Top 19 smartphones worth waiting for

Festive season is just around the corner and to capitalise on it companies are gearing up to launch exciting smartphones.

Handset makers have preserved their best handsets to cash in on the buying frenzy during these times. The product launch schedules are packed for the next two months, and here we present to you a glimpse of what is coming your way.

So, you better read it before deciding on what to buy.

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1. Samsung Galaxy Note 2

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is already available for pre-booking. While its predecessor, the Galaxy Note, has a 5.3-inch screen, The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 comes with an even bigger 5.5-inch screen. You will even get a better S-Pen for scribbling, taking note and unleashing the artist in you.

It has also double the power of its predecessor that comes from the quad core processor which is clocked at 1.6 GHz. Plus, its 2 GB RAM and Mali-400MP graphics chip helps give a superfast performance. The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 runs Android 4.1 Jelly Bean operating system.

The tablet has an 8 megapixel camera at the back with auto-focus and LED Flash. This camera is easily capable of recording full 1080p HD videos at 30 frames per second and the same video can be edited on the device itself.

In the front, the Galaxy Note II features 1.9 megapixel camera for video calling. You can head to Samsung India eStore to book one for yourself.

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2. Apple iPhone 5

The Apple iPhone 5 is lighter, thinner and faster than its predecessor, the iPhone 4S. For example, the iPhone 5 has a 4-inch retina display compared to the 3.5-inch screen of iPhone 4S. Besides, the iPhone 5 features a new design and packs a faster Apple A6 mobile processor inside.

Inside the chassis, it packs a new Apple A6 mobile processor comprising of ARM Cortex A15 core architecture. Apple hereby becomes the first company to officially unveil ARM Cortex A15 core architecture based working product.

The iPhone 5 is also the first handset of the company to feature the new Maps application from Apple. Though the in-house Maps application has failed to impress many, Apple says it will improve the app in due course.

Though Apple has not revealed when it would release this handset into the market, but given that iPhone 4S arrived soon after its launch and also that for the first time Apple is selling unlocked phones, we are confident that the iPhone 5 will be launched in India during this festive season itself.

Since Apple will bring the unlocked version of the phone as well, so all the operator SIM cards will work on it as well.

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3. MTS 4-inch Dual SIM Android phone

CDMA operator, MTS is going to launch this yet-to-be-named Android 4.0 based smartphone in October. The phone will sell for Rs 12,000 and will get Dual SIM facility with CDMA+GSM option. It will also have a 1GHz processor.

The best part of the offer is that MTS will provide high speed data for three months and voice calls (unlimited within MTS network) worth unspecified amount for free with this handset.

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4. MTS 3.5-inch 1GHz Android phone

MTS will also unveil, another dual SIM phone with same kind of benefit but with smaller 3.5-inch screen. You will get 1GHz processor as well as Android 4.0 operating system but the price will be closer to Rs 8,000.

The launch is slated for early october.

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5. MTS entry level Dual SIM

MTS will also launch a very entry level Android 4.0 based phone priced for Rs 6,000 with a 3.5-inch screen. This yet-to-be-named handset will have a slower 800 MHz processor.

Like the above mentioned handset, MTS will also offer freebies in terms of data and voice benefits. It will come with dual SIM (CDMA+GSM) combination too. Like the above two phone this one too will be launched in early October.

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6. LG Optimus G

Optimus G arguably is the most powerful smartphone from LG till date. The Android 4.0 based phone features a 1.5 quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro mobile processor and a 13 megapixel camera at the back.

LG Optimus G design seems a mix of LG Prada and LG Chocolate smartphones' designs. The LG Optimus G features a 4.7-inch True HD IPS PLUS display with Zerogap Touch technology touchscreen that supports 1280x768 resolution natively. That offers 320 pixels per-inch pixel density, coming close to the 326 ppi pixel density of the iPhone 5.

The new QSlide Function will allow the users to enjoy the split-screen experience on the Optimus G and engage in two concurrent tasks. While watching a video, users can zoom in up to five times while the video is being played or streamed. The Optimus G also offers a dual screen dual play feature that enables watching two different contents on each screen -- TV and phone wirelessly. The phone is expected in India within few weeks.

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7. Sony Xperia T

Sony Xperia T features a 13 megapixel camera with LED flash and offers 16x digital zoom. Sony has used its Exmor R for mobile image sensing to deliver better quality images. Sony has added a front facing camera which is good enough to record 720p HD quality videos.

On the multimedia part, Xperia T features 3D Surround Sound, xLOUD Experience, Clear Bass, Clear Stereo and other proprietary technologies along with the native Walkman application. The phone will also come with NFC technology. This smartphone is PlayStation Certified, hence can access games available through the PlayStation Store.

Sony promises to release Android 4.1 Jelly Bean for this device later and has packed 1850 mAh battery inside to offer continuous talk time of about seven hours. Sony Xperia T will be available in black, white and silver colours. This PlayStation certified phone is expected in next couple of weeks.

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8. Nokia Lumia 920

Lumia 920 is Nokia's latest flagship phone and comes with the Windows Phone 8 OS, an 8.7 megapixel camera with PureView technology and a new stabilisation feature which experts say makes it the best mobile cameras till date.

Nokia Lumia 920 smartphone comes with a 4.5-inch ClearBlack IPS LCD panel with 1280x768 pixel resolution support and super-sensitive touch. In fact, the touchscreen can be used even with the gloves on. This has been made possible with the new Nokia PureMotion HD+ technology which makes it brightest, fastest and most sensitive display so far.

The Lumia 920 measures 9.9 mm thick and houses a dual-core 1.5 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 family mobile processor. The smartphone has 1 GB RAM along with 32 GB on-board storage.

Along with the Nokia Maps, Drive and Transport, the company has added a new augmented reality based application called City Lens in its Location suite of apps.

Bearing the same Lumia series unibody polycarbonate design, the Nokia Lumia 920 has curved glass and comes with a non-removable battery. The phone is expected to be launched in November and is likely arrive in India soon after.

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9. Nokia Lumia 820

This mid-level Windows Phone 8 based product from Nokia offers a 4.3-inch OLED touchscreen display with 480x800 pixel resolution. Even this display uses Nokia's ClearBlack technology for extra brightness and makes it super sensitive to touch. Infact, one can even use it while wearing gloves. Lumia 820 houses a dual-core 1.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 mobile processor and packs 1 GB RAM.

At the back of Lumia 820 lies an 8 megapixel image sensor with Carl Zeiss Optics with dual LED flash for clicking great photos even in low light environments. This camera is capable to capture full 1080p HD videos even at 30 frames per second. This camera can be used with the Nokia City Lens app that is powered with augmented reality and displays graphical information using camera's viewfinder.

Like Lumia 920, it offers very high end audio and video experience and all the sensors and connectivity options that you expect from a modern smartphone.

This phone too will be launched in November worldwide and will be coming to India soon after that.

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10. Huawei Ascend D Quad

The Ascend D Quad, which was announced during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona earlier this year, is yet to be launched anywhere in the world but whenever it will be released, India will be second country after China to get the phone.

The smartphone will come with a quad core processor (Huawei's own processor architecture), and a 4.5-inch 720p high definition touchscreen display with 330 ppi (pixels per-inch) resolution. It will also feature a 16 core GPS (for location) that offers twice the performance of normal GPS.

The phone will have an 8 megapixel BSI (backside illumination) rear camera with ability to capture 1080p full HD videos while its 1.3 megapixel front camera can be used for video callings. The phone will come with 1 GB RAM and 8 GB internal memory.

Ascend D Quad will also have an 1800 mAh battery. Notably, the phone does have Huawei's proprietary power management system, which claims to save 30 per cent power. The Ascend D quad will be launched near Diwali.

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11. HTC 8X

HTC recently announced this Windows Phone 8 based phone, with a very attractive design. The HTC 8X features a 4.3-inch S-LCD 2 touchscreen display, manufactured using the new Corning Gorilla Glass 2 technology for great durability, slim glass panel and scratch-resistance. HTC has also added a layer of optical lamination for better sharpness, clarity and also to reduce the light reflection. That means the content on the screen would be legible even in bright daylight.

HTC has packed a dual-core 1.5 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 mobile processor along with 1 GB RAM and 16 GB on-board storage in it. This smartphone supports LTE networks along with 3G networks and offers wireless connectivity options through Bluetooth 2.1+EDR and faster dual-band WiFi.

At the back, the HTC 8X flaunts an 8 megapixel camera with f/2.0 aperture and ultra-wide angle lens to capture more details. HTC has added dedicated ImageChip for faster focus and also deliver clear, sharp images. The 8X also has a 2.1 megapixel front facing camera for high quality video call and chat.

HTC has integrated the Beats Audio technology along with exclusively built-in amplifiers and also offers support for Near Field Communication. The phone is likely to be made available in November in India and across the world.

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12. HTC 8S

The HTC 8S is the mid-range option and comes with 4-inch Super LCD display using Corning Gorilla Glass technology. HTC has packed a dual-core 1 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 mobile processor with 512 MB RAM and 16 GB on-board storage, which won't be low to run WP8 OS.

Thankfully, HTC 8S has a memory expansion slot. This smartphone has slightly different and block-like design similar to the HTC HD2. Supporting dual-band 3G networks, this smartphone also supports micro-SIM and offers WiFi, Bluetooth for wireless connectivity.

HTC has incorporated the Beats Audio technology for the best quality audio output. At the rear, the 8S features f/2.8 aperture bearing 5 megapixel camera with LED flash and has 35 mm lens. This camera is capable of recording 720p HD videos at 30 frames per second. There is no secondary camera on the 8S but this too has a dedicated camera button. For location based services, it offers GPS with GLONASS support. HTC has added 1700 mAh non-removable battery that should give a decent battery life.

We expect the company to introduce both these smartphones sometime in November in India.

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13. Huawei Ascend G330

Ascend G330 runs Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) and has a 4-inch WVGA with 480x800 touchscreen. It also has 512 MB RAM, 1 GHz dual-core processor, 5 megapixel camera, a 1500 mAh battery and 4 GB of internal storage.

It will come to India by Diwali and will be priced somewhere in between Rs 12,000-Rs 15,000.

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14. Huawei Ascend G600

The Ascend G600 runs Android 4.0 ICS. It features a 4.5-inch LCD IPS HD screen and a 1.2 GHz dual-core Qualcomm processor. It has 1930mAh battery, 4 GB of internal storage expandable to 32 GB and NFC and DLNA technology built-in.

It is likely to be priced in between Rs 14,000 to Rs 18,000.

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15. Huawei Ascend P1 S

Huawei Ascend P1 S was announced during this year's Consumer Electronics Show and was the slimmest phone at that time with a width of 6.68 mm. The phone comes with a large 4.3-inch Super Amoled screen with qHD (960 x 540 pixel) resolution.

Under the hood, there is a 1.5 GHz dual core TI OMAP 4460 processor with a healthy 1 GB RAM. The phone is currently based on Android 4.0 (in markets where it is being launched) but hopefully it will have Android 4.1 Jelly Bean by the time the phone arrives in India. The phone has an 8 megapixel rear camera with LED flash which is capable of capturing HDR (high dynamic range) images, and high definition (1080p) videos and a front facing 1.3 megapixel camera. The phone is also likely to be launched near Diwali.

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16. Samsung Ativ S

Samsung was the first to announce world's first Windows Phone 8 mobile operating system running smartphone in the form of Ativ S. The phone features a 4.8-inch HD Super Amoled display, which has been manufactured using Corning Gorilla Glass 2 technology for greater strength and slimmer screen size.

This Windows Phone 8 smartphone also features Near Field Communications chip and also a memory expansion slot.

Samsung has made Ativ S as thin as 8.7 mm and under this slim profile, it houses a dual-core 1.5 GHz mobile processor. Samsung has packed 1 GB RAM. At the back lies an 8 megapixel autofocus camera with LED flash and a 1.9 megapixel camera in the front.

For location based services, Samsung has implemented GPS with A-GPS and GLONASS network support for more accurate position locking on the maps. By default, this smartphone will be offered in 16 GB or 32 GB on-board storage versions and there is a micro SD card slot to accommodate up to 32 GB card. Weighing just 125 grams, Samsung Ativ S has a 2300 mAh Li-ion battery.

The phone is expected around the same time as HTC and Nokia WP8 phone releases in November.

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17. Sony Xperia V

The Xperia V, which is water and dust resistant and part of the rugged phone line of Sony, features a 4.3-inch HD Reality display powered by Mobile Bravia Engine and supports 1280x720 pixel resolution natively. Under the 10.7mm thick body, this smartphone houses a dual-core 1.5 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 MSM 8960 mobile processor.

The Xperia V will run Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box with the Sony TimeScape UI layered on top of it. Sony will offer only 8 GB on-board storage for this device out of which only 3.7 GB will be user accessible.

This smartphone has a 13 megapixel camera with Exmor R image sensor to capture great quality images. For music enthusiasts, even Xperia V packs the same Walkman application along with Sony's proprietary technologies such as xLOUD Experience and Clear Audio+ for better sound output. The phone is expected in next two months.

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18. Sony Xperia J

The Xperia J is a mid level phone from Sony, featuring a 4.0-inch Reality display powered by Mobile Bravia Engine. The Xperia J runs the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update with TimeScape user interface on top of it. Sony has added a single-core 1 GHz Qualcomm MSM7227A mobile processor to smoothly run the Android 4.0 ICS and the PlayStation Certified games.

The Xperia J will offer only 4 GB on-board storage out of which only 2 GB will be accessible to the users. So if you are buying this smartphone be ready for the low memory alerts. At the back, this smartphone features a 5 megapixel camera along with LED Flash and in the front lies a VGA camera for video calling.

Sony has added the Walkman application to this smartphone along with the xLOUD.

Like Xperia V, this smartphone too is PlayStation certified and thus is capable of running PlayStation store offered games. This smartphone has a NFC chip with 'One-touch' feature enabled for easy connectivity.

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19. LG Optimus L9

The new LG Optimus L9 smartphone will feature a 4.7-inch IPS panel touchscreen display and pack a dual-core mobile processor.

And just like the other L series phones, this will offer big screen experience at low price. LG has also implemented its new Innovote UX (user experience) with several features and one of them is the QTranslator. Using the Optical Character Recognition technology, the QTranslator can read the text captured by device's camera and then can translate it into the desired language.

Under the 9.1mm chassis, it houses a dual-core 1 GHz mobile processor with 1 GB RAM that is good enough to run the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update. At the back lies a 5 megapixel camera with LED Flash and auto focus to click great images. There is a VGA camera in the front for video calls. For longer run time, LG has packed a 2150 mAh SiO+ battery.

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