<p>Android and Apple don't get along, and their ongoing war for consumers gets heated this time of year when smartphone debuts become as synonymous with summertime as Hollywood blockbusters. Five years after the arrival of the very first iPhone, Apple has improved its flagship device. But that time also gave competitors time to catch up, and some pundits see the iPhone 5 as a clear sign that Apple is beginning to follow the leader instead of set the bar for design and functionality. But in the end, it's the consumer's opinion that matters. Here's a look at three top Android devices that could easily serve as iPhone 5 alternatives.Samsung Galaxy Note 2</p><p>Many are quick to compare the iPhone 5 with the Samsung Galaxy S III, but I'm starting with the even more-recently launched Galaxy Note 2, which comes with the latest version of Android, Jelly Bean 4.1. The operating system is the heart of your device, and both Apple and Android pushed through major OS updates for this year.</p><p>Something else the Galaxy Note 2 and the iPhone 5 have in common is a bigger screen size, though the Note 2's HD Super AMOLED screen is larger at 5.5 inches and 1280x720 pixels at 267 ppi. The iPhone 5 screen is 4-inch and comes in at 1136x640 pixels, though the density is better at 326 ppi. The Galaxy Note 2 also has a powerful quad core 1.6GHz CPU, featuring Samsung's Exynos 4412 Quad chipset.</p><p>Both the Galaxy Note 2 and the iPhone 5 have 8 megapixel rear cameras, with autofocus at 3264x2448 pixels, but the Note 2's front camera has higher resolution at 1.9 megapixels versus 1.2. Set to launch October 2012, the Galaxy Note 2 also comes with Samsung's optimized NFC technology, which we first saw on the Galaxy S3.</p><p><a href="http://www.androidapps.com/tech/articles/12750-three-android-smartphone-alternatives-to-rival-the-iphone-5">Keep reading...</a></p><p>Read also:</p><p><a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/Innovation/Latest-News-Wires/2012/0917/10-ways-the-Android-is-better-than-iPhone-5/The-iPhone-5-still-has-a-small-screen">10 ways the Android is better than iPhone 5</a> (Christian Science Monitor)</p><p><a href="http://www.zdnet.com/affordability-is-the-key-factor-in-android-adoption-7000004314/">Affordability is the key factor in Android adoption</a> (ZDNet)</p><p><a href="http://www.gottabemobile.com/2012/09/18/iphone-5-vs-nexus-smartphone/">7 Features the Nexus Smartphone Needs to Compete with iPhone 5</a> (Gotta Be Mobile)</p><p>Explore: <a href="http://news.google.com/news/more?pz=1&ned=us&ncl=dPeMmAQMaEPMIiMWQLVI_smfY0KCM">653 additional articles.</a></p>