In the last year, we saw the second generation of big-screened iPhones from Apple, the first generation of double-"Edged" smartphones from Samsung, and a lot of Android contenders introduce premium smartphones with great hardware specs.

Looking back at the year in reviews, here are the top five Latin Post picks for the best of the best smartphones in 2015.

5. LG G4 

The year for LG was mostly iterative, improving on previous models without changing too much about the overall design or strategy. That said, the LG G4 is definitely the best device the company has made yet, as our hands on review noted earlier.

Owing several design elements to previous LG handsets is a strength in this case: The LG G4 was like an amped up LG G3 mixed with hints of design elements from its beautiful, but niche smartphone also released in 2015, the LG G Flex 2. A slight curve in the screen and body owing to the latter gave the LG G4's 5.5-inch screen a more manageable feel, while the LG G4's much faster and more feature-rich camera blew away most of LG's Android competition.

But the company's custom UI still detracts from the simplicity that is Android 5.1, and bloatware still abounds when you first power up the device. And while the Quad HD display was beautiful, battery life remained so-so.

Still very much a premium handset, it's best to get the LG G4 on contract for around $200, rather than the $600+ you'd pay for it unlocked.

4. Sony Xperia Z5

Sony has struggled to reach a broader audience with its mobile products, but in 2015 the mostly overlooked company did produce a fine smartphone in the Xperia Z5.

Beautifully designed with a distinctive look only Sony uses on its phones, the Xperia Z5 is also quite a workhorse. Packing a full Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 system on a chip with an Adreno 430 GPU and 3GB of RAM, the Xperia Z5 also features a Sony exclusive 23-megapixel rear camera.

If you want a screen with the highest resolution, though, the Xperia Z5 isn't in the running. But its 1080p IPS display still looks great, thanks to Sony's custom Triluminos display tweaks, and the battery lasts a longer time, too. To top it off, the best standard Sony feature of all continues in 2015's flagship: dust and waterproof certification for up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes.

3. Motorola Moto X Pure Edition (Style)

The Moto X Pure Edition (or Style, outside the U.S.) straddles the gulf between the "premium" and mid-priced (unlocked) smartphone categories -- in the most excellent way.

Motorola decided not to partner with carriers for the 2015 Moto X's launch, but instead sold it at the full, unlocked price, while also building "universal LTE banding" into the device, so you can use any carrier you'd like, whenever you'd like.

After heavy daily use with the Moto X Style, its Snapdragon 808 holds up to nearly any task, though its powerhouse is outmatched by Samsung and Apple.

However, it's the balance of features (along with the incredibly low, $400 starting price unlocked) found in this smartphone that makes it remarkable: the 21-megapixel rear camera, a 3000 mAh battery featuring Motorola's "fastest in the world" TurboPower charging technology, the microSD expansion, the 5.7-inch Quad HD screen, and of course, Moto Maker customizable design.

Motorola in 2015 continued to impress with its innovation and shrewd smartphone feature-sets, making the future in 2016 look great for the company.

2. Apple iPhone 6s

Yes, Apple's iPhone 6s makes the list. Of course.

Despite the hype for or against Apple's innovation or speculation over its successes or failures as a company in the future, this year saw a few important true innovations in the iPhone 6s. And it helps that the iPhone 6s was quite powerful and its design remains world-class.

But the biggest selling point for the iPhone 6s -- though it's something that's still in its nascent phases -- is 3D Touch. Developers haven't fully explored the new creative spaces for smartphone interaction that Apple opened up with its variable-pressure "pop" and "peek" touchscreen, but this year's iPhone has introduced something that will likely change how we use our mobile devices again.

Whether that change ultimately ends up being modest or industry-disrupting, we'll just have to see. 

1. Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge

Its larger "plus" cousin didn't impress us too much, but the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge is the best smartphone of 2015.

Avoiding the Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 overheating issue early on, which led to a couple of otherwise wonderful Android flagships feeling slightly underpowered, and sticking with its own Exynos 7420 chipset was probably one of the smartest moves by Samsung this year. The Galaxy S6 Edge is simply a beast and can take on any task.

Refining its TouchWiz UI was also a great move, but it's the totality of this package that makes it stand out from the rest. The Quad HD resolution, an excellent 16-megapixel camera, the fast charging battery -- everything but the omission of microSD expansion is top of the line.

And then there's those two curved edges. In practical terms, the Edge is in a similar situation to Apple's 3D Touch: It's a first-run feature that certainly needs more development.

But the most obvious appeal of the Samsung S6 Edge is that it comes with all the power of the flagship Galaxy S6, but looks stunning and unique. Samsung seems to have finally figured out the puzzle of "premium design" this year, and the results were simply gorgeous.