7 of the Most Anticipated Phones of 2013: Are They Worth Your Money? (list)

From the iPhone 5S to the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, 2013 is indeed closing with a buzz as a plethora of exciting handsets flood the market. Elated and curious about their features, rumors and leaks are popping up here and there – everywhere. However, will these devices prove to be as extravagant as the rumors imply or will they prove to be mere a killjoy? Find out in this article.

iPhone 5S – A Worthy Upgrade?

Commonly referred to as “the most valuable company in the world,” Apple handsets almost always come out with much agape. But, some users are disappointed by the constant waves of underwhelming incremental upgrades. Leaks of the iPhone 5S suggest that it will resemble much like the iPhone 5 – with just a few nuances, of course. The opening for the LED flash looks noticeably different than the iPhone 5 – indicating that the iPhone 5S might have better flash.

Key Features:

• iOS 7
• New colors (gold, champagne and graphite)
• Slow-motion video recording
• Improved camera
• Faster A7 processor
• Fingerprint scanner

Apple will also give consumers more options by introducing new colors: graphite (black accents) and gold champagne (white accents). It will also have a larger f2.0 aperture lense that is capable of absorbing more light. Capturing rich and detailed photos, the iPhone 5 was considered to be one of the best camera phones of 2012. Perhaps such improvements will spur the iPhone 5S to number one this year. What is more, multitasking will be a breeze because of the faster A7 chip. Some reports suggest that the iPhone 5S will be 30 percent faster than the iPhone 5 – a significant performance boost! With a faster processor, iOS 7 and fingerprint scanning, the iPhone 5S will definitely not be a mere incremental upgrade like the reviled iPhone 4S was.

iPhone 5C – Is Apple Heading in the Right Direction?

The world’s most valuable company is definitely not known for making low-end products — especially cheap ones, for that matter. Yet, that is exactly what Apple seems to be doing with the imminent release of the iPhone 5C. Unlike typical Apple phones, the iPhone 5C has a plastic back and a less premium design. Aside from the form factor, color options and the lower price, not much is known about the iPhone 5C.

Why Is Apple Even Creating a Cheaper iPhone?

For years, rumors of Apple building a cheaper iPhone populated the Web. Bent on maintaining its maintaining its integrity for designing deluxe and high quality products, Apple utterly squashed those rumors with each subsequent iteration. All of that changed in 2013 when leaked images of what seems to be a cheaper iPhone circulated the Web. However, this raises several concerns — particularly– why a company like Apple is even doing this.

The situation is as shocking as Bugatti or Lamborghini creating low-end cars for the average joe. The reasons are simple: market penetration and competition. With a population of over 1.3 billion, China is a big deal to marketers. Since Apple is losing its marketshare in China, creating a cheaper device is an effective method to penetrate into the market [1]. Back in the day, Apple iPhone was the top dog — period! However, Apple is almost engulfed by a sea of “galaxy” phones and other Android devices [2]. Since an affordable iPhone is more accessible to consumers on a budget, this is an ideal way to compete with low-end Android smartphones.

Moto X – The Future of Smartphone Technology?

Bumping specs is one thing, but innovation and implementing new extravagant software features that add value is something entirely different — something far more important. With the relatively mid-range specs of the Moto X, Motorola is clearly focused on adding more value via software — the same thing that catapulted the popularity of the Samsung Galaxy series. From its design to its intriguing software features, the Moto X is the pinnacle of innovation.

Touchless control, peek notifications and personal design customization features are “wow” features that are unique to the Moto X. Touchless control is particularly captivating, because it makes your phone a true personal assistant. Unlike Siri and other Android phones with Google Now, you don’t have to press a button to activate the personal assistant. You can just ask your phone a question, and it will quickly answer you. The screen doesn’t even have to be on. Another interesting feature is personal customization through Moto Maker. This is indeed suitable for users who are adamant about specific color schemes and designs.

Key Features of the Moto X:

• Touchless Control
• Peek Notifications
• Personal Design Customization
• ClearPixel Camera

Nexus 5 – Will it be a True “Nexus” Experience?

Offering a pure vanilla Android experience, Nexus devices are a must-have for geeks or enthusiasts who don’t want to tamper with or root their handset. Rumors suggest that the Nexus 5 will have almost the same design as the LG G2, along with additional refinements made by Google. The most interesting feature of the Nexus 5 will no doubt Android 4.4 Kit Kat. It will also likely sport and ultra-thin bezel, 2 GB of RAM, Snapdragon 800 processor and a 1080p display — which are quite similar to the LG G2. Therefore, Nexus 5 will definitely be a snappy and intuitive device.

LG G2 – A sign that Smartphones will Ditch Bezels Completely?

As its other Korean rival, Samsung, dominates the market, LG is retaliates by introducing the LG G2 — A feature-packed smartphone that gives the Samsung Galaxy S4 a run for its money. The LG G2 is equipped with 2 GB of RAM, 1080p display and a Snapdragon 800 processor — making a blazingly fast phone. However, the ultra-thin bezels are by far one of the most conspicuous features of the LG G2. Although it is roughly the same size the as the Galaxy S4, it was able to squeeze in two extra inches — making it a 5.2 inch display. Since many manufacturers are striving to increase screen size, it would not be surprising to see more ultra-thin-bezel smartphones like this on the future.

HTC One Max – Will it be As Successful as the Galaxy Note?

Shrouded in obscurity by the fame of Samsung Galaxy phones, HTC has taken a hit over the past few years. Dumping its slogan “quietly brilliant” and releasing the feature-packed HTC One, HTC is in an aggressive quest for vengeance — and it is doing fairly well so far. The HTC One’s success is a sign that HTC is not backing down anytime soon. In fact, HTC is soon releasing a bigger, badder and faster phone — the HTC One Max. Leaks suggest that it will have 2 GB of RAM, snapdragon 800 processor, Sense 5.5, and a 5.9 inch 1080p HD display (S-LCD3).

It will likely feature a stylus pen and fingerprint scanning. Aside from that, not much is known about the HTC One Max. One thing is for sure, though, it will likely be a good phone — a very good phone. However, HTC is going to have to find away to effectively tailor this product toward mainstream consumers to effectively compete with Galaxy Note III. For example, while the HTC One is a great device, it is obscured by the dominance of the Samsung Galaxy S4.

Galaxy Note III – Will it be “Note” Worthy?

When someone hears the word “phablet,” the Galaxy Note is no doubt one of the phones that come to mind. Since the release of the first Galaxy Note, people holding gigantic phones over their ear was no longer eccentric — it became the norm. However, other manufacturers such as Sony, HTC, Huawei and LG are swarming to overtake the Note the as the dominant phablet in the market. As a result, the Samsung Galaxy Note III needs to be markedly outstanding from the swarm of other phablets out there. Rumors suggest that it will have 3 GB of RAM, Snapdragon 800 processor or an eight-core Exynos 5 Octa chipset and a 5.7 1080p HD display. Not much else is known about the Note III. Perhaps it will have more software features to dazzle customers.