The latest isn’t necessarily the greatest. The iPhone 5 is out, and while we got some hands-on time with it, there’s no telling yet whether it will live up to the hype. On the other hand, the iPhone 4S (Sprint) has already earned our Editors’ Choice award, and it’s just a year old. And with Apple’s newest mobile OS—iOS 6 —installed, an older iPhone can learn all the new tricks, like Passbook, Maps, new calling options, and the other features Tim Cook and company showed on stage Wednesday.

If you don’t already have an iPhone 4S (or even a 4, if you don’t yearn for Siri’s companionship), now’s the time to get one. Those who placed orders for the iPhone 5 are selling their old phones and they’ll soon be on the market.

Before you embrace the iPhone 4S, remember to back up your iPhone if you have an older model. If you’re an Android user contemplating the move to planet Apple, read our manual on how to switch.

When shopping, keep your carrier in mind. An unlocked AT&T iPhone can be used on fellow GSM provider T-Mobile, which is banking on just such a thing since it doesn’t carry the iPhone. It can’t be used on Verizon or Sprint, though, which both operate on the CDMA network. If you have and plan to stay with either Verizon or Sprint, be sure to purchase a phone that was already on your chosen carrier’s network.

The current selection of used iPhones might seem low on some sites, but stock will go up (and prices down) after the iPhone 5 ships. So, if you don’t see what you want at a good price, check back frequently, particularly around September 21 when those iPhone 5s start to ship.

If you want an iPhone and you’re looking for a sure thing instead of that “one more thing,” here are eight places where you might find your perfect match.