Smartphone wars: Are new launches a wave against iPhone 6?

With the iPhone 6 scheduled to be launched on September 9, Apple's competitors launched their products to dim the shine of the much-awaited smartphone. Here's a look at them.

iPhone 6
The iPhone 6 is expected to have a larger 4.7-inch screen and a 5.5-inch model. As far upgrades go, it is expected to have a faster processor, perhaps an Apple designed A8 SoC. Feld and Volk has published photos of what appears to be the first fully assembled photos of the iPhone 6 on its Instagram account. 

Sony Xperia Z3
Sony on September 4 unveiled its Xperia Z3 smartphone at its pre-IFA 2014 event in Berlin. The smartphone has a Google Android 4.4 Kitkat operating system and snapdragon 2.5 GHz Qualcomm Quad Core processor. The phone which weighs 152 gms has a 3100 mAh battery and a talk time of 19 hours. The smartphone with 5.2 inch full HD display sports a 20.7 MP camera with auto focus and 2.2 MP front facing camera. 

Nokia X2
Beefing up its budget smartphone portfolio, Microsoft Devices on September 5  launched Nokia X2, priced at Rs 8,699, in India to compete more aggressively with the likes of Samsung as well as homegrown firms like Micromax. With a 1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor on-board, the dual SIM handset will have a 4.3-inch ClearBlack display, 1GB RAM, 5MP rear and VGA front camera and 1,800 mAh battery.

Lenovo A536
Lenovo has launched its smartphone A536 in India at Rs 8,999. The smartphone has a large 5 inch display  and Android 4.4 (KitKat) OS. The smartphone's 1.3GHz quad core processor helps to make multitasking faster, enables the Android OS to run smoother and delivers a more fluid gaming and video experience.

Lumia 830
Software firm Microsoft on September 4 launched three new Lumia smartphones, including one designed for "selfie" enthusiasts, in a bid to expand its portfolio as it battles the likes of Samsung and Apple in the booming, yet fiercely competitive, global smartphone market. Microsoft has launched the Lumia 830, 735 and 730, priced at 330 euros (about Rs 26,190), 219 euros (about Rs 17,370) and 199 euros (about Rs 15,800), respectively, as it tries to build on its acquisition of Nokia's mobile division earlier this year.

Samsung Galaxy Note 4
Samsung Electronics unveiled the new versions of its Galaxy Note smartphone on September 3  after previous design miscues cost it customers in the large-screen phone market it pioneered. The new Galaxy Note 4 features a crisper, 5.7-inch display in a metal frame, reflecting Samsung 's latest design strategy to keep pace with rivals including Apple Inc, which is expected to launch its first large-screen phones next week.

The new Moto X
Riding high on the success of its affordable handsets, US-based Motorola Mobility on September 5 unveiled the second generation of its popular Moto G and Moto X in India in an exclusive partnership with homegrown e-tailer Flipkart. Motorola, which has sold 1.6 million units of Moto E, G and X since February, is betting on the new version to help it ramp up sales in the fiercely competitive domestic smartphone market.