Apple is known for being very modest with its camera technology inside the company's line of iPhone devices. While other companies are releasing devices with a large number of megapixels, Apple has been doing the opposite while still achieving good results.
However, with a newly filed patent, Apple appears to be upping the ante with future iPhone cameras. The new camera phone technology is called MEMS autofocus actuator, which should allow Apple to make slimmer iPhones and iPads with a better camera.
For those who are unaware, MEMS stands for "microelectromechanical system". This technology is meant to replace its heavier and bulkier microscopic silicon machines predecessor, according to Patrick Moorhead, analyst at Moor Insights and Strategy.
"The patent is very important to the future of smartphones because it can fundamentally change the thickness of the phone and improve the speed of focus," Moorhead said.
"I would love to see this MEMS based camera inside the iPhone 6,"he said, "But I don't know just on the recency of the patent it will make it in, but I hope so."
MEMS should allow Apple to create new iPhones with a camera that is more stable, and allow users to refocus images after they've been taken.
"Smartphone cameras have replaced point-and-shoot cameras for the most part. They're important because you always have your phone with you and people want to capture those special moments," Moorhead said.
Apple won't be the first company to release a smartphone with a camera that is capable of refocusing images. Nokia has done this very thing with the Lumia 1020, which has turned out to be a great feature.
Will this tech appear in the iPhone 6?
Since the patent was recently filed, chances are we might not see it in the iPhone 6. Then again, it might depend on when Apple plans to release the new device, and how fast it can test and implement MEMS in time for launch. It would be a great if Apple could introduce this technology in the next iPhone, as it would force competitors to improve, which makes for better smartphone devices for consumers.
