Two of the best smartphones on the market are the iPhone 5 by Apple and the Galaxy Note 2 from Samsung, but which device comes out on top for consumers?

Both devices have their own similarities but it is in the differences that unique quality of each is determined.

Note 2 features the biggest screen at 5.5-inch HD Super AMOLED display, which will give its owners a resolution of 1,280 x 720 pixels. That is compared against the iPhone 5 which comes in with a 4 inch display screen at a resolution of 1136 by 640.

The bigger handset on the Note 2 can be both a good and bad quality depending on what type of phone users are going for.

The Note 2 and iPhone 5 both offer memory capacities of 16, 32, and 64 gigabyte versions.

Both handsets also have 8 megapixel cameras in addition to the front cameras on the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 with 1.9 megapixels and Apple iPhone 5 with 1.3 megapixels.

As far as operating system go Apple dominates with iOS 6.1 compared to Android Jelly Bean on the Samsung Galaxy Note 2. Apple's App Store has the jump on the variety and value of apps offered over those found in the Google Play Store, but Android offers a bit more as far as smartphone customization.

The prices of each can have a big impact on the choice of the consumer.

The iPhone 5 is priced per respective memory capacity at $199 for 16GB device, $299 for a 32GB model and $399 for the 64GB version. The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is available through Sprint, U.S. Cellular, and AT&T for $299.99 with a standard two-year contract.

Another important feature for many consumers is battery life.

Using iPhone 5 you can talk for up to 8 hours on 3G. Internet usage works for up to 8 hours on LTE and up to 10 hours on Wi-Fi. The Note 2 is equipped with a 3,100 mAh battery with a talk time of up to 16 hours with 3G usage. Samsung's device also comes with support for SD card, NFC and a battery that is removable while the iPhone 5 does not offer any of those features.

In the end many of the specs show that the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 weighs in as the better device, but also as the bigger phone. However, the experience of the individual user is often the most important aspect when choosing a smartphone.