updated on 04-17-2015 by Malarie Gokey: Added news that the same special aluminum alloy used to make the Apple Watch may be used to make the iPhone 6S.

Updated on 04-02-2015 by Malarie Gokey: Added news that Force Touch may be included on the iPhone 6S Plus

Updated on 03-30-2015 by Malarie Gokey: Added first leaked pictures of what may be the housing of a 4-inch iPhone 6C.

Updated on 03-26-2015 by Malarie Gokey: Added new rumors that Apple may release a 4-inch iPhone.

Updated on 02-10-2015 by Malarie Gokey: Added news that Apple may improve Touch ID.

Updated on 02-09-2015 by Malarie Gokey: Added news that Apple may keep the 8-megapixel camera.

Updated on 1-15-2015 by Malarie Gokey: Added news that Apple may boost the RAM in the iPhone 6S.

Updated on 1-13-2015 by Malarie Gokey: Added news of a 3D pressure sensor, dual camera lens, and 4-inch size for the iPhone 6S.

Updated on 1-02-2015 by Malarie Gokey: Added yet another rumor that Apple will sell an iPhone 6S Mini with a 4-inch screen.

Updated on 12-23-2014 by Malarie Gokey: Added a rumor that Apple will sell an iPhone 6S Mini with a 4-inch screen.

Updated on 12-12-2014 by Malarie Gokey: Added a new report from Korea, saying Samsung has started producing the A9 processor.

Updated on 12-11-2014 by Malarie Gokey: Added a new report from China on the iPhone 6S’s production schedule and possible release date.