2013 is shaping up to be quite the year for smartphone launches with powerful, drool-worthy devices that either have launched or are launching soon. Sony’s Xperia Z kicked off the year in style with a 1080p display and elegant styling that hides its waterproof and dustproof capabilities. In the first half of the year, we saw coveted flagships launch from HTC and Samsung in the form of the One and the Galaxy S4. The Optimus G Pro launch brought LG out of the shadows. Nokia continues to re-define mobile photography with the widely acclaimed Lumia 1020 and more recently the Moto X shows what Motorola is really capable of.
Can this list be topped? If you still haven’t committed to a smartphone yet, continue browsing this list as these top 9 rumored phones will be closing out 2013 in style.
1. Apple iPhone 5S
No other phone can generate as much hype, buzz, and anticipation as Apple’s flagship smartphone. Love it or hate it, Apple will still continue making headlines in 2013 despite a lukewarm reception to a modestly redesigned iPhone 5 last year. The iPhone 5S is said to use more or less the same iPhone 5 design. This year, the hot, new color option is a champagne gold hue to keep things upscale and classy.
Mock up from iMore.
If you’re more technologista than fashionista, then you’ll likely be happy to know that rumored features for the S generation model will include a fingerprint scanner concealed under the home button, dual LED flash for better shots when you’re out on the town, and a refreshed camera likely upping the megapixel resolution to a healthy 12 or 13 megapixels to keep up with the Joneses, or rather other Android phones. Storage capacity may get increased to 128 GB, which is good for storing all those photos you snap and downloading more digital content from iTunes.
And speaking of that highly rumored fingerprint sensor, it’s been rumored that rather than a dimpled home button, to accommodate this new security feature to make it easier and more secure for users to lock and unlock their iPhone devices, Apple will switch to a more bulbous button. The button itself will go premium though, eschewing the plastic construction for a sapphire glass element to protect the underlying fingerprint sensor.
2. Apple iPhone 5C
This year’s special is not just a new iPhone, but two new iPhones. Can you handle it? If you can’t handle the big budget flagship model, Apple is hoping to entice you with the iPhone 5C. C stands for color, and the iPhone 5C will come in an assortment of bright, fun colors to spice up your wardrobe. It’s still too soon to tell whether the iPhone 5C will be a useful tech tool, a cool toy, or a fashion accessory, but the lower entry price (rumored to be between $300 and $500) may help Apple sell more phones.
Mock up from MacRumors..
Though another potential meaning for the C in iPhone 5C may be crippled. Apple is rumored to be dropping Siri on the iPhone 5C in an effort to differentiate the higher end iPhone 5S offering.
Replacing the iPhone 5?s unibody aluminum construction, the iPhone 5C brings back the plastic back from the long gone era of the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS. Coming with similar specs as today’s iPhone 5, the iPhone 5C is rumored to be replacing the iPhone 5 and is said to be selling alongside the iPhone 5S as well as the iPhone 4S. The mid-ranger will carry many of the same specs as the iPhone 5, including the hallmarked 4-inch Retina Display and 8-megapixel camera with single LED flash. Love it or hate it, the iPhone 5C will infuse a bit more whimsical fun with its alluring colors.
3. Sony Honami
Not to be left out of the party, Sony will be unveiling its camera phone competitor to the Galaxy S4 Zoom from Samsung and the acclaimed Lumia 1020 from Nokia. With a point-and-shoot camera sized sensor along with 20.7 megapixels of resolving power, the Honami itself will pack quite a bit of a punch. The successor to the Xperia Z flagship will also carry with it a new optical system that’s branded as the Sony G lens, optical image stabilization, and may have waterproofing capabilities.
And for the serious photographers, Sony isn’t holding back any punches. Optional lens attachments will turn the phone into a DSLR-like camera body where the vivid Triluminos display will serve as the camera viewfinder. Users can add DSLR-styled lenses to the camera and the lenses will pair with NFC and WiFi to send the images to the phone; this isn’t those cheap zoom lenses from China that’s been floating around that screws over where the camera lens is. Rather, Sony will have a zoom lens and a premium lens at launch that hooks into the phone via WiFi and magnets.
And there’s also a Honami Mini that’s been rumored, though it’s unclear if the Mini will be making a debut in 2013.
4. Samsung Galaxy Note 3
Having found a surprising success with its Galaxy Note phablet, Samsung is widely believed to be launching its Galaxy Note 3 at this year’s IFA show in Berlin. Though leaks have been all over the place, more recent leaks point to a 5.7-inch full 1080p HD display, 4G LTE support, options for either a Samsung Exynos 5 octa processor or an equally powerful Snapdragon 800 CPU, S Pen support, and potentially more storage with capacities beginning at 32 GB rather than the 16 GB starting point. A 13-megapixel camera with optical image stabilization has also been rumored as well making this device a good all-in-one for those who need a decent smartphone, tablet, and camera. The OIS tech could allow for better low light photography and recording videos that won’t make you motion sick when you’re playing back your footage.
9 Exciting Smartphones for Fall 2013: iPhone 5S, Sony Honami & More
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