What do you compare one rumored smartphone to another rumored smartphone? Pure speculation, of course. But Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s iPhone 6 and the Galaxy S5 from Samsung are natural enemies out in the technology jungle, so it’s only natural that people want to speculate about how they might stack up against each other.
iPhone 6, Galaxy S5 release dates
Of course the first question most people want answered when they’re thinking about the newest models of their favorite hardware is when they’re going to come out. As with everything else, people are just guessing here, but most are expecting Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (LON:BC94) (KRX:005930) to launch the Galaxy S4 at some point between January and April. This would be about in line with what happened this year. The Galaxy S3 was unveiled in March and then put on sale in April.
The release date for the iPhone 6 is a bit harder to pin down, mainly because of how widely speculations about it have varied. Some have said it would come out early in 2014, like possibly late in the first quarter and no later than June. However, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has been launching past iPhone models in the fall, so it would be pretty unusual for the new model to be moved up so much. Even June would be a surprise, in my opinion. And besides, it has taken so long for Apple to catch supply for the iPhone 5S up with demand that it’s hard to imagine the company deciding to push out another new iPhone much before the one-year mark is up.
One wish each for the iPhone 6 and Galaxy S5
And don’t forget all the hopes that the iPhone 6 will have a much bigger screen than its predecessors. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is going to have a really tough time staying relative if it doesn’t answer the pleas of its fans on this one. If fans of the brand could have just one wish for the iPhone 6, this is probably it.
Fans of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (LON:BC94) (KRX:005930)’s Galaxy S smartphone line also have one main wish. They want to see the plastic casing go bye-bye and say hello to an aluminum frame instead. But will it happen this year? Rumors go both ways, but the good news for Samsung is that (unlike Apple with the bigger screen) we already know that this isn’t necessarily a deal breaker. People still love the Galaxy S4 even though there were rumors of a metal casing and Samsung didn’t deliver.
However, we don’t know exactly how many years Apple fans will wait for a bigger screen without getting tired of waiting for it. They just might opt for the Galaxy S5 instead, especially if Samsung does manage to add a metal frame in 2014.
Other rumors about the iPhone 6 and Galaxy S5
Better specs on both handsets are pretty much a given. Newer processors, better cameras and better batteries are all expected from both Apple and Samsung. Samsung may also follow Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s lead and use a 64-bit processor for the Galaxy S5 as well.
For the iPhone 6, the rumors get even more interesting, with some saying it could have a curved display, and others saying the display will be made of virtually unbreakable sapphire glass.