With Apple expected to unveil its new iPhone 5 on September 12 at an event in New York, the battle for supremacy in the mobile market is heating up daily.

On one side, we have Apple's iPhone 5, which, according to the rumor mill, will deliver a host of improvements that could cement the device as the top smartphone over the next year. On the other side, there's the Samsung Galaxy S III, a device that has proven to be the most competitive -- and many say the best -- iPhone alternative on the market. After the iPhone 5 is announced, all the differences between the products will be highlighted. Which features does the iPhone 5 win on? Does the Galaxy S III fill in any of the gaps left by the new iPhone?

Almost immediately after the iPhone 5 is announced, you can surely expect to find story upon story agonizing over their many differences, but what about their similarities? The fact is, it's tough to make two smartphones that are all that different nowadays. There are certain features that need to be included in every product, and vendors are having a harder time differentiating their devices. With that in mind, take a look at some of the features both the iPhone 5 and Galaxy S III will likely share. It's easy to recognize the differences, but the sheer number of similarities might surprise you.

1)      A Quad-Core Processor: There is an extremely strong chance that Apple's next iPhone will come with a quad-core processor. Currently, the device is facing off against a host of products that come with a quad-core chip-including the Galaxy S III-and it would only make sense for Apple to follow suit.

2)      Big Displays:  Apple's 3.5-inch screen in the iPhone is simply too small when compared with those available in other products. The Samsung Galaxy S III, for example, has a 4.8-inch display. Looking ahead, Apple will have to deliver a bigger screen in the iPhone 5 to keep pace.

3)      A New, Thinner Design: One of the nice things about the Samsung Galaxy S III is that it's nice and slim. If concept devices purportedly showing the iPhone 5 are real, it would seem that Apple's handset will deliver another thinner look. Mobility is the key in the smartphone market, and both Samsung and Apple know that.

4)      Improved Software: The nice thing about the Samsung Galaxy S III is that it comes with Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) with the company's GalaxyWiz software on top. What does that mean? It delivers a neat experience for mobile customers. Apple's iPhone 5 will likely launch with iOS 6, meaning its software will be much better than the iOS 5 flavor found in current iPhones.

5)      Hardcore Glass: The Galaxy S III ships with scratch-resistant glass, reducing the chances of damage to the device. According to reports, Apple's iPhone 5 will ship with Gorilla Glass 2, which should enhance that device's overall durability. It'll be a nice addition to the device.

6)      Major Hype: If there's anything that can characterize the iPhone 5 and Galaxy S III, it's hype. Both products are fan favorites. There has been a constant buzz of rumor and chatter in anticipation of their release. Expect Apple's hype machine to be in full force starting in September.

7)      Enterprise Value: The corporate world hasn't always loved Apple and Samsung, but as of late, the companies' devices are making inroads into the office. Employees are increasingly requesting them and upon further inspection, IT decision-makers are finding value in them. There's an awful lot of enterprise value in the iPhone and Galaxy S III.

8)      A True Dual-Camera Solution: Although Nikon and Canon are best known for their cameras, mobile devices, like the iPhone 5 and Samsung Galaxy S III, will continue to be major winners in the digital camera world. As a result, Apple and Samsung have bundled dual cameras into their products and will likely do so for all upcoming handsets they have planned.

9)      4G LTE: Looking ahead, the world of mobile connectivity will rely heavily upon 4G Long-Term Evolution (LTE) technology. The ultra-high-speed networking service offers near-broadband performance while away from WiFi. It's bundled in the Samsung Galaxy S III, and it will likely find its way to the iPhone 5, as well.

Apple is rumored to release its iPhone 5 on September 21.