The effect of the phosphor curvature in the range 0.1766-0.2589mm(-1) on the luminous efficacy of Y2.95Al5O12:0.05Ce(3+) (YAG)-based white-light-emitting diodes (WLEDs) was investigated at the similar correlated color temperature (CCT) of similar to 6300K by tuning the concentration of YAG phosphors in the phosphor layer ranging from 7.5 to 15wt%. It was found that both the luminous efficacy and luminous power increased monotonically with the increasing curvature. The luminous efficacy (=82.4lm/W) and luminous power (=297.85mW) of the YAG-based WLED at the preferable phosphor curvature of 0.2589mm(-1) were 19.44% and 17.36%, respectively, higher than those at the curvature of 0.1766mm(-1) under 350mA. This finding reveals that the surface curvature of phosphor layers is a critical factor which cannot be ignored for the investigation of the light output of phosphor-converted WLEDs. Moreover, the color rendering index (CRI) enhancement of YAG-based WLED with substitution of Y2.94Al5O12:0.05Ce(3+), 0.01Pr(3+) (YPrAG), Y2.45Gd0.5Al5O12:0.05Ce(3+) (YGdAG), and Y2.95Al4.8Si0.2O11.8N0.2:0.05Ce(3+) (YAlSiON) for YAG were assessed under the same phosphor curvature of 0.2589mm(-1) and the similar CCT similar to 6350K. Taking the luminous efficacy, preparation cost of phosphors, and CRI into consideration, we suggest that the YGdAG is a preferable candidate for replacing the YAG for use in WLEDs among the four kinds of phosphors. Compared with the YAG (7.5wt%)-based WLED, the YGdAG (7wt%)-based WLED exhibited an improved CRI, less preparation cost of phosphors, and the acceptable reduction in luminous efficacy under 350mA.