The ultimate battle of the South Korean Android giants pits the 2015 LG G4 phablet against the newly premium redesigned Samsung Galaxy S6. Which recently released 2015 Android Lollipop-running premium smartphone will come out on top?

Samsung Galaxy S6 vs LG G4:

Design

LG has always incorporated decent build quality into its smartphones, and it's no different in 2015 with the LG G4.

While not incorporating flashy premium unibody aluminum and glass chasses, like the HTC One or the redesigned Samsung Galaxy S6, LG has always made its handsets feel solid and not cheap, the way Samsung's handsets notoriously felt until this year's rethink.

The LG G4 hits the mark again, with its slightly heavy, slightly too thick, but well built frame that still incorporates the (I can't believe this is the case) "old school" detachable back plate, allowing for swapping batteries and up to 128 GB microSD expansion.

The Samsung Galaxy S6, on the other hand, relinquished those bonuses in favor of all Gorilla Glass 4 front and back, and unibody aluminum frame for the first time in Samsung's flagship's history.

Fans may lament the loss of microSD storage (though Google's latest Android operating systems deemphasize many erstwhile advantages of that extra storage option). But wow, it sure does look good.

Point: LG G4, Unless you prefer an iPhone-like design

Hardware Specs

Both the LG G4 and Samsung Galaxy S6 smartphones are looking like the top Android workhorses to beat in 2015, setting new standards for speed and power while 2015 devices from other Android manufacturers, like Sony and HTC, wallow in yesterday's specs.

The Galaxy S6 comes with Samsung's latest Exynos 7420 octa-core system on a chip (SoC) with Mali graphics and 3GB RAM. Meanwhile the LG G4 runs a similarly paced Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 SoC with 3GB RAM.

You might wonder why both LG and Samsung are avoiding Qualcomm's 2015 flagship SoC, the Snapdragon 810. For Samsung, it kept overheating during tests with the Galaxy S6, and Qualcomm's production schedule just didn't time out right for LG. That means the LG G4 runs a less-powerful six-core SoC rather than the 810, but at least it won't overheat the device.

Inside, both devices run all the up-to-date 2G, 3G, LTE, Bluetooth, GPS, WiFi, NFC, and infrared systems you'd expect in a modern premium smartphone, but the LG G4 also includes an FM tuner (speaking of old school!). Both phones come with 32GB storage at minimum, but only Samsung offers 64GB and 128GB models, reflecting the lack of microSD support.

When it comes to battery power, the LG G4's 3000mAh pack edges out the Galaxy S6's 2550mAh battery, and though it will drain faster with a Qualcomm SoC and larger screen, you can always swap it, giving LG the edge when it comes to juice.

Still, the Galaxy S6's 64-bit octa-core Exynos wins it the specs category.

Point: Samsung

Camera

Smartphone cameras are getting kind of dull these days when it comes to new innovations. That's not exactly a bad thing though, as this year's top Android phones both feature reliable 16-megapixel shooters with optical image stabilization.

For selfies, the LG G4 beats out the Samsung Galaxy S6 with an 8-megapixel shooter, but the Galaxy S6's 5-megapixel front-facing camera has better video capabilities, including recording at 1440p at 30 frames per second and auto HDR.

The LG G4's main camera, however, wins the category with laser autofocus and a low-light loving F1.8 lens. Simply put, the LG G4 is easier to point and shoot, with much faster focus-to-shutter speeds.

Point: LG

Display

The LG G4 comes with a beautiful 5.5-inch display, which makes it a larger, slightly more awkward-to-pocket smartphone, but gives LG the advantage in screen real estate and versatility. The G4's 1440 x 2560p resolution yields about 538 pixels per inch on the screen, with bright accurate colors due to its IPS foundation.

But the Galaxy S6's display isn't anything to sneeze at, especially since it packs the same resolution onto its 5.1-inch screen, bringing about 577 pixels per inch to its Gorilla Glass 4-protected Super AMOLED display.

Point: Both brilliant. Size is up to preference.

Release Date, Price, Availability, & U.S. Carriers

Both devices were publicly unveiled in April 2015, so they're at the top of their price curve, but also the top of the trendy premium smartphone market.

You can preorder the LG G4 at T-Mobile with an advanced release on May 25. Later, you can get it from Sprint, Verizon, U.S. Cellular, and AT&T starting in June. The unlocked device will cost upwards of $650, but expect contract-subsidized versions to top out around $200 or $250.

For the Galaxy S6, Sprint is offering a no-money-down deal if you sign up on the Unlimited Plus Plan. Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular, and smaller prepaid carriers all offer the Galaxy S6, which costs a minimum of $700 unlocked but is available on contract starting at $200.

What's the next smartphone you're planning on getting and why? Tell us your thoughts in the comments!