A new report from GforGames claims that the iPhone 6 will feature a Sony Exmor IMX220 13-megapixel camera sensor capable of capturing video in full 1080p. While 1080p really only matters for viewing video on large displays (720p does just fine), this rumor, if true, would certainly represent a significant improvement over the iPhone's current 8-megapixel sensor.
Now, the iPhone 5s camera, to be fair, is already a great camera. But when it comes to photo quality, there's always room for improvement -- photo quality in low-light situations, for example, comes to mind. And of course, given Apple's penchant for optimizing its software to get the most out of the iPhone's camera hardware, we'd love to see what Apple might do with that type of advanced sensor.
Per usual, it's important to take these types of rumors with the requisite grain of salt, especially in light of some other reports that have claimed that the camera sensor on the iPhone 6 will remain largely unchanged from the 5s.
At the same time, given that Apple this fall will likely release two new iPhone models, perhaps its entirely within the realm of possibility that the rumored 5.5-inch iPhone model will be the only device with the 13-megapixel sensor. An enhanced camera, a sapphire screen, and of course a larger display, would certainly warrant the rumored $100 premium Apple is rumored to be tacking on for the premium 5.5-inch model.
One interesting thing to keep an eye out for is that the iPhone 6, by all accounts, is going to be noticeably thinner than the iPhone 5s. To that end, it'll be fascinating to see if Apple will be able to pack that type of photo power into a device discernibly thinner than the already thin iPhone 5s.
As a final point, it's worth mentioning another iPhone camera-related rumor, this one sourced from the typically reliable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Kuo wrote in late June that Apple's next-gen 5.5-inch iPhone may feature optical image stabilization technologies. Of course, Kuo also believes Apple will stick with an 8-megapixel camera sensor from Sony for both iPhone 6 models.
Either way, with August almost here, you can bet that the number of iPhone 6 hardware leaks will begin to ramp up in the near future.