Apple iPhone 6s (Unlocked)

How to Choose the Right Mobile Phone

What’s the Difference Between Locked and Unlocked Smartphones?

In the US, many phones are sold locked to a wireless carrier—either through a software lock that prevents you from using the phone on other carriers, through a payment plan that doesn’t permit you to leave that carrier, or through hardware frequency restrictions that exclude other carriers’ transmission bands. Unlocked phones, paid for upfront, are different. The day you buy an unlocked phone, you can use any carrier it’s compatible with, and switch carriers at will.

This list gives you the best unlocked phones available in the US at a range of price points. We’ve tried to offer something here for budgets from $150 to $1,200, running Android and iOS.

If you’re interested in 5G, look to the Samsung Galaxy S20 phones and the OnePlus 8 series. The unlocked Galaxy S20+ and S20 Ultra run on every form of every US 5G network; the other phones run on low- and mid-band 5G, which means they don’t work with Verizon’s high-speed short-range 5G network. For more, see our list of The Best 5G Phones.

Why Buy Unlocked?

With an unlocked device, you can trade up or sell your phone whenever you want, without waiting for the end of a leasing or equipment installment plan—because you’re not in one. You can own multiple handsets and swap your SIM card between them. You can also take advantage of super-cheap prepaid plans from virtual operators piggybacking on compatible networks. You can pop in a local, pay-as-you-go card overseas and never pay horrendous international roaming charges. And you don’t have to deal with carrier-installed bloatware.

At the same time, there are a few downsides to going the unlocked route. If you change SIM cards overseas, you won’t have your US phone number while you’re there. Some unlocked handsets only work on AT&T and T-Mobile, not Verizon. All of the phones on the list above work on all three major carrier networks.

One thing to watch out for: AT&T does not permit Wi-Fi calling on many unlocked phones. This is annoying, and it’s also difficult to nail down. If you want Wi-Fi calling on an unlocked AT&T phone, stick with iPhones and Google Pixels.

There’s a new technology out there making unlocked phones even more exciting: eSIM. Electronic SIMs mean you can pick your carrier from a menu or by scanning an online QR code, rather than having to go get a physical chip. On our list, the Pixel 3a, Pixel 4, and iPhone 11 Pro all support eSIM and dual SIM, which lets you have two lines attached to one phone. That’s great for having a work line and a personal line, or a foreign line and a home line. I used a Pixel 4 with a US Mobile eSIM on a recent trip to Japan.

The Google Pixel phones support having two lines at once

Where to Buy Unlocked Phones

Shopping for an unlocked handset can be a bit tricky, since carrier stores don’t stock them. If you’re looking for one, the Apple Store, Amazon, Best Buy Mobile, and manufacturers’ online stores are good bets. In some cases, you can even unlock the phone you already own, although the particulars depend on the handset and carrier.

Our most recent picks for unlocked devices in each major price category include the Samsung Galaxy S20+ at the high end; the OnePlus 8 in the midrange; and the Motorola Moto e for an inexpensive option. Unfortunately, we currently do not have an unlocked voice phone pick because the carriers are demanding unique voice phone models for their voice-over-LTE networks; for a simple voice phone, you need to go with a carrier-specific option.

Ready to break free? Pick up one of these handsets and don’t feel tied to your carrier any longer. 

And if you’re looking to get the best deal, check out our 9 tips for getting the price on a new phone and our picks for the best cheap phones.

Where To Buy

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About the Author

PCMag.com’s lead mobile analyst, Sascha Segan, has reviewed hundreds of smartphones, tablets and other gadgets in more than 9 years with PCMag. He’s the head of our Fastest Mobile Networks project, one of the hosts of the daily PCMag Live Web show and speaks frequently in mass media on cell-phone-related issues. His commentary has appeared on ABC, the BBC, the CBC, CNBC, CNN, Fox News, and in newspapers from San Antonio, Texas to Edmonton, Alberta.

Segan is also a multiple award-winning travel writer, having contributed to the Frommer’s series of travel guides and Web sites for more than a decade. Other than his home town of New York, his favorite … See Full Bio