iPhone 5 release date: Apple to face 5 Samsung Galaxy phones

Samsung may release two new Samsung Galaxy devices in United States aside from the three Samsung Galaxy S II variants. Five Samsung Galaxy devices against one (or two) new iPhone?

Samsung Electronics, Apple’s friend turned worst enemy will obviously challenge Apple’s upcoming new iPhone, or the so-called iPhone 5 (or iPhone 4S, but some say the two names exist), but aside from the AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint Galaxy S II smartphones, Samsung may also add two new Galaxy smartphones this year, the new Samsung Galaxy Note and the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus. According to multiple reports, the two new Samsung Galaxy phones/tablets will arrive after the possible iPhone 5 release date.

The first Samsung Galaxy device “confirmed” for the US market is the new Samsung Galaxy Note, the so-called “tabphone” with 5.3-inch screen and Android Gingerbread operating system out of the box, is reportedly joining the AT&T smartphone lineup this year based on Galaxy Note’s FCC record showing AT&T-friendly bands. Apparently, the Samsung Galaxy Note sports HSPA+ connectivity, so it is highly possible that the AT&T variant will sport the same technology.

The Samsung Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch of Sprint Nextel is one of the three Samsung Galaxy S II variants for the United States market. According to rumors, Sprint will join the Apple smartphone ecosystem this year.

Another smartphone made by Samsung that will arrive in the United States is the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus, the new 7-inch PLS LCD touchscreen tablet with Android Honeycomb operating system but can receive or initiate voice calls, and send or receive text messages.

No word on the exact release date of the new 7-inch Galaxy Tab Plus in United States, but reports have confirmed that it will arrive “later this year.” Apparently, the Galaxy Tab Plus is not just a tablet, but also a smartphone and the larger screen could attract the so-called “internet browsing-addicted” smartphone customers.

Samsung, apparently, has created its own Android ecosystem ahead of the iPhone 5 announcement by offering Android-based devices that have different screen sizes. By the way, rumors suggest that Apple’s new iPhone 5 is a dual-core device with HSPA+, 8-megapixel camera, 1 GB of RAM and larger screen. These rumored specs, if true, are also offered by the new Galaxy devices.

Speaking of “new Samsung phones”, the South Korea-based company is also expected to introduce a new high-end smartphone this month, on October 11, the rumored Nexus Prime. The Nexus Prime is the long-rumored 2011 Nexus phone with the Google branding and the latest version of the Android operating system. So aside from the 5 Galaxy devices, Apple is also facing a new Nexus device with the Google branding, and manufactured by Samsung.

Six new Samsung phones against one or two new iPhones. Can the Samsung Galaxy Note, Galaxy Tab Plus and the three Galaxy S II compete against the iPhone 5?

Apple is scheduled to introduce the new iPhone on October 4, and the event entitled “Let’s Talk iPhone” will reveal the release date of the new iPhone in United States and other smartphone markets.