The iPhone 6 could have a barometer and air pressure sensors

Many are understandably curious about what Apple has to offer in the upcoming iPhone 6. Apart from the rumors suggesting that it could arrive in two different sizes, we’re not sure what other features that the phone could come with. Sure, you’ve got your usual features like cameras, and then there’s Touch ID that will most likely be debuting with the iPhone 6, but what else can we expect? Well according to the folks to 9to5Mac, perhaps additional sensors could make their way into the iPhone 6. This is according to new found APIs within Apple’s upcoming mobile operating system, iOS 8. According to the code discovered, there have been references made to altitude, suggesting that the iPhone 6 could come with barometers installed in them.

Besides a larger display and redesigned metal body, details regarding which features the next-generation iPhone models will pack have been light. However, it appears that the new models could include a new sensor: a barometer. A barometer is a sensor commonly used for measuring altitude and the sensor is already commonly found in Android devices such as the Galaxy Nexus. A barometer sensor could be used by hikers, mountain climbers, bike riders, and enthusiasts who want accurate knowledge into their current altitude. Barometers, via air pressure data, also measure temperature and weather information. The information regarding the next-generation iPhone likely including this sensor comes via Xcode 6 and iOS 8, the latest iPhone software development kit and operating system. The software includes updated CoreMotion APIs that clearly reference the new altitude measuring capabilities. There are several applications on the App Store, even highlighted for the iPad by Apple on its own website, that can track altitude. However, this reference in Xcode 6 and iOS 8 is a new framework that is dedicated to altitude tracking and requires new Apple hardware, according to developers.