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Optical Image Stabilization May Be Differentiating Factor for 5.5-Inch iPhone 6 [Updated]

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Apr 12, 2001
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Rumors have suggested Apple's next-generation iPhone may include camera improvements in the form of optical image stabilization with modules produced by sensor company InvenSense, but according to a new prediction from Pacific Crest Securities analysts John Vinh and Kevin Chen, optical image stabilization may be a feature limited to just the larger 5.5-inch iPhone.

Citing a cost premium of $4 to $5 for optical image stabilization over traditional auto focus solutions, the two analysts believe that Apple will use the feature as a differentiating factor between the 4.7-inch iPhone and the more premium 5.5-inch iPhone.
We believe the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 smartphone camera will support optical image stabilization (OIS) and anticipate that it will represent one of several opportunities at Apple that will benefit InvenSense. In our analysis, we believe Apple chose to only include OIS camera technology in the larger iPhone 6 given that there is still a significant cost premium ($4 to $5) over standard auto focus solutions and that it provides a point of differentiation between the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 and the step-up model (5.5-inch)
Click to expand...
Optical image stabilization (OIS) is designed to reduce shake and stabilize photos and videos using either a lens with built-in stabilization or a separate sensor. In the past, this has been limited to traditional digital cameras, but recently, cell phone manufacturers like Google, HTC, Nokia have been incorporating OIS systems in order to improve photo quality. Currently, the iPhone 5s uses software-based image stabilization techniques, which are seen as inferior to OIS.

invensense.png
Comparison image courtesy of Electronics 360​
Apple aims to improve photo quality with each iteration of the iPhone, so new image stabilization techniques make sense for the next-generation phone. The company also has a history of limiting features to its flagship offering, such as Touch ID for the iPhone 5s, and it appears that the 5.5-inch iPhone may be the higher-end 2014 model. Rumors have suggested that the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 might include a $100 price premium over the 4.7-inch version and that it might be the only model to receive a sapphire crystal screen.

Along with optical image stabilization for the larger 5.5-inch iPhone, Chen and Vinh are also "increasingly confident" that the iPhone 6 will support NFC, based on supply chain conversations. This is in line with previous rumors that have suggested NFC may finally be deployed in the iPhone 6 ahead of an upcoming mobile payment solution.

While it was initially thought that Apple's 4.7-inch iPhone 6 would launch first due to manufacturing issues with the 5.5-inch version, it seems Apple may have solved those problems. A report from Bloomberg earlier this week has suggested both the 5.5-inch and 4.7-inch iPhones may launch simultaneously later this year.

Update 5:15 PM PT: KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo is also predicting the larger 5.5-inch iPhone will be the only model to offer optical image stabilization due to supply constraints.
Differing from market consensus, we don't expect the main camera of the 4.7" iPhone 6 to use OIS VCM due to production capacity restraint at iPhone 6 VCM suppliers Mitsumi (JP) and Alps (JP). Rather, we predict it will use a middle-mount type of open-loop VCM updated from the one used in the existing iPhone 5S. The 5.5" iPhone 6 is more likely to be equipped with OIS VCM due to lower estimated shipments and the need for more product features to differentiate itself from the 4.7" iPhone 6
Click to expand...
The smaller 4.7-inch iPhone is expected to feature a lens module that will offer faster focusing speeds and power efficiency than the module being used in the iPhone 5s, however, which Kuo suggests "will lead its rivals."

Article Link: Optical Image Stabilization May Be Differentiating Factor for 5.5-Inch iPhone 6 [Updated]
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2014/06/24/optical-image-stabilization-iphone-6/
P

Paulshaqz

macrumors 6502a
Sep 10, 2009
905
174
so i take it apple won't be putting a major 13mp like most of these phones carry at the moment.
 
I

Imory

macrumors 6502a
Feb 2, 2013
830
316
Wonderland
Don't believe in this rumor for a second. The sh*tstorm that would ensue would simply not be worth it. Really doesn't make any sense in terms of manufacturing either. Not to mention that Apple have never really differentiated products so similar with only one feature being a difference (aside from screen ofc which relies more on personal taste imo).
 
J

JAT

macrumors 603
Dec 31, 2001
6,473
124
Mpls, MN
Wouldn't the larger phone be able to be thinner? OIS would almost certainly require a thicker phone. (or a larger bulge for the lens) The camera sizes would be a far more useful stat to rumorize than the the wholesale cost of the camera.
 
P

phantom76

macrumors newbie
Jun 16, 2014
5
128
farewelwilliams said:
$4-$5 cost premium. So expensive.
*sips Starbucks*
Click to expand...

Lets say Apple sells 75 million iPhone 6 4.7" models in 2014-15. It is an additional cost of 375 million USD for them. Not very cheap.

(Compare this to Nokia's $169 million profit in all of 2013.)
 
D

DBZmusicboy01

macrumors 65816
Sep 30, 2011
1,102
1,249
arn said:
Why not? OIS takes more space, the 5.5" is bigger than the 4.7".

arn
Click to expand...

If it's the same width...Why would it take more space. If it did...It would be a taller lense. But it wouldn't make sense if it's the same width.
 
K

KillerTree

macrumors regular
Jul 27, 2008
239
201
Disappointing if true because this would force me to spend $100 more dollars than I wanted to on a phone size I didn't plan on getting. Photo quality on a phone is very important to me #

#
 
B

Bill Poulos

macrumors newbie
Mar 1, 2007
12
6
Such a Stupid Decision Would Be Stupid... Really Stupid

Why would Apple want to upset so many customers for a mere cost premium of $4 to $5 for optical image stabilization?
 
S

SolarShane

macrumors 6502
Mar 7, 2014
302
0
Can't believe people are complaining about this....

The 4.7" model is going to be the "C" model and the 5.5" is going to be the premium model. It's funny because people never complained over the lack of Touch ID in the 5c.
 
Mr Dashles

Mr Dashles

macrumors newbie
Jun 24, 2014
15
6
Don't worry, folks. Next week, an analyst will predict both models will get OIS, and all will be right with the world. :rolleyes:
 
J

jhtrico1850

macrumors regular
Apr 5, 2007
186
32
Does Apple really expect people to buy the 5.5 en masse? Meanwhile, the 4.7 is going to be sold, shooting crappy pictures.
 
mcdspncr

mcdspncr

macrumors regular
Jul 2, 2011
160
200
This is really bad news. I think a lot of the public would be displeased if the 5.5 model was Apple's flagship model. Given what the consumer interest survey posted here earlier today indicated, there are clearly more people interested in the 4.7 model.

UPDATE: Ming-Chi Kuo agrees. Now we know it must be true *rolls eyes*
 
Last edited:
henryngan2006

henryngan2006

macrumors member
Jun 6, 2014
35
50
Don't think so.
iPad Air and mini are the same thing besides the screen size, and I'm pretty sure this will be the same in iPhones. There I said it, if it turns out to be correct, pay me 30k a month to be an analyst.
 
J

Jiz

macrumors regular
Nov 29, 2011
117
5
The iPhone Pro will have the higher specs of course.

The 2014 iPhone lineup?
-iPhone Pro
-iPhone Air
-iPhone Mini
 
F

fertilized-egg

macrumors 68020
Dec 18, 2009
2,109
57
Imory said:
Don't believe in this rumor for a second. The sh*tstorm that would ensue would simply not be worth it. Really doesn't make any sense in terms of manufacturing either. Not to mention that Apple have never really differentiated products so similar with only one feature being a difference (aside from screen ofc which relies more on personal taste imo).
Click to expand...

arn said:
Why not? OIS takes more space, the 5.5" is bigger than the 4.7".

arn
Click to expand...

It actually makes a ton of sense for a very simple reason. The supply chain for OIS just isn't ready for manufacturing many tens of millions of OIS camera modules for the phones. This is the reason why even Samsung, who love to throw every known feature under the sun into their phones, couldn't find a way to equip their Galaxy S5 with an OIS camera yet even though their competitors such as LG and Nokia do have phones with OIS. Likewise iPhones have been far too successful for OIS.

The industry reportedly have been working very hard to meet this demand but so far they have not been very successful so far. However it's been said both Apple and Samsung will begin releasing OIS-equipped phones, the next Galaxy Note probably will be the one and the bigger iPhone with an OIS makes a lot of sense based on those factors and rumors.
 
N

nickpro

macrumors regular
Jun 11, 2007
183
41
Bay Area
why would they do this with the 4.7 and 5.5 iPhones when they don't do this with the 7.9 and 9.7 iPads (i'm referring to significant feature differences)?

doesn't make sense.
 
goobot

goobot

macrumors 603
Jun 26, 2009
6,484
4,375
long island NY
SolarShane said:
Can't believe people are complaining about this....

The 4.7" model is going to be the "C" model and the 5.5" is going to be the premium model. It's funny because people never complained over the lack of Touch ID in the 5c.
Click to expand...

Lol, maybe because the 5 and 5s are the same size bud and some people like their mobile phones mobile.
 
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