As we near the end of 2022, iPhone 15 rumors are beginning to increase. And now information is coming in that Apple may be addressing ongoing issues with the iPhone's camera.

According to a new rumor from Nikkei (open in new tab) (via AppleInsider (open in new tab)), Apple will work with Sony on the iPhone 15's camera. The Cupertino phone maker will reportedly use Sony's new "state-of-the-art" image sensor instead of Samsung's sensor. This new part from Sony is believed to significantly revamp how the iPhone 15 handles exposure control.

According to a report in the Nihon Keizai Shimbun, "Sony's new image sensor roughly doubles the saturation signal level of each pixel compared to previous sensors. In other words, the sensor can capture more light and reduce overexposure and underexposure in certain settings." Smartphone cameras can clearly capture a person's face, even when the subject is standing in strong backlight.

Sony reportedly achieved this by placing the photodiode and transistor on separate substrate layers and changing the semiconductor design from what it is today. This new methodology allows Sony to add more layers of photodiodes and achieve twice the saturation signal level.

If this all sounds like gibberish, don't worry. This basically means that the iPhone 15 may be able to address some of the iPhone's historical exposure weaknesses. iPhones are regularly ranked among the best camera phones, but we have found that they tend to struggle with exposure control in some extreme situations We found. (Google, on the other hand, tends to do better.)

The iPhone 14 Pro Max vs. Pixel 7 Pro camera shot comparison above is a good example: the subject's face is a bit blown out in the iPhone 14 shot, but the Pixel 7 Pro handles sunlight well.

Another example where the iPhone 14 Pro's exposure is not as good as the Pixel 7 Pro. In this case, the Pixel 7 Pro does a good job exposing the bottom of each lamp, but the iPhone photo loses detail, not to mention being too dark. Therefore, the lighting itself is bright, but now underexposed.

If the iPhone 15 used this new Sony sensor, for example, it might be possible to take incredible artistic portrait photos. Imagine that the iPhone could accurately capture the subject's face and complexion, even if the subject's background is bright. This allows for a halo effect without compromising the detail of the subject. We are already excited about the possibilities this upgrade brings.

The Nikkei report does not specify whether this will be an upgrade for the entire iPhone 15 series or just the Pro. We are, sadly, betting on the latter based on Apple's strategy with the iPhone 14 Pro.

As for other iPhone 15 rumors, it is almost certain that Apple will eventually switch its charging port to USB-C following the EU ruling that all smartphones must use the USB-C standard. Other rumors suggest that Apple will do away with physical buttons and instead adopt tactile buttons (similar to the iPhone 7's home button switch).

Others have stated that the iPhone 15 Pro could feature a periscope camera to improve zoom photos and help it catch up with Samsung and Google.

Apple usually chooses a mid-September release date for the iPhone, so be prepared to wait a long time. But in the months leading up to September, we expect more rumors and leaks to pop up; check the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Ultra hubs often for updates.