Purported iPhone 5 Camera Leaked, Manufacturer Unknown

Pictures of a new camera module with built-in LED Flash have emerged with claims that said hardware belongs in a next-generation iPhone 5. A cable ribbon with what appears to be the volume buttons is also leaked.

Obtained by Greek-iPhone.com, the module is described as being round, a tad thinner than current-generation parts, and appears to have more megapixels.

Labeled 00094 C6/11291 BB, the part is presumably destined for the next-generation iPhone 5. The manufacturer is not known.

The blog previously leaked information pertaining to Apple’s upcoming products, such as the fact that Mac OS X Lion would support Yahoo! accounts for chat, audio and video conferencing.

Apple is known to have talked to several OEM’s to get 8-megapixel camera sensors for its next-generation of smartphones.

OmniVision remains the key supplier, whereas Sony will try to make up for any differences, according to reports.

Whether these modules are for the iPhone 4S or the iPhone 5, photos published earlier this month by a rumor site also indicated that the iPhone 5 back camera module will not have a separate LED flash, as some rumors had suggested.

As noted above, the Greek site also leaked an audio cable which seems to confirm rumors that Apple’s iPhone 5 will have the volume buttons relocated.

Earlier today, we reported on similar leaks involving a prototype iPhone with a redesigned rear panel and a new flex cable lacking the proximity and ambient sensors currently found on Apple’s iPhones.

It is becoming more and more difficult to predict what Apple’s new iPhone will be all about, or even if there’s more than one model in the pipeline, due to the multitude of alleged leaks hitting from every corner of the world.

For example, there are numerous conflicting reports that say the next Apple smartphone will have a completely changed design with a tapered metal back shell, a bigger screen (4-inches on the diagonal) and an elongated Home button.

On the other hand, numerous other reports from Asia (the place where iPhones are assembled) citing so-called trusted sources say the next version will look almost identical to the iPhone 4.