The Samsung Galaxy S3 may no longer be the hottest smartphone around, but it's still quite popular and the 4G LTE version just hit T-Mobile.

Amid all the attention the Samsung Galaxy S4, Galaxy S4 Mini and Galaxy S4 Google Edition are enjoying, news about the previous-generation flagship may easily go unnoticed. On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy S3 is still a very powerful, highly-capable phone and many consumers felt the new flagship was not worth the upgrade. Is an upgrade to the T-Mobile Galaxy S3 LTE worth it?

After many rumors, the Samsung Galaxy S3 LTE finally made it to T-Mobile's online store, but its price tag leaves many wondering whether to give it a try or not. T-Mobile may have a growing network, but it's not that valuable.

To set the record straight, the Samsung Galaxy S3 is, without a doubt, an awesome smartphone. Despite the fact that it's fairly old now, it's still one of the most popular Android smartphones currently available on the market and it should also get some neat updates, including ones that will lend it Galaxy S4 software features.

The smartphone has a dual-core processor (quad-core for the international version), a massive display, an 8-megapixel camera, plenty of storage and high-end software. The price issue, however, is highly debatable. The Samsung Galaxy S3 LTE costs just $70 up front with 24 subsequent monthly payments of $20, which ultimately amounts to a hefty total of $550. It may not seem much considering how much T-Mobile's data plans cost, but the price does seem a bit exaggerated when considering that current flagship smartphones cost just a little bit more. In this case, is an old smartphone worth $550, considering that it may stop getting support soon?

The HTC One, for instance, is the company's hot new flagship smartphone. It's one of the best handsets currently available on the market and it costs just $30 more than the Samsung Galaxy S3 LTE. The new Samsung flagship, meanwhile, costs just $80 more, and it boasts some neat improvements over its predecessor.

LTE support is undoubtedly a great thing to have, especially for users who like to spend most of their time online. On the other hand, T-Mobile's network is growing, but it's still very small compared to its rivals. Moreover, T-Mobile's LTE network is currently available in just a few markets nationwide and many consumers still have a long wait ahead of them before they get to enjoy LTE.

All this inevitably leads to one big question: is the older Samsung Galaxy S3 worth $550 on T-Mobile's 4G LTE network when newer, better flagship smartphones are available for just a bit more? We think not.