When to choose last year's smart phone

We know the feeling. You're shopping for a new phone, and you're excited by the latest, greatest model. But when you get to the store, you see last year's edition still available—for hundreds of dollars less.

The truth is that not every phone series makes a technological leap with each new model. Phone quality has really improved in the past couple of years, so the odds are whatever phone model you pick will likely be much better than what you have now. 

Prices, current as of early December 2014, are retail—what you'd pay when buying a phone without a contract. 

For more phone-buying advice, read "It's Time to Buy a New Phone. Here's Why." Then find out how to save money on your cell phone plan and watch our smart-phone buying guide video below.

The 4-inch display on last year's Apple iPhone 5s may not be the biggest, but it's still among the best for readability in bright sunlight. The 8-megapixel camera is very good, and the Touch ID fingerprint reader in the Home button lets you quickly unlock the phone's screen or authorize iTunes purchases.

Its successor, the Apple iPhone 6, has a larger, 4.7-inch display; longer battery life; and the built-in NFC radio needed to use the Apple Pay e-wallet app.

Which to pick: If older iPhones had you squinting to read your e-mails and ranting when your battery died, choose the iPhone 6. Otherwise, you'll do fine with an iPhone 5s.

Before you buy, check our smart phone buying guide and Ratings.

Still among the most advanced Android smart phones ever, the Samsung Galaxy S 4 has an array of gesture- and sensor-based tools to help you access and share content. It also provides a five-row keyboard with trackpadlike cursor control, and multi-tasking on one screen. Plus you'll never get tired of the excellent 5-inch, high-definition display.

The newer Samsung Galaxy S 5 adds water resistance (it can survive a 30-minute dunk in 3 feet of water), a fingerprint reader, and a heart-rate monitor.

Which to pick: Most people should find last year's Galaxy S 4 advanced enough. But serial phone fumblers and health nuts should consider the more rugged Galaxy S 5.

The LG G2 has an excellent 5.2-inch display in a relatively thin, sleek case. Battery life is very good, and the virtual keyboard features five rows, a rarity among phones. Multitaskers should appreciate the Slide Aside feature that allows you to juggle three open apps.

The LG G3 brings a sharper, slightly larger 5.5-inch display; a keyboard that can be resized easily with your fingers and adds a trackpadlike cursor control; and Ultra HD video recording.

Which to pick: It's a close one, but ultimately the G3's ultra-sharp display, camera, and keyboard refinements, plus the phone's useful memory card slot and removable battery, make it a better choice for most people in the long run.