Samsung Galaxy S3's top five smartphone rivals
V3 takes a look at the five biggest devices that could cause trouble for Samsung's forthcoming quad-core flagship handset
Ahead of the launch of the much-anticipated Samsung Galaxy S3 on 30 May, V3 takes a look at which rival device might be able to stop the S3 claiming the crown as 2012's top smartphone, breaking down what we expect from the mobile heavy hitters.
5) The LG Optimus 4X HD
While many would write off the device just because it sports an LG logo, as noted in our Mobile World Congress (MWC) hands on, the LG Optimus 4X HD is an arresting device.
The phone packs a powerful Nvidia 1.5GHz quad-core Tegra 3 processor backed up by 1GB of RAM.
Visually the device houses a massive 4.7in 1280x720 touchscreen, that boasts IPS technology - meaning it should provide excellent viewing angles and perform better in sunlit conditions.
Having had our hands on the device when it was unveiled, we were really impressed with its screen, with it remaining clear and crisp even in the LG MWC stand's dim, low light conditions.
The device will be powered by Google's latest 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich Android version and will feature 16GB of internal storage.The unit will also sport an 8MP rear-facing camera backed up by a 1.3MP front-facing unit and be powered by a sizeable 2150mAh battery.
Confirmed for release in the UK in June at a semi-affordable £480 SIM-free price, the LG Optimus 4X HD will be £20 cheaper than the Galaxy S3 and could potentially offer a valid alternative to Samsung's latest flagship handset.
4) The HTC One X
HTC was the first to market when it came to quad-core processors in a smartphone, releasing its One X handset in April.
As noted in our full written review, the One X is a beautiful device, packing a 1.5GHz quad-core processor, backed up by 1GB of RAM.
We were particularly impressed by the device's 8MP rear-facing camera and 4.7in 1280x720 touchscreen. In our time with the device the Super LCD screen remained pleasing to the eye, with its 312ppi resolution ensuring the display remained crisp and vibrant even in the most unflattering lighting conditions.
The One X's camera is equally impressive, in our mind being one of the finest currently on the market. In terms of dimensions, the One X is fairly similar to the S3 measuring in at 134x70x8.9mm and weighing 130g. The S3 by comparison measures in at 137x71x8.6mm and weighs 133g.
Retailing for the same £500 sim-free as the Galaxy S3 and targeting the same plus-sized market, the One X may have already taken a chunk of Samsung's potential market. This trend could potentially continue if the S3 launches with a similar game-breaking flaw like the Galaxy Nexus's volume drop bug.
Samsung Galaxy S3's top five smartphone rivals
V3 takes a look at the five biggest devices that could cause trouble for Samsung's forthcoming quad-core flagship handset
3) The Huawei Ascend D Quad
Huawei unveiled the Ascend D Quad at MWC in February. The Chinese mobile phone maker claims the device will be the company's first serious step into the Western market, promising to support it with a massive marketing campaign.
The company's high hopes are reflected in the technology powering the D Quad, with the smartphone running off Huawei's K3V2 quad-core processor, which clocks in at speeds between 1.2 GHz and 1.5 GHz - the company claims the component is the fastest mobile processor in the world.
The device's screen is also incredible, with the D Quad packing a high definition 4.5in display that runs at a native 330ppi pixel density.
The device is powered by Ice Cream Sandwich and from what we've seen Huawei hasn't made any significant changes to the OS. This will likely be a selling point to smartphone customers who prefer a less cluttered user interface (UI) than the custom Touchwiz skin sported by the S3.
Price could also prove a key draw for the D Quad, with Huawei having a tendency to undercut similarly specced competitors' devices recommended prices by as much as £75. The D Quad is set for release in this year's third quarter.
2) The Windows Phone Apollo ‘superphone'
Little is known about Microsoft's next Windows Phone version. The last time a serious rumour surfaced was in January when a number of sites reported the mobile operating system (OS) would arrive in Q4 2012.
The reports claimed that the new OS would launch on a number of new "superphones". No further details were given regarding what these superphones would be.
The news led to a slew of rumours, with tech sites reporting everything from multi-core support to Kinect-style motion controls - none of which had any official basis.
Though we're sceptical regarding the majority of the Windows Phone Apollo rumours, we are interested to see what Nokia's plans for the OS are.
Since partnering with Windows Phone the company has had modest success with the platform, but hasn't really managed to significantly increase the OS market share.
Given the modest update seen in its recently released Lumia 900, we're expecting the Finnish phone maker may have something big planned for later in the year.
1) The next Apple iPhone
The elephant in the room whenever discussing high-end smartphone sales, Apple's next iPhone is one of the few devices you can guarantee will sell well regardless of its technical specifications or price.
Analysts have claimed that the iPhone 5's unconfirmed arrival has already impacted the smartphone market. Gartner analyst Anshul Gupta went so far as to claim that the device was a key factor that led to an unexpected downturn in the mobile phone market at the start of 2012.
"Samsung has done well to generate consumer interest the same way Apple does around its iPhone devices, but it's still not about the S3," Gupta told V3.
"It's the iPhone fall release that's important. The promise of a new iPhone will likely affect all Q2 and Q3 sales, probably even impacting sales of Apple's current iPhone 4S."
If true, then despite the pre-order Galaxy S3 sales boom reported by UK retailer Carphone Warehouse, the device may struggle to maintain its lead in the smartphone market.
The S3 will arrive in the UK on 30 May retailing for £500 SIM-free, check back at V3 closer to the time for a full review. Before then you can find further details about the device at V3's hands-on preview.