iPhone 6 'Phosphorus' Component Likely a Barometric Pressure Sensor, Not Next-Generation M7

Earlier today, Weibo user GeekBar continued his leaks of claimed wiring schematics of iPhone 6 components with a new "Phosphorus" component that was interpreted as the next-generation version of Apple's M7 co-processor. The M7 collects and tracks motion data from various sensors in the iPhone 5s, iPad Air, and Retina iPad mini, and with the iPhone 6 rumored to be including a number of new health- and fitness-related sensors, a more powerful version of the M7 seems possible for the new device.

But according to MacRumors forum poster leecbaker, who is clearly familiar with these types of components, the item depicted in the schematic is not a next-generation M7 and actually appears to be a barometric pressure sensor. The iPhone 6 has been rumored to include a number of new environmental sensors such as an atmospheric pressure sensor.

The chip pictured has the part number BMP282. I'm 99.99% sure this is a Bosch barometric pressure sensor, similar to this part BMP280. Variants of one part often have slightly different part numbers- if Apple got Bosch to customize the chip for them with different packaging, or a slightly different measurement range, that would explain the difference in part number.

bosch_bmp280

Bosch's BMP280 barometric pressure sensor

leecbaker goes on to highlight a number of applications for that Bosch pressure sensor, including GPS and indoor/outdoor navigation enhancement, weather forecasting, altimetry, and spirometry, the lung function measurements that were added to Apple's Health app in a recent iOS 8 beta.

Another MacRumors poster, kdarling, corroborates leecbaker's conclusions, noting that the pins on the Bosch sensor match those outlined in the schematic. He also notes that the BMP series is limited to pressure sensing and does not include the humidity and temperature sensing capabilities found in Bosch's BME series of sensors.

Assuming this new information is correct, and it certainly appears to make sense, this marks the second time a component leaked by GeekBar has been incorrectly identified. The poster had previously claimed a schematic showed the iPhone 6 carrying the same 1 GB RAM found in previous A-series chips, but that was quickly revealed to be a reference to an aspect of flash storage rather than RAM.

(Thanks, @anexanhume!)

Related Forum: iPhone

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Top Rated Comments

PlainviewX Avatar
142 months ago
Forum goers, setting the record straight since 1986.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
oldwren Avatar
142 months ago
Twice in one week that MacRumors has posted crap only to have their readers correct them.

How about doing some research first?

The site isn't called MacJournalism—they're posting rumors. If you want cold, hard facts, wait until Sept. 9.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AngerDanger Avatar
142 months ago
I don't know why, but I get the vaguest notion of an impending dishwasher detergent ad when I look at this image:

Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rkrismcneely Avatar
142 months ago
Siri: "It;s cold you should put on a blanket!"
- "No thank you Siri!"

1 week later

Doctor: "So you have the fly? I can see here Siri asked you to put a blanket on and you ignored her, I would have to notify your insurance company!"

Tin foil hat much?
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
troop231 Avatar
142 months ago
Shouldn't this be an update to the other article instead of a new article? I'm guessing the BME series can't be used because it would only be sensing the inside temperature of the iPhone, which is bound to be more warm.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Richardgm Avatar
142 months ago
Twice in one week that MacRumors has posted crap only to have their readers correct them.

How about doing some research first?
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)