Apple's 64-Bit iPhone 5S Processor May Have Caught Samsung By Surprise (AAPL, SSNLF)

On September 10,

announced that the iPhone 5S would be the first smartphone to contain a

. This was arguably the most surprising part of the product announcement, which was mostly filled with features that had been rumored for several months. In an interview with

,

Mobile co-CEO Shin Jong-kyun said that his company would also release new smartphones with 64-bit processors. "Not in the shortest time," Jong-kyun told The Korea Times. "But yes, our next smartphones will have 64-bit processing functionality." Jong-kyun also told the publication that he followed the media coverage of Apple's new iPhone.

Was Samsung surprised by Apple's decision to include a 64-bit processor? Over the past year, Samsung has worked very hard to undercut Apple's announcements by releasing products and developing features

its chief competitor. Samsung was one of the first smartphone manufacturers to add slow-motion (120FPS) video recording. The company was one of the first to develop a major smart watch, which has been viewed as a

. Samsung has spent the last year trying to

concept with a dual-screen device. After rumors claimed that Apple was poised to enter the TV business, Samsung

. The Internet-ready televisions contained apps, motion controls, voice recognition and other features that Apple was rumored to be developing for its own displays. At every turn, Samsung has tried its best to stay ahead of Apple. This time around, the South Korean tech giant came up short. Instead of bringing a 64-bit processor to the Galaxy S4 or Galaxy Note 3, Samsung decided to wait. While it is possible that Samsung could not finish its 64-bit processors in time for a 2013 release, the company may have simply underestimated Apple. Whatever the reason for Samsung's stumble, Apple has now gained an edge over its South Korean competitor. Disclosure: