The major battle, of course, is between Apple and Google - the former responsible for authoring the iOS 6 that will govern how the latest iPhone will behave while the latter is the maker of the mobile platform breathing hard on the neck of the Cupertino, California-based company.

The ecosystem contest is a matter of taste, preference and loyalty, with the number of mobile apps available in App Store and Android Marketplace running virtually head-to-head. Between the two systems, users can download more than a million of apps that would define their lifestyle.

In reality though, the experience is almost similar as popular apps tend to be deployed by developers on both worlds, leaving the iPhone 5 and Acro S tussle a question of hardware and software superiority.

Like the Windows 8 phone earlier unveiled by Nokia, the new iPhone 5, Reuters said, lacks the jaw-dropping effect that attended previous iPhone launches. To be sure, the gadget remains sleek and sexy, apart from gaining more height and losing more weight, but the immediate knock-out punch was just not there when Phil Schiller, Apple's marketing chief, unboxed the phone, early reviewers said.

The Acro S, on the other hand, sustained the shiny and smooth gizmo shell that Sony is traditionally known for but this time around the new phone from the Japanese firm is designed to withstand some amount of neglect and abuse.

The handset's body is dust-resistant while the screen, which measures 4.3 inches, is able to repeal the onslaught of scratches. Plus, the unit can be soaked on water about a metre deep without incurring any damages, which is not the case in the iPhone 5.

Owners, however, are warned not to bathe their Acro S longer than 30 minutes lest they mess with it and in the process fail to behold the crisp and clear renditions, images and clips, by Sony's Bravia Engine, which are emitted in resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels with pixel density of 342 ppi.

On Apple's part, it has decided to extend its Retina Display technology to the new smartphone. That means iPhone 5 owners are poised to enjoy HD video viewing and stunningly clear image rendering - all flashed on a screen resolution of 640 x 1136 with pixel density of 326 ppi.

The power beneath these features and functions is the new A6 chips for Apple, which Mr Schiller said should keep the iPhone executing its duties and responsibilities twice faster from the previous iterations.

For the Acro 6, Sony opted for Qualcomm's dual-core Scorpion with a maximum speed of 1.5GHz to cross path with the Apple chips architecture that carries the 'invisible' hand of Samsung, a long-time component part, and also nemesis, of the American tech giant.

According to Apple, the iPhone 5's new chips architecture plus the improvements that were packed with the iOS 6 will allow for up to eight hours of battery time with 4G or LTE connection, which is lacking in Acro S.

Sony's new handset is only 3G-capable but the less muscle in mobile broadband connectivity was compensated by the firm with high-end camera capability at 12MP while the new iPhone front cam shoots only at 8MP.

Both units, however, record video on 1080p at 30fps, with hosts of similar and unique features that Apple and Sony said should satisfy camera enthusiasts.

In the end, buyers may well decide depending on the price that is tagged on the iPhone 5 and the Acro S. Sony is said to retail its new smartphone in Australia at around $750 with a contract.

While the country is one the first markets where the iPhone will be shipped come Sept 21, Aussie telcos and gadget retailers have yet to release definite pricing for the product.