In each Halo game we have always seen a step up in the amount of detail that goes into Halo. Mainly with textures and the amount of Polygons that can be used. With the Xbox One on its way and having a considerable more power then the 360 we should hopefully see the amount of detail that is in these renders.
http://cghub.com/images/view/351509/
Now the renders of the 3 armour variants that you see have been sculpted using the lower poly model and are only created for textures only, mainly for normal maps but I my self would love to see this amount of detail in the next halo games, not just in the armour but in every artistic aspect of Halo.
what is everyone else’s thoughts?
Definitely! If the Xbox One can do those graphics for gameplay, then I don’t see why not. 
I think what most people had problems with when it came to the textures in Halo 4 was that when you got up close the became very low resolution and seemed to have been designed to be only seen from a distance, but if 343i could create texture that we both high resolution and filled with detail from a distance and up close then a lot of people would be happy, personally for me visuals aren’t a big deal and never have been but it doesn’t harm to bring up a conversation to see other members of the community voice what they do and don’t like
I’m not that fussed about graphics to be honest. Well, I am to an extent, but gameplay is more important. Some of my favourite games are on the Sega Mega drive console, and I don’t think that’s anywhere near the graphics of games now.
I am to an extent as well, but its more about colour for me. Honestly I kinda get bored of games easier that have a a dull colour pallet for the game, even if the gameplay is great, but in my opinion I think everyone is bothered about detail and graphics of a game to some kind of extent.
I agree OP, things like art direction are also important too. Textures, Ambiance, Skyboxes and Detail all make a game better.
And with the increase in detail, there was loss of gameplay, to the point where it has become noticeable.