5 Alternatives to the iPhone 5 Worth Considering

Not everyone can afford to get a new iPhone every year. It boasts upgraded hardware, a new iOS, enhanced cloud capabilities and more. In light of its constant innovation and exemplary user experience, it’s not surprising that the iPhone is so popular with consumers. Yet, upgrading can also mean upping the price. It’s by no means the superlative smartphone available. Here are five stellar alternatives that are just as capable in everyday usage.

Samsung Galaxy SIII

If there’s one device that can lay claim to the title of “iPhone of the Android World”, it’s the Galaxy SIII. Samsung put together an incredibly polished handset with the Galaxy SIII, which would explain why it’s the best-selling Android model at the moment. Packing a quad-core 1.4GHz ARM Cortex A9 CPU, 1GB of RAM, 32GB of on-board storage, an 8MP rear camera lens and Android 4.0 ICS, it’s a heavy hitter that’s already moved 20 million units.

Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX HD

Nowadays, people rely heavily on their phones throughout the day for light computing, communication and even entertainment. The demand for long battery life has never been higher, which explains the popularity of Motorola’s MAXX series of Android phones. The DROID RAZR MAXX HD and its 3,300 mAh battery can provide up to 21 hours of talk time. In addition, it features a 1.5 GHz Snapdragon S4 CPU, 26GB of storage, an 8MP camera and a 4.3-inch, 1280 x 720 pixel display.

Sony Xperia S

Samsung may have the Android phone market more or less on lock down, but Sony nevertheless puts out some fine products. The Sony Xperia S is a monster of a phone, featuring a dual-core 1.5 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, 32GB of persistent memory, 1GB of RAM and an unbelievable 12MP primary camera. The display is the real star, however, delivering 4.3 inches of diagonal space and 1280 x 720 pixel resolution that translates to 342 PPI. It’s also easily upgradeable to Android 4.x, making it a terrific overall value.

Nokia Lumia 920

The future of mighty Nokia in many ways hinges on the success of the Windows Phone 8 platform. It’s make or break time, and they’re throwing their full weight behind Microsoft’s mobile OS. The Lumia 920 is shaping up to be the best Windows Phone 8 model of the bunch. It comes with a Snapdragon S4 processor, 1 GB of RAM, 32GB worth of internal storage, 7 GB of SkyDrive space, an 8.7MP rear camera and a high-capacity battery good for 10 hours worth of 3G talk time.

HTC 8X

Though we’ll have to wait for the release of Windows Phone 8 in November, HTC has promised to go big with their Windows smart phone efforts. Much like its One lineup of Android phones, HTC’s 8X combines burly hardware, the latest software and a simplified approach to mobile computing into one slick package. Arriving sometime this fall, it’ll feature a 1.2GHz dual-core CPU, an 8MP rear camera, 1080p HD video, Beats Audio, a 4.3-inch screen and NFC capabilities.

It’s Not All About Apple

The iPhone in all of its incarnations is an excellent mobile device. Regardless, Apple’s greatest strength is promoting the perception that their products alone are on the cutting edge and that any competitor is merely an imitator. That’s obviously not true, if the preceding models we detailed are any indication. No matter what the iPhone 5 delivers in its final form, it’ll have to compete with a slew of phones that are every bit its equal.