The LG G2 smartphone made its debut yesterday in New York City, and its South Korean manufacturer hopes it can hold its own against the iPhone 5, HTC and Galaxy S4.

The G2's 2.7-inch wide body features one of the sleeker exteriors amongst smartphones, because of the placement of its buttons on the back of the device, leaving nothing to break the lines when viewed from the front or side. But it will be hard-pressed to outdo the shiny metallic bodies of the HTC One or iPhone 5.

Still, the placement of the G2's buttons is a very significant feature, not just for cosmetic reasons, but also for usability. LG determined that by placing the volume buttons of the back of the phone, users can grasp the device in such a way that their index finger is comfortably resting near the buttons. This allows users to adjust the volume on the phone without changing their grip.

Another impressive feature on LG's new phone is its large 5.2-inch screen and HD quality video. The G2 has a bigger display than the Galaxy, HTC and iPhone, and again, LG didn't just take aesthetics over usability. The company claims the G2's screen is the largest a person can hold comfortably in one hand.

The LG smartphone also surpasses the competition in regards with its 13-megapixel camera and image stabilization feature. Neither the HTC, iPhone 5 or Galaxy has the G2's combination of image stabilization and high megapixel quality.

The other paramount features the LG smartphone offers are its Android 4.2.2 operating system and top-tier sound quality.