LG has confirmed the upcoming release of the 5-inch Optimus G Pro, which reports said is geared for an initial distribution to Japan shortly after it's unveiling at the 2013 Mobile World Congress in February.

At the moment, there is no official word from LG if the new mobile phone will be introduced to other markets as well but the core specs have been let out so there's no stopping in comparing the Optimus G Pro's published capabilities with a major competitor.

By virtue of its screen size, this LG handset will automatically pick a good fight with a gadget its equal size and one phone, or phablet, quickly comes into mind - Samsung's Galaxy Note 2.

Superlative specs

Per Gotta Be Mobile's report, LG is unpacking a behemoth handset in the Optimus G Pro, which will flex its muscle via a quad-core processor in Snapdragon S4 Pro that clocks at a peak speed of 1.7GHz. This get sufficient complements from a liberal serving of RAM, 2GB.

No clear specifications yet on the GPU flavour but the same report from GBM indicated that the top-tier phone from LG is 1080p, kicking up the LG standard first seen on the Optimus G.

Clearly, the LG handset is a step higher when pitted against the 720p Note 2. Despite having a 5.5-inch screen, this phablet is actually serving a stretch HD menu looking at its 1280 x 720 pixels with density of only 267ppi.

While hulking in size, the Note 2 is no match compared to the Galaxy S3 and the iPhone 5, and the same result is expected to be obtained once the Optimus G Pro is pushed into the picture.

The Samsung phablet draws its power from a quad-core 1.6GHz processor from Exynos and is amply supported by a 2GB of RAM. In this department, the two handsets are in equal footing and user satisfaction in this respect will be determined mostly by demands, which are unique for every user.

Other known features so far of the Optimus G Pro so far are the following: 32 GB internal storage, 4G LTE support, a 13MP rear camera shooter, a microSD expansion card slot and a 3000mAh battery.

When lined up with the Note 2, it's the Optimus G Pro's camera that merits the attention. What LG will deliver is in line with the emerging standards as far as new smartphones are concerned. The LG phone is on top for now, but the refresh version of the Note 2 later this year will likely allow the Samsung phablet to catch up.

At the moment, the camera for the Note 2 gives out decent enough results and it appears that owners are not complaining. They are able to capture quality images and record 1080p clips using the trendy handset.

Platform, skin and form factor

Both Samsung and LG anchor their flagship devices on JellyBean and nothing much to compare on that. LG is not creating too much noise on how it spices up Android on its gadget lines while Samsung has been ramping up on its efforts to inspire some awe among consumers, pleasing them on what to see on top of Google's platform.

The Note 2 is currently available in titanium gray, marble white, amber brown and ruby wine, giving more options that would suit buyers' preference. The Optimus G Pro was seen, in pictures, sporting a sheen body in black. If LG would offer other colours, the tech world will see at the MWC in Barcelona a few weeks from now.

Pricing

No definite price level can be attached with the LG Optimus G Pro at this point but considering its target market, it is expected to carry a price tag on launch time not too far from that of the Galaxy Note 2, which was last listed on Amazon at $US685 for the 16GB model.