The smartphones of CES 2015 (pictures)

LAS VEGAS -- Many mobile manufacturers big and small use CES as a launching pad for their new smartphones. This year was no exception, as we saw handsets from LG, HTC, and even Kodak. Check out our slideshow to see what devices made its way to the year's biggest tech show.

Editors' Note: This slideshow was originally published on January 7, 2015, and was updated throughout the show's progress.

The highest-profile smartphone to come out of the show so far is the G Flex 2. With its curved body, top-notch specs (like a Snapdragon 810 processor and a 1080p display), and a protective coating, the device signifies LG's commitment to the bend.

Making a quiet appearance at CES is the Desire 826. Available in Asia, the handset features a front-facing "ultrapixel" camera right smack in the top center of its face. The 5.5-inch phone has an octa-core processor and will launch later this month.

Though Intel is not the first company you think of when it comes to the mobile space, the P90 from Lenovo is all about it. It's the first handset equipped with Intel's Z3560 processor (a quad-core, 1.83GHz 64-bit chip) and its 4G LTE modem. Powered by a massive 4,000mAh battery, the device will be sold starting February 2015.

In addition to unveiling its S Pro 2 hybrid image projector/Wi-Fi hotspot, ZTE took the wraps off its Grand X Max+. Available on US carrier Cricket Wireless, the phone has a spacious 6-inch HD display and a 5-megapixel wide-angle front-facing camera.

The thing about the OneTouch Pixi 3 is that it's not really one single device. It's actually an Alcatel handset that has many configurations. It can have 4G LTE or 3G; can run Android, Windows Phone, or Firefox; and also has several display and processor options. Whatever permutation you end up with, however, Alcatel ensures it will at least be affordable.

Yes, you read that right -- Kodak made a handset. Designed for smartphone newbies and manufactured by Bullitt, the 5-inch device has a user-friendly interface, a 13-megapixel rear camera, and Android 4.4. It will launch in Europe in the first quarter of this year.

Though the Vibe X2 Pro sounds like a solid handset in itself (it has a 1080p display, a 64-bit Snapdragon octa-core processor, and a 13-megapixel camera), what's really interesting about it is its flash accessory. Known as the Vibe Xtension Selfie Flash, it plugs right into the phone's 3.5mm headphone jack to lend more light to your selfies.

Launching in Latin America and showcased for the first time at CES 2015, the Hero 2C is a 4G-enabled phablet with a quad-core processor and Android 4.4 KitKat.

Need an ultra-luxury smartphone? With its $6,000 price tag (or £4,000, $AU11,255 converted), the 88 Tauri should do the trick. Donning calfskin leather, stainless steel, and decent specs like a 1080p display and quad-core processor, the device is sold in high-end stores and online.

Imagine every smartphone spec you've ever heard of, cram it into a handset, and you've got yourself the V2 (pronounced "V-squared"). This waterproof device is decked out with Gorilla Glass 4, 256GB of possible external space thanks to its two microSD card slots, optical image stabilization on both its 21-megapixel rear camera and 13-megapixel front shooter, Harman Kardon audio technology, an IR blaster, a fingerprint scanner, a 60GHz mobile transceiver, and much more. Phew!

Known for its batteries, Energizer hopes to use its brand-recognition to drum up interest for its prototype line of rugged phones. The 500 (left) and 400 (right) smartphones run Android 4.4, are dust- and waterproof, and have a 3,000mAh and 2,5000mAh battery inside, respectively.

With their 13-megapixel camera, 5-inch 1080p display, and quad-core Snapdragon S400 processors, both the Yezz Andy 5S and Billy 5S are the same phone. However, the former will launch with Android 5.0 Lollipop while the latter will run Windows Phone.

Aimed at emerging markets, the Yezz 3.5 and 4 handsets (named for their screen sizes) run the Firefox mobile OS. These inexpensive, entry-level handsets have a 2-megapixel camera, a single-core 1GB processor, and HSPA+ capabilities.

Though we first saw it last month in China, the Honor 6 Plus made an appearance at this year's conference. Gunning for potential Apple iPhone 6 Plus users, Huawei's handset has a 5.5-inch display, a chic metal design, and a 3,600mAh battery. It also has two rear-facing cameras and an 8-megapixel front-facing shooter.

Released last year, the Ascend P7 isn't a "CES handset" per se. But its sapphire screen variant did make a cameo at the show. Synthetically grown in a lab and second only to diamonds as the strongest material, sapphire crystal is quickly becoming a gotta-have feature in smartphone display technology. But aside from the 5-inch screen, the phone itself remains unchanged and still has a slim profile, a 2,500mAh battery, and a quad-core processor.

Be sure to read more of CNET's CES 2015 coverage here.