Consumer electronics giant Apple has secured a new patent for an action camera that could go head to head with popular brand GoPro, Fortune reports.
In its application with the US Patents and Trademark Office, Apple mentions that the camera can be attached to bike helmets or scuba masks. The device may also be used in underwater picture taking and can record sounds.
The application, which includes a patent the iPhone maker acquired from Eastman Kodak in 2013, claims that the digital camera improves on the weaknesses of GoPro's products, according to blog Patently Apple.
GoPro's camera "can cause excessive wind resistance and presents a high profile that is more susceptible to damage," Apple's documents say.
With the patent awarded, GoPro's shares fell as much as 15 percent on Tuesday, reports Reuters. The possible entry of Apple into the sports camera market could also affect Polaroid Corp, maker of similarly intended Cube cameras, the report says.
The granting of the patent, however, should not automatically mean that Apple will indeed create the product, according to JMP Securities analyst Alex Gauna.
"It does not seem to me that launching an action camera accessory is the most logical product extension for Apple to pursue right now," said Gauna, as quoted by Reuters.
Furthermore, companies as big as Apple often apply for patents that do not ultimately translate to products, Variety notes.
At any rate, if Apple does push through with manufacturing the camera, it would not necessarily result in the eradication of competitors, according to Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter.
"I think that it will have about the same impact on GoPro as the iPhone has had on camera makers and that impact is that there are fewer cameras sold but the number isn't zero," Pachter said.
Both Apple and GoPro have not commented on the development.