China-based handset vendors will bring the hardware specifications of their high-end smartphones on par with those of international players in the first half of 2014, making international brands more difficult to compete effectively in China's high-end smartphone segment, according to industry sources.

　　Optimizing MediaTek's newly release 8-core MT6592 CPU, China's smartphone vendors will be able to roll out models running at 2GHz and equipped with 16-megapixel cameras, ultra HD displays, and 3D image processing capability, indicated the sources.

　　International brands have been able to maintain their competitive edge so far by differentiating their products from those offered by China-based counterparts by rolling out models with fingerprint or eye sensors, stylus-control, HD displays and wide-angle camera, noted the sources.

　　Additionally, China-based brands price their high-end models at slightly above CNY2,000 (US$328) compared to CNY4,000 quoted for comparable models offered by international players, said the sources, adding that the price gap will allow China's vendors to win more market share in China in 2014.

　　China's smartphone vendors are expected to unveil next-generation smartphone models at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2014 at the earliest, said the sources.