iPhone 5 vs. Samsung Galaxy S4

ack in September, Apple released its newiPhone 5, the first iPhone to feature a larger display and 4G LTE data speeds. And as we head into 2013, future competitors to the new iPhone 5 are already dotting the landscape with one of those devices being the upcomingSamsung Galaxy S4, a device that should battle the iPhone 5 and presumably the iPhone 5S, for the hearts and minds of customers.

In 2012, the iPhone 4S and iPhone 5 faced some serious competition in the form of the Samsung Galaxy S3 which replaced the Samsung Galaxy S2 in May as Samsung’s flagship smartphone. Six months after its release in the United States, it has become apparent that Samsung has firmly established the Galaxy S series as a credible rival to the iPhone, amassing over 30 million in Galaxy S3 sales.

The Galaxy S3 has virtually pushed all other big name Android smartphones out of the picture, Motorola and HTC included, and along with the Galaxy Note 2, have put Samsung in the drivers seat as the main competition to Apple’s iconic smartphone.

With the iPhone 5 though, Apple upped its game and introduced the first iPhone with a larger display and fast 4G LTE data speeds, both of which were present on Android phones long beforehand. However, with these new features, Apple has even better positioned its yearly smartphone against the opposition and they should help to keep it relevant well into 2013.

Lurking in the distance though are several competitors that hope to put a serious dent into iPhone sales before Apple introduces a new one. One of those devices is the Galaxy S3′s likely successor, the Samsung Galaxy S4, which has already cropped up in quite a few rumors over the past few weeks. Already, we have decently clear picture of what will likely be the device that Samsung relies upon to keep pace with the iPhone during the course of 2013.

But how does the rumored Galaxy S4 stack up against the iPhone 5? Here, we take a close look at how Apple’s current-generation iPhone 5 fares versus the rumored next-generation Galaxy S4 smartphone from Samsung.

Release Date

On September 21st, Apple finally released its new iPhone after months and months of speculation about its features and its release date. As expected, the device quickly sold out and up until the beginning of December, the iPhone 5 was extremely difficult to find without any sort of a wait. Now, Apple seems to have gotten a grip on the iPhone 5′s supply and those looking to snag one shouldn’t have to wait for more than a few days to get it.

The iPhone 5 is already available on a number of major and regional carriers and it’s possible that 2013 will bring even more carriers into the fold, including Virgin Mobile which has long been rumored to be getting the device.

Of course, while the iPhone 5 is out, the Samsung Galaxy S4 is not. In fact, Samsung hasn’t even announced it yet and likely won’t until at least February. Thus far, four reports peg Mobile World Congress 2013 in Barcelona as the launch date for the Samsung Galaxy S4. MWC is the same show that Samsung announced the Samsung Galaxy S2 and was heavily rumored to be the launching pad for the Galaxy S3.

The Galaxy S3 wound up launching at a separate event that took place in England during the month of May. While Samsung has not elaborated greatly on why it made the move, one supposed reason is that it wanted to put the launch date of the Galaxy S4 closer to the release date in the United States. Samsung announced the device in May and released it in the U.S. in June.

The Galaxy S2, which debuted in February of 2011, had a much windier road to the United States and one that Samsung likely wanted to avoid with the Galaxy S3. That being said, Samsung is also rumored to be launching the Galaxy S4 in April of next year with two reports pegging the month for launch.

A specific release month isn’t clear but it could be that it’s either announced in February and released in April or announced in April and released closer to the June release date of the Galaxy S3.

Either way, the first half of 2013 looks good for a Galaxy S4 release.

Design

Apple completely changed the design of the iPhone with the iPhone 5. With the iPhone 5, Apple now has a device that sports a taller design due to the larger display, a anodized aluminum back held together by two pieces of glass at the top and bottom and metal. It’s an industrial design that is both easy to hold and durable.

As for the specifics, the iPhone 5 is both lightweight and slim. It weighs 112 grams, much lighter than the 140 grams of the iPhone 4S, and much lighter than most smartphones in the market. In fact, it’s so light that some users were complaining about how light it was when it first came out.

The iPhone 5 is also one of the slimmest smartphones on the market checking in with a design that is just 7.6mm thin. That slim form factor makes it both sleek and pocketable.

Little is known of the Galaxy S4 design though a recent report suggests that it may be thicker than the Galaxy S3. The report suggests that it will be 9.1mm thick, much thicker than the iPhone 5. That would be a little strange given that smartphones, especially high-end ones, are slimming down so it could be that that information is off base. A look at a possible design for the Galaxy S4 can be seen in the video below.

Samsung typically uses polycarbonate material to build its phones and it could opt for the same with the Galaxy S4. Unfortunately, Samsung has made it a priority to keep the designs of its Galaxy S smartphones under tight wraps so we may not actually know what it looks like until it launches.

Display

The iPhone 5 keeps the Retina Display that Apple has put on its two previous smartphones though this time, it’s bigger than the usual 3.5-inch display that was featured on previous iPhone models.

The iPhone 5 display is a 4-inch Retina display.

Apple’s new smartphone features a more spacious 4-inch display which offers 1136 x 640 resolution and 326 pixels-per-inch which make for crisp images and text. It also features a 16:9 aspect ratio which offers widescreen resolution for content like television shows and movies.

The arrival of the Droid DNA by HTC has ushered in a new era of Android smartphone screens as the Droid DNA’s 1080p HD display will more than likely be mimicked by other Android manufacturers, Samsung included.

So far, the Galaxy S4 has been rumored to have a 5-inch AMOLED HD display that features 1080p resolution and 441 pixels-per-inch. If true, it could mean that the Galaxy S4′s display will trump the display of the iPhone 5.

Samsung is rumored to be showing off new screen technology at CES 2013 in January and it could be there that we get our first glimpse of the Galaxy S4′s display.

Camera

Apple’s iPhone has always had one of the best cameras for a smartphone and that did not change with the iPhone 5′s 8MP iSight camera which shoots great video and captures fantastic photos. The iPhone 5 also has a high-definition front-facing camera that makes for good video chats.

An iPhone 5 photo sample. The iPhone 5 has a fantastic camera.

The Galaxy S3′s cameras are not as good as the cameras on the iPhone 5 and that’s an area where Samsung might be looking to make up some ground. Already, the Galaxy S4 is rumored to have a 13MP camera and while megapixels don’t mean everything, it would be strange to see Samsung refrain from outfitting its flagship smartphone with a camera that isn’t at least close to the best on Android.

We imagine that it will also upgrade the front-facing camera as well which, while solid on the Galaxy S3, had some room for improvement. At the very least, look for the Galaxy S4 to sport some upgrades both in the hardware and software department.

Specs

Of course, there is hardware beyond the design, display and cameras on board the iPhone 5 and Samsung Galaxy S4 that will appeal to or dissuade potential customers. Here, we take a look at the other specs found on the iPhone 5 and the Samsung Galaxy S4.

First, here is the rundown of the iPhone 5′s specs:

• 4-inch Retina Display with 1136 x 640 Resolution
• Apple A6 Processor
• 16GB/32GB/64GB models
• 8MP rear camera/HD Front-Facing Camera
• 1440mAh Battery (Non-Removable)
• 1GB of RAM

Because the Galaxy S4 is still in the shadows, its other specifications are virtually unknown. Thus far, we’ve heard that it might sport a Exynos 5440 quad-core processor which makes sense considering quad-core processors are now the norm on high-end Android smartphones.

It’ll also likely, like the iPhone 5, come with several storage options besides the base 16GB model. A 32GB is likely and it could be that a 64GB Galaxy S4 hits the United States as well. It’s possible that it will have a microSD card slot for expanded storage as well.

The Galaxy S4 is rumored to have the Galaxy Note 2′s S-Pen stylus.

Samsung likes to put removable batteries on their smartphones so expect that from the Galaxy S4 and it should also have a large battery to help power the device throughout the day. Battery life is huge to current customers and with the iPhone 5 up there with the best 4G LTE battery life on the market, Samsung will need to keep pace.

Lastly, while the iPhone 5 doesn’t feature built-in wireless charging, this is something that the Samsung Galaxy S4 could have as it has now become common in high-end smartphones including the Droid DNA and Nexus 4.

One rumor suggests that the phone will have an S-Pen stylus, like the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, though that seems a little off base considering the S-Pen is one of the Galaxy Note’s unique features.

Software

The arrival of the iPhone 5 also marked the arrival of Apple’s brand new operating system, iOS 6, which offers more than 200 features over the previous version of iOS, iOS 5. Many of those new features can be seen in the video below.

To touch on a few of the big name ones, Apple included more features with its virtual personal assistant Siri, a useful Do Not Disturb feature that can be seen below, Facebook integration, Apple’s new controversial Maps application, Panorama mode for the device’s stellar camera, and a app called Passbook which allows users to store gift cards, airline tickets, sports tickets and more.

And because it’s an iPhone, the iPhone 5 will be getting iOS updates for the years to come.

Samsung does not feature its own operating system and instead uses Google’s Android OS. Right now, there are two rumors out there about which version of Android will be running on the Galaxy S4. Previous rumors suggested that it would have Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie on board, Key Lime Pie of course being the as of yet announced version of Android. Its likely arrival will be at Google I/O 2013 in May.

No features of Key Lime Pie are known at this time.

Another rumor suggests that the Galaxy S4 will have Android Jelly Bean on board though no version was specified. We imagine that the device will have Android 4.2 Jelly Bean on board, the latest version from Google, if it indeed has Jelly Bean. Android 4.2 can be seen in the video below.

Samsung will also likely be tweaking the Android software with some powerful features of its own, it did the same with the Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2, though those features remain firmly in the shadows at this point.

Carriers

The iPhone 4S was the first iPhone to launch on all three major carriers in AT&T, Sprint and Verizon. Previously, the iPhone had only been available on AT&T and Verizon. The iPhone 5, not to be outdone, followed suit and launched on the 4G LTE networks of AT&T, Sprint and Verizon right from the get-go.

Of course, each network has its advantages and disadvantages, but the point is that the iPhone 5 is available on the three largest 4G LTE service providers in the United States. Apple will be adding the fourth largest mobile carrier in 2013 as well as T-Mobile finally confirmed that it will start selling the iPhone in 2013.

It did not say if it would be the iPhone 5 though which leaves open the possibility of the carrier opting for the iPhone 5S instead of the iPhone 5. Whatever the case may be though, the iPhone will land on T-Mobile and it will likely do so on its 4G LTE network.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 still has no rumored carriers though its arrival is just as predictable as the iPhone’s. With the Galaxy S series, Samsung has launched the device on major U.S. carriers. With the Galaxy S3, the device landed on AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular and Verizon, a launch that was a clear advantage over of its Android rivals. Look for it do the same with the Galaxy S4.

Samsung’s new Galaxy S4 smartphone will almost assuredly launch on the four current 4G LTE networks in place and it will likely hit T-Mobile’s new 4G LTE network, set to arrive next year, as well.

Price

One of the constants with the iPhone has always been its price and with the iPhone 5, Apple kept the status quo. When the iPhone 5 was released in September, it hit the major carriers with the usual $199.99 on-contract price. That price of course nets customers a 16GB model. And, as iPhone pricing goes, more storage means more money.

Here is how Apple’s on-contract price for the iPhone 5 breaks down:

• iPhone 16GB – $199.99 on-contract
• iPhone 32GB – $299.99 on-contract
• iPhone 64GB – $399.99 on-contract

If T-Mobile does indeed get the iPhone 5, expect the price to be more in line with the off-contract pricing that Apple offers with its iPhone 5. Here is how the off-contract pricing breaks down:

• iPhone 16GB – $649.99 off-contract
• iPhone 32GB – $749.99 off-contract
• iPhone 64GB – $849.99 off-contract

With the Samsung Galaxy S3, the company followed Apple’s pricing structure and American carriers offered the 16GB Galaxy S3 starting at $199.99 on-contract. T-Mobile was the only one of the major carriers to offer it for more and its Galaxy S3 starts at $279.99.

The Galaxy S4, seen here in a render, could feature a familiar $199.99 price tag.

There is currently no rumored pricing for the Galaxy S4 though it would be surprising to see Samsung stray from what has worked so well in the past. Look for the Galaxy S4 to check in with a starting price of $199.99 for a 16GB model.

And with T-Mobile switching over to Value plan pricing, expect a number of different price points for its likely 4G LTE version of the Galaxy S4. We haven’t seen the policy enacted quite yet so at this point, it’s impossible to predict how much the carrier might charge.

The new prototype Android, model E-Ink

During the week, respectively, at the Mobile World Congress the company Onyx International has introduced a new model of Android phone, the prototype E-Ink, which should be filled only once during the week.

Onyx International is now known as the company that produces technology equipment black and white E-Ink, and among its most popular models is electronic reader called Boox.

While its smart phone in Android, E-Ink is under development, and is currently in the concept stage, rather than at the final launch

YouTube Updates iOS App, Adds Send-to-TV Feature

YouTube updated its iOS app Thursday, adding the Send-to-TV feature it introduced for Android in November of last year.

With the update you can use your iOS device to send YouTube clips to Google TV, Xbox or PlayStation 3 and watch them on the big screen.
In January, we spoke to YouTube reps about the company's plans for TV, a future it feels will be smartphone-oriented, with your phone replacing your television remote.

We're trying to build this infrastructure that scales everywhere, from watching 1080p HD-quality video on your TV all the way down to using a dial-up modem in a developing country," YouTube's director of product management Shiva Rajaraman told Mashable in January. "We'd like to be all things video, and that means getting video into all places," he added.
Thursday’s iOS update also adds improved streaming over slow Wi-Fi connections, stability improvements, and the ability to record and upload video via YouTube Capture.

Curious how it works? Check out the video below for a quick demo of the Android version of the app.

A Password You Wear on Your Wrist

A mobile security startup called PassBan thinks the best way to keep mobile devices secure is to allow people to choose from a bevy of different authentication options—including one that you wear on your wrist.

“We didn’t want to be in the business of forcing one factor or another on the user,” says cofounder and CEO Kayvan Alikhani.

Most of us have to remember countless passwords for different online services, and we are often asked to choose complicated strings of characters to make them harder to guess. A growing number of companies offer alternatives to conventional passwords, including various forms of biometrics.

More than half of cell phone users in the U.S. also own smartphones, and many apps keep users perpetually logged in, thereby bypassing the usual security controls. People also use smartphones and tablets to store and access an increasing amount of personal data, making them ever-more valuable if they’re lost or stolen. And yet, while there are plenty of companies focusing on securing desktop and laptop computers, the market for mobile security is still in its infancy.
PassBan released a free Android app in February called Passboard that allows you to secure individual apps on a smartphone with any of more than a dozen verification techniques, including identifying your voice, face, location, or a specific gesture. Initially available in private beta, the company says, anyone will be able to use the app starting Friday.
And at a developer event at the company’s San Francisco office on Wednesday, the company showed off a wristband that can unlock a phone or tablet when the wearer makes a simple gesture in the air. It also showed off tools that will let third-party developers incorporate PassBan’s technology into their apps.
The wristband will be available in a couple of weeks, Alikhani says, and the company hopes to sell it for less than $20. He expects such sensors to ultimately be embedded in watches or other things we carry with us.
PassBoard works by intercepting the launch of any app that a user has secured it with. Once you’ve secured your Facebook app, for example, when you tap on it, a PassBoard popup commands you to verify your identity with whatever method you’ve chosen.
For those with a wristband, it can be set up to authenticate you with a shake or tap on the wristband, or with just your proximity to your smartphone. Whichever method you choose, it must be registered and transmitted via Bluetooth to your handset to unlock an app.
Alikhani says it is possible for someone who has the wristband and your smartphone to access data on the handset, assuming they know your signature gesture. But if you secure a phone with a wristband gesture and also require another factor—like choosing a sequence of colors—that could make it trickier to access.
Dan Wagner, a professor of computer science at UC Berkeley, doesn’t think PassBoard offers anything particularly unique or useful, saying that his research suggests that only a minority of users employ even a simple passcode to lock their phones. He expects this is because there isn’t much of a security risk for most people—someone who steals your phone probably just wants to wipe the data and resell it.
He is intrigued by the idea of wearable authentication, however, though PassBan will have to convince users it’s worth spending the money to get it.
PassBan isn’t the only company that thinks wearable authentication may be the next big thing in security. Google is apparently exploring the idea of using items a user is likely to have on them anyway—such as jewelry—to log in to a computer.

Spotify vs. Pandora: Which Is Better?

With so many ways to listen to music these days, how do you choose the best option?
Here's a look at how two of the most popular music streaming services, Spotify and Pandora, compare to each other. Spotify may have a chance to gain a larger share of the market, since Pandora announced Wednesday that they were going to cap mobile streaming at 40 hours per week.

Although the two competitors are both music providers, the services they offer are quite different. While Spotify is available is 23 countries, Pandora is only available in three. However, Pandora boasts 65.6 million active users, while Spotify has only 20 million.
Check out the infographic below courtesy of The Music Bed to get a breakdown of Pandora and Spotify's services. Which do you prefer? Let us know in the comments.

50 Digital Media Resources You May Have Missed

It has been another action-packed week here at Mashable. We've been covering the newest gadgets coming out of Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, the Pope's last Tweet and the fate of Groupon CEO Andrew Mason.
We know you've been busy with your own lives, so we rounded up the most important updates in tech and social media to keep you informed. So read below for tons of digital media resources, new innovative apps and much more.

Apple iPhone 5 16GB White details

More power, a better camera, a larger, four-inch screen and a brand new design combine to make the sixth-generation Apple smartphone the thinnest, lightest, fastest and best-looking iPhone ever. It really is the "biggest thing to happen to iPhone since iPhone".

Thin is very definitely 'in'. For proof, look no further than the super-svelte iPhone 5. At just 7.6mm thin and weighing just 112 grams, it's 20 per cent skinnier and 18 per cent lighter than the iPhone 4S and cuts a dash in any company.

But that's not all. Because the iPhone 5 is taller than its predecessor, it's got room for a bigger, four-inch panel that's brilliant for watching widescreen HD video. What's more, with higher colour saturation and 326 pixels per inch packed in, it delivers among the most vivid, lifelike images we've ever seen on a smartphone.

Speed and power also mark out this great phone from the chasing pack. With 4G support (depending on your network), it's capable of delivering mobile internet browsing speeds up to six times faster than 3G. So whether it's downloading apps, streaming video or playing online games, the iPhone 5 allows you to do more of it, faster.

Boosting the iPhone 5 in the speed-stakes is the on board A6 processor. Custom-made for the iPhone 5, it's twice as fast as the A5 processor that powers the iPhone 4S. That means apps open and close faster and everything moves with a sense of real snap. What's more, because it handles 3D graphics better it makes for some amazingly rich, immersive mobile gaming experiences too.

But if you think that the processor and 4G must make the iPhone 5 a battery hog, think again. Because the A6 processor has been made just for this handset, it's optimised to be as efficient as possible. That means you'll get up to eight hours of browsing or eight hours of talk time, or up to 10 hours of video playback.

iPhones have always doubled as great cameras. And of course the iPhone 5 is no exception. This time around the eight-megapixel snapper that featured on the iPhone 4S has been given improved HD video recording and a stunning panorama mode. You'll also get an improved camera app with slicker performance in low light conditions and 40 per cent faster photo capture.

And completing what's an incredible update is all new software. iOS 6, the latest version of Apple's operating system, now offers a better Siri app that means you can now speak updates directly to your Facebook page and receive voice results for where to eat and what movies to watch. Apple Maps debuts with iOS 6 too, offering turn-by-turn directions, real-time traffic information and spoken directions to get you wherever it is you need to go.

Other features of the iPhone 5 include 16GB of storage, a secondary 1.2-megapixel camera for video calls with the FaceTime app and a choice of tens of thousands of great apps and games from the App Store download market.

Apple iPhone 5 16GB Black details

The sixth-generation Apple handset is touted as the "biggest thing to happen to iPhone since iPhone". That's no word of a lie. With more power, a better camera, arguably the world's best operating system, a larger, four-inch screen and a new, sleeker design, the iPhone 5 is the thinnest, lightest, fastest and best-looking iPhone ever.

At just 7.6mm thin and weighing in at a featherweight 112 grams, the sixth-generation iPhone is 18 per cent lighter and 20 per cent lighter than the 4S model. But it's also better in ways that you can't even measure.

Take the screen, for example. At four-inches, it's large enough to let you watch widescreen HD video. And with 326 pixels per inch and 1136-by-640 resolution and higher colour saturation, the iPhone 5 really brings movies and apps to life.

But that's not all. The iPhone 5's connectivity options mark it out as a truly next-generation handset. 4G support (depending on the network you choose) means you'll enjoy mobile internet speeds up to six times faster than 3G.

Speeding things up even more is the super powerful A6 processor, that's twice as fast as the A5 that powered the iPhone 4S. Not only does this give the iPhone 5 an amazing sense of 'snap' when you're zipping through menus, opening and closing apps, it also handles 3D graphics better than ever for some amazing mobile gaming experiences.

All that extra power must be a drain on the battery, though, right? Wrong. The A6 is custom-made to work with the iPhone 5 and is designed to be as power-efficient as possible. The result is eight hours of browsing, or eight hours of talk time or up to 10 hours of video playback.

Need a phone that doubles as a great camera too? Don't fret. The iPhone 5 more than fits the bill. Apple have taken the iPhone 4S's brilliant eight megapixel iSight camera and added enhanced HD video recording and a panorama mode that delivers truly jaw-dropping shots. Better still is that the camera app has been improved too and now offers better low-light performance, 40 per cent faster photo capture and noise reduction technology.

And the improvements aren't restricted to hardware. The iOS 6 software has been given a far-reaching - and amazing - overhaul too. The voice operated Siri digital assistant app now lets you speak posts to your Facebook page and delivers voice results for where to eat and what movies to watch. And to help you get around there's the all-new Apple Maps mapping solution, with turn by turn directions, real-time traffic information and spoken directions.

Other features of the iPhone 5 include 16GB of storage, a secondary 1.2 megapixel camera for video calls with the FaceTime app and a choice of tens of thousands of great apps and games from the App Store download market.

Apple iPhone 5 32GB - White details

Measuring 7.6mm thin and weighing in just 112 grams, the sixth-generation iPhone is 18 per cent slimmer and 20 per cent lighter than the 4S model. But with the world's best operating system, a bigger screen, a gorgeous, all-new design, more brawn and a better camera, it's an improvement that's almost impossible to measure.

The iPhone 5's extra height means it's got room for a larger, four-inch screen. And what a screen it is. It's brilliant for watching widescreen HD video while you're on the go. Not least because with a whopping 326 pixels per inch and higher colour saturation, you can expect some of the most vivid, vibrant images ever seen on a smartphone or tablet.

Power isn't everything in the smartphone world. But it's also very welcome. Thankfully the iPhone 5 doesn't disappoint. Thanks to its on board A6 processor, which is twice as fast as the A5 model that powered the iPhone 4S, this handset is a joy to use. Not only do apps open and close faster than ever, the extra power also means it handles 3D graphics with aplomb for some truly staggering mobile gaming experiences.

And don't worry about all that power draining the battery. The A6 is custom-made for the iPhone 5 and is designed to be as power efficient as possible. The upshot is eight hours of browsing or eight hours of talk time, or up to 10 hours of video playback.

Speed is another of this phone's fortes. Because it supports 4G networks (subject to carrier), iPhone 5 owners can expect to surf the web at speeds up to six times faster than 3G.

If a great camera is what you're after you're also in luck. The eight megapixel iSight camera from the iPhone 4S has been improved and given enhanced HD video recording and a fantastic panorama mode. It's also better in low light conditions and offers faster photo capture to ensure you don't miss those unmissable moments.

As with every previous iPhone, the iPhone 5 showcases entirely new software in the shape of iOS 6. This time around you get a massively improved version of the Siri voice commands app that allows you to speak Facebook updates out loud and even get voice results for where to eat and what movies to watch. Plus, for the first time you get the Apple Maps app, which teams turn-by-turn directions, real-time traffic information and spoken directions to get you there.

Other features of the iPhone 5 include 32GB of storage, a secondary 1.2-megapixel camera for video calls with the FaceTime app and a choice of tens of thousands of great apps and games from the App Store download market

Apple iPhone 5 32GB - Black details

Back in 2007, the iPhone reinvented smartphones. With the world's best mobile operating system, a four-inch screen, super-slim dimensions, masses of memory and an improved camera, the iPhone 5 has done it all over again.

The iPhone 5 is the thinnest, lightest, fastest and best-looking iPhone ever. Weighing in at just 112 grams and measuring just 7.6mm thin, it's 18 per cent slimmer and 20 per cent lighter. But don't be fooled by its sleekness. The iPhone 5 is a powerhouse under the bonnet.

With 4G support, iPhone 5 owners can expect to surf the internet at speeds up to six times as fast as smartphones with 3G mobile web connectivity. Speeding things up even more is the A6 processor that's twice as fast as the A5 chip that powered the iPhone 4S.

The result is a phone with an amazing sense of 'snap' when you're zipping through menus, opening and closing apps and loading web pages. Better still, it handles 3D graphics with aplomb for some amazing mobile gaming experiences.

Extra power comes at the cost of battery life, though, right? Not so. The A6 has been custom-made to work with the iPhone 5 and is designed to be as power efficient as possible. That means you can expect eight hours of browsing, or eight hours of talk time or up to 10 hours of video playback.

Just as impressive is the four-inch screen, which is large enough to let you watch widescreen HD video. What's more, with higher colour saturation, 326 pixels per inch and a 1136-by-640 resolution, the iPhone 5's Retina display really brings images, games and apps to life.

Apple hasn't neglected the iPhone 5's camera either. This time around the eight-megapixel camera from the iPhone 4S has been improved with full HD video recording and a stunning panorama mode. And to help you get the best shot possible, it performs better in low light conditions and offers 40 per cent faster photo capture.

Of course, an iPhone wouldn't be an iPhone if it didn't feature Apple's amazing iOS software. The iPhone 5 is powered by the brand new iOS 6 version. Thanks to its revamped Siri digital assistant app, it now lets you speak posts straight to your Facebook page and even delivers voice results for where to eat and what movies to watch. And with free turn-by-turn directions, real-time traffic information and spoken directions, mapping solutions don't come much better than the just-added Apple Maps.

Other features of the iPhone 5 include 32GB of storage, a secondary 1.2-megapixel camera for video calls with the FaceTime app and a choice of tens of thousands of great apps and games from the App Store download market.

iPhone 5 vs. Galaxy S III Full Comparison

iPhone 5 and Galaxy S III goe head to head in this feature comparison.

I own both the iPhone 5 and the Samsung Galaxy S III and love each phone. In the following iPhone 5 vs. Galaxy S III comparison I look at design, display, performance and other important factors to help readers pick the best phone.

Some said the iPhone 5 will blow away the Galaxy S III.

After spending a weekend comparing the iPhone 5 and the Galaxy S III, here’s what I learned.

iPhone 5 vs. Galaxy S III Display

I love the large 4.8-inch display on the Samsung Galaxy S III. Samsung packs in a 1280×720 resolution, giving it true 720p HD quality with 306ppi. The display is bright, crisp and beautiful. The iPhone 5 uses a 1136×640 resolution display with 326ppi making it more crisp even if users don’t get full HD video. The iPhone 5 display looks better and has a warmer color temperature. It’s brighter at maximum and middle brightness levels while the Galaxy S III shines brighter at lowest settings.

When I put the two phones next to one another, the iPhone 5 looks better, but not by a wide margin. I didn’t really notice a big difference until I laid them side-by-side so display quality isn’t a reason to pick one phone over another.

I like larger screens, but I chose the iPhone 5 mostly for the display quality, not the size.

Winner: iPhone 5

Siri vs. S-Voice

Both phones offer voice control. Siri on the iPhone 5 got a big upgrade in iOS 6 and now lets users launch apps, check sports scores and more. S-Voice could do many of these things from the start, but that doesn’t give it an edge now that Apple shipped iOS 6.

With my previous iPhone I didn’t use Siri because it usually failed to connect to Apple’s servers. Things work better now, but not enough to make it dependable.

Winner: Neither

Network Speed

Both phones run on 4G LTE from AT&T, Verizon or Sprint. Verizon blankets more of the U.S. with LTE than the competition. However, I’m an AT&T customer and tested the phones on LTE in Gastonia, NC.Samsung Galaxy S III didn’t download data as fast as the iPhone at peak levels, but it provides more consistent results. The iPhone 5 speed tests varied too wildly to depend on so I’d pick the Galaxy S III.

The history shows that the results with the Galaxy S III are also all over the place. I got speeds below 3,500kbps and above 23,000kbps.

On my iPhone 5 see the speed test below which shows 15.81Mbps which translates to 15,810kbps. The upload speed failed in this test.

Here’s the history of all my iPhone 5 speed tests.

Comparing the extremes, the lowest iPhone test came in lower than the lowest Galaxy S III and higher than the highest S III. However, the S III is more consistent.

Both phones run fast on my Wi-Fi network, but iPhone 5 suffers some Wi-Fi connectivity issues for some, including me. See the Apple support posts with 30+ pages of people complaining of similar issues. We posted a fix that works for some, but didn’t work on my phone.

Due to more consistent LTE data speeds and more dependable Wi-Fi connections, the Galaxy S III takes this category.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy S III

iPhone 5 vs. Galaxy S III Battery Life

The Samsung Galaxy S III offers better battery life than most Android phones thanks to the 2100mAh battery. Mine easily lasts most of the day if I keep things like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned off until I need them.

The Samsung Galaxy S III battery can be replaced by extended batteries.

I tested both phones in a single day’s time using them extensively with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi turned on most of the time and screen brightness set to about half. The iPhone lasted under 9 hours of heavy use. The Galaxy S III lasted 45 minutes longer. Also I can change the battery on the Samsung Galaxy S III which lets me install an extended battery.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy S III

Operating System Speed

Apple iPhone 5 Running iOS 6

Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich runs quickly and smoothly on the S III but iOS 6 runs just as well on the iPhone 5, with a faster processor than previous iPhones. Sometimes Android apps freeze temporarily taking over the interface. That didn’t happen on iPhone.

Samsung Galaxy S III Running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich

iPhone 5 doesn’t let me customize the keyboard or put widgets on my home screen. Since the Android crashes happen so seldom, the customizable interface wins. Also it’s easier to root an Android phone. Users can’t yet get an iOS 6 jailbreak on iPhone 5.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy S III

iPhone 5 vs. Galaxy S III Quality and Design

The iPhone clearly looks prettier than the Galaxy S III. It’s a work of art while the S III just looks nice.

Notice the ding in the corner of my S III

While holding both phones, the Samsung Galaxy S III with the plastic back feels cheaper. I thought it would hold up well, until I dropped mine. Now the corner looks like it melted. A recent drop test showed that the S III screen breaks easier than the iPhone 5.

Playing Video on iPhone 5 vs. Galaxy S III

Galaxy S III screen is much bigger than iPhone 5 making it better for viewing videos

I play a lot of video on my Samsung Galaxy S III, from podcasts to movies. I love the larger screen. The iPhone 5 screen looks crisp, but doesn’t offer true HD resolution. Due to the HD resolution and larger display, I prefer the Galaxy S III.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy S III

Apps on iOS and Android

I’ll keep this simple. Apple has more apps, but it no longer leads in the number of quality apps. When the Samsung Galaxy S III updates to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean it may suffer from the fragmentation issue since fewer apps run on the latest version of the OS. We get a similar issue with iOS 6.

Note that you can barely make out the black bars at the top and bottom of this old app

Not all iOS apps run in full screen yet on the new iPhone 5 with the taller 4-inch screen. Older apps run in letterbox, meaning iOS places a black bar above and below the app in portrait mode or to the left and right in landscape. That’s because older apps fit a 3.5-inch screen and Apple didn’t want to stretch the apps.

I can now get nearly all the apps I want in the Google Play Store

The Google Play Store doesn’t offer as much content in the video, magazine or music areas of the store as iTunes offers. For that reason iOS gets a narrow victory.

Winner: iPhone 5

Maps

The iOS 6 Maps app controversy reminds me of the problem with the iPhone 4 signal that dropped when people held the phone tightly in their hands. My experience isn’t as bad as some report, but there’s a clear problem and even Apple seems to get that since their looking for Android app developers.

In the video below our own Xavier Lanier searches for a hospital in the new Apple Maps and it fails terribly.I trust Android’s Maps and use it all the time. The app gives me accurate directions and a helpful picture of the destination that appears when I near the spot.

Recently I experienced a strange issue with the Galaxy S III that required me to recalibrate the phone. I’ve never had that with an iPhone, but that’s a minor problem.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy S III

Accessories

The iPhone 5 comes with a new set of EarPods that sound great but don’t fit my ears because they’re too big. The pods kept falling out no matter how much I pushed them into my ears. I also don’t like that Apple put the stereo jack on the bottom fo the phone. Samsung ships the Galaxy S III traditional in-ear earbuds. They don’t sound as good as the EarPods, but sound good enough.

I prefer the Lightning connector on iPhone to micros USB, but more Micro-USB accessories exist

I prefer the new Apple Lightning charging and sync cable because it’s easier to slide into the phone than a micro-USB cable, which the Galaxy S III uses.

Apple new Lightning cable compared to old 30-pin dock connector

Few accessories work with the new Lightning connector, but there’s a ton of micro-USB charging accessories and they’re cheaper which offsets the better connection from Apple.

Because both phones did and will sell millions, they’ll both get plenty of accessories like cases and chargers and car mounts.