Five smartphones the iPhone 5 needs to beat

Samsung Galaxy S III

If you want an Android phone, there really isn't anything that can hold a candle to the Samsung Galaxy S III. It's incredibly fast, the display is fantastic and Android 4.0 runs like a dream.

Some of the features are a bit gimmicky – such as Smart Stay and Samsung Voice – but on raw power alone, the Galaxy S III is a marvel. Somehow it manages to cram in a huge 4.8in screen into a pocketable package, with a quad core processor and a high quality camera.

HTC One X

The HTC One X might not pack quite as much power as Samsung Galaxy S III, but it's nearly as capable, thanks to a quad core processor, great photography capabilities and a beautifully clear display.

But what the iPhone 5 should worry most about isn't the specs; it's the eye-grabbing unibody case that feels and looks like a million bucks.

With Apple so reliant on aesthetics to peddle its wares, the new iPhone must raise the bar in this department while offering something fresh – only this time around HTC's flagship has raised the bar that much higher.

Samsung Galaxy Note II

The original Samsung Galaxy Note sold like hot cakes, singlehandedly creating a market for devices that aren't sure if they are a tablet or smartphone. Cue the Samsung Galaxy Note II and its even larger 5.5in Super AMOLED display and a faster quad core 1.6Ghz processor.

Apart from making videos easier to watch, emails easier to read and games easier on the eye, the Galaxy Note 2 also boasts Samsung's upgraded S-Pen stylus.

While the iPhone 5 may struggle to offer similar functionality with quite the same visual impact, let's not forget Apple may yet reveal a 7in iPad Mini. But until it does, those with massive hands will just have to stick with the Galaxy Note 2.

Nokia Lumia 920

The Lumia 920 boasts some appealing offerings, such as Windows Phone 8, a wireless charging pad and Nokia's stylish design. But it's the PureView camera technology that makes it competitive.

The 8MP sensor and image stabilisation combined with clever oversampling technology (making pictures much more detailed) should make picture-takers very pleased indeed.

Apple really upped its game with the iPhone 4S when it came to photography, but it looks like Nokia's PureView tech will make the Lumia 920's camera the one to beat.

Motorola Edge

It has yet to be officially revealed – September 18th is the date set for a UK announcement – but the Motorola Edge, as it will probably be known, could be something of a wild card. It's expected to be the first phone to do away with the bezel (rest in peace), featuring an edge-to-edge display plus LTE connectivity.

Apart from giving you a bit more screen size in a smaller area, it's going to look good, scoring you style points at the pub. Possibly. And with help from Intel in the processing arena, the Motorola Edge should give the iPhone 5 a run for its money. 

This article originally appeared at Stuff.tv