Android Quad-core and Dual-core Giants Dwarf Apple iPhone 5

As Apple readies its next iPhone rendition for a September launch, a host of Android phones sporting quad-core and 1.2GHz and 1.5GHz chipsets could spoil Cupertino giant's party.

It is widely rumored that Apple's iPhone 5 will feature an A5 dual-core processor which currently powers the iPad 2. However, Apple may boost the speed of its A5 chip in the range of 1.2 or 1.5 GHz to counter the Android threat.

CES 2011 showcased a slew of Android tablets which are powered by dual-core 1GHz processors. Since then, phones like Samsung Galaxy S II and HTC Sensation, which run on dual-core 1.2GHz processors have upped the ante for iPhone 5.

To add insult to injury, rumors suggest that a few Android phones rocking quad-core chipsets are on the anvil as well. NVIDIA announced the launch of its Kal-El Tegra 3 line of quad-core processors and Qualcomm announced that it is working on Krait architecture-based chips which are expected to run at speeds of up to 2.5GHz. Its quad core chipset will be released under the moniker APQ8064.

AnandTech reported that is expected that NVIDIA's quad-core chips will become official by the end of the year. Krait will debut in three configurations: a single-core MSM8930, dual-core MSM8960 and quad-core APQ8064. Both the single-core MSM8930 and the quad-core APQ8064 will be sampling in early 2012.

Here are some rumored Android phones which pack in ultra-fast processors that could compel Apple to change its processor strategy for iPhone 5:

Motorola:

In April rumors abounded that Motorola would be the first company to offer quad-core devices. The two devices in the limelight were Motorola Bullet and Motorola Jet. Both the phones are rumored to be powered by the Tegra 3 (Kal-El) processor. Motorola Bullet is expected to feature a 4.3-inch Qhd screen, 1.5GB RAM, 16GB internal memory and a 12MP camera. Motorola Jet is expected to feature similar specifications on a smaller 4-inch display. Jet is also expected to feature a QWERTY keyboard.

Nexus Prime:

In June it was reported that Google will launch its Ice Cream Sandwich-based pure Android phone Nexus Prime during Thanksgiving. It is rumored that the phone will be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon Krait chipset or TI OMAP4460 chipset clocking at 1.5GHz . It is expected to be a dual-core 1.2GHz or 1.5GHz processor. The phone is rumored to have a monster sized display, 1GB RAM, a 5MP rear-facing camera with 1080p video capture capability and will come sans physical buttons.

Pantech:

Korean phone maker Pantech released an Android phone called Vega Racer in Korea. The phone features a 1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm MSM8660 processor. It offers 1GB RAM, a 4.3-inch LCD display with 800x480 screen resolution and 8MP rear-facing and 1.3MP front-facing cameras. The phone weighs a mere 4.23oz and is 0.35-inch thick.

HTC Holiday:

Most recently pictures of HTC Holiday were released by an XDA Developer forum member. It is rumored that HTC Holiday will feature a 4.5-inch capacitive screen with 960x540 screen resolution. It is expected to be powered by a 1.2GHz dual-core Qualcomm MSM8660 processor. It will offer 1GB RAM and will sport an 8MP camera. Holiday is surmised to run on Android Gingerbread juice. The phone is slated to be released on AT&T network.

Samsung Celox:

Samsung Celox, a Galaxy S II lookalike appeared in Korea early in the month. The 4.5-inch Super AMOLED screen with 800x480 screen resolution. It is expected to be powered by a 1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon APQ8060 chipset. Celox will also support an 8MP rear-facing and 2MP front-facing cameras. It is also reported that Celox will sport a 1750 Li-ion battery. The Celox is a tad thicker and heavier, weighing 4.5 ounces and is 0.36 inches thick. The Celox runs on Android Gingerbread juice.

Samsung GT-i9220

The rumored phone from Samsung completely departs from the 4.3 and 4.5-inch form factor and is surmised to feature a 5.3-inch display. The GT-i9220 is also expected to arrive with the first HD ready screen that will use Samsung's Super AMOLED Plus HD technology at 1280x720 pixels. It is rumored that the phone will feature a 1.4GHz dual core SoC, which may possibly be a Samsung Exynos model. An 8 MP rear camera and a front-facing camera whose specifications are part of the design are yet to be revealed. The device will run on Android Gingerbread juice and offers 16GB of onboard storage with 1GB RAM.