Successors of the Samsung Galaxy S5 and the HTC One M8 are expected to be the two premium devices to set the smartphone stage on fire next year.

Word on the street is that the HTC One M9 and the Samsung Galaxy S6 will finally put in an appearance in 2015, exclusively at the Mobile World Congress to take place on March 2 and 3.

The companies remain hushed, giving no confirmation or hints, but enthusiasts and eagle-eyed users already produced a set of promising specs to be integrated in the two hottest handsets. With the big lists of remarkable features on hand, it is now easier to figure out which device will emerge as the leader among the smartphone clan.

The HTC One M9 is expected to look good in aluminum and liquid silicone enveloping its 7 mm thin body. The Samsung Galaxy S6 will be thicker at 8.2 mm. The big plus about it though is that it will be water and dust resistant. In terms of the look, fans hope that the future Samsung offering would adopt the streamlined aluminum finish of the Galaxy A3 and A5.

The HTC One M9 is rumored to sport a 5.2-inch Quad HD display that delivers a 1440 x 2560 pixel resolution, clearly a major up from its predecessor's 1080p. The Samsung Galaxy S6, according to rumors, will either equal this set of features or come with a slightly bigger screen at 5.3 inches. Nevertheless, the former is very likely if Samsung's screen size pattern (S4 at 5 inches, S5 at 5.1 inches) is followed. The handset is also rumored to use an Ultra HD or an AMOLED display as some media outlets pointed out. This will be a win for HTC One M9 if that's the case.

The same types of processors are rumored to be loaded in both phones. According to Master Herald, a hexa-core Snapdragon 805 chipset should be the perfect upgrade for the hottest phones. However, it also bets on a mightier mainframe like the 64-bit octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 chipset.

Rumors suggest that the HTC One M9 will support 3 GB of RAM while the internal storage of the Galaxy S6 can either match that or top that with 4 GB. Both, however, ought to guarantee longer battery life. 

Shooters lean toward Samsung Galaxy S6's imaging capabilities. The Galaxy S6 is rumored to sport a 20-megapixel rear-facing camera. While both will reportedly sport a 5-megapixel front camera, HTC is easily whitewashed with its alleged 13-megapixel snapper.

First-rate specs come with a big price, literally. The Samsung Galaxy S6 may be attached to a $900 price tag, while the HTC One M9 is said to require a relatively lower $820 shell out.