The competition in the smartphone space is heating up as the year progresses. Several top-end smartphones from Google, Samsung and Apple are set to release in the second half of 2013.
Google is expected to release the successor of the LG-made Nexus 4, dubbed Megalodon or Nexus 5. Samsung is gearing up to launch the Galaxy Note 3 phablet, the follow-up to the Galaxy Note 2, and Apple will release the next-gen iPhone 6.
Here we take a look at how the Nexus 5, Galaxy Note 3 and iPhone 6 measure up against each other.
Processor
A quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor, clocked at 1.5GHz, is expected to power the Nexus 5. Alternately, reports also point to a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, clocked at 2.3 GHz.
Rumors hint at an Exynos 5 octa-core processor, which combines two quad-core processors: a 1.8GHz ARM Cortex-A15 and a 1.2GHz Cortex-A7, for the Galaxy Note 3.
The iPhone 6 is expected to pack in the latest A7 processor, which is in the works.
Display
The Nexus 5 is rumored to have either a 4.5-inch 720p or a5.2-inch OLED screen with 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution..
The Galaxy Note 3 is speculated to sport either a 5.9-inch or 6.3-inch display. The screen could well be unbreakable PHOLED with 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution and 350 ppi. Rumor also has it that the Galaxy Note 3 will feature Samsung's "Youm" flexible display.
The iPhone 6 is conjectured to sport a 4.8-inch Sharp IGZO (Indium Gallium Zinc Oxide) display or a wraparound AMOLED screen.
Camera
The Nexus 5 is speculated to feature a 9 or 16-megapixel primary snapper and 2-megapixel secondary camera.
The Galaxy Note 3 is rumored to feature a 13 or 16-megapixel primary camera and a 2 or 3-megapixel rear-facing snapper.
The iPhone 6 is also expected to sport an improved camera capable of taking Super HD images. Rumors point to a 12-megapixel primary camera; details of the secondary snapper are not known.
Memory
The Nexus 5 could come in 16/32/64GB on-board memory options. It is not known whether the smartphone will have an expandable memory option.
The Galaxy Note 3 is also slated to offer 16/32/64GB of on-board storage with the option to expand to an additional 64GB via a microSD card.
The iPhone 6 is also expected to have 16/32/64GB on-board storage with no option to expand. Moreover, rumors also suggest that Apple may also introduce a 128GB variant.
The Nexus 5 is expected to have 3GB of RAM, whereas the Galaxy Note 3 and iPhone 6 are expected to have 2GB.
Operating System
Both the Nexus 5 and the Galaxy Note 3 are speculated to come pre-loaded with Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie. The iPhone 6 will likely house iOS 7, but recent reports have indicated delays.
Battery
Either a 2800mAh or 3300mAh battery is expected to power the Nexus 5. The Galaxy Note 3 is rumored to house a 3300mAh battery and details of the iPhone 6's battery are not known.
Availability
The Nexus 5, Galaxy Note 3 and iPhone 6 are slated for an October, September (IFA 2013) and June debut, respectively.
All three smartphone makers have an established presence in the consumer space. Ultimately, it will boil down to pricing and user preference, as well as whether the features and performance of the impending phones can live up to the hype.
