Samsung is set to start the Galaxy Note 4 vs iPhone 6 competition, reported to release its newest phablet September, weeks before the rumored 5.5-inch iPhone launch.

A report claims Samsung is stepping it up in production, in a rush to meet a September launch for its Galaxy Note 4, immediately after its scheduled IFA unveiling. IFA runs on September 5-10 and the launch gives Samsung an early head-start against Apple, rumored to release its new pair of iPhones September 19.

Initial leaks peg the Galaxy Note 4 as a premium device, with specs impressive enough to best competitors in the phablet arena. A 5.7-inch QHD display with a resolution of 1,440 x 2,560 pixels should offer crisp detail; a 2.7GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 processor offers enough juice for demanding apps. A 16 MP camera with optical image stabilization (OIS) is also exceptional in a market of phablets plagued with so-so cameras (yahoo.com).

The Galaxy Note 4 vs iPhone 6 battle will likely be a two-on-two matchup, with the Samsung Galaxy S5 Prime also expected to release simultaneous to the phablet. Insiders confirm Apple's launch strategy makes sense; with leaks of a 4.7 and 5.5-inch iPhone percolating, the market is prepped for solid options by fall.

Samsung ups the ante by launching two versions of the Galaxy Note 4, though. In an unexpected twist, an insider from suppliers to the company leaked that aside from the standard Note 4 with flat display, a curved-display version similar to last year's Galaxy Round will also come out (bgr.com).

It's unlikely the general market gets to enjoy the curved Galaxy Note 4: the insider insisted in an interview with The Korea Times that the release for the "niche device" is restricted to a handful of markets, with locations and reach yet to be confirmed. The Galaxy Note 4 vs iPhone 6 head-to-head makes this fall's tech arena interesting, especially with an array of new devices from the competition scheduled for launch as well.