The Apple vs. Samsung rivalry is legendary. With Samsung launching its flagship smartphone for 2013, the Galaxy S4, can Apple be far behind?
Rumors suggest that Apple will take the wraps off its next-gen iPhone — iPhone 5S or iPhone 6 — by summer. Here we take a look at what the company with the Midas touch needs to do to trounce rival Samsung and emerge victorious:
1. Improved Display
With the bulk of smartphone makers leaning toward 5-inch plus 1080p screens, phones are becoming bigger and sleeker and pack in better displays. The iPhone 5 sports a 4-inch Retina Display, but with bigger being the order of the day, the device seems puny when compared to competing offerings. Samsung bumped up the Galaxy S4's screen slightly to 4.99 inches and packed in an HD display to boot, which enhances the viewing experience.
Apple is rumored to deploy Sharp's IGZO technology for the high-end display of the impending iPhone 5S and/or iPhone 6. This would enhance the pixel density of the smartphone, as well as enable Apple to bring out a svelte iPhone.
2. Quad-Core Processor
The U.S. version of the Galaxy S4 packs in a quad-core processor that is clocked at 1.9GHz, whereas the international variant would house the octa-core processor. By contrast, Apple's iPhone 5, released in September 2012, boasts a dual-core A6 processor. To stay in the race and trounce competition, Apple needs to up its game with the next-gen iPhone and pack in a more powerful and faster processor.
Rumors are rife that the A7 processor is already in the works and will move into risk production by May or June 2013.
3. Design Change
All the iPhones have used a mix of plastic, glass and aluminum and have come in the traditional black and white color options. Though the iPhone 5's design is sleek, making the phone "paper thin," iFans have complained that the device gets scratched easily.
If Apple goes for a bigger, possibly 5-inch screen size, it would make sense for the Cupertino company to incorporate new design sensibilities as well. What's more, Apple could take a cue from Samsung and its own iPod touch and add a dash of color to the next-gen iPhone. Having different hues would increase the attractiveness and appeal of the smartphone further.
4. Phenomenal Camera
The Galaxy S4 touts a 13-megapixel primary camera, an improvement on the 8-megapixel one of its predecessor, the Galaxy S3. The camera also promises clearer and sharper pictures.
The iPhone 5's camera is currently one of the best in the business, but could use with some enhancements which counter the Purple Flare issue iFans encountered with the device. Having more pixels does not always guarantee incredible performance and, therefore, Apple needs to supplement its FaceTime camera with great software as well, to ensure phenomenal camera performance.
5. Updated OS
iOS is one of the best ecosystems around and while iOS 6 encountered some hiccups, the operating system has less bugs than Android. Moreover, it's the platform of choice for entrepreneurs looking to launch a new app. However, iOS 7 could use some enhancements, especially a more dynamic home screen and Multi-Window View support.
