Five smartphones to look forward to this fall

We have had some exciting announcements over the past few months with several more to come before the end of this year. Nokia took the covers off the Nokia Lumia 1020 with a 41MP camera and Windows Phone on-board setting up a hard to reach standard in the camera department.

However the competition is ready to respond in more ways that one. So lets take a look at the latest rumors, leaks and news regarding five of the most anticipate smartphones expected to arrive this fall.

Nokia wasn't the first to release a smartphone focused on the camera as the charge was led by the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom which features an optical zoom, rarely found on smartphones. Samsung will now shift its focus to its phablet flagship with an announcement for the Galaxy Note III hopefully around the corner.

Sony has its own camera centric solution in the works code-named Honami, which promises to backup the Galaxy S4 Zoom to give Android a fighting chance against the Lumia 1020.

While Google is likely readying a Nexus 5 with a new version of Android, all eyes are on the Motorola Moto X which is expected to launch under Google's leadership. This handset is supposed to be all about customization and things that matter to the end user.

Speaking of customization, lets not forget the Apple iPhone. Are we going to see a cheaper iPhone launched this year? is a question on many minds.

Last but not least we have the LG Optimus G2X which is expected to offer pure power, without focusing on any specifics..

This is definitely a solid lineup, but lets start taking a closer look at these handsets to find out which one is best suited for you


Samsung Galaxy Note III

When Samsung first spawned their mega smartphone, we didn't expect it to grow to become the success it has. While its not the easiest to pocket or handle, it has some innovative features which has won it a healthy userbase.

The original Galaxy Note featured a 5.3 inch display which the Galaxy Note II upped it to 5.5 inches. With the Galaxy Note III we expect Samsung to bring a display size between 5.7 and 6.4 inches and we suspect the Galaxy Mega 5.8 and the Galaxy Mega 6.3 were guinea pigs sent to find a size users will find most suitable. However we are curious to see if Samsung will attempt to top the 6.44 inch display on the Sony Xperia Z Ultra in the process.

Rumors expect Samsung to release multiple models to suite various user requirements, but we think they may stick to a normal spec upgrade this time following in the footsteps of their flagship Galaxy S4.

The Galaxy Note III maybe unveiled during the IFA in September this year, so be sure to stay tuned for updates


New iPhone(s)

Apple is expected to unveil two iPhones this year. A successor to the Apple iPhone 5 and a cheaper iPhone aimed at developing countries and users who simply cant afford to purchase an unsubsidised iPhone outright.

The cheaper iPhone is expected to be priced around $350 with colorful back covers, but will maintain the 4 inch display from the iPhone 5. Rumors also suggest a weaker camera, but we think degrading the hardware on this device will be unacceptable. Since the 32GB iPod Touch costs just $299 and features a decent features and build quality, we are certain Apple can find a way to add the required radios and keep an affordable iPhone affordable.

We do however feel that the cheaper iPhone will adopt the iPhone 5S moniker this year, leaving the next gen iPhone 6 to succeed the iPhone 5. This is just a prediction which maybe wrong but we should know for sure by the third quarter of this year


Motorola Moto X

The Motorola Moto X is easily one of the most anticipated smartphones this year, combining the best of Google's Nexus line with Motorola engineering. The handset is expected to offer various customization options for the user, similar to what we are offered when we purchase a new computer. These could include processor speed, memory and colors.

With Motorola we can also expect great battery life on the handset, with Google promising to offer an extremely fast camera as well. While Android 5.0 may not debut on this device, we will likely see Android 4.3 onboard.

According to recent reports, The Moto X is expected to be announced anytime in next couple of weeks.


Sony Honami


The Sony i1 aka Honami is expected to use a 1/ 2.3” sensor, instead of the 1/1.5" sensor which was previously expected. However reports suggest that the device will be able to hold its own against the Lumia 1020 and maybe exactly what the Android camera fans are waiting for.

The Sony Honami is expected to arrive this fall as the successor to the Sony Xperia Z, which currently holds the flagship position and only just made its way to T-Mobile in the U.S.



LG Optimus G2

The upcoming successor to the LG Optimus G chooses to drop the Optimus in its name and will likely be known as simply the LG G2. There is quite a bit known about this device based on rumors, and leaked information. The handset is expected to feature a 5.2 inch full HD display, a 13 megapixel camera and powered by a 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor with 3GB of RAM.

The handset is expected to feature an interesting design change, where its volume rocker will be moved to the back instead of its side. This is likely in order to maximize the display size and minimize the bezel.

All this power would likely be translated into the Google Nexus 5, if LG takes on the task of building the device.


So which of these handsets do you have your eyes on ? Share your thoughts with us below.