Apple iPhone 5 Specs vs. the Competition's: Which Will You Buy? - Wired

Now that Apple has announced its latest iPhone, it’s time to start comparing the highly anticipated device against its fiercest competition.

There’s Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S III, one of the newest Android devices. Consumers have reportedly snapped up 20 million S III’s since it launched in June. Google’s Galaxy Nexus, also made my Samsung, is another direct iPhone rival. And with Jelly Bean OS, it’s one of the only Android phones running Google’s newest mobile operating system. Finally, there’s the Nokia Lumia 920, powered by Windows Phone 8, which is the biggest hope for the nascent Windows mobile platform.

Below you’ll find a spec-by-spec comparison of the iPhone 5 versus the Samsung Galaxy SIII, the Nokia Lumia 920, and Google’s flagship Samsung Galaxy Nexus. (For those who are already 100-percent sure about getting the iPhone 5, you can pre-order the device beginning on Friday.)

• Price
• $200, $300, $400 (16GB, 32GB, 64GB models) with two-year contract
• Varies, starts at $200
• TBA
• $100 (two-year contract), $350 (unlocked)

• Availability
• Sept. 21
• Now
• Expected in October
• Now

• Carriers
• AT&T, Verizon, Sprint
• AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile
• TBA
• Verizon, Sprint (Google sells unlocked version for AT&T and T-Mobile)

• Operating System
• iOS 6
• Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
• Windows Phone 8
• Android 4.1 Jelly Bean

• Dimensions and Weight
• 4.87 x 2.31 x 0.30 inches, 3.95 oz.
• 5.38 x 2.78 x 0.34 inches, 4.7 oz
• 5.21 x 2.78 x 0.42 inches, 6.52 oz
• 5.33 x 2.67 x 0.33mm, 4.76 oz

• Screen Size
• 4.0 inches
• 4.8 inches
• 4.5 inches
• 4.65 inches

• Screen Resolution and Type
• 1136 x 640 pixels (326ppi) IPS Retina Display
• 1280 x 720 pixel (306ppi) Super AMOLED HD
• 1280 x 786 pixel (332 ppi) PureMotion HD+ IPS LCD
• 1280 x 720 pixel (316 ppi) Super AMOLED HD

• Battery
• Unspecified size, company claims up to 8 hours of talk time
• 2100mAh
• 2000mAh
• 1750 mAh

• Cellular Connectivity
• HSPA+, CDMA, 4G LTE
• HSPA+, CDMA, 4G LTE
• HSPA+, CDMA, 4G LTE
• HSPA+, CDMA, 4G LTE

• Processor
• A6 dual core
• 1.5 Ghz dual core
• 1.5 Ghz dual core
• 1.2 Ghz dual core

• Internal Storage
• 16GB, 32GB and 64GB models
• 16GB and 32GB models
• 32GB
• 32GB

• Expandable Storage
• None
• microSD
• None
• None

• RAM
• Unspecified
• 1GB
• 1GB
• 1GB

• Cameras
• Back: 8MP, LED flash, f/2.4; Front: 1.2MP
• Back: 8MP, AF, LED flash, f/2.6; Front: 2MP
• Back: 8.7MP, AF, LED flash, f/2.0; Front: 1.3MP
• Back: 5MP, AF, LED flash, f/2.8; Front: 1.3MP

• Video Capture
• 1080p HD
• 1080p HD
• 1080p HD
• 1080p HD

Overall, the four phones don’t have too many differentiating factors in terms of specs. If you absolutely want NFC on your phone, then Apple’s iPhone 5 won’t suit your needs. Then again, if you want an excellent camera, the iPhone 5 and the Lumia 920 are the top options. As for people who want as much screen space as possible, the Galaxy S III satisfies that requirement. But hardware isn’t everything, and if you’re looking for the latest Android software, then you’ll want to stick with Google’s flagship Galaxy Nexus. The same goes for people who only want to deal with iOS or Windows Phone OS.

While Samsung’s Android-based smartphones have long been the iPhone’s biggest competition, Nokia’s Lumia 920 is now one of the most talked about new devices. In terms of design, it’s arguably one of the most stunning phones anyone has announced in a long time. But is it enough to actually convince iPhone users to switch?

Let us know which phone you want to buy in the poll below.

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Alexandra Chang is a Wired.com staff writer. Previously she's worked at Macworld and AllThingsD.com. Follow her Google+ posts here.

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