For years, Apple dominated the world of smartphones with the various iPhone models, the latest of them being the iPhone 5. In due course of time, Android emerged on the scene and later, smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy S III provided some very stiff competition for the iPhone, eventually overtaking the latter in terms of sales. As of now, Samsung is definitely leading the way with its innovative projects including a smartphone with a foldable screen. Clearly, Apple has its job cut out.

If you look beyond iPhone 5, you would be surprised to see a range of smartphones, launched in the latter part of 2012, which have the potential to challenge the iPhone 5. Here is a list of some of the best smartphones minus the iPhone 5:

1. HTC Droid DNA – The HTC Droid DNA is easily one of the best phones ever produced by HTC. It ships with a 1.5 GHz quad core processor, 2GB RAM, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and 16GB internal memory. Additionally, it boasts of an 8-megapixel primary camera and a 2-megapixel front facing camera. The 5-inch Super LCD 3 Screen is absolutely brilliant and the phone offers 4G connectivity as well. The stunning design is the final icing on the cake. To sum things up, the HTC Droid DNA is a gem of a smartphone, one that can give the iPhone 5 a run for its money.

2. Nokia Lumia 920 – In terms of smartphones, Nokia has been lagging far behind the likes of Samsung and HTC. With the release of Nokia Lumia 920, the company is hoping for a major turnaround. The Lumia 920 runs on Windows Phone 8, a relatively new OS for smartphones. The 8.7-megapixel camera employs the much-talked about PureView feature, making way for high quality pictures. Overall, the phone is heavier and bulkier than a regular smartphone, but it has a lot to offer, including an all new OS.

3. Motorola Droid Razr Maxx – The USP of Motorola Droid Razr is its strong battery, thanks to which, the phone comes with unbelievable battery life. The phone ships with Android 4.0 ICS, a 5.2-inch AMOLED HD screen and an 8-megapixel primary camera. The design is flawless and the phones functions smoothly without any glitches.

4. LG Google Nexus 4 – One can’t deny that the LG Google Nexus 4 has it’s share of flaws, but it also has other features to make up for them. To begin with, the phone boasts of a 1.4GHz Qualcomm quad core processor and Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. The 8-megapixel camera is impressive and the overall design is sleek enough for a smartphone. However, it lacks 4G connectivity along with the oomph factor. The LG Google Nexus 4 might not be extraordinarily brilliant, but it still offers quite a lot for anyone looking for a topnotch smartphone.