Every so often a device comes along that changes the course that its respective industry was on. It changes the way we look at the world, and sometimes, it tears a hole in the fabric of time and space. Okay, maybe a device can't be that awesome, but you get the point.
In the upcoming months we have a multitude of devices coming, but there are three smartphones which stand out amongst the noise. The much-hyped Moto X, might just redefine the term high-end, the Sony Honami (Xperia i1) could bring Sony back to its former glory and the LG G2 may be the phone that turns LG into the powerhouse it aims to be.
So how will these devices disrupt the industry?
Moto X – High-end. Redefined.
The Moto X might be the most-leaked smartphone in recent history, but thankfully for Google and Motorola, it's also one of the most hyped. Coined as the return of Motorola, under the watchful eyes of Google, there's a lot riding on the Moto X and Motorola's upcoming smartphones. Just how much? Around the $12 billion that Google bought Motorola for, plus a rumored $500 million for marketing.
So when some relatively mid-range specifications were leaked, a lot of people were disappointed. However, it looks as if Google and Motorola will be focusing on providing a brilliant user experience rather than attempting to run the gauntlet of the spec-race.
Current leaks say that the Moto X will have a 720P 4.4-inch (or 4.7-inch) display, 2GB of RAM, Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, a dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4, and a 10-megapixel camera.
Motorola and Google clearly believe that the Moto X can match the big boys without matching their specification lists. However, with a massive marketing budget and the clout of Google and Motorola behind the smartphone, it could redefine the meaning of high-end and force other OEMs to focus on a great user experience, rather than the amount of cores they can cram into their device.
Sony Honami (Xperia i1) – The rebirth of Sony?
There once was a time when Sony was one of the finest electronics companies in the world. Sony's Bravia TVs were heralded, the Walkman was an industry leader, and its Sony Ericsson phones weren't too shabby either. Now though, Sony has been relegated to the stands as Samsung dominated the television and smartphone markets, and the Walkman has been antiquated by smartphones and tablets.
2013 has brought a more focused and streamlined Sony, intent on recapturing its former glory. The Sony Xperia Z was a decent seller, but not enough to catapult Sony into the top 3 smartphone makers as it so dearly wants. The Sony Honami is the antithesis of the Moto X focusing on destroying every other smartphone that has been announced this year when it comes to specs.
The Xperia Z sold relatively well.
Rumors claim that the Sony Honami will have a 20-megapixel camera, a quad-core Snapdragon 800 clocked at 2.3Ghz, 2GB of RAM, a 5-inch Full HD display, Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, water-resistance, and a 3000mAh battery. The Sony Honami is expected to be announced at IFA 2013 on September 4.
Sony's clearly hoping on to take a bit of gloss off of the announcement of another smartphone which is expected to be announced at IFA 2013, the Galaxy Note 3, and the Honami could push Sony back into the limelight if it can get its carrier deals in order.
LG G2 – Weird name, even weirder button placements
The LG G2 (pronounced El-Ge-Ge-to) might win the gold medal for the weirdest name on this list, but it certainly wins the gold medal for weirdest button placements. Of all of the ways that LG could've shook up the industry in terms of design, it chose to tweak what has long been a standard of smartphone design.
The rumored volume button placement on the LG G2
The phone has been leaked in photos several times, and they all point towards the LG G2 moving the volume buttons to the back of the device. Done scratching your head yet? If so, put your smartphone in your hands (if it isn't there already) and you'll realise that the button placements make perfect sense, since that's where your finger rests when using your smartphone.
Just because the button placements on the LG G2 make sense, doesn't mean it'll be practical in real life.
Now just because something makes sense, doesn't mean it'll be practical in real use, so we'll have to wait for a hands on before we decide whether this is a good move from LG. The LG G2 also has a solid set of specs to back up its strange button placement, with an already confirmed use of the Snapdragon 800, and rumors claiming it will have a 5.2-inch Full HD display, 2GB of RAM (some rumors say 3GB), and Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean.
LG hopes that the G2 will help it capture the all important 3rd place in the smartphone market, and there are also rumors that the next-gen Nexus smartphone will be based on the LG G2. The G2 is expected to be announced at an event in New York on August 7.
Wrap up
The next few months are destined to be interesting for Android users, and these three devices could disrupt the industry for different reasons. The Moto X's focus on user experience, the Sony Honami's attempt to reignite the sleeping giant that is Sony, and the LG G2's venture into the deep end of smartphone design, are all unique attempts at standing out in a crowded market.
Which device will you be getting?
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