2014 promises to be another big year for smartphones. Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (LON:BC94) (KRX:0059935) has already put out its latest Galaxy device, while Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) are said to be preparing for the release of the iPhone 6. So what are the biggest smartphone releases for consumers to look forward to in the remainder of the year? Here are some of the most important.
Apple iPhone 6
Any iPhone release will always dominate both the headlines and the attention of consumers, but this latest Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) smartphone is set to be particular notable. There has been a lot of buzz and leaks emanating from this forthcoming handset (iPhone 6), as it appears that Apple is ready to really shake up the iPhone brand with a departure from the tried and tested formula. iPhone 6 could feature a phablet-style model with the intention of capturing that market, while health-related features are said to feature prominently in the phone’s feature set.
LG G3
LG Electronics Inc. (KRX:066575) (OTCMKTS:LGEAF) have established themselves as a very significant consumer electronics manufacturer, making a splash in both the smartphone and television marketplaces. Known for producing quality tech at an affordable price, such smartphone makers as HTC Corp (TPE:2498) and Sony Corp (ADR) (NYSE:SNE) (TYO:6758) will be weary of their latest handset when it hits the market.
The G3 will be aimed very much at the phablet market, with 5.5 inches Quad HD display, which will give the phone a 1,440 x 2,560 pixels resolution. Other specs include a quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor, which will apparently be clocked at 2.3 GHz with 3 GB of RAM. The G3 is also mooted to feature a 13-megapixel camera when it is released, which will enable 4K video playback and 120 fps slow motion video capture. Running off Android 4.4, the G3 is expected to retail at around $500, and looks a very nifty performer.
Motorola Moto X+1
The Motorola Moto X+1, referred to in some quarters as Moto X2, has been much anticipated by the smartphone buying community. Specifications are still very much in the rumored rather than confirmed status, but Motorola has confirmed the existence of this device, albeit inadvertently!
Its alleged specifications comprise a 5.2-inch full HD display, which will thus allow a 1,920 x 1,080 screen resolution. The X+1 will feature a similar processor to the LG device, being powered by a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, which will run at 2.3 GHz. The Moto X+1 will have a 12-megapixel camera, and offer 2Gb of RAM. It will be interesting to see what other features Motorola include to make the X+1 stand out from the crowd, but at a price of under $400, it will certainly be affordable.
Samsung Galaxy Note 4
Any Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (LON:BC94) (KRX:0059935) release is big news nowadays, and the buzz related to this phablet-style release is sure to be high. The Galaxy Note 4 is a very powerful device, offering a 5.7-inchs display with a fantastic pixel resolution of 2,560 x 1,440. In common with other modish Samsung devices, the Note 4 is also rumored to have a superior curved display. The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is expected to run the brand new Android 4.5 Lollipop, which is another exciting element. It will also have a mega-powerful octa-core 64-bit processor, with a weighty 4 GB of RAM. A 20.7-megapixel camera unit with 4K recording capability completes this highly impressive sounding device, which will retail for around $800 come September.
