iPhone 6S camera ushers ultra-high resolution into mainstream

4K is the term for the next step of high-resolution display beyond 1080p, the standard found in newer televisions. It packs more pixels into the same frame, so it's supposed to make pictures sharper and colors more realistic.

That means instead of trickling down from movie and television studios with deep pockets, 4K adoption is more likely to trickle up from regular consumers.

The iPhone 6S's 4K camera isn't ground-breaking. Samsung offered the feature in the Galaxy Note 3 smartphone-tablet hybrid two years ago and in several models since then, including its Galaxy S5 and S6 smartphones. A host of other vendors have crammed similar cameras into their smartphones too. But as with many technologies, Apple's scale and marketing heft shine a spotlight on the capabilities of 4K video.

4K cameras on popular smartphones like the iPhone will create a huge amount of content, said Frank Sinton, CEO of Beachfront Media, a company that helps online video creators deploy their own apps on mobile devices and connected TVs. "It's definitely going to be pushing Hollywood toward doing more," he said.