In which we compare the new 2015 LG G4 smartphone against the rumors of an Apple iPhone 7 Plus or iPhone 6s Plus regarding possible design, hardware specs, camera, release date, price and U.S. carrier availability.

It seems the most buzz-worthy Android phone of 2015 isn't the Samsung Galaxy S6, as everyone expected, but the latest update from LG to its flagship line, the LG G4.

But unlike previous years for LG, there's the new popular phablet rival from Apple, the iPhone 6 Plus, and rumors of an updated and improved iPhone 7 Plus or iPhone 6s Plus on the way by the end of 2015.

So is it time to take the plunge on an LG G4, or is that a decision you'll regret in a few months' time? Here's the rundown.

Apple iPhone 7 Plus (or iPhone 6s Plus) vs LG G4:

Design

LG, which has made hit devices for the Google Nexus line over the years, is known for its build quality, even though it doesn't really follow Apple's example by incorporating unibody aluminum frames and front-and-back glass in its design.

The 2015 LG G4 is no different, featuring plastic construction with a removable back panel. But that's not a knock against it.

The LG G4 feels more premium than its build materials may hint at, and the detachable back plate -- now an endangered-species feature in popular Android smartphones -- yields up to 128 GB microSD expansion and the option to swap out batteries. It also helps keep the LG G4 from being too heavy, and the phablet with a big battery it weighs in at 5.47 ounces.

Apple isn't going to give up the premium feel it's known for in the rumored upcoming iPhone 7 Plus.

(Note: We'll refer to the expected 2015 Apple iPhone 6 Plus follow up as the iPhone 7 from here on out. Though it goes against Apple's traditional iPhone naming schedule, iPhone 6s Plus is a mouthful, which could be one reason among many why rumors are swirling that Apple will skip the "add an S" convention in 2015.)

From what tidbits and rumors the tech blogosphere has produced this early on, expect the Apple iPhone 7 Plus to come with the same aluminum and glass template.

Don't expect the Watch's sapphire glass on the iPhone 7 Plus, since there's been no indication at this point that they're working with any companies on it, and by now there should have been if sapphire were in the cards. However, it's possible Apple will use the Series 7000 aluminum alloy it developed for the Apple Watch in its 2015 phablet, giving the iPhone 7 Plus a 60 percent stronger frame while making it slightly lighter.

Apple's iPhone 6 Plus is already thinner than the LG G4, and if Apple thins out the design for the iPhone 7 Plus, it'll likely only be a smidge, in order to keep its "world's thinnest phablet" title.

Point: Apple (because Apple seemingly always leads in design)

Hardware Specs:

Chipset, RAM, Connectivity, and Storage

The LG G4 comes with a Snapdragon 808 system on a chip with 3GB RAM. It's not incredibly impressive, compared to other current 2015 Android smartphones, and it's not likely to overtake the Apple iPhone 7 by any stretch of the imagination.

That's because the iPhone 7 Plus, along with the more diminutive iPhone 7, is expected to introduce a new Samsung-built A9 processor (with 2GB of RAM!).

And if Samsung is impressing the tech world right now in any category, it's semiconductors. Its 2015 Exynos chip powers the Samsung Galaxy S6, and no matter what qualms people have about the new Samsung flagship, they're not about the chip's speed or capability.

Both phablets have (or will have) all top-of-the-line WiFi, LTE, Bluetooth, NFC (Apply Pay only for the iPhone 7 Plus), and other sensors and gewgaws -- and count on both to supply plenty of storage space, especially if you think it's worth the second-tier price on the iPhone 7 Plus.

Point: Apple

Display and Battery Power

The iPhone 7 Plus is expected to continue with the 5.5-inch display and 1080p resolution, making it likely weaker against the LG G4's 1440 x 2560p 5.5-inch display. Apple's never put much emphasis on resolution, but it could always try a little harder this year and match leading phones in that department, like the LG G4.

When it comes to powering the phone, the LG G4 comes with a massive 3000 mAh battery (removable), while the iPhone 7 Plus is expected to keep Apple's 2915 mAh nonremovable juice pack.

With those expected specs, and Apple's reputation for fleeting battery life, you'd think the LG G4 will edge out the iPhone 7 Plus on runtime, but with the difference in resolution and the possibility that the A9 will be as power-sipping as Samsung's 2015 Exynos 7420, the iPhone 7 Plus has a fighting chance. We'll have to wait and see.

Finally, out of the rumor mill comes the possibility that the iPhone 7 Plus will feature a pressure-sensitive "Force Touch" display similar to what the Watch and new Macbook offer, which would certainly make the iPhone 7 Plus worth waiting for.

Point: LG G4 (Unless the Force Touch rumor proves true)

Camera

The LG G4's camera is a knock-out success, making it a tough phone for shutterbugs to pass up. It comes with a 16-megapixel camera with optical image stabilization, laser autofocus, an f/1.8 aperture lens for low light, and a great camera software package that makes snapping nice photos fast and reliable.

But the camera is expected to be one of the biggest updates this year with the Apple iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus -- so much so that it's one of the top reasons one well known Apple analyst, Ming-Chi Kuo, believes the company will drop the "s" naming convention this time around.

Specifically, reliable rumors have Apple upgrading the iPhone 7 Plus's camera to a 12-megapixel shooter. (Less reliable rumors say Apple will introduce the "biggest camera jump ever" with a dual-sensor system "and it somehow takes it up into DSLR quality imagery," as the source rather tentatively put it.)

Counting out the more radical rumor for now, a pixel-count jump with the same reliability and ease of Apple's camera software could still put it ahead of the pack. But the LG G4 has set a pretty high bar to clear.

Point: LG G4 (Unless Apple "somehow takes it up into DLSR" territory)

Summary:

Release Date, Carriers, Price, Availability, and Other Considerations

The LG G4 has already been unveiled and had a release date globally on May 19. In the U.S., the LG G4 will be coming to T-Mobile, Verizon, Sprint and presumably AT&T starting the first week of June and possibly going into later in the summer.

Without a contract or renewal, prospective buyers of the LG G4 are looking at a $600 wallet-drain to get the phablet. With a two-year contract, the standard $200 is what you should expect.

Judging by the launch of the iPhone 6 Plus, the iPhone 7 Plus will likely cost at least $300 on-contract for the base model, with $100 increments for more storage. Without a contract, expect the base iPhone 7 Plus to be quite expensive, probably starting around $750. The usual unveiling and release date schedule is expected, meaning we'll get a look at the iPhone 7 Plus by early September with a subsequent release date very soon after, but one rumor suggests Apple could step up the unveil to August with an earlier September launch. We'll see about that.

Because it's Apple, expect basically every carrier in the U.S. to have the new iPhone 7 Plus available for purchase as immediately as possible.