Apple is reportedly releasing the iPhone 5C or iPhone Lite by early September 2013 while Motorola and Google have indicated that the Moto X is coming out in late August, likely setting up a clash of the little titans.

From the specs provided so far, the initial product of the Google-Motorola collaboration is by all accounts a mid-range handset, making it an interesting foe for the first low-cost smartphone to clear Apple's production lines, which is the 5C.

Smartphones users and experts from the two dominant mobile systems will be regaled in a new theatre of war as Android and iOS normally tussle in the upscale market via the bitter Apple and Samsung rivalry.

Now, the tech world is to witness a dogfight in which the winner is determined by answering this question: Which between the Apple and Google-Motorola devices fit the budget phone category or which offers the best bang for the bucks?

The hardware showdown

The Moto X flirts with phablet form-factor at 4.7-inch while the iPhone 5C is likely to mirror the iPhone 5's 4-inch screen size. Powering up the latter is an A-series processing chips, probably the same that Apple had earlier displayed via the iPhone 4S and the iPhone 5. One thing is sure though, these affordable phones will not disappoint on muscles. And the Moto X, in particular, boasts off staying on and operational for at least 24 hours.

On the screen side, the new Motorola device is with a 720p display resolution paired with pixel density of 312ppi, which by no means is impressive. Nothing is confirmed yet on this respect for the 5C but experts believe that while it retains the iPhone 5 screen size, it will skip on Retina resolution for obvious - it has to be affordable and a high-resolution panel will offset that end.

On the camera side, main shooter for the Moto X is 10MP while that of the Lite is likely 8MP. Clearly, the Moto X edges the iPhone Lite in a number of hardware attributes without necessarily outpacing the latter in key component competition.

Jelly Bean 4.2.2 vs. iOS 7

Strangely, Google has decided that Moto X is better suited with Jelly Bean 4.2.2 instead of dressing it up with the latest Android build - Jelly Bean 4.3. The latter would have made for a more interesting quarrel with Apple's simplified and clutter-free iOS 7, which despite shedding its glossy look is meshed up with the so-called killer features that were hardwired with its inner components.

While the current set up is sufficient for now, a quick bump up to Jelly Bean 4.3 or even Key Lime Pie would make the skirmish between the iPhone 5C and the Moto X more textured. We should be able to see the Android climb up to occur before 2013 ends, paving the way for the battle of power features, courtesy of Apple and Google.

The power to customise

By sticking to mid-range components that fire up cool features such as always listening mode and predictive camera functions, Google is assuming that consumers will not be turned off by giving them some form of control with the Moto X, even if they are superficial.

Buyers can dictate how the gizmo will look (but not behave) as Motorola offers a wide array of colour options for the back panel of the Moto X, which should convince shoppers that they'll be toting around with a trendy gizmo.

The same goes with the iPhone 5S as it is rumoured to come with a polycarbonate shell that is splashed with eye-candy colours though it remains unclear if these casings are interchangeable.

The cash damage

Snapping up the Moto X requires a $200 cash setback, which is the case for U.S. buyers getting the handset with a contract. There is no clue yet on how much the device would be in unlocked mode but the pricing should not go over $300. Plus, a cheaper edition is on the way that could further push down the price near the $100 mark.

As for the iPhone 5C, analysts pegged the starting price at around $450, not exactly cheap, though distributors' subsidy could shrink the price tag to as low as $100.