iPhone 5 vs Samsung Galaxy S3: In-Depth Specs Comparisons and Sales Predictions

Now that the Apple has set the record straight with official iPhone 5 specs, conflicted smartphone consumers can finally make an informed decision on which device they are going to purchase this fall. The iPhone's strongest competitor is the Samsung Galaxy S3, which is set to top 30 million sales this year according to the Yonhap News Agency. CNET reports that analyst Piper Jaffray expects the iPhone 5's sales in the September quarter to reach 27.2 million. Let's put the financial jargon aside and get to what really matters: the specs.

Samsung Galaxy S3

The S3 is available for $199 with a contract. The guts of the device include an Exynos 4412 Quad Core processor and 32MB of internal storage space, with an option to add up to 64GB with an SD card slot.  Running on Android 4.0.1, the smartphone displays a 4.8" Super AMOLED screen with a 1280x720 resolution. The Galaxy's plastic shell body weights 4.69 oz, with dimensions of 5.38"x2.78"x0.34" The S3 has a max speed of 21.1 Megabits, and a max battery life of 11 hours while using 3G talk and data. Videophiles will be grateful of the 1080p HD recording capability of the S3. Those more interested in photographs will find a 1.9 megapixel front-facing camera and an 8 megapixel rear-facing camera on the device. The Galaxy offers 802.11 b/g/n/a WiFi, and cell coverage using LTE, HSDPA+, and GSM.  

iPhone 5

When the iPhone 5 launches on September 21 consumers will have the option of buying a 16, 32, or 64GB device, which cost $199, $299, and $399 respectively. The smartphone's 3.95 oz Aluminum Unibody build will house the new Apple A6 processor and frame the new 4" LCD screen at a resolution of 1136 x 640. The device will run on iOS 6 and provide a max of 8 hours 3G talk and data use. Those looking for extra memory may be disappointed, as the iPhone 5 does not have an SD card slot. The phone's dimensions are 4.8" x 2.3" x 0.29" Similar to the S3, the iPhone 5 has both 1080p recording capabilities and an 8 megapixel rear-facing camera. However, one key difference is a 0.9 megapixel front-facing camera. Apple's smartphone will offer 802.11 b/g/n/a dual-band WiFi and cell coverage using EV-DO Rev. A, LTE, and HSPA+.