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Jockeying For Position: iPhone 5 To Launch After Samsung’s GS2

While Google may have imagined that their Nexus series smartphones would become the natural competitor to the iPhone, it appears that Samsung’s Galaxy S II — or “GS2″ as it is now affectionately referred to on the web — is fast becoming the natural competitor to the iPhone 5, in features, performance, price point, and now even its release date. From everything the Android rumor mill has gathered, it appears that the full-throated SG2 will embody all of the coveted features that iPhone users are pining for in their iPhone 5 hopes, such as a beefy 4″+ super AMOLED screen, dual core 1.2-GHz processor, 1GB of RAM, and an 8-megapixel camera, for starters.
If you’re familiar with all of the iPhone 5 features that have been bandied about over the past year, it becomes blaringly obvious that Samsung has looked and listened intently to the wish lists of iPhone and smartphone users, and purposely packed their GS2 with everything a disgruntled iPhone user could dream of. This, together with Apple’s unusually long wait for the iPhone 5 release, has purportedly even managed to inspire some iPhone users to abandon their commitment to the Apple brand and embrace an Adroid smartphone for the first time.
Now, word comes that the Sansung Galaxy S 2 will indeed launch in the U.S. in August, ostensibly ahead of the iPhone 5.
Stating plainly that “The Galaxy S II is probably the strongest rival to the iPhone.” PCWorld‘s Daniel Ionescu reported today that “Samsung will hold a press event on Aug. 29, where it is expected to spill all the details about the U.S. arrival of its iPhone competitor.” Adding to the impressive above-mentioned features on the Sg2, Ionescu also adds that it will feature a slide-out QWERTY keyboard to accompany its touch screen, a feature that was only faintly rumored for the iPhone and has received a mixed and polemic response from iPhone users.

iPhone 5 Versus Samsung’s GS2: Who Hold the Best Position?
While tech enthusiasts will no doubt weigh and debate the pros and cons of the iPhone 5 versus the Samsung Galaxy S 2, it stands to reason that for mainstream users, the features comparison between the two smartphones will be a wash. Who will benefit from the release date battle, however, remains to be seen. It is well documented that “Although it hasn’t been available in the U.S., the Galaxy S II sold a record 3 million units in just 55 days, which is in part due to Apple holding back the launch of its next-generation iPhone.”
At the same time, Apple may see a later-released iPhone 5 as a strategical advantage against the Samsung Galaxy S 2: since the GS2 is most likely slated for a late-August release, it runs the risk of getting lost in the shuffle of returning vacationers and students going back to school, whereas a September- or even October-released iPhone 5 may be better positioned to capture more buzz and sales, capitalizing on the lead-up to the Christmas holiday shopping season.
In addition, Apple may be choosing to release the iPhone 5 after the GS2 due to their recent patent victories, which could be used to scuttle Samsung’s new smartphone after it is released, leaving the iPhone 5 to reign supreme and garner the audacious predictions that 35% of all consumers will own an iPhone 5, and that Apple plans to sell 25 million units by the end of 2011 alone.
Regardless of the outcome, there is no doubt that the iPhone 5 and Samsung Galaxy S 2 are shaping up to be worthy adversaries.