Asus recently took the wraps of its smartphone-in-a-tablet hybrid device - the Padfone 2.  Google, on the other hand, launched its highly touted LG Nexus 4.

Both the devices are improved follow-ups to previous offerings from the two companies i.e. the Padfone and the Nexus (made by Samsung).

Here's a look at the specifications of the Padfone 2 and the Nexus 4.

Processor

Both the Nexus 4 and the Padfone 2 are evenly matched when it comes to processor, and pack in the powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core Krait processor, which is clocked at a 1.5GHz.

Display

The Nexus 4 sports a 4.7-inch True HD IPS Plus capacitive touchscreen display with 768 x 1280 pixels resolution and 318 ppi. The Padfone 2 is equipped with Super IPS+ LCD capacitive touchscreen display with 720 x 1280 pixels resolution and 312 ppi.

Weight, Thickness, and Body

The Padfone 2 measures 5.43 x 2.71 x 0.35 inches, making it taller than the Nexus 4, which measures 5.27 x 2.70 x 0.36 inches. Both the devices are nearly of the same thickness. Weight wise, at 4.90 ounces, the Nexus 4 is a little heavier than the 4.76 ounces of the Padfone 2.

Storage and Memory

The Padfone 2 has 16/32/64 GB of on-board storage options. On the other hand, the Nexus 4 has only 8/16 GB of internal storage. Both the smartphones do not have the option to expand the memory using a microSD card.

Both the Nexus 4 and the Padfone 2 have 2GB of RAM.

Software

The Padfone 2 comes pre-loaded with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) and is expected to get Android 4.1 Jelly Bean soon. On the other hand, the Nexus 4 runs on the latest Android 4.2 Jelly Bean.

Battery

A 2100mAh battery powers the Nexus 4, when compared to the 2140mAh battery the Padfone 2 packs in. The Nexus 4 and the Padfone 2 support 15 hours and 16 hours of talk time on 3G, respectively.

Camera

The Padfone 2 trumps the Nexus 4 with its whopping 13-megapixel rear-facing camera, compared to the latter's 8-megapixel snapper. However, the Nexus 4 has a better front-facing camera with 1.3 megapixels, compared to the Padfone 2's 1.2-megapixel front-facing one.

Availability and Colors

The Padfone 2 will be available in black and white, whereas the Nexus 4 is currently available in black only. Recent rumors indicate that the Nexus 4 may arrive in white as well and even the white Padfone 2 has been spotted in the wild of late.

The Padfone 2 will likely be priced between $620 to $750 (off contract), depending on the model, and is expected to hit the shelves in December. 

The Nexus 4 has a starting price tag of $299 (unlocked) and the initial inventory was sold out within an hour in the U.S. and UK.

Both the devices have top features and specifications. Time will tell which handset leads in the smartphone race.