Will the iPhone 5 have an 8-megapixel camera? Reports say that Sony CEO Howard Stringer let the cat out of the bag during an interview with Walt Mossberg of the Wall Street Journal.
"It always puzzles me," Stringer said. "Why would I make Apple the best camera?"
Both the 5-megapixel camera on the iPhone 4 and the 3.2-megapixel device on the iPhone 3GS have been supplied by OmniVision. Electronista first revealed in February that Sony could replace OmniVision as the camera provider for Apple's smartphone, creating a beefed-up 8-megapixel sensor for the device. Electronista said Sony would take over for OmniVision because the latter wouldn't be able to produce the camera in time for the launch of the iPhone 5.
Stringer's statements have given additional fuel to this report. He also reveled that 15 Sony factories in Japan, including a camera sensor plant, were damaged by the earthquake in the beginning of March, thus delaying part shipments.
According to another report, there could be some truth to these rumors. A report surfaced earlier this week that said the iPhone 5 won't make its debut until October or later. The report, which originally appeared on Macotakara and was translated by AppleInsider, also said that Apple hasn't even ordered components for the next-generation iPhone. So even if Sony is slated to provide the iPhone 5's camera, those plans might not be set in stone.
Macotakara predicted an iPhone 5 launch in the first half of fiscal 2012. It isn't likely that Apple would miss the opportunity for holiday season sales, so AppleInsider predicted an October or November launch.
The iPhone 5 rumors have been floating around for several months now. The most recent reports contend that the phone will have an edge-to-edge screen. Other rumors claim that the design of the back of the phone could be different, ditching glass for aluminum and moving the antenna from the external frame.