Samsung Electronics Co.'s latest flagship Galaxy S6 smartphone lags behind its predecessor, the Galaxy S5, in most performance reviews, a U.S. consumer agency said Thursday, with the new model less attractive to users who want to find alternatives to Apple Inc.'s iPhones.

According to U.S.-based Consumer Reports, a non-profit organization that grades products for consumers' rights, Samsung's Galaxy S5 released last year topped the list of smartphones studied, outpacing its upgraded version in terms of battery life and camera performances.

LG Electronics Inc.'s G3 smartphone ranked second, with the iPhone 6 and the Galaxy S6 tying for third. LG's new flagship, the G4, was not tested by Consumer Reports.

"A decidedly more elegant look, but other Apple-like modifications actually hurt these devices in our Ratings -- ironically, putting them on-par with Apple's iPhone 6," Consumer Reports said.

The Galaxy S6 and its sister, the Galaxy S6 Edge that bends at both ends, grabbed the market's attention upon its launch as they boasted features that were never-before-seen on other Galaxies, such as built-in batteries that can be charged wirelessly.

Samsung had been promoting its detachable batteries as an advantage over iPhones, referring to Apple users as "wall huggers" during its promotion of the Galaxy S5.

"What's more, these Galaxies are not water-resistant like the Galaxy S5, so you'd better hold on to them tightly when you're near a sink, puddle or pool," it also said. "The new devices are significantly more Apple-like than previous models." (Yonhap)