Windows Phone vs. iPhone 5: ‘Superphone’ or Smartphone for 2012?

It looks as if 2012 will present a battle royale unlike any the technology world has yet seen - superphone versus smartphone.

The upcoming Windows Phone by Microsoft is rumored to actually be a superphone, according to The Telegraph, and will be released in the fourth quarter of 2012. Although there is no firm definition for a superphone, they are generally expected to include very high definition screens, more powerful multi-core processors based on ARM's forthcoming A15 architecture and connectivity over next generation mobile broadband, writes Telegraph reporter Christopher Williams.

Supposed specs of upcoming Windows Phones leaked on the Internet just days ago. Mango is listed under Q4 2011 with the description new features, new languages, new countries. As the current version of Windows mobile, Mango was well-received by critics when it launched in October.

Tango follows in Q2 2012 and is described as products with the best prices. Lastly, Apollo concludes the leaked line up in Q4 2012 under the description increase overall volume, competitive, superphones, business. The technology blog WMPoweruser speculates the Apollo superphone will include dual core and HD screens.

These specs are obviously just rumors as of yet, but it is important to note that Windows came late into the smartphone game, so a unique and innovative product akin to what is described is necessary. Based on a Kantar Worldpanel ComTech analysis, Windows Phone only has a 1.3 percent share of the market.

Nokia committed to manufacturing Windows Phone but will not fully assume the role until Apollo is ready for production. We made the decision to go to Windows Phone when Mango was pretty much done, so we were able to impact some elements of it but you'll really see the fruits of what we can do with Microsoft when the Apollo version of Windows Phone comes out, spokesman Niklas Savander said in October.

Blogger Paul Thurrott revealed more specific information: Three LTE-based Windows Phone handsets--the Nokia ACE, HTC Radiant, and Samsung Mendel--will ship on AT&T Wireless before the middle of 2012. The ACE is due March 18, 2012, he wrote on his blog, Paul Thurrott's Supersite for Windows.

Apparently this information will be officially revealed at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas early next month.

Will Windows' Apollo prove to be competition for Apple's next smartphone, the elusive iPhone 5?

The iPhone 5, could be an entirely new design and is expected to hit the market in the summer or fall of 2012. With respect to iPhone, iPhone 5 production is expected to start around the June time frame, Susquehanna Financial analyst Chris Caso wrote in a note to clients.

Speaking of rumors, the rumor mill has been churning with details of the iPhone 5 features. BGR reports that Apple will use a rubber or plastic material, similar to that used in Apple's bumper cases. This will likely join the glass iPhone face with a new aluminum back (similar to that of the iPad 2) and will cover a redesigned antenna. The iPhone 5 is also rumored to have a larger screen, somewhere around four-inches.

Previous speculation suggested the new phone will showcase improved Siri, 4G LTE compatibility, A6 Quad-core processor and NFC (Near Field Communication).

Which phone would you buy?