As Apple and Samsung begin to gear up for the next iteration of the iPhone 5 and the Galaxy S3, what can be learned from the current models? Which one is best, and how will that affect their successors?
Both phones have their supporters and detractors, though most of the most vitriolic voices on either side of the debate are obviously partisan.
Of course Apple loyalists prefer the iPhone 5, and they are well-served by the phone. They'll also end up buying the iPhone 5S, or the iPhone 6, or whatever comes out next from Cupertino.
On the flip side, it's not Samsung that curries such apoplectic favor, but the Android operating system. Supporters cite Android's penetration into the smartphone market. The platform has emerged as the dominant force in the smartphone world, with a market share of over 50 percent across the planet.
Of course, the Galaxy S III isn't the only Android phone on the market, so it's unfair to compare market share, when the iPhone is the only smartphone sporting iOS 6.
Still, counting tablets like the iPad and iPad Mini, Apple's iOS 6 has 50 percent of the U.S. market.
But perhaps it's better to compare sales figures for the individual phones. Of course, that's difficult to do, too.
As of November of last year, 30 million Galaxy S III units has been sold. That doesn't take into account the lucrative holiday shopping season, which saw plenty of carriers discounting the phone.
Apple's numbers are harder to come by. Analysts say the iPhone 5 has been selling more slowly than anticipated, though the phone's release in China saw sales of over 2 million units during the opening weekend.
But that's slower than the five million units that were sold during the first three days the iPhone 5 was available in the United States.
China's population is five times bigger than the U.S., but the standard of living is lower, so comparisons between the two markets are probably a wash.
As for critics, CNET editors came down on the side of the Galaxy S III, though they gave both phones a 4 out of 5 rating.
In their year-end roundup of the best tech, the Galaxy S III squeaked by the iPhone 5 to take top honors.
"The GS3 is a truly global phone, available on nearly every carrier, nearly everywhere. Its large, vibrant HD display represents a growing class of phones with broader form factors, and its delicate balance of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, a sharp 8-megapixel camera, 4G LTE or HSPA+ support, and an accessible price make the Galaxy S3 a worldwide hero," said CNET editors.
However, our readers favor the iPhone 5. Our 2012 poll as of today (down below) found that 57.2 percent of our readers thought the iPhone 5 was a better phone than the Galaxy S III. Only 40.5 percent thought the Galaxy S III was a better phone.
Of course, that's still plenty of support for both sides, and with nearly 9,500 people weighing in, neither phone is short of fans.
It's a close call. Most people will be quite happy with either phone, and with the recent release of Google Maps for iOS 6, the biggest reason to shy away from an iPhone is gone.
Either way, both phones take the top two slots on any list of the best tech in 2012.
As for 2013, look for both companies to play to their strengths. Besides the usual processor and operating system upgrades, the Galaxy S4 will probably keep the larger form factor and rumors have it that the next iteration will incorporate features from the Galaxy Note 2, which nears tablet size.
The iPhone 5 upgrade -- either an iPhone 5S or an iPhone 6 -- will likely incorporate features from the iPad line, and as always, expect Apple engineers to deliver seemingly impossible portability.
More by I-Hsien Sherwood
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